Latest news with #HouseBill1030
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stitt's veto of cosmetology board bill threatens public health, entrepreneurship
Oklahoma County and its cities, we cannot afford to sleep on Governor Stitt's veto of House Bill 1030, which threatens to eliminate the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology. This decision is more than just a blow to an industry. It is a direct threat to public health, safety, and entrepreneurship. The veto is irresponsible and must be overturned before it does irreversible damage to every Main Street in Oklahoma. As a licensed cosmetologist and trichologist, and more importantly, a young mother who turned education into opportunity, I know firsthand what the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology has meant for people like me. Going to school, studying hard, and earning my license didn't just change my life. It gave me a future. It allowed me to open my own business, support my family, and become a mentor for others looking to follow a similar path. But most of all, it taught me that what we do is about more than beauty. It's about people — their health, their dignity, and their trust. Some might argue that hair and nails don't need oversight, but they forget that we work with sharp tools, chemicals, and treatments that can damage skin, hair, and health if used improperly. Licensing ensures we are trained not only in style but in sanitation, sterilization, and safety. Without education and regulation, untrained individuals could unknowingly cause infections, injuries, or worse. This is not fearmongering. It is fact. Our clients trust us with their appearance, yes, but also with their wellbeing. We touch the lives of everyday Oklahomans. Your grandmother who comes in for her weekly set, your son who needs a confidence boost before prom, your neighbor who is battling hair loss after cancer treatments. In the chair, we laugh, we cry, we heal. We may not take the Hippocratic Oath, but we live by its spirit: do no harm. More: Oklahoma boards flouting the rules make our state look like a circus. Are lawmakers taking note? The idea that the beauty industry no longer needs its own regulatory board, led by professionals who understand our tools, our ethics, and our responsibilities, is an insult to the 80,000 licensed barbers, estheticians, manicurists, instructors and school owners across this state. Would we allow non-doctors to oversee the Medical Licensure and Supervision Board? No. Then out of that same respect, why would we allow anyone other than licensed professionals to oversee an industry that directly impacts the health and hygiene of the public? Gov. Stitt's veto of House Bill 1030 sends a dangerous message that proper training and safety standards don't matter. But they do. And every legislator in Oklahoma needs to hear from us, the professionals and the public, that we care. I urge the Oklahoma Legislature to override this veto. It is not just about protecting a profession. It is about protecting the public. To do anything less would be to invite harm. And that is something no licensed professional should ever stand for. Nina Chukwu is a licensed cosmetologist and trichologist and owner of Glory Hair and Restoration Center in Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why lawmakers must override Stitt's veto of cosmetology bill | Opinion
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmakers pass bill making the Hershey's Kiss the 'State Candy'
(WHTM)– A bill to designate Hershey's Kiss as the Pennsylvania State candy has passed the House and advanced to the Senate. House Bill 1030, sponsored by state Representative Thomas Mehaffie (R-106) and co-sponsored by various other representatives from both sides of the aisle, would designate Hershey's Kisses as the official state candy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The House passed the bill 150-53 earlier this week. According to the bill, if passed, Hershey's Kisses would immediately be designated the official State candy in perpetuity, and as long as the Hershey Company remains in Pennsylvania. The bill highlights The Hershey Company's success, calling kisses one of the most iconic candies of all time. The Hershey Kiss bill has been introduced several times in the General Assembly but has faced pushback for fear of giving the 'State Candy' title to one company. In March, Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa Boscola said she plans to introduce a bill making Peeps the official candy of Pennsylvania. Hershey sells its products in 85 countries around the globe and produces more than 70,000,000 Hershey's kisses daily in Hershey. The bill added that the Hershey Company supports many aspects of Pennsylvania's economy, including its dairy industry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Proposed bill would make Hershey's Kisses the official candy of Pennsylvania
A new piece of legislation is aimed at making Hershey's Kisses the official state candy of Pennsylvania. Earlier this week, House Bill 1030, better known as the Hershey Kiss Bill, passed with overwhelming support. The idea for the bill actually started as a middle school social studies project. Fast forward a few years later and Rep. Tom Mehaffie, the bill's sponsor, who represents the area where the famous chocolate came to be, is now urging the state senate to vote in favor of making the Kisses a symbol of the commonwealth. Getty Images However, Sen. Lisa Boscola, who represents Lehigh County, the home of the Marshmallow Peep, is saying not so fast. Rep. Boscola released a statement last month laying out to make the iconic, colorful marshmallow treats the state's official candy. Peeps marshmallow treats move through the manufacturing process at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., Thursday, April 10, 2025. Matt Rourke / AP Obviously, both candy items were born in Pennsylvania and have made a huge impact on the state's economy and both are internationally known. At this point, nothing is official yet and regardless whether it's the Kisses or the Peeps, Pennsylvania would be the first state in the country to have an official candy. Rep. Mahaffie has told other media outlets that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would make the Hershey Kisses bill official if it makes its way to his desk.
