Latest news with #HB199
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 14, 2025
Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, sits alone in the Alabama House chamber during a lengthy recess on May 14, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The House went into an extended recess on Wednesday, the final day of the 2025 regular session, as the Alabama Senate saw a filibuster from Democrats over local bills. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Here are the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday, the final day of the 2025 regular session. House HB 199, sponsored by Rep. Travis Hendrix, D-Birmingham, allows the Board of Pardons and parole to electronically monitor a juvenile delinquent before their court hearing. The House concurred with Senate changes 101-0. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill on Thursday. HB 202, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, changes the standard by which law enforcement can claim immunity as they perform their jobs and gives them additional procedural protections during litigation. The House concurred with Senate changes 73-28; the Senate earlier on Thursday passed the bill 25-6. Gov. Kay Ivey signed it on Thursday. HB 581, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, revises the distribution of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in-lieu-of-tax payments in Morgan County by reallocating funds to support a legislative delegation office, the Morgan County Rescue Squad and local education. The House concurred with Senate changes 76-0. It goes to Ivey. Senate SB 171, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, prohibits the use of a motorized vehicle on land that is submerged below navigable waters. Violators would face a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 88, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, allows a judge to set a hearing on a petition for a criminal expungement even if a prosecutor or a victim files no objection. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 76, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, exempts nursing mothers from jury service. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 108, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, criminalizes mail theft, establishing penalties based on the number of addresses affected and the intent to commit identity fraud. Offenses range from a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, to a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. It passed 103-0 with a House substitute. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SB 42, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, allows landowners adjacent to abandoned state roads to petition state, county, or municipal governing bodies to deed them back to the original landowners when the road is no longer usable for its intended purpose. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 101, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscambia, raises the medical age of consent from 14 to 16 with some exceptions. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 206, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Ino, establishes regulations for businesses advising or assisting individuals with veterans' benefits claims. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 142, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, removes the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as an approved source for identifying voters whose addresses may have changed, requiring the use of the United States Postal Service's National Change of Address database and at least one other voter registration database. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 53, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, creates the crime of human smuggling as a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, if someone transports a person without legal status into the state of Alabama. It also allows local law enforcement to hold those suspected of living in the U.S. without authorization for up to 48 hours while their status is determined. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 511, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Brinyark, R-Windham Springs, consolidates Fayette County's tax assessor and tax collector offices into a single Revenue Commissioner position. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 512, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Brinyark, R-Windham Springs, increases the base salary of the Fayette County sheriff to $80,000 starting in 2027. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 496, sponsored by Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, grants Elmore County the authority to levy a 4.5% excise tax on wholesale vapor products in the county. The measure, a constitutional amendment, passed 22-0 and will be decided by voters on November 4. HB 463, sponsored by Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, authorizes the Board of Commissioners of Chilton County 911 to establish procedures for the director to make purchases using a credit or debit card. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 598, sponsored by Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, extends the corporate boundaries of the Town of Pine Level in Autauga County. The bill passed 27-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 78, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, gives the presiding judge of the 28th Judicial Circuit the power to issue a standing order authorizing civil or criminal jury proceedings in any courthouse within the circuit, and provides procedures. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 544, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, authorizes Escambia County to appoint a medical examiner. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 586, sponsored by Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, extends the corporate limits of the City of Cullman in Cullman County. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 395, sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads, removes a specified area from the corporate limits of the City of New Hope in Madison County. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 495, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, restructures the board of directors of the Marion County Public Water Authority. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 343, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, makes membership of the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County mandatory for eligible full-time employees. The bill passed 26-3. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Gov. Cox said these laws are ‘crucial' to Utah's public safety
A block away from where a crowd gathered for Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson's ceremonial signing of multiple public safety bills in Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, a similar-sized crowd began lining up at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall for a free meal. 'One of the most important issues facing our state this session is building a safer Utah by proactively addressing challenges that affect health, safety and the well-being of our communities,' Cox said. Cox deemed eight bills the most crucial in protecting Utahns from crime. 'By enhancing penalties and improving support systems, we're reinforcing Utah's long-standing commitment to public safety,' he added. 'Whether addressing homelessness, substance abuse or the needs of victims and families, this legislation balances firm accountability with compassion and care, the things that Utah does best to ensure a safer, more supportive future for all Utahns.' The ceremonial signing comes nearly a week after the Governor announced a new criminal justice task force to oversee the more than 200 new crimes and enhanced penalties that have been signed into law in the last six years alone. This legislative session broke its record for criminal bills introduced, reaching 86. Cox previously said the task force is expected to answer the question of 'whether these enhancements, absent an overarching strategy, will actually achieve the public safety goals they're intended to address.' The eight bills included in the signing highlighted strategies aimed at drug trafficking, homeless and law enforcement support: HB87: Drug Trafficking Amendments Utah law enforcement confiscated its largest haul of fentanyl pills last year. The bill from Rep. Matthew Gwynn, R-Farr West, now makes it a first-degree felony for anyone in possession of 100 grams in weight or more of fentanyl or a fentanyl-like substance — a higher degree of prosecution than any other drug trafficker. Gwynn said Thursday the bill received zero opposition through its entire bill cycle, and is 'intentional and prescriptive in going after large quantity dealers and not going after the users who are, unfortunately, battling the demon that is drug addiction.' HB199: Substance Use Treatment and Enforcement Amendments Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, said HB199 'takes the best practices of public health and public safety and tries to build a coherent strategy to take on the drug crisis. It ultimately allows first responders to link overdose survivors to local resources and bans syringe exchange programs in specific areas. 'If you are a Utahn dealing with addiction, if you are addicted to meth, fentanyl, or anything in between. We will meet you where you are, but we love you too much to let you stay there,' Clancy said during the ceremony. 'And with the passage of House Bill199, that's just the first step in continuing to do so.' HB127: Sexual Crime Amendments Referred to as 'Ashley's law,' HB127 increases penalties for assailants guilty of rape, object rape, and forcible sodomy against a person with physical or mental limitations. The law was named after Ashley Vigil, a 31-year-old who had Rett Syndrome and for years was a victim of her stepfather's sexual abuse. 'Sometimes it takes a great loss to move mountains,' the bill's floor sponsor, Sen. Minority Assistant Whip Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, said Thursday, adding that no tolerance will be given to 'anyone who preys on our very most vulnerable, regardless of their age, regardless of their medical conditions.' HB38: Criminal Offenses Modifications This bill targets 'criminal organizations that are intentionally structured to do the most damage possible,' its sponsor Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden, said Thursday. Changes were made in crimes involving the solicitation of minors into gang activity, amends certain theft offenses and sexual extortion offenses — an issue the bill's senate sponsor, Calvin R. Musselman, R-West Haven, said has greatly affected Utah boys. What he called 'sextortion,' Musselman said, is where a criminal is posing as someone these boys find attractive and then extorting them online. 'Many of our young men are actually committing suicide from the experience itself. It can be drawn out and bring them to that point where they find no other way out,' he added, emphasizing the education aspect of the bill that will 'hopefully make these young men recognize it's not who they think it is that's posing online, and also, know that their lives aren't over, and hopefully, this will make a difference.' HB312: Criminal Justice Amendments House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, said her bill addresses jail capacities across the state. The bill 'modifies provisions related to the release of individuals due to overcrowding of correctional facilities,' per the bill text, and helps habitual offenders receive opportunities to rehabilitate. HB329: Homeless Services Amendments Clancy said his bill makes 'better and more effective homeless services.' The Deseret News previously stated the bill's actions: Require homeless shelters to maintain a zero-tolerance policy for drug possession by conducting regular searches and facilitating law enforcement access. Eliminate state funding to shelters if they fail to comply with a signed homeless shelter agreement that details drug-free requirements. Increase criminal consequences for drug distribution in, or around, homeless shelters by one degree more than the current maximum penalty. Allow for the expansion of the Know-by-Name pilot program which shares the state's Homeless Management Information System with personalized case workers. Encourage shelters to focus housing programs on a 'pathway to thriving' model that measures progress in mental health, drug addiction, education and relationships. SB78: Homeless Individuals Protection Amendments The bill creates the homeless service provider regulator in the Office of Homeless Services, so investigations can be done on filed complaints against service providers made by homeless people. The bill's creation 'came out of a place where we wanted to protect our folks who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness, and we also wanted to protect the state's resources and the investments of the state,' the chief sponsor, Sen. Plumb, said. SB255: Line-of-Duty Death Benefit Amendments This bill modifies provisions concerning the benefits provided to family members due to a line-of-duty death including adding health benefits and removing the year-long waiting period for spouses to access from the Local Public Safety and Firefighter Surviving Spouse Trust Fund. 'I can tell you, as a school teacher, on my very worst day, I can go home and might rethink my career choices. Sometimes, I might struggle, but at the end of the day, I get to go home,' said the bill's floor sponsor Douglas R. Welton, R-Payson. 'It's not true on the worst day for our law enforcement officers. On their worst day, they don't get to go home, and they leave loved ones behind. The least that we can do is make sure that they're covered.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three more states join trend of passing universal school choice
Three states joined 11 others in passing universal school choice legislation. Republican Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed a bill that expanded a school choice program to universal eligibility. The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act will provide $7,000 for students in non-public schools to be used for tuition or tutoring in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Ocean Andrew, said that the signing of the bill marks a "major victory for Wyoming families with the signing of HB 199 into law." Department Of Education Launches 'Enddei' Portal For Parents, Students, Teachers To Report Discrimination "This ESA program is a huge step forward in expanding educational freedom and ensuring that parents — not the government — have the ultimate say in their children's education," Andrew said. Read On The Fox News App Idaho recently passed universal school choice legislation a week ago. Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit into law. The measure will provide up to $5,000 per student for qualified expenses related to their education, including tuition and fees for enrollment. "With the passage of the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program, Idaho boasts even more abundant schooling options for Idaho students and families. Little added that "Idaho has become the first state to offer education freedom from kindergarten through career." University Of Minnesota Students Rail Against College Leadership Over Wishy-washy Stand On Ice Tennessee's legislature on January 20 passed Republican Gov. Bill Lee's universal private school voucher bill, which saw opposition from some rural GOP lawmakers. "I've long believed we can have the best public schools and give parents a choice in their child's education, regardless of income or ZIP code," Lee said in a statement. The Education Freedom Act gives students $7,296 each to cover education expenses and private school tuition. Lee signed the bill into law on February 12 with hopes of starting the program in the 2025-2026 school year. The three states passing universal school choice legislation is part of a trend of red states expanding education options for children. Lawmakers hope to provide education savings accounts for all K-12 students to use taxpayer dollars to have alternatives to local public schools such as charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Tennessee, Idaho and Wyoming are states with many constituents who live in rural areas. Rural schools tend to face funding challenges due to low enrollment and scarce resources. Rural Republicans, once obstacles to school choice measures, have shifted to supporting the policy. "This year's momentum on the education freedom front should put to bed the myth that rural voters don't want school choice," said Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project. "Rural states are leading the school choice revolution. Three states have passed universal school choice this year, and each of them – Idaho, Tennessee, and Wyoming – are ranked in the top 20 most rural states in the nation based on Census Bureau data." Texas has been facing an uphill battle as Republican lawmakers representing schools in rural areas were at odds with Gov. Greg Abbott's school choice vision. Lawmakers, including Republicans, share concerns that education savings accounts could drain funds from public schools, which are critical for schools in rural districts. Abbott recently announced that he has enough votes to pass a school choice bill after several years of struggling to unify Republicans to support school choice. A total of 14 states passed universal school choice. Indiana's "Choice Scholarship Program" allows children in low- and middle-income families to receive vouchers to attend private schools. It turned out that 98% of families are eligible, making it nearly article source: Three more states join trend of passing universal school choice
Fox News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Three more states join trend of passing universal school choice
Three states joined 11 others in passing universal school choice legislation. Republican Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed a bill that expanded a school choice program to universal eligibility. The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act will provide $7,000 for students in non-public schools to be used for tuition or tutoring in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Ocean Andrew, said that the signing of the bill marks a "major victory for Wyoming families with the signing of HB 199 into law." "This ESA program is a huge step forward in expanding educational freedom and ensuring that parents — not the government — have the ultimate say in their children's education," Andrew said. Idaho recently passed universal school choice legislation a week ago. Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit into law. The measure will provide up to $5,000 per student for qualified expenses related to their education, including tuition and fees for enrollment. "With the passage of the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program, Idaho boasts even more abundant schooling options for Idaho students and families. Little added that "Idaho has become the first state to offer education freedom from kindergarten through career." Tennessee's legislature on January 20 passed Republican Gov. Bill Lee's universal private school voucher bill, which saw opposition from some rural GOP lawmakers. "I've long believed we can have the best public schools and give parents a choice in their child's education, regardless of income or ZIP code," Lee said in a statement. The Education Freedom Act gives students $7,296 each to cover education expenses and private school tuition. Lee signed the bill into law on February 12 with hopes of starting the program in the 2025-2026 school year. The three states passing universal school choice legislation is part of a trend of red states expanding education options for children. Lawmakers hope to provide education savings accounts for all K-12 students to use taxpayer dollars to have alternatives to local public schools such as charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Tennessee, Idaho and Wyoming are states with many constituents who live in rural areas. Rural schools tend to face funding challenges due to low enrollment and scarce resources. Rural Republicans, once obstacles to school choice measures, have shifted to supporting the policy. "This year's momentum on the education freedom front should put to bed the myth that rural voters don't want school choice," said Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project. "Rural states are leading the school choice revolution. Three states have passed universal school choice this year, and each of them – Idaho, Tennessee, and Wyoming – are ranked in the top 20 most rural states in the nation based on Census Bureau data." Texas has been facing an uphill battle as Republican lawmakers representing schools in rural areas were at odds with Gov. Greg Abbott's school choice vision. Lawmakers, including Republicans, share concerns that education savings accounts could drain funds from public schools, which are critical for schools in rural districts. Abbott recently announced that he has enough votes to pass a school choice bill after several years of struggling to unify Republicans to support school choice. A total of 14 states passed universal school choice. Indiana's "Choice Scholarship Program" allows children in low- and middle-income families to receive vouchers to attend private schools. It turned out that 98% of families are eligible, making it nearly universal.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gordon signs off on universal school vouchers, praising bill as 'remarkable' legislation
CHEYENNE — Gov. Mark Gordon signed a controversial universal school voucher bill Tuesday afternoon, praising it as 'a remarkable achievement for Wyoming' on the heels of a recent court decision that found Wyoming has unconstitutionally underfunded its public schools. Nearly a week before Gordon signed House Bill 199, 'Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act,' U.S. District Judge Peter H. Froelicher released a 186-page decision, concluding Wyoming's funding model for the K-12 public school block grant is 'unconstitutional' and 'no longer cost-based.' Several lawmakers who voted against HB 199 argued it unconstitutionally uses state funds to send children to private schools. Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, who voted against the bill, said she supports school choice, but only if it's within constitutional boundaries. Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston (2025) Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston 'Right now, (the Wyoming Constitution) says public money can't be used for private, religious education,' Schuler told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. 'I just think this bill could end up in the courts.' The Wyoming Legislature passed a bill last year to create an educational savings account (ESA) program, and Gordon limited ESA eligibility to families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. He explained in his line-item veto letter these changes made the ESA program more constitutionally sound. HB 199 removes the ESA family income-based requirement for grades K-12 and increases the per child amount from $6,000 a year to $7,000. During negotiations, House representatives agreed to include pre-kindergarten eligibility in the ESA program for families at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Gordon said during a news conference Tuesday morning that Wyoming is the first state in the nation to include preschools in its universal school voucher program. However, without a similar means test for ESA recipients in grades K-12, several lawmakers in both legislative chambers argued the bill directly violates the Wyoming Constitution. Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, told the WTE he suspected the law will be immediately challenged in court. Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne 'It's just going to tie up more resources and money,' Brown said. Monday night, Gordon vetoed a bill that lifted the cap on how many charter schools the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board can authorize. He referred to Froelicher's decision in his veto message, saying it 'highlights an urgent issue that must be addressed before we consider authorizing additional charter schools.' 'Without a sustainable, transparent plan to ensure adequate funding for public schools, education savings accounts, and charter schools alike, lifting the cap on charter school authorization is both premature and irresponsible,' Gordon wrote in his veto message. Gordon was asked during Tuesday's news conference why he felt vetoing the lift on the charter school cap was the right choice for public education, but not doing the same with the universal school voucher program. 'Look, I'm a conservative, fiscally and otherwise,' Gordon said. 'I want to make sure that we have a measured approach that doesn't end up with us having to fund a bunch of things that we can't afford, and (there are) a lot of pieces of charter legislation that need to be addressed before we just open doors.' Wyoming was put under the national spotlight two weeks ago when President Donald Trump pressured senators into passing HB 199. Trump urged every senator to vote in favor of the bill through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, adding that 'I will be watching!' The bill appropriates $30 million from the general fund to the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Program Account, and notes that the Legislature's intent is to include this money in the standard budget for the Wyoming Department of Education starting with the 2027-28 biennium. The Wyoming Education Association was the organization that brought the lawsuit against the state for underfunding its public schools, which Froelicher ruled on last week. In a prepared statement, the WEA found Gordon's support of HB 199 'disappointing.' 'The district court's ruling from only days ago confirmed that the state is not funding public education to the level as it is required,' the WEA stated. 'The choice to take taxpayer dollars to support a voucher program is a curiously poor decision.'
