Latest news with #HELPERAct
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill would make it easier for teachers, first responders to buy a home
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The HELPER Act would establish a new home loan program administered by the Federal Housing Administration to help public safety officers, first responders and teachers purchase homes. Senator Jon Ossoff told WSAV that he and his fellow lawmakers modeled this proposal after the program that helps veterans purchase their homes. The goal here is to make sure teachers and first responders can afford to live where they work. 'Firefighters shouldn't have to drive an hour and a half to get to the firehouse. A teacher should be able to live near a school where they work,' Ossoff said. 'The cost of housing is a national crisis.' Specifically, the bill would: create a one-time use home loan program under the FHA for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMT), paramedics, and pre-K-12 teachers eliminate the down payment requirement eliminate the monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP) requirement require a 3.6 percent upfront mortgage insurance (UFMI) premium to ensure the solvency of the program requires the program to be reauthorized after five years. 'This program will help those public servants who aren't in it for the money and too often can't afford their first home to buy their first home,' Ossoff said. 'We want to attract the best and the brightest to educate our children, to protect our communities, and to help us in emergencies or health crises.' The bill has to pass the House and the Senate before it lands on President Donald Trump's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Should Florida require license plates on both ends of cars? Lawmakers considering bill
The Brief The Florida legislature is considering a bill to require drivers to have license plates on both the front and back of vehicles. The bill is in honor of Lilly Glaubach, 13, who was killed in 2022 by a driver who is now serving fifteen years for leaving the scene. State Sen. Joe Gruters is pitching a bill that would require Floridians to add a license plate to the front of their vehicle. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida legislature is considering a bill to require state drivers to have license plates on both the front and back of vehicles. The goal is to make it more difficult to get away from a hit-and-run crash. The backstory The bill is in honor of 13-year-old Lilly Glaubach, who was killed in 2022 by a driver who is now serving fifteen years for leaving the scene. READ: Sen. Ashley Moody introduces HELPER Act. Here's how it would help first responders & teachers "It's almost kind of like time stopped at that point," said Glaubach's mother, Sarah Alexander. "Every day that goes by, we miss different milestones." Glaubach was headed home from Pine View School in Osprey when 65-year-old David Chang hit her so hard, the force sent her almost through the windshield. "Good Samaritans happened to take a picture pulled up next to him at a red light," said Paul Alexander, Glaubach's step-father. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Big picture view To add one more way to catch a hit-and-run driver, State Sen. Joe Gruters is pitching a bill that requires Floridians to add a license plate to the front of their vehicle. "As people are speeding away from these scenes, there's a lot of cameras out there, and those cameras can't always see the back of the plate," said Gruters. Dig deeper Gruters points out that only 12.5% of hit-and-run crashes in 2023 resulted in charges. The bill also requires repair shops to ask for police reports. If one is not provided, the store would have to send the estimate to a new FDLE database. "This legislation seeks to deter hit-and-runs by increasing the accountability of nautical motor vehicle repair shops, while preventing individuals from getting work done under false pretenses," said Gruters. MORE: Florida House advances bill to create statewide 'dangerous dog' registry The other side Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd agrees with most of the bill, but not the double license plates. He sees it as an undue burden on drivers to get a second plate, and also on law enforcement who would have to stop more cars for not complying. "We have a lot of technology that we use to solve hit-and-runs," said Judd, "and if added front license plate were the end all, then I would be for it, but it's simply not." What's next The license plate part of the bill is a new addition after several years of Gruters trying to get the Lilly Glaubach law to the governor's desk. Her family said they will be in Tallahassee next week to lobby for it. READ: Florida bill would create stricter punishment for leading law enforcement on pursuits "Just any little bit of information to find the person who hit your loved one is important," said Sarah Alexander. The bill has passed two committees unanimously, and is headed to the appropriations committee next. Twenty-nine other states do require license plates on both the front and backs of vehicles. The Source The information in this story was gathered from details about the bill and from Sarah Alexander, Paul Alexander, State Sen. Joe Gruters and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. It also includes details from Lilly Glaubach's hit-and-run death. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Sen. Moody announces HELPER Act to help first responders, LEOs buy homes
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Senator Ashley Moody is sponsoring a bipartisan bill aimed at helping first responders, law enforcement, and teachers buy a home. On Thursday, Florida sheriffs and deputies stood by her side in support as she shared the details about the bill at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Jail Assembly Room in Tampa. Acting head of FEMA says his parents in Pinellas County received denial letter Senator Moody says she's working hard to carry out a political promise. 'Supporting the men and women in blue, green, tan has been incredibly important,' Moody said. She introduced her first piece of legislation two months into her term in Washington D.C. 'My first bill is the HELPER Act, which is going to help these men and women who volunteer for these jobs buy homes in the communities they love,' Moody said. The Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act of 2025 would let teachers, firefighter, law enforcement, and medical first responders join a new loan program. It would give eligible recipients a one-time, upfront mortgage insurance premium without needing a down payment first. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
