Latest news with #HouseBill1044
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Rhoden has signed 64 bills, including baby box bill
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Gov. Larry Rhoden has signed 64 bills into state law so far this legislative session. One of the most recent bills Rhoden signed on Thursday was House Bill 1044, which authorizes the use of safety boxes to anonymously surrender a newborn at an emergency location. Bill removing librarian defense heads for Senate floor The bill was named after Baby Gabriel, who was found dead in a Sioux Falls recycling center last August. Supporters of the bill say if the safe haven boxes had been legal in the state and another option was available instead of abandonment, it could have prevented Gabriel's death. 'Hopefully with these baby boxes, there will be fewer 'Baby Gabriels' and more babies in loving homes,' Rhoden said in a news release from Thursday. Rhoden also signed five other bills into law Thursday. SB 93 prohibits payment or rebate of insurance deductibles by contractors providing motor vehicle repair services SB 111 permits a court to order family therapy or reunification therapy in a custody or visitation dispute HB 1099 modifies the community paramedic endorsement HB 1144 adopts the dietitian licensure compact HB 1189 extends by two years the date on which moneys appropriated to the Governor's Office of Economic Development in 2021 for marketing, route restoration, business development, and air service marketing will revert to the general fund. KELOLAND News has reported twice on bills Rhoden signed. Our latest report from February 25 covered 43 bills. How Sioux Falls suspects were tracked down in Michigan From February 25 to March 5, Rhoden signed an additional 15 bills. SB 65 provides for the sale of certain real estate located in Pennington County and provides for the deposit of the proceeds SB 71 revises provisions pertaining to the compulsory age for school attendance SB 72 revises the payor of autopsy costs in certain circumstances SB 84 extends the timeframe for filling a vacancy in a board of county commissioners SB 97 allows the governing body of a municipality to change the use of municipally owned parkland by ordinance SB 109 permits a school district to implement a new or revised section 504 plan, individualized family service plan, or individualized education program for a student who is the child of an active-duty member of the United States armed forces HB 1042 makes an appropriation for the construction of historical exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center HB 1053 requires age verification by websites containing material that is harmful to minors HB 1057 transfers moneys from the South Dakota-bred racing fund to the special racing revolving fund HB 1160 waives the driver license renewal period for members of the military and their families, and employees of the state department HB 1063 revises the provisions for preparing a fiscal note for ballot questions HB 1118 prohibits the award or use of state moneys for the research, production, promotion, sale, or distribution of cell-cultured protein HB 1052 prohibits the exercise of eminent domain for a pipeline that carries carbon oxide HB 1173 eliminates the cap on assessment amounts for road improvements HB 1095 extends the area in which a director for an irrigation district may reside All bills will go into effect on July 1, unless they have an emergency clause, then they go into effect immediately. The following bills have already taken effect and are currently being enforced: SB33 makes appropriations for water and environmental purposes and declares an emergency SB 35 modifies substances listed on the controlled substances schedule and to declare an emergency HB 1014 modifies provisions related to emergency medical services personnel and to declare an emergency HB 1033 makes an appropriation for costs related to emergencies and disasters impacting the state and to declare an emergency HB 1034 makes an appropriation for costs related to the suppression of wildfires impacting the state and to declare an emergency HB1047 makes an appropriation to reimburse health care professionals who have complied with the requirements for rural recruitment assistance programs and declares an emergency As of March 7, there are only five days left of this year's legislative session, including Veto Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scrub Hub: What is a 'green' burial? (Hint, it involves decomposing into the earth)
Hoosiers may soon be able to choose a "water burial" after at least a decade of lawmakers trying to add it to the options funeral services may offer. Rep. Mark Genda, R-Frankfort, once again introduced a bill that would legalize alkaline hydrolysis, a "green" form of cremation promoted as more environmentally friendly than other options. House Bill 1044 would mandate the state to create rules for the process before January 1, 2026. Efforts to add water cremations to the list of funeral services for Hoosiers have been underway since at least 2015. Genda's bill this year has passed through the house and is awaiting a hearing with a Senate committee. Alkaline hydrolysis has been used in the U.S. since 2003 and is available in roughly half of states across the country. The process does not involve the burning of fossil fuels nor produce the pollution that traditional cremation does. It does, however, use a significant amount of water. The process involves dissolving a human's remains in a chemical mixture using heat and water. This, much like traditional cremation, leaves behind bone remains that can be memorialized. Alkaline hydrolysis is not the only form of a green, or eco-friendly burial, there are other sustainable options Hoosiers can choose. Green burial can mean different things to different people — to some, it means a very specific form of disposition, but to others it encompasses the broader umbrella of sustainable options for after-death care. The Green Burial Council talks about 'any form of disposition that reduces impact on the environment,' said Sam Perry, president of the national group. 'We want to conserve land, protect natural resources and protect worker health, too.' Perry, who also is a licensed funeral director in Indiana and Illinois, said the group also is working to change the term from green to natural burial, noting there can be negative connotations with use of the term 'green.' It also better represents what these options are and what they provide for families, he said. Scrub Hub: Where can Hoosiers get help identifying, eradicating invasive plants? Still, the GBC works with a particular definition of green or natural burial. For their organization, a natural burial focuses on three key elements that differ from the conventional version. The first factor is how the body is prepared. In a traditional burial, bodies are often embalmed with a mixture of chemicals such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and other solvents. In a natural burial, that doesn't happen and bodies typically are not embalmed, Perry said. The second element of a natural burial is the container in which the body is buried. Usually, bodies are buried in a metal casket or one that is wood but lacquered and treated with other chemicals. These materials do not easily or readily break down. With natural burials, bodies are placed in containers that will biodegrade. Perry said that can include caskets made from wicker or bamboo, for example, or even a simple pine box that is untreated. The last aspect that makes for a natural burial is where the bodies are buried. Many cemeteries bury their caskets in vaults or liners, often made of concrete, which are meant to be protective receptacles. That very characteristic, however, goes against allowing bodies to decompose as part of a natural burial. It's these elements — the lack of chemicals, non-biodegradable materials, as well as minimal carbon footprint as compared to cremation — that explain why natural burials are considered an environmentally-friendly option. Environmental bill: 'Water cremation' could be coming to Indiana. What is it and why is new option important. According to Perry, green burials are allowed in every state, including Indiana. That said, there are still accessibility issues for such services across the country. In recent years, Perry has seen significant growth in both public interest and demand in natural burials and other sustainable disposition options. In response, he also is seeing more funeral homes and cemeteries wanting to learn more in how to offer natural services. 'People who come to natural burial usually are more comfortable with that natural decomposition and the breakdown of the body and going back to nature,' Perry said. 'It's the idea that we aren't separate from nature, but we are part of it.' There are other types of sustainable after-death options that also are becoming more popular. These include the water cremation IndyStar previously wrote about or another process called human composting. While still a better alternative to traditional burial or cremation, Perry said, both of these options also have their drawbacks — such as water and energy usage. If you have any more questions about green burials or any other sustainable alternatives, please ask us! You can submit a question to the Scrub Hub through the Google form below. Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Connect with IndyStar's environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'Green' burials grow in popularity as people want sustainable options
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas Name, Image, Likeness raffle bill fails in committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill for funding student-athletes failed in committee on Wednesday afternoon. House Bill 1044 would have allowed higher education or affiliated non-profits to hold raffles on game day to fund scholarships or pay athletes for using their name, image or likeness (NIL). Additional Arkansas constitutional amendments filed in legislature Typically, institutions hold a 50/50 raffle on gameday, where 50% of the proceeds go to the person holding the winning ticket, and 50% goes to the institution. Testimony during the House Rules Committee meeting was that universities planned to use an app on game day to support the raffle. Testimony against the bill included that from a representative of Saracen Casino, which had earlier offered to conduct NIL raffles through its app. In September, Saracen Casino officials proposed to state gaming officials that it could implement a 50/50 NIL online raffle, arguing that it would stop illegal offshore casinos from offering the raffles, raising Arkansas tax revenue. Bill filed in Arkansas legislature to allow NIL 50/50 raffles by colleges, universities The Arkansas Racing Commission did not entertain Saracen's proposal. Oaklawn Casino officials opposed implementing NIL raffles since Saracen's NIL model included iGaming, such as online slot machines. Fluoride bill fails in Arkansas Legislature committee In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of using NIL for student-athletes to make money while playing for a school. Previously student-athletes were not allowed to be paid, which the court felt was outdated in making its ruling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Baby box bill passes unanimously in House
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The bill that would legalize newborn surrender boxes passed unanimously on the House floor Thursday. House Bill 1044 would allow parents to surrender their newborn babies in a climate-controlled locked box instead of an in-person surrender. 'Sometimes a face-to-face surrender is just too much to bear,' said Rep. Bethany Soye, the bill's prime sponsor. Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids In states where they're legal, baby boxes are located outside emergency locations like hospitals, police or fire stations. Once someone places a baby inside the box, staff usually retrieve the baby and start doing medical assessments within two minutes. The bill was named after Baby Gabriel, who was found dead and abandoned in a Sioux Falls recycling center this summer. Three days after baby Gabriel was found, the organization Safe Haven Baby Box received a phone call from someone with a South Dakota area code, Soye told the House floor. 'It was a new mother who had just given birth and wanted to know where the nearest newborn surrender box was located,' she added. 'Unfortunately, the answer was Fort Dodge, Iowa and it just wasn't possible for her to get there.' The woman was able to surrender her baby at a hospital as an anonymous 'Jane Doe', but Soye says her call shows the need for baby boxes in the state, as well as people's awareness of them. The bill wouldn't be a mandate, Soye explained, it just makes non-physical surrenders legal with the boxes. The bill also doesn't provide any state funding, but organizations like Right to Life have indicated their willingness to fund the project, something Rep. Tina Mulally appreciates. Along with Mulally, Rep. William Shorma expressed his support for the bill during the House floor hearing. 'I think a safe way for people to bring their child to a point where they can anonymously give the child a chance at life, which is a whole lot better option than the alternative,' Shorma said. All 68 present representatives voted in favor of HB 1044. The bill will now move to Senate committees. The next hearing has not been scheduled yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
