Latest news with #HouseBill20
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Technology and Innovation Office to support state's growth in targeted industries
President Donald Trump's budget request, released on May 2, 2025, proposes slashing $21 billion in unspent funds from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law for renewable energy, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other efforts to cut climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions. Shown are solar panels and wind turbines. (Photo by Marga Buschbell-Steeger/Getty Images) State officials say a new Technology and Innovation Office within New Mexico's Economic Development Department is expected to advance economic growth in the state and provide funding for startup companies. House Bill 20, sponsored by Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque) during the most recent legislative session, establishes the Technology and Innovation Office, as well as the Research, Development and Deployment Fund with more than $90 million appropriated to support early tech businesses; match funds for research and development; support recruitment and retention; and boost New Mexico's quantum technologies sector. 'There is a lot going on in this state. We have some of the best talent and technology coming out of the labs and our universities,' Dixon told Source NM. 'I would say that one of the most important things we can do is make sure that the companies that start here are able to stay here.' According to a news release from the EDD, the department's new division will 'absorb the existing Office of Strategy, Science and Technology' and the office's director, Nora Meyers Sackett, will continue in her role. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill on April 9 and it goes into effect on July 1. 'New Mexico's trajectory in the fields of science and technology is clear, and this landmark investment accelerates that,' Lujan Grisham said in a statement. 'With our deep bench in innovation, we're creating momentum that will drive prosperity well into the future.' HB20 also establishes the Technology and Innovation Network Advisory Board, representing New Mexico's national labs, universities, the private sector and several other economic areas, and will help administer the Research, Development and Deployment Fund. Dixon noted that in a 2021 report, the Economic Development Department identified nine target industries to help diversify the state's economy, including aerospace; biosciences; cybersecurity; film and television; outdoor recreation; sustainable and value-added agriculture; intelligent manufacturing; global trade; and sustainable and green energy. She added that these sectors offer 'high-growth' and 'high-paying' jobs for a wide range of New Mexicans. 'New Mexico is uniquely positioned in a number of these high growth science and technology sectors,' Dixon said. 'This is the time when the state needs to commit to supporting these industries and really getting them off the ground and having an entity in state government that supports and works with these industries to make sure that they have the tools that they need.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas keeps on growing: Lone Star State sees another month of record job growth
Texas faced exponential growth in 2023 and 2024, and those trends aren't slowing down as the Lone Star State sees another month of record employment numbers. In March, Texas saw a new high with the largest labor force in the state's history at 15,778,500, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission. According to the data, Texas saw a new high of 15,137,500 for Texans working. This number includes those who are self-employed. The state also added 26,500 nonfarm jobs last month, reaching a new total high of 14,282,600. Between March 2024 and March 2025, the state added 192,100 nonfarm jobs, which was more than any other state. As of January employment data, the annual nonfarm growth rate in Texas is 1.3%. "Every month, Texas welcomes businesses from across the country and around the world to innovate and invest in our great state," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a release Friday about the data. "By funding our schools more than ever before and expanding career and technical training programs, we will prepare more Texans for better job and bigger paycheck opportunities to build a more prosperous Texas.' Job creation, workforce development and education have been major efforts pushed by Abbott this legislative session. Last month, he released a five-year statewide economic development strategic plan outlining a blueprint for economic expansion and job creation. The "Bigger. Better. Texas." plan has four main goals: Establishes a unifying vision for the future of our Texas economy Identifies new target industry sectors and clusters expected to drive strategic economic growth and job creation Outlines objectives and initiatives to advance the state's global competitiveness Provides data and recommendations to inform economic development decisions across the state To support additional job creation and small businesses in Texas, Abbott also created the Governor's Small Business Freedom Council in December. This month, he announced more than $1.3 million in job training grants to Collin County Community College District for programs in health care, accounting, manufacturing and other high-demand occupations. House Bill 20 and House Bill 120, two bills part of Abbott's career training expansion efforts that was one of his seven emergency items this legislative session, advanced out of the Texas House last week. Texas saw rapid job growth in 2023 and 2024 as well. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas looking at the outlook of Texas' economy in 2025 said Texas' energy, financial services and construction industries were the fastest-growing job sectors last year, growing 5.5%, 5.1% and 3.1%, respectively. Overall, job growth rose 1.7% lower than initial projections expected in 2024. Texas added 284,200 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas sees largest labor force in state history in March
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to create criminal offense for harassing first responders introduced
Two local lawmakers introduced a bill that would make harassing first responders a criminal offense in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] State Representatives Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) introduced House Bill 20. TRENDING STORIES: 2 winning Powerball tickets sold in Ohio; $551M jackpot won 1 seriously injured in crash involving 14-year-old driver Injuries reported after vehicle crashes into ditch in Dayton Both representatives said the bill was created to make sure first responders can safely and efficiently complete their work during emergencies The legislation would set a 14-foot perimeter around first responders on the scene of an emergency, according to the bill analysis. Those who approach or remain in the perimeter after a warning could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor offense. The bill defines harassment as any behavior directed at a first responder that could cause 'substantial emotional distress' or interfere with their 'ability to lawfully perform a legal duty.' 'As a former Sheriff, I understand the high stress situations our first responders can come across, and to alleviate any of those stressors allows for first responders to better address any given situation,' Plummer said. 'This bill simply allows first responders to focus on their duties and protect our community.' The bill also looks to add probation officers to the definition of emergency service responder in Ohio, according to the analysis. 'This is common sense legislation to allow our first responders the space to do their jobs,' Hall said. 'Our first responders' – police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and others – ability to safely and efficiently carry out their duties is essential to the functioning of our society.' The bill remains in the House Public Safety Committee for hearings and could be subject to changes. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to protect first responders
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Ohio legislators want to make harassing first responders a crime. House Bill 20 was introduced to the Ohio House of Representatives earlier this year, seeking to assure first responders can safely and effectively do their jobs in stressful situations. Investigation into Zaden McKnight disappearance continues The bill aims to 'prohibit a person from knowingly harassing or impeding an emergency service responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty,' as well as adding probation officers to the list of first responders. If HB-20 goes through, individuals accused of harassing first responders could face a first-degree misdemeanor. The bill is currently in the House Public Safety Committee. It was introduced by Rep. Thomas Hall and Rep. Phil Plummer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would create offense for harassing first responders
Mar. 25—A former sheriff and a volunteer firefighter — both from this area — serving in the Ohio House want to create a new criminal offense in Ohio law that would outlaw harassing emergency service responders. How it would work As proposed, House Bill 20, currently under consideration from the House Public Safety Committee, would essentially set a 14-foot perimeter around police, firefighters and EMS responders at the scene. From there, the bill prohibits a person "from knowingly harassing an emergency service responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty," according to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Commission. Harassing, in this instance, means any behavior that can cause substantial emotional distress to the responder or interferes with their ability to lawfully perform a legal duty. The offense would carry a charge of a first degree misdemeanor. Bystanders could only be charged after being warned and continuing to encroach on the 14-foot perimeter the law would create. Sponsors State Rep. Thomas Hall, R-Madison Twp., serves as a volunteer firefighter in his Butler County district. He stressed the need for first responders to have the space to assess situations, make decisions and provide care. "Any factor, or in this case, person, that disrupts that process can ultimately be the difference between someone living or dying," Hall said Tuesday while delivering sponsor testimony on the bill. He, alongside longtime former Montgomery County Sheriff Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp., told the committee that their proposal is not meant to dissuade bystanders from recording incidents, nor is it meant to dissuade bystanders from interfering when first responders are breaking the law. "We're just asking for a 14-foot ring where we can keep people back. YouTubers drive a lot of this, (as do) nosy citizens," said Plummer, who noted that the law would also come into play during protests. Pushback Democratic members of House Public Safety Committee raised concerns that the law could unevenly applied, stressed that its first-degree misdemeanor charge is too harsh, and questioned whether a new offense was necessary given that Ohio already has second-degree misdemeanor charge for citizens who complete "any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official's lawful duties." Plummer argued the bill's aim is to create an awareness of what he'd call best practices for law enforcement, similar to how the state's laws on pulling over for emergency response vehicles shifted public behavior. "Now we're going to give the message to the public to just give the first responders a 14-foot buffer," Plummer said. "It's more of an educational piece." H.B. 20 is slated for more hearings and is subject to committee changes. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
