Latest news with #Bill499
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill to add social media warning labels advances to Texas Senate
The Brief HB 499 would require social media companies to provide warning labels about the link between minors' usage and significant mental health issues. The bill passed in the Texas House last week. The author believes it has enough bipartisan support to pass in the Texas Senate as well. DALLAS - Last week, the Texas House passed a bill that would require social media platforms to have warning labels as a tool to address the youth mental health crisis. The bill is now expected to receive support from the more conservative Texas Senate. What we know Texas House Bill 499 was filed by State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, a Democrat from the El Paso area. It seeks to add a label that would appear every time a user opens a social media app, warning them of the association between minors' social media usage and significant mental health issues. By the numbers According to Pew Research, 81% of teens use social media, spending an average of 2.5 hours per day or more online. What they're saying A nonprofit organization called the Kids Code Coalition is trying to build momentum in the Texas Legislature in support of the bill. "For too long, social media platforms have been driving our children to distraction and exploiting their emotions for profit," said Julie Scelfo, the founder and executive director of Mothers Against Media Addiction. Ayaan Moledina, a high school sophomore from Austin who took part in a virtual news conference on Monday, also shared his personal experience with social media scrolling. "I've been broken before, and I've seen my peers break. And it's tragic," he said. "We see people at parties we weren't invited to, bodies we feel we'll never have, and lives that look happier than ours. And we internalize that. Moledina said he supports the measure. "As someone who has battled serious mental health issues, I can say if I had seen those warnings when I was in the darkest places in my life, if I had known other people who were struggling and help was available, I might have asked for help sooner," he said. What's next Rep. Gonzalez believes the bill has enough bipartisan support to pass in the Senate. But time may be a factor. The 89th Texas Legislative session is set to end on June 2. The Source FOX 4's Alex Boyer gathered details for this story from a virtual news conference on HB 499 hosted by the Kids Code Coalition, as well as a hearing on the bill and documents from the Texas Legislature.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Several bills filed in state Senate to increase NC's housing supply
A mixed-income housing project under construction in Durham. (Photo: Greg Childress) A bill to expand so-called 'missing middle housing' statewide was one of four bills introduced in the state Senate on Tuesday as part of lawmakers' strategy to address North Carolina's housing crisis. 'Missing middle housing' refers to buildings with multiple units such as townhomes, duplexes and fourplexes that are placed into residential neighborhoods and serve as a middle ground between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. Senate Bill 497 ('Expand Middle Housing') has bipartisan support. It was filed by Sen. Tim Moffitt, a Henderson County Republican and Sen. Julie Mayfield, a Buncombe County Democrat. Under SB 497, a 'local government shall allow all middle housing types in areas zoned for residential use, including those that allow for the development of detached single-family dwellings,' the bill reads. SB 497 also prohibits local governments from discouraging 'development of middle housing through unreasonable costs or delay, including zoning, development, siting, or design review standards that restrict middle housing types to less than three stories, or a floor area ratio of less than one.' SB 497 comes as the state faces a five-year housing inventory gap of 764,478 units (322,360 rental units and 442,118 for-sale units), according to a recent statewide report commissioned by the NC Chamber Foundation, NC REALTORS and the N.C. Homebuilders Association. Missing middle housing has stirred controversy in Raleigh where the City Council passed a plan to allow for denser housing — townhomes and duplexes, for example — to be built in some neighborhoods of traditional single-family homes. Critics argue that such housing changes the character of neighborhoods and lowers property values. They also contend 'missing middle housing' can cause parking issues. Carolina Forward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization, celebrated the four bills in a social media post. The organization also warned of expected pushback from community groups opposed to 'missing middle housing.' 'The NIMBY lobby is going to fight these pretty hard in the legislature. But support is growing to expand housing in North Carolina,' Carolina Forward said on X. Moffitt and Mayfield also introduced three other bills to increase the state's housing supply: Senate Bill 499 to allow housing development 'by right' in any area currently zoned only for commercial, office or retail use. The bill also allows the conversion of a building or portion of a building from commercial use to residential use. Senate Bill 495 to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide. Senate Bill 492 to allow single exit-stairways in apartment construction of up to eight stories. Supporters see this change as a way to increase the supply of multifamily housing because requiring more than one exit-stairway in small apartments building make them more expensive. Meanwhile, critics cite safety concerns. The legislation comes as lawmakers work to resolve the housing crisis made worse by Hurricane Helene.
