Latest news with #HB2164
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House votes to override several vetoes including mammography screening bill
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – While several still needed a vote to override from the Senate, House lawmakers overwhelmingly agreed to override several of the governor's vetoes, including one that would've extended coverage surrounding mammography screening. While it was voted in the House as of Thursday evening, the Senate still hadn't taken up most of the House bills for a vote to override. Claps from lawmakers in the House followed the override vote for House Bill 1389, authored by Rep. Melissa Provenzano. Provenzano said her idea for the bill came about after she got a call from a single mom in her district. Veto overrides could be on the way during final week of legislative session She said the woman went in for a routine mammogram, but when her doctor saw something concerning and recommended a second diagnostic mammogram, her insurance wouldn't cover it. 'And it was $1,200,' Provenzano said. The governor, earlier this month, vetoed the bill and said: I am deeply sympathetic to the women across our state who have bravely fought breast cancer. While early detection and access to care are critical priorities, this legislation imposes new and costly insurance mandates on private health plans that will ultimately raise insurance premiums for working families and small businesses. Mammograms are already covered, and when a doctor sees the need for further tests, they are empowered to order further tests that can be covered by insurance. Without fail, when the government gets involved in markets, prices rise for everyone. Rather than expanding government mandates, we should focus on empowering individuals and encouraging innovation in the marketplace to improve access and affordability. Governor Kevin Stitt The other bill that had overwhelming support was House Bill 2164, which would have strengthened state bidding and purchasing laws to ensure public officials cannot use their positions of power for personal gain. It clarifies what a conflict of interest is and what requires disclosure, and the measure ensures that officials receive ethics training. The governor announced his veto of that bill Thursday morning and said, 'While I support the core goals of the bill, it would mandate ethics training for every newly elected or appointed head of a state agency, board, or commission—imposing the extreme penalty of removal from office for noncompliance. With hundreds of state agencies, boards, and commissions, this would create excessive bureaucracy with little meaningful impact.' The Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is running for Governor of Oklahoma, quickly came out with a statement against that veto and said: HB 2164 could prevent future scenarios such as that of Swadley's and the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, when the sole bidder for a state contract landed a sweetheart deal that allegedly spurred flagrant overcharging of the state. HB 2164 would conceivably prevent a situation like what we saw several years ago at the Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission, when the employer of the agency director's spouse won a lucrative software contract with OESC. Attorney General Gentner Drummond Several other votes for overriding his vetoes came throughout the day, but by late Thursday evening, the Senate had yet to finish their votes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. visits Arizona to support bills aimed to 'Make America Healthy Again'
The Brief RFK Jr. was in Phoenix on April 8 to throw his support behind state health-related bills. FOX 10's Ashlie Rodriguez breaks down what the bills, HB 2164 and 2165, aim to do. PHOENIX - Make America, and Arizona, Healthy Again. That's the theme of a news conference headlined by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. in Phoenix on April 8. What we know He's visiting after two health bills passed in Arizona's Senate. Arizona Rep. Leo Biasiucci introduced both of the bills. HB 2164, which would get rid of processed foods in public schools, and HB 2165, which prohibits food stamp recipients from buying sodas. He said he got the idea after traveling overseas and seeing how people in other countries eat. He says the experience really opened his eyes to all the toxins, processed foods and additives in school lunches. He believes the ingredients are hurting the health of children. Big picture view RFK Jr. arrived in Arizona to give his support to the bills. Rep. Biasiucci believes Arizona is a leader when it comes to the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. Let's break down what these bills will do. HB 2164 regulates Arizona public schools that participate in federally funded meal programs. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, these schools can no longer serve, sell or allow vendors to sell ultra-processed foods. They define ultra-processed foods as those with many added ingredients such as sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colors or preservatives. Examples of these foods are frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs, cold cuts, fast food, packaged cookies, cakes, and salty snacks. HB 2165 prohibits people using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits, from buying soda. Soda is defined as any carbonated beverage containing more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener. The other side The "Make America Healthy Again" movement has gained a lot of traction because of this country's skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Opponents argue that "Make America Healthy Again" solutions don't address the root causes of America's health crisis, which they say are caused by systemic issues like economic inequality, food insecurity, and underfunded public health systems.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Senate sends school Guardian bill to House; fate of rival bills remains uncertain
Mar. 20—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — The state Senate sent its bill to put contracted Guardians into public schools over to the House of Delegates on Thursday, but what will become of it remains a question. A different House bill with similar intent that the delegates sent to the Senate last week is languishing in Senate Education. Last year, the two sides failed to reconcile their differences and the rival bills died in conference committee on the last day of the session. On Thursday, the Senate passed SB 450 with a 34-0 vote. It would create the West Virginia Guardian Program It would permit a county school board to contract with retired law enforcement officers to provide security on school campuses. The Guardian would be authorized to carry a weapon after meeting specified requirements. The bill spells out required training and testing. The Guardian would not be a law enforcement officer and could detain a suspect but would have no power to arrest. The bill would require a potential Guardian to pay $50 for a permit from the county sheriff. The sheriff would use the money for the permitting program. Any surplus funds at the end of the fiscal year could be used for other law enforcement purposes and operating needs of the sheriff's office. County participation would be voluntary, subject to available funding. No state money would be provided. But head scratching ensues because last week the House passed HB 2164 in a 93-0 vote. It includes a slightly tweaked version of SB 450 along with the House approach. The House approach says public and charter schools, along with private and religious schools, may employ school safety officers. SSOs must also be former law enforcement officers and may carry firearms. They may detain but not arrest a suspect. The hiring school must cover the equipment costs and provide insurance coverage. The bill prescribes training for the SSOs. The House tweak to SB 450 is that it cuts a Senate provision providing qualified immunity from civil and criminal liability for the school and the Guardian. It substitutes an insurance requirement. Bringing on an officer is optional under both bills, based on the school's desire and finances. But HB 2164 is more expansive by giving schools a choice between hiring or contracting officers. The Dominion Post asked the House of Delegates press office about their intentions for the bills. House Education chair Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, said that because HB 2164 is more comprehensive, he believes the House version should be the vehicle for the legislation. He did not indicate if there is any compromise deal or plan in the works.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Judiciary OKs bill allowing schools to hire safety officers or contract Guardians
Mar. 7—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — School security guard legislation continues to wend its way through the Legislature, with a bill blending House and Senate versions earning unanimous House Judiciary Committee approval on Friday. HB 2164 will now head to the House floor. It's the third iteration, blending House Education's version with SB 450, which passed out of Senate Education and has been sitting in Senate Finance (in the early part of each session, the respective finance committees hold agency budget hearings and bills needing financial review pile up in the queue). The Hose provisions say public and charter schools, along with private and religious schools, may employ school safety officers. SSOs must be former law enforcement officers and may carry firearms. They may detain but not arrest a suspect. The hiring school must cover the equipment costs and provide insurance coverage. The bill prescribes training for the SSOs. In a new bill section, it brings in the Senate's West Virginia Guardian program. This allows public schools, including charters (private and religious schools do not appear n this section), to contract with a former law enforcement officer to provide Guardian services. The powers are essentially the same as for an SSO. Adding this to the House version gives schools a choice of bringing on an officer either as an employee or as an independent contractor. One change from SB 450 is HB 2164 cuts a provision providing qualified immunity from civil and criminal liability for the school and the Guardian. In substitutes an insurance requirement. For both SSOs and Guardians, this is an option for a school, not mandatory. Last year, the competing House and Senate approaches went to conference committee on the last day of the 2024 session but went unresolved before the session adjourned and both bills died. On Friday, Delegate Michael Hornby, R-Berkeley and a bill co-sponsor, said they've worked hard on this for the past two years. "It's about time we address this so that we can protect our kids." Delegate Keith Marple, R-Harrison, said every school in his county has a resource officer, and that officer is always the most popular adult in the school. They have good rapport with the kids and the kids will come to them to share any problems they're having at school or at home. "They've been able to rescue some kids from dangerous situations in their homes, " he said. The bill now heads to the House floor.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Judiciary OKs bill allowing schools to hire safety officers or contract Guardians
Mar. 7—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — School security guard legislation continues to wend its way through the Legislature, with a bill blending House and Senate versions earning unanimous House Judiciary Committee approval on Friday. HB 2164 will now head to the House floor. It's the third iteration, blending House Education's version with SB 450, which passed out of Senate Education and has been sitting in Senate Finance (in the early part of each session, the respective finance committees hold agency budget hearings and bills needing financial review pile up in the queue). The Hose provisions say public and charter schools, along with private and religious schools, may employ school safety officers. SSOs must be former law enforcement officers and may carry firearms. They may detain but not arrest a suspect. The hiring school must cover the equipment costs and provide insurance coverage. The bill prescribes training for the SSOs. In a new bill section, it brings in the Senate's West Virginia Guardian program. This allows public schools, including charters (private and religious schools do not appear n this section), to contract with a former law enforcement officer to provide Guardian services. The powers are essentially the same as for an SSO. Adding this to the House version gives schools a choice of bringing on an officer either as an employee or as an independent contractor. One change from SB 450 is HB 2164 cuts a provision providing qualified immunity from civil and criminal liability for the school and the Guardian. In substitutes an insurance requirement. For both SSOs and Guardians, this is an option for a school, not mandatory. Last year, the competing House and Senate approaches went to conference committee on the last day of the 2024 session but went unresolved before the session adjourned and both bills died. On Friday, Delegate Michael Hornby, R-Berkeley and a bill co-sponsor, said they've worked hard on this for the past two years. "It's about time we address this so that we can protect our kids." Delegate Keith Marple, R-Harrison, said every school in his county has a resource officer, and that officer is always the most popular adult in the school. They have good rapport with the kids and the kids will come to them to share any problems they're having at school or at home. "They've been able to rescue some kids from dangerous situations in their homes, " he said. The bill now heads to the House floor.
