Latest news with #HouseBill207
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gordon signs Religious Freedom Restoration Act bill into law
CHEYENNE — Wyoming joined 28 other states in passing its own state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act after Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 207 on Thursday. After Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, a U.S. Supreme Court decision later found it violated the Constitution as it extended to the state and local levels. In City of Boerne v. Flores, the high court decided Congress could not create a religious exemption that would be generally applicable to state and local laws. Since this decision, 28 states have passed RFRA laws, and nine other states have effectively done so through their court systems. House Bill 207, primarily sponsored by Rep. Art Washut, R-Casper, protects religious exercise and observance by people, including corporations, from state government interference. The bill prevents state action from 'burdening' a person's ability to exercise their freedom of religion, including state laws with general applicability. An exemption is made for a state law where there is proven 'compelling governmental interest' that is pursued in the least-restrictive way possible. Washut previously told House Judiciary Committee members the purpose of the bill is to change the standard a judge uses to evaluate cases regarding religious freedom. The Senate added two amendments to the bill after it crossed over unamended from the House of Representatives. A standing committee amendment passed during the first floor reading in the Senate aligns definitions in the bill with the federal RFRA and other, similar state acts. Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo (2025) Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo 'This bill is really about process, and process only,' said Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo. 'It ensures every Wyomingite, regardless of their belief system or political power or understanding, receives a fair hearing when the government seeks to force that person to violate his or her religious beliefs.' Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander (2025) Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, who voted against the bill, asked how far a person could go in claiming religious interference, such as being required to take a vaccine. Crago referred to the test provision in the bill, where the state must prove it has compelling interest and is furthering that interest in the least-restrictive way possible. 'That's up to the courts to decide,' Crago said. Sen. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne (2025) Sen. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne Sen. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, also noted in the bill that the belief must be a 'sincerely held religious belief.' The point of the bill, Crago concluded, is to give people a better standing in court when they feel their religious exercise or belief has been violated by the state government. 'We're not picking winners and losers,' Crago said. 'We're just giving folks their fair day in court.' The heart of the bill, he said, provides declaratory and injunctive relief to those who feel their religious rights have been violated. Crago successfully added an amendment that removed language regarding civil actions and unlimited damages. Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne (2025) Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne Majority Floor Leader Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, who strongly supported Crago's amendment, said she counted 19 bills at that time that eliminated governmental immunity and authorized 'unlimited financial damages to government entities related to non-negligent actions of the government.' 'If you are concerned about any other funding of government, you should be concerned about that trend,' Nethercott said. The bill is effective July 1.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Blackjacks, slung shots, brass knuckles would become legal under bill passed by NH House
Eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the weapons bill, while seven Republicans voted against it. (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin) The House approved legislation Thursday that would allow adults to have several weapons that are currently prohibited under state law. House Bill 207 would repeal the ban on blackjacks, a type of weighted baton; slung shots, a weapon with a heavy ball or knot on the end of a rope; and metallic knuckles. The ban would still be in place for those under 18, and people would be prohibited under the bill from selling or otherwise giving these weapons to minors. It passed the House, 207-162, and still needs approval from the Senate. Eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill, while seven Republicans voted against it. A similar measure was referred to interim study last year. Another bill that would have completely repealed the ban failed to pass in 2023. The House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety had recommended, 8-7, that the bill pass. In the committee report, Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, a Winchester Republican, argued that the majority of the panel felt the current ban was an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. She also said the weapons could be useful for self-defense, and should not be banned when more lethal weapons are legal. Meanwhile, Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright, a Nashua Democrat, argued that 'these weapons continue to be used by aggressors to intimidate, terrorize, and brutally assault their victims,' and that, unlike a hammer or other tool, 'are specifically designed to be used to assault other human beings.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bill creating two new potato license plates advances in Idaho Legislature
Idaho state Rep. Douglas Pickett, left, presents a bill creating new specialty potato license plates on Feb. 18, 2025, at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. The design of one of the proposed new license plates appears on the screen behind Pickett. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) Potato proponents, spud supporters and French fry fanatics across the state may soon rejoice. The Idaho Legislature is considering a bill that would add two new 'Idaho world famous potato' specialty license plates in Idaho. All standard Idaho license plates already prominently display the phrase 'famous potatoes.' And if the standard plate isn't enough for the most prominent potato partisans, there is already a specialty 'baked potato' license plate available from the Idaho Transportation Department for an additional fee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But during a meeting Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol that could have passed for a sketch during the recent 'Saturday Night Live' anniversary comedy show, the House Transportation and Defense Committee voted to advance House Bill 204, which seeks to create two new specialty 'world famous potato' license plates inspired by vintage Idaho license plates that were available in the 1950s. Rep. Douglas Pickett, R-Oakley, and Spuddy Buddy's friends at the Idaho Potato Commission served up House Bill 207. If passed into law, House Bill 207 would create a black license plate with white type and a white license plate with teal type. Both would include the phrase 'Idaho world famous potatoes.' The new black plate would cost $70 plus regular registration fees for the initial issuance of the plate, with annual renewals running another $50. Of the initial fee, $45 would go to the state highway account and $25 would go to the Idaho Potato Commission. The white and teal plate (which several legislators said unfavorably resemble Washington vintage license plates) would become the least expensive license plate available to Idahoans – Pickett said it would cost $1 less than the standard plates available. 'Both of these plates are iconic tributes to Idaho heritage and patents, and there seems to be an increasing demand in particular for the black plate making a return, coming back,' Pickett said Tuesday. CONTACT US The Idaho Heritage Trust came out in opposition to the bill because of the white and teal plate becoming less expensive than standard plates. Katherine Kirk, the trust's executive director, said the standard red, white and blue Idaho license plates were created as part of the Idaho Centennial celebration in 1990. Kirk said the red, white and blue plates were so popular with the public they became the standard Idaho license plate in 1992. The assets from the centennial celebration, including a 50 cent per license plate royalty fee for use of the original trademark, were then transferred to the Idaho Heritage Trust, which preserves Idaho artifacts and historic buildings. Kirk said that making the new specialty plate the cheapest option creates competition with the standard plate and could hurt the trust's mission to work with state agencies to preserve historic buildings and artifacts. 'As such, IHC objects on the grounds the base price for the new plate is lower than the current standard plate, undermining royalties rightly paid to the trust per our standard agreement with the Legislature,' Kirk said. In the end, the House Transportation and Defense Committee voted to send House Bill 207 to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives with a recommendation it pass. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
