Latest news with #HouseBill1293
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Baltimore officials announce new sheriff's office unit to crack down on ‘nuisance' liquor stores
From left: Del. Stephanie Smith, Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Sen. Mary Washington and Del. Melissa Wells. (Photo by Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters) Lawmakers and Baltimore City officials announced a new unit within the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office Wednesday to crack down on 'nuisance' liquor stores and other venues where liquor is sold. 'We know the enforcement around liquor license establishments is something that has been a challenge for the city,' Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Wednesday at the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners' office. 'It's not really about reducing crime, but deterring crime before it happens.' Under a law approved in the 2025 legislative session, the Office of the Sheriff of Baltimore City will create the Neighborhood Services Unit to collaborate with liquor license officials to better enforce liquor laws throughout the city, specifically in high-traffic areas and entertainment districts such as Federal Hill and Fells Point. 'This is a commitment to strengthening our neighborhoods, enhancing public safety and holding accountable those who disregard our liquor laws and contribute to disorder in our community,' Ferguson said. 'This unit will focus on targeted enforcement during peak hours and in high-traffic areas.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), who sponsored House Bill 1293 to formally establish that collaboration, said that the presence of liquor stores can bring unanticipated 'woes' into neighborhoods and communities such as increased litter, unlawful actions and reckless behavior. 'Businesses can be partners, and they can be great neighbors, but this is about ensuring that they're not nuisances,' Smith said. There is already collaboration between the sheriff's office and the Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City, according to Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), the chair of the city delegation in the Senate. But the new law,which takes effect Oct. 1, will let the Board of License Commissioners enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Neighborhood Services Unit to better facilitate enforcement of Baltimore's liquor laws, and make sure 'the Liquor Board and the sheriff's office are working together hand-in-hand,' Washington said. 'They actually do work together, but this is actually providing a structure — where they do it, where there's clear roles, shared information and coordinated enforcement,' she said. Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen said that some of the details will be worked out when his office sits down with the liquor board to write up the memorandum of understanding. 'You'll see underage alcohol enforcement,' he said. 'We would do some inspections that would be community driven … You'll see sheriff's deputies and sheriff cars working with liquor inspectors and working with the police department, going out and doing enforcement work.' 'We're talking about collaboration,' Cogen said. 'We're talking about using all the resources that the city has to make city residents feel safer and to be able to help the community.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Littering fines, plastic bag prices to increase this summer
May 19—OLYMPIA — In Washington, customers will begin to pay more for plastic bags, and those who choose to litter will be facing high fines after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1293 into law Saturday. "People who dump garbage in our beautiful state must be held accountable," said sponsor Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, in a statement. "Increasing the littering penalty for the first time since 1993 is an important step in addressing our horrible littering problem." HB 1293, which received bipartisan support and ultimately passed, with a 46-2 vote in the House and a 27-20 vote in the Senate, raises the penalty for littering to a class 2 civil infraction. Littering was previously a Class 3 civil infraction. This increases the base penalty from $50 to $125 for littering an amount less than or equal to one cubic foot, or about the size of a backpack. In addition to the base penalty, there will be an added $93 issued for dropping materials on state highways. As stated in the bill, "It is a violation of this section to throw, drop, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter upon any public property in the state ... whether from a vehicle or otherwise." Klicker said he has noticed an increase of litter throughout the state, which is why he proposed the bill. Data from the Washington State Department of Ecology backs up these observations. The agency found that in 2022, garbage dumped along Washington roadways and parks was 42% higher than the national average. Washingtonians were responsible for nearly 38 million pounds of litter annually, which is around 5 pounds per person or 897 pieces of litter, according to the report. "I have encountered everything from bottles to cups to plastic bags to paper bags, baby cribs, tires, mattresses, and sofas on our interstates," Klicker said in a statement. The bill does not only focus on littering; it also addresses the impact of single-use plastic bags, a major contributor to the litter issue, according to Klicker and the bill report. In 2020, legislation was enacted to prohibit the use of single-use plastic bags, mandating that retail establishments provide consumers with either paper bags or thicker, reusable plastic bags available for purchase. Currently, reusable plastic bags are priced at 8 cents and must meet a minimum thickness of 2.25 mils, where one mil equals one-thousandth of an inch. Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, the law stipulates an increase in the price of these bags to 12 cents and an increase in the required thickness to four mils. However, the Senate has postponed the enforcement of this thickness requirement by an additional two years. Retailers that sell reusable plastic bags meeting or exceeding the four-mil thickness before 2028 will incur a penalty of 4 cents for each bag sold, effectively raising the cost to consumers to a total of 16 cents per bag on their receipts. The revenue generated from this penalty will be allocated to the Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Control Account, aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of litter. The price for paper bags will remain unchanged at 8 cents each.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New WA law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements
Litter is seen alongside an Interstate 5 off ramp near Lacey, Washington. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Washington residents will soon face heftier fines for littering and higher prices for plastic grocery bags. A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for littering and delays requirements for retailers to offer thicker bags for sale from Jan. 1, 2026 until 2028. The Legislature will use the two years to review the state's reusable bag policies, Ferguson said. Retailers who sell thicker bags before the mandate is in effect will be penalized four cents a bag, under the new law. 'We're called the Evergreen State and is it really evergreen with all the litter?' said Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, sponsor of House Bill 1293. 'Our freeways, our interstates, are just packed with litter, it's horrible.' The state's low fines could be a reason why 'people don't really care' about littering, Klicker said, noting Oregon has a higher penalty for littering. Washington's new law raises the penalty from a class three to a class two civil infraction. The fine will increase from $103 to $256, which includes all state mandated charges, according to legislative staff. The fine would apply to amounts up to one cubic foot, or roughly the size of a backpack. The new law will take effect in late July. Over the past five years, the number of Washington State Patrol encounters with suspected litterers decreased from 636 in 2019 to 258 in 2024. Most of those resulted in verbal warnings rather than citations, according to state patrol data. While the state patrol tallied fewer contacts, the amount of litter has not decreased, Klicker said. He originally wanted a task force to study possible ways to better deal with the problem but that part was removed. The Senate added language to delay the date when retail establishments would be required to provide thicker, reusable plastic bags to customers. 'Increasing the thickness of the bag isn't going to help people keep the bags,' Klicker said. 'They'll throw the bags away anyway, so it creates that much more litter into the landfills.' In 2020, the state passed a law banning single-use plastic bags and required retail establishments to offer paper bags or thicker, reusable plastic bags for sale to consumers. Reusable plastic bags are currently sold for eight cents and required to be a thickness of 2.25 mils. One mil is a unit of thickness equal to one-thousandth of an inch. The 2020 law increased the price to 12 cents and the thickness to four mils on Jan. 1 2026. But the Senate delayed the change in thickness by two years. Retailers who sell reusable plastic bags with a thickness of at least four mils before 2028 will be penalized four cents a bag. Customers will see a total charge of 16 cents for each bag on their receipts. The four cent penalty will be deposited in the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account to address the negative impacts of litter which will go away in 2028. The price for paper bags will remain at eight cents per bag.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Under a new WA law, littering fines to double this summer
The Brief Washington has passed House Bill 1293, increasing the base fine for littering from $50 to $125 for amounts up to one cubic foot. An extra $93 penalty applies for littering on state highways, bringing the total potential fine to $218. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Klicker, awaits Governor Bob Ferguson's signature. If signed, it will take effect on July 27. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Litterbugs in Washington may soon face steeper penalties as House Bill 1293, which increases fines for littering, awaits Governor Bob Ferguson's signature. The bill raises the base penalty for littering from $50 to $125 for amounts up to one cubic foot, classifying it as a Class 2 civil infraction. An additional $93 fine applies if the littering occurs on state highways. Keep reading to learn more about the bill and the new fines that could go into effect in July. Big picture view This marks the first adjustment to the state's littering penalties since 1993. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla), aims to address the escalating litter problem in Washington. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, the state experiences 42% more litter than the national average, with approximately 73,000 pieces of litter per mile on interstates, equating to nearly 1,600 pounds per mile. Click to open this PDF in a new window. By the numbers House Bill 1293 passed the House with a 98-0 vote on April 27, and the Senate with a 27-20 vote on April 26. If signed by Ferguson, the new penalties will take effect on July 27, 2025. Beyond increasing fines, the bill initially included the formation of a task force to develop further strategies for reducing litter. However, this provision was removed during the legislative process. For more information on House Bill 1293 and its implications, visit the Washington State Legislature's official page. The Source Information in this story came from House Bill 1293 and FOX 13 Seattle original reporting. Underwater volcano poised to erupt off OR coast, Seattle scientists say Teen in custody for stabbing mother's boyfriend, Pierce County deputies say Rumors claim Seattle ports are 'dead'. Here's the truth Thousands expected at Seattle's May Day protests. Here's what to know Houdini Fly Hunt launched in WA, OR. Here's what to do if you spot one To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news. WeatherWeather Foreca
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House votes to reduce penalties for improper fertilizer use, rejects ‘village district' bill
Toxins in the blooms are harmful to people and animals. (N.H. Department of Environmental Services, The House voted Thursday to remove certain penalties for incorrectly applying fertilizer, moving to change a law legislators passed in the fall over the veto of then-Gov. Chris Sununu. The law facing changes aims to reduce the fertilizer runoff that can feed cyanobacteria blooms, often-toxic growths that crop up around the state's water bodies, especially in the warmer months. In separate action Thursday, the House rejected legislation that would have given municipalities an avenue to formally organize to protect and remediate surface waters, with the sponsor highlighting the blooms as the key concern spurring the measure. The fertilizer bill, House Bill 291, was approved by a voice vote on the consent calendar, meaning it was OK'd among a host of other bills without discussion. The other measure, House Bill 332, was rejected on a 196-171 vote. The moves highlight ongoing action on an issue that has ramifications for the state's public health, tourism, and recreation. Dozens of cyanobacteria warnings were issued around the state last year, with rising temperatures expected to contribute to another active season of blooms this summer. The blooms can produce toxins that cause rashes, fevers, headaches, mouth blisters, vomiting, acute liver damage, and more, according to the Department of Environmental Services. They can sometimes lead to neurological issues like numbness and seizures. Here's more on the cyanobacteria-related action the House took Thursday. House Bill 1293, the fertilizer measure passed into law over Sununu's veto last session, went into effect at the beginning of the year. It further restricts the use of certain phosphorus-containing fertilizers and prohibits applying fertilizer within 25 feet of a storm drain or elsewhere where it can enter a storm drain. Rep. Erica Layon, a Derry Republican, said a lot of that bill 'makes sense,' pointing to the concerns about the consequences of fertilizer runoff. But the penalties it could dole out to regular, well-intentioned citizens don't make sense, in her opinion. 'The penalties in that chapter are misdemeanors for natural persons and felonies for all others, because if your business is selling the wrong fertilizers especially if you're mislabeling them, that's a serious problem, and that deserves (a) misdemeanor or felony,' Layon explained to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee last month. She said she's concerned about what everyday residents could face for not following the provisions. 'This section, for the first time in the statute, deals with your average everyday person,' Layon said. 'Now your average everyday person who's putting on fertilizer they bought last year could be charged with a misdemeanor, and that just does not seem to be the correct level of punishment for adding a little more phosphorus than we want to see.' The bill would set up a new penalty system. A first offense would yield a written warning for a person and their corporate agent, while a second offense would make someone guilty of a violation and bring a $250 fine per acre. A misdemeanor wouldn't come until a third or subsequent offense. The committee recommended the bill for passage with amendment on a 15-1 vote, with the minority believing a higher penalty for corporate agents would be more appropriate, according to the report in the House calendar. HB 332, the measure the House shot down Thursday, would have added surface water remediation to the list of reasons a village district may be formed. Village districts, which may serve multiple towns or just part of one, are formed for specific reasons like firefighting, maintaining sidewalks and sewers, ambulance services, and more. The House also rejected a similar measure last session. Lawmakers on the House Resources, Recreation, and Development Committee voted, 9-7, to recommend that the full body reject the bill again this year. Critics argued it would add another layer of government, while prime sponsor Rep. Rosemarie Rung, a Merrimack Democrat, argued it simply added one more reason to the list of more than a dozen for which village districts can be formed. She pointed to the fact that these village districts would allow local areas to raise funds to address their cyanobacteria problems themselves, rather than using general tax dollars, and that the state has limited resources to address the blooms. Andrea LaMoreaux, president and policy advocate for NH LAKES, told the Bulletin ahead of the legislative session that towns were asking for this voluntary option to coordinate lake protection practices. It could be especially helpful for large water bodies that cross multiple municipalities, she said. 'Getting the whole, you know, area around the immediate part of the lake on the same plan for taking action to protect the lake would be very helpful,' LaMoreaux said. '… If one town on the lake is doing all the right things and all these lake friendly things, and the other town is not, it's sort of not very effective. It's not a long-term solution.'
