Latest news with #HB161
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators try to thwart the will of Alaska voters on supporting labor — again
Former state labor commissioner Ed Flanagan, State Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, and the Rev. Michael Burke of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Anchorage wheel boxes of signed petitions into a state Division of Elections office on Jan. 9, 2024. The petitions were for a ballot initiative to increase the state's minimum wage, mandate paid sick leave and ensure that workers are not required to hear employers' political or religious messages. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) One of the most cynical things Alaska legislators ever did — and that's saying something — was vote to gut the 2002 minimum wage increase less than one year after passing it. After trying to supplant a voter initiative approved for the 2002 election with weaker measures, Republican majorities finally took the advice of their own attorneys — that they could only moot the initiative with a bill virtually identical to the ballot measure — and passed such a bill, which included an annual cost of living adjustment and a provision requiring that the Alaska minimum wage would always be at least one dollar over the federal minimum. Then-Speaker Pete Kott told the Daily News when the bill passed that it was preferable to letting the initiative pass since legislators wouldn't have to wait two years to change it. Less than a year later, they deleted the COLA and dollar-over-federal provisions. In 2014, an initiative to raise the state minimum wage to what it would have been had the 2002 law remained intact, and restore the COLA and dollar-over-federal provisions, was approved. Then-Speaker Mike Chenault, who had voted for both the 2002 law and the 2003 bill gutting it, tried to pull off the same cynical maneuver. Chenault's bill passed by one vote in the House, but Senate Republicans, to their credit, refused to play along and the initiative passed with a 70% vote. Now Rep. Justin Ruffridge has reached into the old bag of tricks to try and gut the recently passed Ballot Measure 1 — approved with a 58% vote in November — before it even takes effect on July 1. Their HB 161 would exempt employers of less than 50 employees, and all seasonal employers, from the paid sick leave provisions of Ballot Measure 1. Under Alaska law, the Legislature can not repeal an initiative until two years after its adoption. An initiative can be amended prior to two years, but the Alaska Supreme Court found in 1977 in Warren v. Thomas that the Legislature would exceed its power to amend 'by passing an amendment which so vitiates the initiative as to constitute its repeal.' According to the Research and Analysis Section of the Alaska Department of Labor, 96% of Alaska's private sector employers — the only employers subject to Ballot Measure 1 — employ fewer than 50 workers, and 43% of all private-sector workers in the state are employed by these employers. The broad exemption for seasonal employers, regardless of size, would only increase the vitiating effect of HB 161 on the initiative and the clear intent expressed by the voters in passing it overwhelmingly. Ballot Measure 1 was supported by a coalition of over 130 Alaska small businesses, employers who recognized the importance of providing a modest amount of paid sick leave to workers, for their well-being and productivity — and for the economic and physical health of our communities. No parent should have to decide between going to work or caring for a sick child. Nor should they be forced to choose between losing a day's pay or going to work sick and spreading illness to co-workers or customers. We should protect our ability to enact needed legislation through initiatives, where the people themselves act as the Legislature. Seventeen states have paid sick leave laws, and none of the hysterical predictions of negative effects on their businesses or employment have come to pass. Alaska used to be a leader in providing meaningful worker rights and protection. Let's at least be a follower now and afford our workers the same basic benefits enjoyed by millions of Americans in other states. We should protect our ability to enact needed legislation through initiatives, where the people themselves act as the Legislature. Our elected legislators should respect that process, but all too often, as in the case of HB 161, they do not. We need to let them know that we didn't elect them to thwart the will of the people, and that HB 161 is tantamount to a repeal of Ballot Measure 1 and should not pass. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Which bills have been signed by the governor so far?
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – As the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session winds down, House and Senate Bills have already made it to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk to sign. Below are bills that have been signed into law so far. House Bill 1 moved quickly through the legislature and was signed by the governor on January 23. Its purpose is to outline appropriations for the expenses of the legislative session and where the funds will be coming from. House Bill 8 was signed by the governor about halfway through the session on February 27. Its focus is on criminal competency, looking to improve the court system and make sure that individuals who may be having a mental health crisis when they commit a crime have access to the treatment they need so they are able to stand trial. House Bill 47 was signed into law on March 20, 2025, and implements a constitutional amendment to increase property tax exemptions for veterans from $4,000 to $10,000. There is also a proportional tax exemption for disabled vets to match their federal disability rating. House Bill 161 was also signed on March 20 and also aims to benefit veterans in the state. HB 161 gives veterans free access to state parks, including unlimited day-use and camping passes. The Forest & Watershed Buffer Project bill was signed on March 19 by the governor and deals with making projects to create or maintain buffers in and around wildland or urban interaces eligible for funding form the forest land protection revolving fund. Signed by the governor on February 27, the Behavioral Health Trust Fund bill will create a behavioral health trust fund for the state similar to the state's trust funds for higher education and early childhood care. Similar to SB 1, the Behavioral Health Reform & Investment Act was signed on February 17 and would allow the Administrative Office of the Courts to map out behavioral health regions based on counties or judicial districts. The Game Commission Reform Bill was signed on March 20 and aims to reform the Game Commission by introducing new qualifications for commissioners to create a more functional board. It would also update hunting and fishing license fees to increase by approximately $15 annually and officer discounts for seniors, youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. Signed by the governor on March 20, SB 75 makes changes to the Educational REtirement Act, clarifying restrictions on receiving gifts, providing for unclaimed member contributions to be deposited into the Educational Retirement Fund, and also allows for a member on disability status who is over 60 years old and who receives an annuity adjustment to continue receiving the adjustment. Signed on March 20, this bill would protect Indigenous students' rights to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies or public school events. The bill unanimously cleared the Senate and House and will take effect immediately. Senate Bill 199 was signed by the governor on March 20 and pertains to increasing the amount of the Local DWI Grant Fund to administer the grant program. The governor signed this bill on March 20 and requires CYFD to determine federal benefits eligibility for children in its custody, apply for federal benefits, and either act as the child's representative payee or decide an appropriate alternative. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor signs bills on veteran property tax exemptions and state park fees
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a pair of bills aimed at benefiting the state's veterans. HB 47 implements a constitutional amendment to increase property tax exemptions for vets from $4,000 to $10,000. It also sets a proportional tax exemption for disabled vets to match their federal disability rating. New Mexico residents fight to protect their mobile homes from rising rent Meanwhile, HB 161 gives veterans free access to state parks, including unlimited day-use and camping passes. That change will take effect July 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
