Latest news with #HB344
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mom of 8-year-old girl killed by school bus confronts lawmaker who wants to reduce Addy's Law fines
Channel 2 Action News cameras were rolling when the mother of an eight-year-old girl killed trying to catch her school bus confronted the lawmaker who wants to reduce the fines for passing a stopped school bus. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The mother of Adalyn Pierce, who was killed last year in Henry County, was elated. Ashley Pierce had a tense exchange with State Rep. Don Parsons, who wanted to reduce the fines for passing a stopped school bus where kids are getting on and off. 'We don't want to be here,' Pierce told Parsons. He apologized and walked away. 'Say her name. It's Ashley Pierce,' one of her supporters shouted in the Capitol hallway. Pierce was not happy with Parsons's attempts to reduce the $1,000 minimum fine she fought for, for drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus when kids are getting on or off. RELATED STORIES: Family petitions for new law after 8-year-old girl hit, killed getting on the bus Addy's Law: As school starts back, a local mom is reminding drivers to slow down, stop for buses Mother pushes for 'Addy's Law' in honor of 8-year-old daughter hit, killed while getting on bus 8-year-old child struck and killed by car in Henry County identified At this hearing, Parsons says he now wants the fine to be not less than $500 and not more than $1,000. He wants judges to have the discretion to decide the amount. 'I think to get a $500 fine, you are not likely to do it again,' Parsons said. Addy's uncle testified Parsons is concerned with the violators and not the victims. 'We're asking that you withdraw this bill so that Georgia's children are not compromised over a monetary penalty,' Caleb King testified. State Rep. Clint Crowe reminded Parsons the higher fine is about saving lives. 'If this fine is a minimum of a $1,000, you won't do this but once,' Crowe said. He said he vehemently opposed the legislation. Then, there was a motion to table the issue. 'All those in favor of motion to tabling HB344 say I, a lawmaker asked,' the motion passed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Lawmakers said that potentially puts the bill on ice this legislative session. Addy's mother, Ashley Pierce, was elated. 'Hopefully, this is the last time,' she said, to applause from her many supporters who showed up. A lawmaker said it's possible someone on the Senate side could revive the bill. But she said if the House side wouldn't go forward with it, most likely the Senate side wouldn't either.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GA State Rep. roasted online after posting about reducing fine for passing stopped school buses
A Georgia lawmaker's post on social media explaining why he wants to lower the fine for passing a stopped school bus came under fire in the comments section. Addy's Law has stiffened penalties for passing a stopped school bus. But House Bill 344 would reduce the current $1,000 fine to $300 for a first offense. State Rep. Don Parsons wrote in a Facebook post that he disagreed with the $1,000 fine because it puts a burden on families. The mother of Adalyn Pierce said there's no greater burden on a family than losing a child. And many people commented online and agreed with her. Ashley Pierce said at least 96 angry emojis and dozens of negative comments on Parsons' post says a lot. 'I mean it says a lot about how people feel about what he's doing,' she told Channel 2′s Tom Jones. 'He made that post to actually find supporters and look for supporters.' In the first 24 hours since Parsons posted it, many people have roasted him. He filed House Bill 344. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Ashley helped pass Addy's Law, named after her daughter who was killed when police say a driver passed a stopped school bus last year. Addy's Law increased the fine for doing so to $1,000. Parsons wrote in a Facebook post that $1,000 is too high and would burden families. One comment replied 'Honestly, this post makes me sick to my stomach.' Another wrote, 'Shame on you.' And another stated, 'You are talking about a thousand dollars versus a child's life.' 'I encourage him to read those comments,' Ashley said. 'To actually read every single one of them.' Channel 2 Action News contacted Parsons to get his response. We are still waiting to hear back from him. Ashley's father, Russ Dingess, said he wants to hear from the co-sponsors of HB 344, who also voted for Addy's Law. 'His own sponsors for the bill won't answer emails. They're not responding to phone calls,' Dingess said. Ashley said the commenters made it perfectly clear how they feel about fines for passing a stopped school bus. 'They should be higher,' she said. Parsons' bill was scheduled to be heard during a hearing on Tuesday, but it was taken off the agenda. TRENDING STORIES: Clayton County police officer rushed to hospital after being shot Gwinnett couple charged with taking $1 million from dead mother's pension 5 arrested in murder of 11-year-old shot at Paulding County home [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘All you have to do is stop:' Mom upset after she says lawmakers are trying to weaken school bus law
A mother whose 8-year-old child was killed trying to catch her school bus is not happy lawmakers are trying to weaken a law she helped pass to keep kids safe. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Gov. Brian Kemp signed Addy's Law last year after the tragic death of Adalynn 'Addy' Pierce. Addy's mother, Ashley Pierce, was stunned to hear there is an effort afoot to reduce the fines for passing a stopped school bus. She says the law intends to make sure what happened to her happens to no one else. 'It was horrific. Because a driver could not stop,' she told Channel 2′s Tom Jones. Pierce showed Jones where she watched her daughter cross Jackson Lake Road in Henry County in February last year to catch her school bus. 'Watched the car head this way, watched the car not stop, watched Addy step into the road and land over there,' she said, pointing to a spot where her family has created a memorial. RELATED STORIES: Family petitions for new law after 8-year-old girl hit, killed getting on the bus Addy's Law: As school starts back, a local mom is reminding drivers to slow down, stop for buses Mother pushes for 'Addy's Law' in honor of 8-year-old daughter hit, killed while getting on bus 8-year-old child struck and killed by car in Henry County identified Police charged 25-year-old Kaylee Andre with going around the stopped school bus--with its lights flashing and stop arm out-- and hitting and killing Addy. 'I don't want that to happen to anybody else's kid,' Pierce explained. Pierce fought to get Addy's Law passed. It increased fines to a minimum of $1000 for drivers who passed a stopped school bus. The bill carried a possible 12 months in jail. Now there's an effort to weaken it. '$1,000 is a lot of money,' State Rep. Don Parsons told a legislative committee after he introduced HB 344, which would initially reduce the $1,000 fine. 'It would be $300 for the first occurrence, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third.' Parsons says he's gotten many complaints about the high fine, especially from real estate agents who travel a lot. Pierce says the answer is simple: 'All you have to do is stop and you will not get a ticket.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] She is not happy her hard work and efforts at protecting children are in jeopardy. 'They're basically saying we don't want this to be criminal at all and we want to give someone three chances to kill a child.' Lauren Daniel wrote Addy's Law but is no longer in office. 'I don't believe you will find a parent in the state of Georgia that will tell you that $1,000 is too much,' she said. Pierce says she doesn't understand why lawmakers are worried about lawbreakers and not the children the law protects. 'Show me where it's not working...(be)cause all I know is there has not been another child that's gone,' Pierce said. Some members of the legislative committee say they'd like to amend HB-344 to reduce the fine to a flat $500 for each offense. They want to remove any potential jail time. The committee will discuss those amendments and the bill on Friday morning. Pierce says she will be there to share why she wants lawmakers to leave Addy's Law alone.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmaker wants to prevent ‘sanctuary cities' in Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Kentucky lawmaker has filed a bill to prohibit local governments from obstructing the repatriations or identification of people living in the country illegally. 'The federal government has a clear mandate from the American people to enforce our nation's immigration laws,' Rep. Jared Bauman of Louisville said. 'HB 344 will be our commonwealth's promise to uphold federal law and to support federal law enforcement agencies as they identify and detain illegal aliens who have violated our nation's sovereign borders. Above all, we are committed to supporting federal law enforcement agencies as they pursue illegal aliens who have committed violent crimes against innocent Kentuckians and pose an active safety threat to our communities.' Legislature limiting governor pardoning power moves forward in Frankfort Petition emerges to remove all London City Council members following hostile meeting Lawmaker wants to prevent 'sanctuary cities' in Kentucky A Kentucky House of Representatives news release said Kentucky law enforcement agencies do not keep data related to people living in the country illegally, but federal agencies estimate that about 650,000 have criminal convictions or pending charges. 'Since January 20, federal agencies have increased ongoing repatriation efforts to enforce national immigration laws. In 2023, the federal government oversaw 142,580 repatriations of individuals from the United States to their home countries,' reads the release. In 2024, the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit that advocates for immigration reform, estimated that 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, about 3.3% of the population. The news release said House Bill 344 would prohibit state agencies, law enforcement agencies, and local governments from adopting sanctuary policies. The bill would also require law enforcement agencies to use all resources reasonably available to support federal immigration law. The bill also allows county governments to make agreements with federal agencies for the detainment of people living in the country illegally and would wave sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity for any local government or law enforcement agency that releases an illegal alien who subsequently commits a violent offense, permitting the victim or victim's family to file a civil action for compensatory damages and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees. Lexington ranked 10th worst large city for football fans: WalletHub Kentucky receives failing grades in tobacco control report Kentucky ranks as 2025's worst state to retire in: WalletHub 'We have a responsibility to the people of Kentucky to ensure that our government enforces federal law,' Bauman added. 'When local governments or state agencies establish sanctuary policies to undermine law enforcement, it signals to our citizens that our government does not take public safety seriously, and it suggests to criminals that they can act without consequence. We must ensure that federal agents are supported when operating in our communities. Collaboration and communication between local, state, and federal agencies will make the repatriation process safer for everyone involved, including our law enforcement officers and community members.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
