Latest news with #HouseBill2251
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Gov. Kotek ‘exploring' banning student cell phone use
PORTLAND, Ore. () – After a bill failed to advance in the Oregon Senate on Wednesday, that would have banned student cell phone use in schools statewide, Governor Tina Kotek is 'exploring' ways to implement the ban, according to the governor's office. House Bill 2251 would direct school districts statewide to implement a policy banning students from using cell phones from bell-to-bell, or throughout the school day. Schools would also be required to have policies listing consequences if students violate the ban. The bill had some exceptions, including allowing students to use cell phones for medical reasons or if it's part of a student's Individualized Education Program. The bill was also introduced with bipartisan support from chief sponsors Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), Rep. April Dobson (D-Happy Valley, North Clackamas County) and Sen. Lisa Reynolds (D-West Portland and NE Washington County). While the bill passed the House in April, it failed to advance from the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday ahead of Friday's bill deadline, which was first reported by OPB. The bill's failure came amid concerns that the bill was too prescriptive with lawmakers discussing provisions including whether students should be allowed to use their phones during lunch periods. Esquire names 2 new Oregon hotels among the best in the world During Wednesday's Senate Committee meeting, Chair Lew Frederick (D-N/NE Portland) proposed sending the bill to the Senate Rules Committee to work out compromises in the bill, however, committee members disagreed with the path, vying for more conversations around school cell phone policy. In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News on Thursday, a spokesperson for Kotek's office said the governor was 'disappointed,' with the bill's outcome in the Senate. 'Governor Kotek is very disappointed that HB 2251 did not advance. She has been clear that this bill was a priority for the session, given the benefits that removing cell phones from school settings have for student outcomes and mental health,' the governor's spokesperson said. 'The Governor hopes the contents of the bill can be resurrected and she is actively exploring executive action.' 'Historic heist': Pacific Northwest lawmakers react to passage of Trump policy bill During the Senate committee meeting, several lawmakers voiced concerns against sending the bill to the Rules Committee. 'I'm a little worried about the (Rules Committee) route,' Sen. Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction) said. 'Simply because this is a policy discussion for our committee.' 'This kind of policy is something we should be asking our school boards to have firmer action and firmer direction on,' said Sen. Janine Sollman (D-Hillsboro). 'I wasn't sure that I could get (to a yes vote) on a bell-to-bell because I felt originally, when it was all written, I was like, 'Oh my goodness, this is very prescriptive. It has bell-to-bell, it has consequences built in.'' 'I went back to my superintendents, I went back to educators, I talked to school board members in my district. I gave them the original policy; I gave them amendment language…and the reason I felt I could support that was because it was still movement in a direction that I think addresses cell phone policy in such a way that would provide positive change. There was a bell-to-bell aspect from K-12 but with K-8, there wasn't going to be allowances for breaks and lunches to have cell phones. But in high school, I think we needed to have some flexibility,' Sollman said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Sollman relayed concerns she heard from educators over which school staffers would be tasked with enforcing bell-to-bell policies and concerns over funding cell phone pouches for schools to store student's cell phones during the day as the bill provides no funding. 'When the comment came that if this doesn't happen that the governor is going to sign something in an executive order, I was like, 'Wait a minute. We are having a policy conversation and if we can't agree on something in a policy and find movement, that's the answer?' This is a different time that we're in then. And it's a time where I'm not going to be quiet about because we should be able to come to an agreement and figure this out. So, if I believed this policy, that we would continue to have conversation, I would be there,' Sollman said of her preference to not advance the bill to the Rules Committee. Sen. Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) also raised concerns she heard from educators, stating the bill could pose as 'another unfunded mandate' for schools with enforcement challenges. Oregon lawmakers approve changes to bottle redemption law amid homelessness concerns 'I'm significantly more optimistic about the Rule Committee than these folks are,' Chair Frederick said before closing the meeting. 'I think we need to do something. Every teacher that I talk with tells me, 'You've got to do something.' Even those teachers who have programs in their school, in their district, they say to me, 'The state has to do something so that we can justify things that we're doing,'' Frederick added. The bill comes as some Oregon school districts have implemented various cell phone limits, including, Portland Public Schools' 'off-and-away' policy implemented for the 2025-2026 school year along with a cell phone ban at Lake Oswego School District. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The crusade on people who use drugs continues in West Virginia
Lawmakers in West Virginia have introduced bills to ban some harm reduction programs. In New Hampshire, the overdose prevention van operated by the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition offers a syringe exchange, fentanyl test strips, safety kits, wound care and other supplies. (Hadley Barndollar | New Hampshire Bulletin) The alt-right crusade against marginalized populations continues this legislative session. Senators and delegates alike have introduced hundreds of bills since the beginning of the session, many of them attacking LGBTQIA+, women, justice-involved, the unhoused, and of course, people who use drugs. Amongst the slew of anti-trans, anti-abortion and anti-homeless legislation, many drug policy bills spark great concern among harm reductionists, people in recovery and people who use drugs. Let's begin in the House of Delegates with House Bill 2251 sponsored by Del. Doug Smith, R-Mercer, which would mandate drug testing for applicants for cash assistance. West Virginia attempted to do this before with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 2017 and it was extended to 2022. The program apparently only helped one person during its implementation. Programs like these are known to be costly, wasteful, and harmful to families. It stereotypes low-income folks as drug users and doesn't provide a safe space for those with a substance use disorder to get help. Many states have already implemented guidelines such as these and they are never successful. Del. David Kelly, R-Tyler, introduced HB 2365, which would create the crime of exposing people to fentanyl. Most of us know by now that overdose by fentanyl exposure is a myth and is consistently perpetuated by law enforcement. Creating a bill such as this would overcriminalize people who use drugs and make them even more fearful of law enforcement. It would add more penalties for drug use and possession, making it even more difficult for people who use drugs to get out of active use and piece their lives back together. Moving forward, Del. Geno Chiarelli, D-Monongalia, didn't disappoint with his introduction of HB 2378, which would prohibit syringe service programs from operating in the state. This comes after his successful campaign against pipes last session, which led to pipes being prohibited from being distributed at certified harm reduction programs. This year, he wants to ban syringe service programs altogether, and this undoubtedly has much to do with his attempt to go undercover to the syringe program in Morgantown and act like a participant. He used that experience and his experience as a methadone counselor to wage a war against drug users in the Mountain State. He also wants to impose a life sentence on fentanyl dealers with HB 2380 and ban camping in municipalities with HB 2382. Most fentanyl dealers are low-level dealers who sell the drug to support their own habit or pay their bills, they are not kingpins who are out to get everyone hooked on the drug. This is more overcriminalization of drug users and their need to participate in survival work. The camping bill is more concerning because he is not the only one who has submitted a bill to ban camping. The attack on the unhoused has piqued in Charleston and Morgantown, with Morgantown actually passing a camping ban and Charleston introducing one. Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is always a main source of contention in the legislature and he continues to be with his two bills Senate Bill 203 and SB 204. Senate Bill 203 would prohibit syringe service programs, similar to Chiarelli's House bill. Tarr introduced the same bill last year (and years prior) and fortunately, it didn't gain traction in the committees and never made it to the Senate floor. However, with a delegate also introducing the same legislation, there is twice the chance of it making it out of committee and onto the floor. We can only hope this year is the same as last and neither bill makes it on the agenda. Senate Bill 204 would essentially outlaw methadone programs. It is unknown what influenced Tarr to introduce this bill, repeatedly, given the evidence behind medication for substance use disorder. This is not the first time he has introduced this bill, but if it makes it out of committee and to the Senate floor it's scary to think that it would most likely pass. One bill that I can support for once is SB 219 introduced by Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, which will declassify cannabis possession as a misdemeanor to a civil violation. This would decrease the amount of criminalization of people who use drugs and free up the criminal justice system from non-violent offenses. Prohibition is the main causal factor behind the harms caused by illicit drug use and decriminalizing and legalizing drugs is the first big step into mitigating that. Project Mayday is tracking numerous bills this session, but will mainly advocate the drug policies. We hope that we come out the other side unscathed, but we need solidarity from other groups and individuals to fight the fight. People who use drugs deserve compassion and they deserve life. It is our job to make that happen. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to Tasha Withrow, and not necessarily to her employer, organization, committee, the State of West Virginia or other group or individual. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
