Latest news with #HouseBill17
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill requiring AEDs at schools and school sporting events passes Pa. House committee
The exterior of the Pennsylvania state Capitol. (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star). A bill that would require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be present at school and school sporting events passed the House Education Committee with bipartisan support Wednesday. State Rep. Tim Brennan (D-Bucks), who sponsored House Bill 191, said the legislature owes it to our kids 'to be prepared to save their lives when something happens on their playing fields.' 'This serves a purpose,' Brennan said. 'This is a valuable life saving tool that we should have in our schools.' Brennan said that over 20 states already have similar laws in place and said statistics prove the effectiveness of AEDs in the event of a cardiac arrest. He said 90% of cardiac arrests are fatal when they occur outside of a hospital, but if an AED is used within a minute, survival rate can jump up to 90%. This proposal amending the school code also requires one individual certified in CPR present, as well. Brennan also referenced the cardiac arrest of then-24 year old Damar Hamlin, an Allegheny County native and player for the Buffalo Bills, in 2023 who was saved by CPR and the use of an AED on the field during an NFL game on Monday Night Football. State Rep. Tarah Probst (D-Monroe), cited the death of Greg Moyer, a high school student who died in 2000 from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 15, during a basketball game at East Stroudsburg North High School. She said it can take a long time for an ambulance to arrive in rural areas. Moyer's family has been advocating for AEDs in schools and school sporting events. AEDs were also at the center of another bill earlier this week. House Bill 193, which will require AEDs in every state building, passed the full House on Monday. Cursive mandate passes unanimously The committee also unanimously voted to advance a proposal to require cursive handwriting to be taught in schools, at the appropriate grade level. 'In our digital world, cursive has fallen by the wayside, but there are many reasons for students to, at least, get the basic grasp of cursive writing,' State Rep. Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill), sponsor of House Bill 17 said Wednesday. 'In addition, students need cursive to read historical documents. A growing cursive illiteracy poses a threat to accessing and comprehending key historical sources, such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.' A co-sponsorship memo mentions that at least 24 states have laws on the books requiring cursive to be taught. Both chairs of the committee also offered words of support before the vote was held. 'Obviously there are both cognitive and developmental skills I think that are learned through cursive but more importantly, I think it's important that we understand the foundations of our historical and our founding documents, which this bill would obviously do,' House Education Minority Chairperson Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said. State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh), who is the chairperson of the committee, referenced knowing cursive from his 12 years of Catholic school education and said he looked at it from a slightly different perspective, while detailing a personal experience before voting to approve the bill. 'I have an 18-year-old who, a couple years ago, got her first bank account, and watching her try to endorse her first paycheck was quite the interesting experience on a human level,' Schweyer said. 'I just think that a part of education is actually teaching human skills, not knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but actually preparing people for real life. And this is perfectly reasonable and a smart way to go about it.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
East Texas state representatives give update on 89th legislative session
TYLER, Texas (KETK)- East Texas representatives give an update on bills filed by lawmakers for the 89th legislative session. East Texas representatives like State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant) hopes to get his own bills passed with one of his top priorities being House Bill 17. This bill restricts the purchase of land in Texas from 'hostile countries' such as China, Russia and North Korea. East Texas state representative proposes bill to protect children from explicit content in public libraries 'That bill is in the homeland security and public safety committee, here in a week or two, we're going to have a day of hearings where we hear our bills that have to do with foreign adversaries,' Hefner said. Another big topic in the Texas House is water, both Hefner and State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) are working to keep East Texas water in the Piney woods. 'We're a growing state, but that doesn't mean they get to come take our private property so that they can keep their swimming pools full,' Hefner said. East Texas Rep. Moran appointed to House Committee on Ethics VanDeaver also has filed House Bill 18 to make sure rural Texans receive adequate medical care. The bill would provide a 'safety net' for rural hospitals, especially hospitals that are at risk of closing to try to keep them open. Representatives explain that one of the most talked about issues is House Bill 3 also known as the 'school choice' bill but as a former superintendent VanDeaver says he isn't on board with with the bill. 'I'm just convinced it's not good for my district, and it's not good for the children of Texas, so my position hasn't changed on it. I plan to vote against it,' Vandeaver said. No matter which side they are on when it comes to each bill, Hefner and Vandeaver say East Texas lawmakers are sticking together and making sure they do what is best for the people of East Texas. Texas Senate majority unveils bill requiring voters to prove their citizenship 'East Texans are united, and we're digging in for the fight to protect our resources and the private property rights of our citizens,' Hefner said. The regular session ends on June 2 with only Governor Gregg Abbott having the power to add special 30-day sessions limited to designated topics afterwards. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Hefner proposes bills to eliminate threats towards Texas
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK)– Texas State Rep. Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant has proposed three bills aimed at 'eliminating threats' from foreign adversaries and the Chinese Communist Party. East Texas state representative proposes bill to protect children from explicit content in public libraries 'As the previous Chair of the Select Committee on Securing Texas from Hostile Foreign Organizations, I was afforded a deep understanding of the alarming threat that hostile foreign adversaries pose to Texas. They have proven their willingness to utilize unrestricted warfare to inflict harm on our State,' Hefner said. The three bills introduced are: House Bill 17 – Prohibiting Ownership of Texas land by Hostile Foreign Adversaries House Bill 41 – Prohibiting Government Acquisition of Unmanned Aircraft Manufactured in Hostile Foreign Countries House Bill 118 – Establishing the Texas Advisory Committee on Pacific Conflict These 10 Democrats voted to advance the GOP funding bill Hefner isn't the first Texas representative to propose bills to prevent threats against Texas. United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn recently proposed a bill in March. 'The threat China poses to the United States' national and economic security continues to grow, and we have a generational opportunity to confront it with the FIGHT China Act,' Cornyn said. 'By prohibiting and requiring notification of U.S. investments in certain technologies in China, this bill would help ensure American ingenuity, innovation and investment do not end up in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party to be weaponized against us. The need to address capital flowing from the U.S. to bad actor nations was first realized during the first Trump administration, and I look forward to finishing what we started then by getting this vital priority over the finish line.' In a press release, Hefner said Texans should fight against 'unrestricted warfare'. 'To combat the CCP strategy of unrestricted warfare, Texas must be willing to fight this battle on many fronts,' Hefner said. 'I am grateful to Speaker Burrows for his recognition of this critical issue and to my House colleagues who have stepped forward to file effective legislation that will combat this significant threat.' HB17, HB41 and HB118 have all been filed and are currently being reviewed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As wildfires strain Idaho property insurance, bill would call for committee to study the issue
The Idaho Department of Lands managed the Tyson Fire, which firefighters responded to in Benewah County in July 2023. (Courtesy of Idaho Department of Lands) The Idaho Legislature introduced a resolution Thursday to create a legislative committee to study Idaho's property insurance market. The House concurrent resolution, which is expected to be posted on the Legislature's website in the next day or so, says Idaho's destructive 2024 wildfire season has impacted the state's property insurance market. Presenting to the House Health and Welfare Committee, Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron said 22 of Idaho's 91 property insurance carriers have asked to stop offering property insurance. The committee would let the Legislature hear from Idaho homeowners who are losing property insurance, or seeing their rates rise 'dramatically,' he told the committee. 'These aren't just homeowners that live in rural Idaho. … But they're residents all over the state. Insurance rates are going up by nearly 30% on average this year for property insurance,' said Cameron, a longtime former state lawmaker. The committee introduced the resolution Thursday. Introducing the resolution tees it up for a full committee hearing with public testimony — before it would be considered by the full House and Senate. But the resolution will likely be considered by the House Business Committee. Another bill called the 'Idaho Wildfire Risk Mitigation and Stabilization Pool Act,' or House Bill 17, was introduced in January but has not advanced out of the House Business Committee. That bill would assist homeowners against wildfire, keep insurance rates down and attract insurance companies to Idaho, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Cameron said another piece of draft legislation is planned for an introductory hearing Friday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
