Latest news with #Bill558
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon marijuana licensees could offer product samples at industry events under new law
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A bill that would allow Oregon weed brands to offer 'trade samples' is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk. Senate Bill 558, first approved by the Oregon Senate on Apr. 17, passed the Oregon House with a 40-10 vote on Monday. If Kotek signs the measure, marijuana-licensed businesses could give other licensees samples of their products at trade shows permitted by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. The legislation would expand the current threshold for how many samples industry workers can receive as well. 'Completely ghosted us': PNW customers detail financial losses, unfinished jobs tied to local contractor During a public hearing for the bill earlier this month, Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon's Niki Terzieff said the measure would help the marijuana companies 'parody' practices seen in other industries. She noted it could also boost efficiency for businesses that create revenue for drug treatment services. 'Many of the rules in the books today were written when the legal market was new, untested and we had very little knowledge,' Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon Executive Director Jesse Bontecou added. 'They reflect early fears and not realities of a now-mature, highly competent industry that employs thousands and contributes hundreds of millions in economic activity.' SB 558 would additionally allow wholesale transactions at trade shows. According to Bontecou, the current law requires originating licensees to hold products for 24 hours before they can be given to the purchasing licensee — increasing transportation costs for businesses outside of the Portland area where many of these events take place. Stakeholders have emphasized that the proposed bill permits product samples for those within the industry, not to the general public. It would also ban licensees from offering samples that exceed Oregon's legal limit, while such as one gram of usable marijuana per harvest lot per strain each month. Oregon man imprisoned for killing goat with 'no remorse' The legislation further could improve transparency and quality control within the local marijuana market, Entourage Cannabis co-founder Tucker Holland said. 'This ensures retail staff can have personal experience and comprehensive knowledge of our offerings because the retail staff serve as the primary educators for consumers,' Holland added. 'Overly burdensome regulations — particularly those that no longer serve the original purpose — can unintentionally fuel the very issues they were meant to prevent. When legitimate operators are hamstrung by outdated rules it creates gaps that the illicit market is all too eager to fill.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC Senate passes anti-DEI bill for universities; House delays vote on broader ban
RALEIGH, N.C. () — North Carolina House members delayed a vote on a bill to restrict diversity equity and inclusion measures for the second day in a row, while state senators passed a bill aimed at eliminating DEI policies and offices in public higher education institutions. Senate Bill 558 bans public colleges and universities from endorsing 'divisive concepts' and 'discriminatory practices.' The Republican-backed bill lists concepts such as 'one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,' 'moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,' and 'an individual, solely by his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.' The vote came down along party lines. It now advances to the House for consideration. Mother and son charged after two teens injured in Great Falls shooting: Sheriff's Office House lawmakers punted a vote for House Bill 171, titled 'Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.' The measure would ban state and local government agencies from holding diversity, equity or inclusion trainings, and using any public funds for maintaining DEI offices and programs. The vote for the bill was originally scheduled for Tuesday, for which dozens of protesters sat in the House gallery to hear. Speaker Destin Hall moved the vote to Wednesday, telling reporters it was to complete last-minute changes and hoped the concerned citizens returned the next day 'so that they can be educated on the issue.' The rescheduled vote was also delayed, as Hall said the bill's primary sponsor, House Majority Leader Brenden Jones (R-Columbus, Robeson), was absent. North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton was among the group of protesters who gathered at the capitol to show opposition to the bill. Clayton told Queen City News' reporting partners in Raleigh there's growing frustration over the back-to-back delays. 'I think it's cowardly not to face the people you represent in the state, being able to actually say, 'This is why we're trying to pass this bill right now,' and giving Democrats in the General Assembly an opportunity to stand up against it,' Clayton said. Hall reiterated his given reasons for pushing back the vote and denied the accusations that protesters had anything to do with the rescheduling. The push comes amid a nationwide effort and calls from the Trump administration to drop DEI programs. Future uncertain for Duke basketball star due to new Trump administration policy An amendment to the bill clarifies potential penalties for those who 'knowingly and willingly' use public money to promote DEI concepts. Government employees would be subject to a fine of up to $10,000, loss of their job or removal from office, and the responsibility to pay back any damages or misspent funds to the local government. If the bill gets Governor Josh Stein's signature, it goes into effect on December 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wider DEI restrictions for NC colleges pass Senate, as House again punts its own DEI bill
Image: Adobe Stock The North Carolina Senate on Wednesday passed a bill expanding restrictions for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on college campuses. And over in the House, voting on a separate bill banning DEI within state and local government was delayed for the second time this week. The Republican-led Senate Bill 558 defines a range of 'divisive concepts' and 'discriminatory practices' that campuses are banned from endorsing or affirming. That includes treating a person differently 'solely to advantage or disadvantage that individual.' The UNC System last year repealed their DEI policy, replacing it with a statement of 'principled neutrality.' And the Trump administration issued an executive order earlier this year banning DEI efforts on campuses nationally. The UNC System board, as well as community colleges' governing body, would be required to adopt new policies to comply with the bill. '(DEI programming and practices) distracted our system of public higher education from their key goals and what they should be focused on,' said Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston), one of the bill's sponsors. Overcash read a passage from 'So You Want To Talk About Race,' the 2018 Ijeoma Oluo book, to demonstrate what he viewed as 'divisive concepts' in question. Democratic opponents said that the bill was vague, could have unintended impacts for programs like scholarships for rural students, and would have a chilling effect. 'We are opening Pandora's box,' said Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Chatham), who argued that any talk of 'divisive concepts' should focus on the history of discrimination and racism against students of color at universities. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) told reporters Wednesday that if 'unintended' programs like rural scholarships ended up being impacted by the bill, he would move to 'take action' and fix it. Across the building Wednesday, House Republicans again punted a vote on a bill to ban DEI efforts across state and local governments. It was originally scheduled for debate Tuesday. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) said the bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), was absent. A group in the gallery came to protest the bill, including state Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton, for the second straight day.
