Latest news with #HB1961
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Friday limiting cellphone use for all Virginia public elementary, middle and high school students. Youngkin, who built his political career championing parents' rights in education, ceremoniously signed two versions of the bill, HB1961 and SB738, at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia. Youngkin said it was a fitting location for a day filled with such "hope." "When we come together — elected officials, administrators, teachers, parents and all of you — we can move mountains, and we can change something that needs to be changed, and that is to find freedom, freedom from cellphones," said Youngkin, who was flanked by his wife, Virginia first lady Suzanne S. Youngkin; public school students; education advocates; and local politicians. "We come together in order to move a mountain," Youngkin said, as he highlighted the negative effect of cellphones in schools on mental illness, conduct in class, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. Teens Spend More Than A Quarter Of Their Time At School On Phones, New Study Finds The bill strictly limits the use of phones in classrooms to reduce distractions and disruptions, codifying Youngkin's executive order signed last year "to protect the health and safety of students in Virginia's K-12 public schools by issuing guidance on the establishment of cellphone-free education policies and procedures." Read On The Fox News App Dc Council Proposes Bill To Ban Cellphones In District's Public Schools "We are building on the foundation laid by Executive Order 33 to make Virginia the national leader in restoring focus, academic excellence in the classroom and restoring health and safety in our schools. This legislation ensures that every school division adopts a full bell-to-bell policy and removes cellphones from classrooms, creating a distraction-free learning environment," Youngkin said as he signed the bill into law. Research indicates using cellphones in the classroom can have a negative effect on students' grades, social skills, emotional development and mental health. In a 2024 Pew Research Center study, more than 70% of high school teachers said cellphones distracting students in the classroom is a major problem. "This wasn't just an issue. It's a crisis. And when we have a crisis, we have a unified call for action, and that's what this gathering is all about, this unified call for action," Youngkin said Friday. Hopewell City Public Schools adopted a "pouch system" in its secondary schools at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, which has been used as a case study and potential model for the Virginia Department of Education's cellphone-free education rollout. "I want to add my appreciation for Hopewell's leadership because it was your leadership that inspired the executive order that I wrote last summer," Youngkin said. The statewide legislation requires school boards to develop and public schools to enact policies to restrict student cellphone use during the school day. The law includes exceptions for students with individualized education plans, Section 504 plans or health conditions, so cellphones can be used when medically necessary. The law also prohibits schools from suspending, expelling or removing students from class for violating cellphone policies. Florida became the first state to pass a law regulating cellphone use in schools in 2023. More than half of all states now have similar laws in article source: Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas Legislature concludes 2025 legislative session; conflict over planned prison continues
The Arkansas Capitol on Nov. 14, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas House and Senate adjourned sine die Monday morning, marking the end of the nearly four-month 2025 legislative session. Sine die — a Latin phrase for 'without day' — means the Legislature isn't scheduled to convene again this year unless Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls for a special session. The next scheduled session will be the 2026 fiscal session early next year. The Legislature ended the business portion of the session on April 16 after considering more than 1,600 bills. Sanders signed 1,026 bills into law and vetoed four others. Lawmakers can override the governor's vetoes with a simple majority vote in both chambers before sine die adjournment. Both chambers convened briefly Monday but did not vote to override Sanders' vetoes; leaders in both chambers said there was not enough support for this option. Arkansas governor vetoes two more bills from 2025 legislative session House Speaker Brian Evans, R-Cabot, said after adjournment that he spoke with the sponsors of two of vetoed bills, Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle. He said neither indicated they wished to attempt a veto override. Evans said Achor had been in communication with the constituents involved with House Bill 1961, which would have allowed medical providers to temporarily withhold medical records if they had a reasonable belief patients would misinterpret the records in a way that could endanger their health, safety or mental state. Evans said Achor and his constituents were already working on an interim plan and 'believe there will be a good collaborative agreement on that.' HB 1961 passed the House with 75 votes and the Senate with 18 votes, the minimum needed to advance out of the upper chamber. Meanwhile, Evans said Pilkington did not feel he had the votes for an override for his bill that would have allowed delivery of marijuana and drive-thru window pickup. House Bill 1889 narrowly passed the House and Senate with 51 votes and 19 votes, respectively. Prior to adjournment, Evans told his colleagues that legislation passed this year 'will shape our state for years to come.' He reiterated both on the House floor and after adjournment that members of his chamber should take pride in the work they did during the session. 'We worked late into the night, we debated, we disagreed, we discussed; the most important thing, we collaborated,' he said. 'We thoroughly vetted legislation, we brought diverse perspectives to the table and we made good bills through that debate even better.' Similarly, Senate President and Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge told senators they should 'leave here today proud' of their work during the session and that they 'zealously and respectfully advocated' for their constituents. The House conducted no business in addition to the adjournment, while the Senate confirmed a batch of five gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions in a voice vote after no debate. Sen. Matt Stone, R-Camden, was the only audible dissenting vote. The appointments included Sanders' deputy chief of staff, Judd Deere, to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Deere was appointed in March and will retain his position in the governor's office. Deere is replacing Sheffield Nelson and his term on the board expires March 1, 2035. Additionally, Larry Walther, former state Treasurer and Secretary of Finance and Administration, was confirmed to the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System's board of trustees. Walther is replacing Candace Franks and his term expires March 9, 2031. Finance and Administration officials announced last week that the state's income tax revenue in April dropped 15.5% compared to a year earlier. Sanders also extended Arkansas' tax filing deadline in light of recent severe weather across the state. The state has reduced individual and corporate income tax rates four times in the past three years, most recently in June 2024. Three of those instances have been since Sanders took office in 2023, and she supports phasing out the income tax entirely. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said Monday that he hopes the Legislature will cut taxes again in a special session later this year. The fiscal year ends June 30, and state officials should take the year's revenue into account before convening for a special session, he said. Hester also said he anticipates no other reasons for a special session, including the ongoing controversy over Sanders' plans to build a 3,000-bed prison on 815 acres of land the state purchased in Franklin County. A $750 million appropriation bill to support the prison's construction died after five failed votes in the Senate in April. State officials, including Republican Sen. Bryan King of Green Forest, and Franklin County residents have fought against the project, citing concerns about transparency, infrastructure and staffing. Arkansas lawmakers consider other funding methods as they abandon sixth prison appropriation vote The appropriation would have covered the remainder of the projected $825 million cost of the project. An additional $75 million appropriated in 2022 for prison expansion has already been allocated to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, which can use the funding to move the project forward. The Legislature also set aside another $330 million for the project in 2023 that hasn't been appropriated yet. Hester said the state has 'a clear path forward' and 'plenty of money' to complete the prison project. The state has already hired a construction management company, Vanir Construction Management Inc., and started seeking proposals from architectural firms and contractors. 'Once we have the architecture and engineering done, hopefully we can get a hard bid, and I think that will bring a comfort level to a lot of members and ultimately get us the vote we're needing' for the Senate to approve the rest of the funding for the project, Hester said. King, who represents part of Franklin County, sent Sanders' office a letter Monday asking for the 2022 appropriation funds to be used for their original purpose, which would add 525 beds to the state prison in Calico Rock. Sanders has pushed for the new penitentiary to alleviate overcrowding in county jails, but King said Monday morning in a news conference that the Calico Rock expansion would be 'much faster and much more economical.' He criticized the possibility of building water and sewer lines between the prison and the city of Fort Smith, saying it would be a waste of money. Arkansas prison board approves contractor search for Franklin County prison Evans told the Advocate there were existing issues with Calico Rock's infrastructure that impacted its expansion previously, adding that he was 'not aware' of any new developments on that front. 'I feel like if that had been a reasonable option early on in the Sanders administration' then it already would have been acted upon, he said. King's letter also calls for the expansion of 'smaller regional facilities' in Benton, Sebastian and Washington counties, which are among the state's most populous, since they already have 'basic infrastructure in place' to house more inmates. About 20 opponents of the prison joined King at the news conference at the state Capitol, including members of the Chickamauga Nation, an Indigenous tribe with a presence in Franklin County. King letter to Sanders 'If you're going to put a megaprison in a community, it's certainly going to change their DNA … The fact that the governor went ahead and just tried to railroad the people without doing a basic needs infrastructure [assessment] is wrong,' King said. Chickamauga burial sites and a 'ceremonial stone structure' surround the property designated for the prison, and building the prison would have a negative impact on those sites, said Justin Flanagan, a chief with the tribe. 'We're here today providing pamphlets with this information to the House and the Senate so that all deniability is removed,' Flanagan told the Advocate. '…With all the evidence we're providing, there should be no reason not to do a three-phase archaeological study and cultural environmental impact study [of the land].' King said he is willing to meet with Sanders and discuss ways to reduce prison overcrowding, and he added that addressing the issue 'probably doesn't need to wait' until next year's fiscal session. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What are the 4 bills Gov. Sanders has vetoed?
ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed over 1,000 bills and vetoed four as the biennial session nears its May 5 adjournment. HB1889 would have allowed medical marijuana deliveries via dispensary vehicles or drive-throughs. Sanders said in her veto letter that '[t]his legislation would expand access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing.' This bill would have created regional mental health programs for students and update education rules for kids in juvenile detention. Governor Sanders said in her veto letter that she vetoed the bill because she believes student behavioral issues are disrupting schools, and she wants the Departments of Education and Human Services to develop 'a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools.' Pea Ridge resident inspires new legislative change HB1265 (Act 660) authorizes salaries at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, but Gov. Sanders vetoed the proposed $190,000 salary for the director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. 'This session I championed Arkansas ACCESS, my plan to make college more accessible for all and get indoctrination out of college classrooms,' Sanders said in her veto letter. 'Arkansas will not waste nearly $200,000 in taxpayer dollars on DEI administrators who promote woke nonsense.' HB1961 would have let medical providers delay adding certain sensitive information to a patient's records until they could help explain it, aiming to prevent patients from misinterpreting their diagnoses. 'Individuals have a right to access personal medical information, including medical imaging, test results, and other health records, in a timely fashion,' Sanders said in her veto letter. 'Because this bill may, in some cases, unduly delay the release of such information to patients who are entitled to it, I am vetoing this legislation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
25-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs 1,000+ bills, vetoes four
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed more than 1,000 bills passed by lawmakers during the biennial regular session, which is set for final adjournment on May 5. Citing "woke nonsense" and tailored needs for students, she vetoed all or part of four. Why it matters: Those bills she signed are now laws that impact how taxes are spent and citizens vote, while changing existing laws and state government management. When each law takes full effect varies by how it was written. State of play: While Sanders signed a flurry of legislation, her few vetoes seem to reflect her political priorities: SB451 would have provided school districts with resources to assist with students showing behavior likely to cause injury to themselves or others. The state Department of Human Services was to establish regional behavioral health programs that would develop health plans for referred students. Sanders said she'd directed the state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam to "come up with a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools." HB1265, now Act 660, authorizes salaries for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. But in a line-item veto, Sanders struck the proposed $190,000 salary for the school's director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. "Arkansas will not waste nearly $200,000 in taxpayer dollars on DEI administrators who promote woke nonsense," she wrote. HB1889 would have amended Arkansas' medical marijuana law, allowing deliveries by a dispensary's vehicle or a drive-through window. The veto letter states: "This legislation would expand access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing this legislation." HB1961 would have allowed medical providers to prevent certain sensitive medical information from being automatically loaded into a patient's records until the provider made an effort to interpret the information. A goal of the bill was to overcome a patient's misinterpretation and misunderstanding of a diagnosis. Sanders vetoed the bill because it could unduly delay the release of personal medical information.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arkansas governor vetoes two more bills from 2025 legislative session
Sarah Huckabee Sanders addresses the crowd outside the State Capitol on Jan. 10, 2023, after she was sworn in as Arkansas' 47th governor. (Karen E. Segrave/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders vetoed two bills from the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday and returned them to their respective chambers. Both bills had emergency clauses, meaning they would have gone into effect immediately upon Sanders' signature. House Bill 1961 would have created limited reasons for medical providers to 'temporarily withhold a patient's medical records from being released directly to the patient or any individual authorized by the patient' for up to 30 days. Those reasons would have included the need to review a patient's medical information or discuss it with the patient, or if the provider 'reasonably believes that immediate disclosure of the medical records may lead to the patient's misinterpreting the information in a manner that could adversely affect the patient's health or safety.' 'Individuals have a right to access personal medical information, including medical imaging, test results, and other health records, in a timely fashion,' Sanders wrote in a letter explaining her decision not to sign HB 1961. 'Because this bill may, in some cases, unduly delay the release of such information to patients who are entitled to it, I am vetoing this legislation.' Senate Bill 451 would have required the state Education and Human Services departments to collaboratively establish 'regional behavioral health programs' to help public and charter schools determine how best to help students who display behavior 'substantially likely to cause injury to the student, other students, or staff.' It also would have required both state agencies to formulate behavioral health management plans for these students and help them transition back into school after the behavioral issue has been addressed. Sanders wrote in her veto letter that she understands the need for 'sufficient interventions' and has directed the Education and Human Services departments to 'come up with a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools' than SB 451. 'School administrators, teachers, and principals are increasingly managing student behavioral issues, including aggression and violence,' Sanders wrote. 'These issues cause disruptions in the academic environment, distracting from schools' core function: a safe environment where all students can learn.' Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, was SB 451's primary sponsor and said he appreciated Sanders' 'assurances that she understands the seriousness and the need for an immediate solution.' 'I'm less concerned with how it's done, just that it is done,' Hester said. SB 451 passed the Senate with a bipartisan majority of 30 votes, but it passed the House by the slimmest margin of 51 votes. Emergency clauses require two-thirds of lawmakers' support to pass, and the House voted three times before SB 451's emergency clause passed with 77 votes, 10 more than the minimum. Similarly, HB 1961 passed the House with 75 votes but scraped the minimum of 18 votes in the Senate. The emergency clause subsequently passed with 26 votes when 24 were needed. HB 1961 was sponsored by two pharmacists: Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle, and Sen. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith. The intent behind HB 1961 was to give medical professionals the opportunity to 'sit down and have a real conversation' about a patient's health needs, such as a cancer diagnosis, 'before this scary news or potentially unclear news gets uploaded into an electronic chart of some sort and becomes immediately available without the appropriate context and compassion and the human side of the doctor-patient relationship,' Boyd said Wednesday. He added that he might sponsor similar legislation in the future that addresses the governor's 'implementation concerns.' Arkansas elected officials reflect on achievements as session comes to a close Sanders issued two vetoes last week — one that vetoed a bill to legalize the delivery of medical marijuana or the purchase of it from a drive-thru, and a line-item veto eliminating the salary for the director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Institute on Race and Ethnicity. A UALR spokesperson said the position was vacant and the university had not planned to fill it. Lawmakers can vote to override the governor's vetoes with a simple majority in both chambers before the sine die adjournment of a legislative session. Hester and Boyd said they do not expect to ask their colleagues to override the vetoes of their respective bills. The Legislature concluded its session and recessed April 16, and it will reconvene May 5 to handle any unfinished business before adjourning sine die. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
