Latest news with #HB424
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KY bills ending DEI in public colleges, stirring uncertainty about tenure's future become law
A small group holds a mock funeral for university education on the steps of the Capitol Thursday morning to protest two bills that received final approval from the legislature Thursday evening. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) FRANKFORT — With a veto-proof supermajority, Republican lawmakers overturned Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's vetoes on two notable higher education bills Thursday. House Bill 4 eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) at Kentucky's public universities and was at the center of heated debates in the General Assembly this session. Some Kentucky professors have warned that House Bill 424 erodes academic tenure at the state's public universities and colleges, although its sponsor has said it is about employment contracts at universities. The House and Senate quickly gave both final passage by largely party-line votes. In his veto messages on the bills, Beshear argued they could both hinder higher education in Kentucky. Some advocates agreed with him. Four people — college students Jillian Gabhart, Savannah Dowell and Alice Harkins and Eastern Kentucky University lecturer Carl Root — read eulogies for university education on the steps of the Capitol Thursday morning. Dressed in black, they held a funeral as lawmakers convened for business. 'We may have lost a battle here in Frankfort, and we should absolutely mourn what we've lost here today,' Root said. 'But we must also organize, agitate, educate and fight back against those who would use all the power of government in attempts to force uniformity, inequity and exclusion on all our universities, classrooms and curriculum.' Some House Democrats met with the funeral-goers outside. When HB 424 was called to the floor, Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, said she feared passing the bill would upend recruiting faculty to the state's public universities. She added that protecting tenure gives faculty 'the ability to explore complex, and sometimes controversial topics.' 'Tenure protects the core mission of higher education,' she said. It is the fearless pursuit of knowledge and critical thinking.' Democrats in the Senate raised similar concerns in their chamber. Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, and a law professor at the University of Louisville, said HB 424 has produced 'confusion and fear' among facultyi. She said she was supportive of Beshear's reasoning for the veto, adding that 'these sorts of policies that take away faculty self-governance' and 'put in place these programs with no guardrails' undermine the security tenure establishes. Meanwhile, Republicans easily had the votes to enact their policies. Rep. Vanessa Grossl, R-Georgetown, said she supported the veto override of HB 4 because she believes 'in equality' and 'equal opportunity.' 'Our greatest divide as a commonwealth and as a nation is not based in race, but is rural and urban,' she said. 'I'm voting no today because DEI on our college campuses is not helping poor kids in Kentucky who are seeking to further their educational goals, regardless of their immutable characteristics.' In speaking in support of HBl 4, Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, looked back to the Civil Rights Movement and said activist Martin Luther King Jr. 'gave us a great start and what happened?' Douglas then asked, 'Should we continue to blame others and hold others accountable for our own personal decisions?' 'This legislation is only a message to those who are unwilling or unable to love others deep enough to allow them to seek their own way or their own level of success,' the senator said. 'We have to love them.' The Kentucky bills are reflective of actions Republicans have taken elsewhere to exert their influence over higher education. On the issue of tenure, Florida recently passed a law requiring post-tenure reviews of professors at public universities and termination should they fail them. This year, a Nebraska Republican lawmaker introduced a bill that would replace academic tenure with annual performance evaluations of faculty members. Though an anti-DEI bill failed to pass in Kentucky last year, the passage of the current law comes as Republican President Donald Trump has made DEI a target of his administration. In addition to issuing an executive order aimed at curbing DEI in the private sector early on in his second term, Trump is facing a lawsuit from fired federal workers who were tasked with implementing DEI policies.
CBS News
15-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Maryland Senate approves legislation to expand Prescription Drug Affordability Board
The Maryland Senate passed legislation Thursday that would expand the authority of the state's Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The board was first created under a law that took effect in 2019. The law tasked the board with addressing rising prescription costs, especially for certain expensive medications. The law allowed the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to cap prices for some medications. By 2022, the board was able to set payment limits, but only with approval from a legislative panel. Under the law, the board is required to study the prescription drug supply chain, report back to the panel and offer policy options to lower prices. The panel is comprised of lawmakers from the state House and Senate. The board is also required to confer with a stakeholder council made up of 26 members, including representatives from drug companies, healthcare advocacy organizations, labor unions and researchers. SB357 could expand board's authority Senate Bill 357, or the Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Now Act, would add some members to the stakeholder council and require the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to confer with the Maryland Medical Assistance Program before setting payment limits. The stakeholder council provides input to the board as they make decisions about drug prices. The bill would add a representative from the rare disease community, a patient advocacy organization and a representative for oncologists to the council. Under the bill, the board would be allowed to reconsider payment limits for drugs that become part of a shortage. However, the board would not be able to establish a new payment limit for a drug that is part of a current shortage. The bill would also require the board to issue a report one year after setting a payment limit. The report would need to detail the impact of the limit on patient out-of-pocket costs, patient health insurance premiums, reimbursement rates for pharmacies and shortages or supply disruptions. Maryland House passes similar bill The Maryland House passed a similar bill, HB424, which would expand the Drug Affordability Board's ability to set payment limits. This bill would also require the board to confer with the Maryland Medical Assistance Program before setting limits on drugs that apply to the program, though the details of the bill are somewhat different. Both bills have been passed to the opposite chamber for review. Both parties will need to agree on which version of the bill to pass. The bills have received praise from healthcare advocates. "When fully enacted, this measure will expand the Prescription Drug Affordability Board's authority so it can work to bring down costs for all Marylanders," said Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KY Senate Democratic leader falls short of changing GOP higher ed bills in committee
Kentucky Senate Democratic Leader Gerald Neal of Louisville presents alternatives to Republican-sponsored anti-DEI legislation and a bill that faculty say will erode tenure rights. He was speaking to the Senate Education Committee, March 10, 2025. (LRC Public Information) FRANKFORT — Backed by United Campus Workers of Kentucky, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal attempted to get the Senate Education Committee to adopt substitute versions of two Republican higher education bills Monday afternoon. The Louisville Democrat wasn't successful in either case. The Senate Education Committee forwarded both House Bill 424, which Kentucky professors have warned would erode academic tenure at the state's public universities, and House Bill 4, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public universities. Neal's changes to HB 424 would have ensured that faculty would be evaluated on criteria related to their academic discipline. His proposed changes to the anti-DEI bill were more substantial; he said they would address 'unintended consequences' of the bill, should it become law. He presented his proposals with Ray Horton, a professor at Murray State University and member of United Campus Workers (UCW). The Republican sponsors of both bills, Rep. James Tipton, of Taylorsville, for HB 424 and Rep. Jennifer Decker, of Waddy, for HB 4, said Neal's committee substitutes would 'weaken' their legislation. Both committee substitutes failed in voice votes. 'We're saying a whole lot about ourselves here,' Neal said while voting no on House Bill 4. 'I'm hoping we can reclaim ourselves, because I know there are good people here, and I will continue to reach out to you.' Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas of Lexington also spoke and voted against the anti-DEI bill, noting that until less than 80 years ago Black Kentuckians were barred by law from most of the state's public universities. He said HB 4 would turn back the clock. 'Today, we seek to reverse history and go back to our ugly past. Let's make no doubt about it, this bill is about race and about its intention to really change the course of history,' Thomas said. 'We want to put on the front door of these public universities, 'You are not welcome. Application denied.'' Neal and Thomas are the only Black members of the committee. Paper copies of Neal's proposals were given to members of the committee and the bill sponsors during the meeting. During debate on Tipton's bill, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, of Greensburg, repeated something he said he's heard from Democrats upon seeing committee substitutes for the first time during a meeting. 'To use a phrase that we often hear around this place, this is sure at the last second; if we could have seen this sooner, we could have had time to chew on this and think about this,' Givens said. 'This would have been really good for us to have seen sooner than this. But I've never had the chance to use that phrase before, so I get the chance to use it now.' 'I think you have a good point, but you know how it is up here,' Neal said in response. 'Things evolve, things come to your attention, and we are here and we do have the ability to make this happen. I think if we slow down just a moment and deliberate on exactly what's been presented here, we have an opportunity. So that's why I came forward.' The committee also heard from about 10 speakers who opposed HB 4, the anti-DEI bill. They argued it could undermine resources on Kentucky campuses that protect diversity among students and faculty. After the meeting adjourned, advocates with UCW continued sharing their concerns with the legislation in a livestream outside of the Capitol Annex. 'House Bill 4 is far too imprecise, self-contradictory and frankly dangerous to become law in this commonwealth,' said Savannah Dowell, a student from the University of Louisville. In order to protect both bills from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto, Senate Republicans must pass them by the end of this week. The legislature recesses Friday, giving Beshear almost two weeks to consider possible vetoes. Lawmakers return March 27 for the final two days of this session, when they can easily override any vetoes. Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority in the House and Senate. HB 4 has two readings in the Senate, making it eligible for a floor vote as early as Tuesday. Neal has filed 15 floor amendments to the bill. Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, has filed her own amendment as well. HB 424 has no floor readings in the Senate and no new amendments filed. Neal substitute for House Bill 4 HB 4 – PSS 4 Neal substitute for House Bill 424 25RS HB 424 PSS 1
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KY Senate Democratic leader falls short of changing GOP higher ed bills in committee
Kentucky Senate Democratic Leader Gerald Neal of Louisville presents alternatives to Republican-sponsored anti-DEI legislation and a bill that faculty say will erode tenure rights. He was speaking to the Senate Education Committee, March 10, 2025. (LRC Public Information) FRANKFORT — Backed by United Campus Workers of Kentucky, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal attempted to get the Senate Education Committee to adopt substitute versions of two Republican higher education bills Monday afternoon. The Louisville Democrat wasn't successful in either case. The Senate Education Committee forwarded both House Bill 424, which Kentucky professors have warned would erode academic tenure at the state's public universities, and House Bill 4, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public universities. Neal's changes to HB 424 would have ensured that faculty would be evaluated on criteria related to their academic discipline. His proposed changes to the anti-DEI bill were more substantial; he said they would address 'unintended consequences' of the bill, should it become law. He presented his proposals with Ray Horton, a professor at Murray State University and member of United Campus Workers (UCW). The Republican sponsors of both bills, Rep. James Tipton, of Taylorsville, for HB 424 and Rep. Jennifer Decker, of Waddy, for HB 4, said Neal's committee substitutes would 'weaken' their legislation. Both committee substitutes failed in voice votes. 'We're saying a whole lot about ourselves here,' Neal said while voting no on House Bill 4. 'I'm hoping we can reclaim ourselves, because I know there are good people here, and I will continue to reach out to you.' Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas of Lexington also spoke and voted against the anti-DEI bill, noting that until less than 80 years ago Black Kentuckians were barred by law from most of the state's public universities. He said HB 4 would turn back the clock. 'Today, we seek to reverse history and go back to our ugly past. Let's make no doubt about it, this bill is about race and about its intention to really change the course of history,' Thomas said. 'We want to put on the front door of these public universities, 'You are not welcome. Application denied.'' Neal and Thomas are the only Black members of the committee. Paper copies of Neal's proposals were given to members of the committee and the bill sponsors during the meeting. During debate on Tipton's bill, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, of Greensburg, repeated something he said he's heard from Democrats upon seeing committee substitutes for the first time during a meeting. 'To use a phrase that we often hear around this place, this is sure at the last second; if we could have seen this sooner, we could have had time to chew on this and think about this,' Givens said. 'This would have been really good for us to have seen sooner than this. But I've never had the chance to use that phrase before, so I get the chance to use it now.' 'I think you have a good point, but you know how it is up here,' Neal said in response. 'Things evolve, things come to your attention, and we are here and we do have the ability to make this happen. I think if we slow down just a moment and deliberate on exactly what's been presented here, we have an opportunity. So that's why I came forward.' The committee also heard from about 10 speakers who opposed HB 4, the anti-DEI bill. They argued it could undermine resources on Kentucky campuses that protect diversity among students and faculty. After the meeting adjourned, advocates with UCW continued sharing their concerns with the legislation in a livestream outside of the Capitol Annex. 'House Bill 4 is far too imprecise, self-contradictory and frankly dangerous to become law in this commonwealth,' said Savannah Dowell, a student from the University of Louisville. In order to protect both bills from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto, Senate Republicans must pass them by the end of this week. The legislature recesses Friday, giving Beshear almost two weeks to consider possible vetoes. Lawmakers return March 27 for the final two days of this session, when they can easily override any vetoes. Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority in the House and Senate. HB 4 has two readings in the Senate, making it eligible for a floor vote as early as Tuesday. Neal has filed 15 floor amendments to the bill. Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, has filed her own amendment as well. HB 424 has no floor readings in the Senate and no new amendments filed. Neal substitute for House Bill 4 HB 4 – PSS 4 Neal substitute for House Bill 424 25RS HB 424 PSS 1
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tensions run high on PDAB expansion vote
Republican Minority Whip Jesse Pippy, right, and Minority Leader Jason Buckel rise with other GOP lawmakers Friday to challenge Majority Leader David Moon, left, after he criticized President Donald Trump and Elon Musk during floor debate. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters) Just days after pointed, but civil, debate on a proposal to expand efforts to control prescription drug costs, the House floor erupted in a partisan shouting match Friday that had to be gaveled back to order by an angry Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County). The uproar came during the final House vote on House Bill 424, a bill that would expand the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. That board was created in 2019 and charged with reducing the cost of prescription medicines purchased by state health plans. Even though it has made slow progress on that front, HB424 would give the board the power to rein in the cost of drugs purchased by any drug provider in the state. Republicans fought the bill all week, pointing to the lack of progress by PDAB on its current goals, saying the regulations would drive pharmaceutical companies out of the state and suggesting that expanding the board's authority could threaten the availability of drugs in Maryland. GOP lawmakers offered a string of unsuccessful amendments Wednesday that they said were aimed at potential unintended consequences of the bill, such as limiting access to prescription drugs and creating market disruptions. Supporters, like Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery), the sponsor of the bill, argued that PDAB will not set price caps, as opponents claim, but would merely establish the the highest price the state — and under HB424, other purchasers — were willing to pay for a drug. It has the potential to lower drug costs for those who need it most, they said. The debates earlier this week, were calm — boring, even. That changed during Friday's debate. House set to approve expansion of drug board's authority to lower costs Republicans renewed many of their criticisms from earlier in the week, including arguments that expanding PDAB could limit access and threaten research and development of new drugs. Several took the opportunity to use HB424 as a proxy for health care regulation in general, and veered into long criticisms of the 2012 Affordable Care Act. Several Democratic lawmakers tried to steer the discussion — which took up more than 40 minutes of Friday's hourlong floor session — back to the bill at hand. By the time Majority Leader David Moon (D-Montgomery) stood to explain his vote, he had heard enough of what he called the 'Bizarro World floor debate' of the Republicans. 'The minority party is claiming to worry about research and development into lifesaving medications. They claim to care about access to health care. This bill is not your problem if those are concerns,' said Moon, who turned the debate into an argument over the rapid-fire cuts to federal agencies by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is in charge of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. Moon referenced recent layoffs at federal regulatory agencies such as National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, which are housed in Maryland, and had been cited in some Republican amendments earlier in the week. 'President Musk, and what Vice President Trump are doing – that is your problem,' Moon said. His deliberate mischaracterization of Trump and Musk's dynamic first earned a few chuckles from Democrats, and then a chorus of 'boo's' from Republicans. ''Boo' — Yes, 'boo,'' Moon responded sarcastically. When Del. Lauren Arikan (R-Harford) stood up and interrupted Moon to explain her vote, Moon snapped, 'I'm not done.' That led Arikan to charge Moon had gone over the two-minute time limit to speak. She was joined by a half-dozen other Republicans demanding to make a point of order, to explain their votes or to argue that Moon had exceeded his time, until Jones stepped in to quiet the cacophony of voices. 'I've not recognized anyone else,' Jones shouted over disruption, bringing the gavel down hard three times to stop the frenzy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Let me speak,' Jones demanded. 'His [Moon's] time is up, he's going to sit down.' Moon agreed and sat. She then told everyone to sit back down and 'relax – if you can.' Jones then recognized Arikan, who called the exchange 'painful.' 'I don't know what this bill could possibly have to do with Donald Trump or Elon Musk. This bill is about rigging the market. Conservatives never like that. I am so sorry to offend you with our belief that the free market is the best way to lower the cost of things.' Other than a few snarky remarks about the flare-up itself, the debate went on without any other disruptions and HB424 ultimately passed on a party-line vote, 94-38. It now heads to the Senate, where a companion bill has yet to get a committee hearing. Following the floor session, Moon defended his floor remarks. 'It's just very strange to me, given the totality of everything going on in the world, to be having a conversation about pharmaceutical research and development,' he said, 'specifically talking about the NIH and the FDA in floor debate on Republican amendments, supposedly to improve access to health care and lower prescription drugs — and specifically foster research and development 'The thing that's actually threatening what they claim to care about … is all of the announcements that we've heard from the federal government this week — gutting mass layoffs and the likes at those very agencies,' Moon said. 'It's just a wildly disconnected conversation.' The final word Friday went to Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), the majority parliamentarian, who gently reminded House members of the rules of floor debate and the need to keep things cordial — reminders that are becoming a semiregular occurrence. 'Just a couple of refreshers — we only speak when we are acknowledged by the Speaker to do so. Also, when we are rising to explain our vote … the clerks are timing,' she said. 'Also, the Speaker is the keeper of order and quorum in the House. It has been the custom of this chamber to not be overtly political or personal in this chamber. 'That's for everyone in the chamber, no matter what side of the aisle you are on,' she said to a smattering of applause. 'We all have to abide by those rules.'
