Latest news with #HB73
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Hampshire celebrates 50th anniversary of state's first-in-the-nation primary status
Ayotte read proclamation marking 50th anniversary of FITN primary law Former Republican State Chairman Chris Ager, who chairs a presidential primary committee, had this commemorative cake made to mark the 50th anniversary of a 1975 state law that cemented New Hampshire as having the first presidential primary in the nation. Lawmakers and state election officials past and present came to the State House Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the state law that cemented New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Portsmouth Democrat Jim Splaine authored HB 73 as a 25-year-old legislator in January 1975 to enshrine the state's status as the first primary before any 'similar contest.' 'New Hampshire will continue to be first as long as we follow the tradition we have had for really over 100 years,' Splaine said, referring to the first modern primary the state held in 1910. 'It is not only good for the candidates and good for political parties, it is good for the people of the United States, it's democracy at its best.' The liberal Splaine credited then-Gov. Meldrim Thomson, an arch conservative, with giving him the best two words of advice when Splaine proposed a large committee to set the date every four years. 'Pick one,' Thomson told Splaine. That's how Splaine altered his idea to have the secretary of state be the sole person to schedule the event. For 46 years, that job fell to Secretary of State Bill Gardner, who stepped down in 2022 as the longest serving election official in the country. 'The New Hampshire primary has always been about the people, the little guy, not the big shots,' Gardner said. 'We have seen that continue to this day. This primary has served the country very well.' Nevada governor saved NH with his veto Gardner said in 1969, then-Gov. Walter Peterson convinced Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt to veto a bill for that state to take the first primary away from New Hampshire. The legislation was sponsored by a 25-year-old Nevada Democratic lawmaker named Harry Reid, who went on to become U.S. Senate majority leader. Retired state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester said that was one of his favorite Peterson stories. 'That was an example of integrity in politics that has totally disappeared in today's world,' D'Allesandro said. Gardner, Scanlan, friends celebrate FITN anniversary Former Secretary of State Bill Gardner at the podium spoke about the early presidential primary history at an event flanked by Gov. Kelly Ayotte, far left, and his replacement, David Scanlan, far right. Also looking on seated were ex-Rep. Jim Splaine, the Portsmouth lawmaker who wrote the 1975 primary law and George Roberts, House speaker at the time. Standing behind them from left were Robb Thomson, son of the late Gov. Meldrim Thomson and ex-Rep. and GOP State Chairman Steve Duprey. Gardner's replacement, Secretary of State David Scanlan, faced his own challenge in 2023 when the Democratic National Committee approved a calendar that tried to put South Carolina first and New Hampshire second along with Nevada. Scanlan ignored the DNC schedule, held the first contest here on Jan. 23, 2024, and the DNC relented, agreeing to seat all of New Hampshire's delegates at the nominating convention. 'To those pundits who say New Hampshire has lost its position, not true, we are still first and will continue to be as long as we follow this important law,' Scanlan said. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a proclamation marking the occasion and gave the signing pen to Splaine. 'This is about doing the right thing for the country,' Ayotte said. Back in 1975, then-Rep. Steve Duprey had been elected as one of the youngest House members in history. 'The primary is important. It was great to be part of a tribe that was fighting to save it,' said Duprey, a former Republican state chairman. Other speakers at the event were Robb Thomson, son of the late governor; then-House Speaker George Roberts; Sherman Packard, the current House Speaker; Senate President Sharon Carson; and Howard Altschiller, executive editor of Seacoast Media Group. klandrigan@
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: Feb. 25-27, 2025
Alabama Senate convenes for a session, Feb. 25, 2005. (Photo/Stew Milne for the Alabama Reflector) Here is a list of the bills that passed in the Alabama Legislature this week. House HB 73, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, prohibits the possession of a trigger activator in Jefferson County, which enables a firearm to shoot automatically without manual reloading. It passed 25-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 101, sponsored by Rep. Mark Shirey, R-Mobile, allows the Mobile County sheriff to create guidelines for using the Sheriff's Office credit or debit card. It passed 16-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 104, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, allows the governing body of a Class 2 municipality to determine whether debris is a public nuisance and remove it. It passed 29-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 269, sponsored by Rep. Alan Treadaway, R-Morris, expands the boundary lines in Morris to include the corporate limits of the town in Jefferson County. It passed 27-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 159, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, renames the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission. It passed 101-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, places bids and purchases by volunteer fire stations under local competitive bid law requirements. It passed 99-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 163, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, allows research companies to deduct research expenses in the year the company spends it, instead of waiting five years. It passed 99-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 195, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, allows disabled veterans to get a disabled veteran license plate when their physical disability is at least 50%, instead of when the disability exceeds 50% of the veteran's mobility. It passed 100-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 205, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, revises tax exemptions for personal property to include use taxes instead of only sales tax. It passed 101-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 261, sponsored by Rep. Corley Ellis, R-Columbiana, allows nonresident surplus line brokers to obtain a license from the Department of Insurance without a surety bond. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. SB 48, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, increases the Board of Registrar's pay from $80 to $115 each day a member participates in the business of the board. It passed 101-0. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 94, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, expands the definition of a Class B felony in second-degree human trafficking to include online or print advertising of sexual labor. It passed 103-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 250, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, requires public office candidates to submit a statement of economic interests within five days of the qualifying deadline, instead of within five days of filing for candidacy. It passed 100-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 106, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, expands the coverage of catastrophe savings accounts to expenses less than $15,000. It passed 101-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 88, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, distinguished parole officers as law enforcement officers. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 84, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, updates procedures for licensing and renewing licensing for chiropractors. It passed 100-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 238, sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, allows nonviolent criminals that have served their time to receive an occupational license. It passed 97-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, creates a non-traditional high school diploma program for dropouts. It passed 103-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 262, sponsored by Rep. Corley Ellis, R-Columbiana, updates the state's life insurance policy to reference the correct section of the Code of Alabama 1975. It passed 103-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 57, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, prohibits local boards of education from purchasing land for its school that is outside of the school's municipality. It passed 76-8. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 287, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, requires law enforcement agencies to annually report how many sworn-in officers are employed to the state. It passed 86-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. Senate SB 116, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would make it a state crime to possess or distribute firearm conversion devices, commonly referred to as 'Glock switches,' which enable semi-automatic pistols to fire as fully automatic weapons. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House. SB 118, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would allow a judge to deny bail in cases of discharging a weapon into an occupied building, conspiracy or solicitation of murder. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 108, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, would establish the crime of mail theft, or when a person takes mail addressed to another person from the addressee's mailbox. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 47, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would include community emergency response team members among first responders exempt from civil liability when providing aid. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 68, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, would make it so the governing body of a local emergency management organization has the authority to enter into mutual aid agreements — instead of the organization's president. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. House HB 220, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows the St. Clair County sheriff to create guidelines for using the Sheriff's Office credit or debit card. It passed 15-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 221, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, changes the salary of the St. Clair County revenue commissioner to be the same as the county's probate judge. It passed 14-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 223, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, authorizes the St. Clair County Commission to pay county officials' cost of living adjustment. It passed 12-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 236, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, increases the supplemental per diem pay of the board of equalization members from $150 to $200. It passed 20-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 254, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows the St. Clair County Mental Health Officer to commit individuals under certain circumstances. It passed 11-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 289, sponsored by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, updates the allocations for Tennessee Valley Authority in Marshall County. It passed 10-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 294, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, allows the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit to auction, sell and destroy abandoned, stolen and unclaimed property obtained by the unit. It passed 12-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 301, sponsored by Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, abolished the Choctaw County office of constable. It passed 13-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 167, sponsored by Rep. Alan Treadaway, R-Morris, allows tow companies to report towed vehicles as unclaimed immediately to the Department of Revenue, instead of waiting five days. It passed 100-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 158, sponsored by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, established a procedure for cost of living adjustments for retired teachers and state employees through the Education Trust Fund and General Fund appropriations. It passed 97-3. The bill now goes to the Senate. SB 36, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, allows educational institutions and some state agencies to place bids online, in addition to in person. It passed 103-0. The bill now goes to Ivey. HB 66, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, prohibits people convicted of elder abuse from receiving any benefits associated with the death of the victim. It passed 103-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 280, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, requires participants of unpermitted events to reimburse municipalities. It passed 70-22. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 214, sponsored by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, allows the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology to enter the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. SB 59, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, allows the dependents of active duty military to provide medical and immunization records to enroll in a public or private school. It passed 100-0. The bill now goes to Ivey. HB 157, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, sets the base pay for elected and appointed local officials as the same as their predecessor's base pay. It passed 97-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 222, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows the Board of Pardons and Paroles to share GPS data with local law enforcement agencies during an active investigation. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 17, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, prohibits squatted trucks from being raised four inches higher in the front fender than the back fender. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. SB 4, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, allows local sheriffs and police chiefs to contract a school resource officer for nonpublic K-12 schools. It passed 102-0. The bill now goes to Ivey. HB 187, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows fees from the Sheriff's Fund to be spent on law enforcement functions of the office, instead of only for jail operations. It passed 97-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. HB 44, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, reopens the Teachers' Retirement System to allow credits for prior services in St. Clair County. It passed 88-0. The bill now goes to the Senate. Senate SB 140, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, would require the Alabama Department of Public Health to notify youth athletics associations that are not in compliance with the Coach Safety Act and allow ADPH to fine associations after two years of non-compliance. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House. SB 83, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require the adult changing tables to be powered and height-adjustable, and installed in newly constructed or renovated public buildings starting in 2028. The bill passed 27-0. It goes to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to eliminate child sex abuse statute of limitations for civil claims passes first committee
Lex Garcia says she was raped for two years by her teacher at a Rio Rancho high school. During a time when she said she should have been preoccupied with the normal worries of a teenager, Garcia said she was instead embroiled in a manipulative relationship with her instructor, whom she served as a lab assistant. It took 15 years for Garcia to acknowledge to herself she had been sexually exploited, and even longer 'to admit it to anyone that could help me.' That time, the now 33-year-old said, far exceeded the timeline currently allotted by law for victims to come forward to make a civil claim, a problem Garcia said would be addressed by a bill on lawmakers' table to eliminate the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. 'Trauma is not tied to a [timed] clock,' Garcia told lawmakers of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday. 'It's layered, it's non-linear, and the law cannot dictate how long it takes for someone to share their truth about abuse and seek their justice.' The New Mexican normally does not identify victims of child sexual abuse, but has in this case because Garcia has made clear she wants her story publicly shared in hopes of changing the system. She was one of almost a dozen child sexual abuse victims and advocates who turned out in support of House Bill 73, a bipartisan effort that would remove the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, allowing people to open civil cases seeking damages for personal injury at any time. The bill would not impact the criminal statute of limitations for child sex abuse. Under current law, victims have until three years after first disclosing the incident to medical or mental health providers, or until they turn 24, whichever comes last, to file claims. The bill would retroactively apply to all victims. Advocates argue the bill would encourage victims to come forward when they are ready. 'Survivors of sexual abuse do not come forward until 52, on average, and allowing them the space to come to the courthouse so they can have their stories litigated and heard by a jury of their peers just seems fair,' attorney Theresa Hacsi said. Changing the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse has come up in multiple iterations over the years. HB 73 mirrors a Senate bill in 2023, which passed its first committee but failed in its second. HB 73 sponsor Rep. Marianna Anaya, D-Albuquerque, emphasized in a written statement the bipartisan effort this year, arguing lawmakers signing onto the bill 'send the message that addressing sexual assault is a priority for this body.' The bill unanimously passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday, receiving little opposition from lawmakers. 'I think the strong, positive response we saw in committee today shows a desire [to] prioritize the needs of survivors of sexual abuse over insurance company profits,' Anaya wrote. That said, public agencies expressed some concern about the potential losses of new cases being opened. Martin Esquivel, general counsel for the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority, said the agency supported the intent of the bill and asked for lawmakers to make clear the bill does not make public institutions liable to civil lawsuits. 'We certainly don't mean to minimize that harm and the importance of this issue,' he said. '... Obviously, there are some concerns about the cost of litigating cases that are 25 or 30 years old.' A New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department analysis argued lawsuits stemming from children in state custody or from a judge ruling the agency failed to protect a child could increase under HB 73, thus potentially increasing agency costs. 'This impact could then lead to significant additional litigation costs and potential damages levied against CYFD,' the department wrote. 'Additional litigation would also have the downstream effect of creating a further burden on CYFD legal staff and general resources.' Hacsi argued the bill would not apply to public institutions because they have immunity from suits unless expressly waived by a judge, such as under the state's civil rights act. 'This is a statute of limitations regarding injuries,' she said. 'It does not waive sovereign immunity for a governmental entity.'
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would ban immigration detention centers on state land
Immigration detention centers would be banned on state and county lands, and other bills in the Legislature also would ensure due process for any detainees. The bills have drawn both condemnation and support as Senate and House members consider public testimony. The bills are moving through the state Legislature as federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to enforce President Donald Trump's promise to sweep up illegal immigrants, many of whom have committed no violent offenses, and deport them. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly said unspecified numbers of illegal immigrants had committed murders and were members of violent drug cartels. Trump also has threatened to eliminate 'birthright citizenship ' for American-born children of immigrants, a right that's enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Gov. Josh Green has repeatedly told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he will not deploy Hawaii National Guard troops to the mainland to assist in rounding up illegal immigrants, especially if it means separating them from their families. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. House Bill 73 would prohibit the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources from allowing state land to be used for immigration detention facilities while also forbidding state and county agencies from 'contracting with the federal government or processing any permit for this purpose.' HB 73 unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology. HB 438 and its Senate companion bill, Senate Bill 816, would create a 'Due Process in Immigration Proceedings Program in the state Judiciary to provide legal representation to individuals in immigration-related proceedings in immigration court.' HB 457 also would require state and local law enforcement agencies 'to notify an individual of their rights when in law enforcement agency custody before any interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on certain matters regarding immigration violations.' HB 22 would limit state and county law enforcement agencies' ability to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes. The bill received support from, among others, the office of the Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney, which wrote, 'As the smallest of the State's County law enforcement team, our Office does not have the resources to spare to enforce civil immigration detainers. In addition, we share concerns about due process violations in enforcement of these orders.' House Bill 73, which would prohibit detention centers on state and county land, has been opposed by individuals and a group called Hawaii Island Republican Women. The bill has been referred to the House Economic Development and Technology, Water and Land, and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees. No hearings have been scheduled yet on HB 73. Support for the ban on immigration detention facilities has come from individuals, organizations and agencies such as the state Office of Public Defender ; immigration and civil rights groups ; Catholic Charities Hawaii ; Honolulu Council member Matt Weyer, who represents the North Shore and parts of Central Oahu ; Hawaii County Council member Jennifer Kagiwada ; and unions like Hawaii's largest—the Government Employees Association—and Unite Here Local 5 that represents thousands of employees of Filipino descent working in Hawaii's hotel, food service and health care industries. 'Many of our union members are immigrants or children of immigrants, they are the working-class families, friends and neighbors that make up the fabric of our Hawaii communities, ' the union wrote in testimony supporting the House bills. 'We support HB22 as it clarifies how Hawaii will treat non-judicial warrants. … (There ) are legitimate concerns about the constitutionality of civil immigration detainers, as opposed to criminal warrants issued by a judge with probable cause.' But Jamie Detwiler, president of Hawaiian Island Republican Women, wrote in opposition to banning detention centers on state and county land : 'If the Federal government provides funding to build Federal detention facilities and procures the land lawfully, a federal detention center should be built. We need to support the efforts of our President Trump and his administration in their pursuit of making America safe again.' Andrew Crossland wrote in his testimony in opposition, 'I STRONGLY OPPOSE any Bill in which the State would attempt to defy the deportation efforts of the federal government to enforce our immigration laws. We need to take care of legal citizens and residents in Hawaii first, not illegal aliens who are criminals by definition.' In her testimony, Sharee Orr wrote, 'Illegal aliens are illegal. They did not follow immigration process therefore should not be afforded any help by the state to keep them from being returned to where they came. They eventually become burden to the taxpayer.' Noela von Wiegandt opposed HB 73 in her written testimony because 'we don't have enough housing to house the legal citizens who live here and to house our Veterans and homeless. I do not want my tax dollars spent on any facilities to house illegals on our public land. Just deport them and they can apply the legal way to live in the United States.' State Sen. Henry Aquino (D, Pearl City-Waipahu-West Loch ) chairs the Senate Labor and Technology Committee and helped introduced SB 816, which would create the 'Due Process in Immigration Proceedings Program.' Aquino wrote in a text to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he introduced it 'in response to growing concerns from the immigration community and civil rights groups specifically.' 'Currently there's very few resources that help folks navigate the complex legal processes surrounding immigration-related actions, ' Aquino said. Tuia 'ana Scanlan—president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 665 union, which represents entertainment workers—cited the internment of 120, 000 Japanese Americans and the first generation of Japanese immigrants following the Japanese navy's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. In the anti-Japanese hysteria that followed, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of America's most progressive Democratic presidents, issued an executive order requiring the U.S. military to round up and force both Japanese-and U.S.-born Japanese Americans into internment camps across the U.S. West, including a much smaller one on Oahu called Honouliuli. Congress eventually apologized and paid surviving internees $20, 000 each, for a total of $1.6 billion. Honouliuli has since been designated a National Historic Site. 'If history teaches us anything, it is that racially motivated support for the construction of detention centers is wrong, ' Scanlan wrote in support of HB 73. 'We need only remind ourselves of the Japanese internment camps. … It is a slippery slope to allow for the creation of internment camps. It is a deplorable mechanism used to rob contributing members of society of their possessions and their dignity.'
