Latest news with #HouseBill1085
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
What bills did Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves veto? See the list
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed eight bills that lawmakers sent to his desk during the 2025 legislative session. Legislators, during their next regular session, could override the vetoes if a two-thirds majority of lawmakers in each chamber votes to do so. Such a supermajority vote is hard to attain, and veto overrides are rare. Lawmakers have only overridden one of Reeves' previous vetoes, and that was the first override of a veto since 2002. The governor can also line-item veto appropriation bills, but lawmakers adjourned their session without adopting a budget to fund the state government. Here's a list of bills that Reeves vetoed this year: House Bill 569 This legislation would have changed when medical facilities were required to apply for a 'certificate of need' from the Mississippi State Department of Health before opening or adding new services. Reeves vetoed the bill because he argued it unlawfully attempted to circumvent an ongoing court case by granting a certificate to a single psychiatric hospital in Jackson. House Bill 924 The legislation would have granted the Legislature's watchdog committee the authority to conduct a review of new state agency regulations and determine if those regulations conform to what the Legislature intended for the agency to do. Reeves vetoed the bill because he argued that it greatly expanded the power of a legislative committee and may have exceeded the constitutional authority of the legislative branch. House Bill 1085 This bill would have removed a grant program for Main Street projects in the state from under the Mississippi Development Authority, an executive agency directly under Reeves' control, to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, an agency governed by an independent board. Reeves argued that the legislation was unconstitutional because it combined general legislation with an appropriation bill, which the Mississippi Constitution prohibits. The governor compared the legislation to a 'duck-billed platypus that defies both logic and classification.' House Bill 1126 The bill would have set a maximum local match requirement for counties and municipalities that receive Gulf Coast Restoration funds to fund projects. Currently, the Mississippi Development Authority sets rules and regulations for a local match. The legislation capped the local match at either 20% of the total cost or the value of one mill of taxable property in the area, whichever is less, but Reeves vetoed the measure because it mandated requirements instead of allowing an agency to set flexible rules. Senate Bill 2386 and Senate Bill 2867 These two bills made technical amendments to the state's Medicaid program, often referred to as the 'Medicaid tech bill.' The main thrust of the two bills was to lock in place supplemental payment programs that have been a lifeline for hospitals. Reeves said in his veto message of Senate Bill 2867 that locking the supplemental payment program in place is in contradiction with another of the bill's mandates, which would change the program to allow out-of-state hospitals that border Mississippi to participate in the supplemental payment program. 'Complying with both requirements is a legal impossibility and places the Division, like Odysseus, between Scylla and Charybdis,' Reeves wrote. Reeves vetoed Senate Bill 2867 while the Legislature was still in session. Instead of overriding the veto, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 2386, a new Medicaid technology bill that addresses only some of Reeves' concerns. The governor also vetoed that bill. Senate Bill 2573 This bill would have created the Mississippi Department of Tourism, but Reeves vetoed the bill because legislative leaders failed to pass a budget during their regular session. The governor argued it would be irresponsible to create a new state agency without an accompanying budget. Senate Bill 2840 This bill would have allocated money for various projects around the state. Reeves argued the bill was unconstitutional because it combined general legislation with an appropriations bill, something the Mississippi Constitution prohibits. ___ This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House votes to pause CO2 pipeline construction
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The South Dakota House of Representatives has voted to temporarily pause any construction of carbon dioxide pipelines in the state. In a 40-30 vote, the House passed House Bill 1085. The bill's prime sponsor, Republican Rep. Richard Vasgaard said The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is changing the final federal pipeline safety rules. This bill would prohibit any pipeline construction until those laws are published. House panel says no to McCook Lake fund The pipeline safety rules that are expected to be implemented include increased surveys, advanced leak detection technology, reducing the volume of gas emissions and establishing clear criteria for repairs. Despite the bill passing, Republican Rep. Lana Greenfield was the only person other than Vasgaard to speak in support. 'We don't know what's gonna happen with the pipeline, but any chance that we have to protect our citizens and put on the brakes, we should approach very cautiously,' she said. Representatives in opposition were concerned about closing the state off from opportunities and when exactly the paused period on construction would actually end. 'I can tell you once something gets thrown in a moratorium with these people, it never comes back out,' Republican Rep. Kent Roe said. Republican Rep. Mike Weisgram said he is opposed to the idea that an unelected body like the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration determines the timing of when the rules are published. 'Thousands of South Dakotans are invested in the process of this project, and if this bill passes, uncertainty is added to cloud the open-for-business mantra for the state of South Dakota,' Weisgram said. Lawmakers also passed House Bill 1249, which would protect landowners from deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation or threat when acquiring easements. The bill passed with a 36-24 vote. The bill's prime sponsor, Republican Rep. Kaley Nolz, said the bill was brought forward after landowners had negative experiences when carbon dioxide pipeline companies harassed them. 'It is a leveling of the playing field and specifically laying out the types of actions that we will not condone in this state and will not tolerate, as well as providing a clear process for the consequences and allowing our courts to determine what, if anything, is appropriate,' Nolz said. The burden of proof is fully on the landowner and they must bring the case forward within 12 months of the mistreatment, she added. 'I will stand any day of the week with the farmers and ranchers that are being abused in this way, litigation is intimidation,' Republican Rep. John Hughes said. 'How are these people supposed to defend themselves when there's not even a legal basis in fact or law in South Dakota to defend the case?' Representatives in opposition said South Dakota already has a law on the books that protects landowners from intimidation and harassment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
