Latest news with #HouseBill41
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Scott signs bill adding felony charge for abuse of a corpse
Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law Thursday that would make it a felony to destroy or abuse a corpse, a measure created in the wake of the 2024 murder an Enosburg woman. Roberta Martin, 82, was reported missing on July 17, 2024. Her burned remains were found five days later in a wooded area not far from her home. On July 25, Vermont State Police arrested Darren Martell, 23, who was living in the camper near Martin's home. Court documents say a forensics examination 'preliminarily determined' that a DNA sample of sperm taken from Martin's remains were a match for Martell's DNA. Martell has been held without bail on a charge of aggravated murder since his arrest. Unauthorized removal or burial of corpse is already a felony in Vermont. House Bill 41 — which has been called 'Roberta's Law' — creates a new felony statute for anyone who destroys a corpse without legal authority. Doing so to conceal a crime would add additional felony penalties, according to the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NMED seeks approval to enact clean fuels rule by end of the year
Traffic along Tramway road captured May 21, 2025. New Mexico put forward draft rules for its clean fuels program, and officials hope hearings will begin later this year. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) As the Trump administration attacks states' efforts to combat climate change, New Mexico pushes ahead with its plans to create a market place for clean fuels. Last week, the New Mexico Environment Department proposed the Clean Transportation Fuel Program to the state's Environmental Improvement Board, which, if approved, would be the fourth one in the country. A public comment period on the 112-page draft rule is expected to start in mid-June, according to an NMED news release, with a request to schedule the required hearings this fall. The draft rule follows the New Mexico Legislature's 2024 passage of House Bill 41, which mandated the environment department create a market to incentivize less vehicular pollution and the state reduce emissions by 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2040. The law sets a deadline of July 1, 2026 for the adoption of rules creating the marketplace. Officials and proponents say the program is meant to reduce pollution over time by allowing cleaner fuel companies — using electricity or diesel made from refined plants like corn or soybeans — to sell credits to sellers of more polluting fuels. In its proposed rule, NMED created an objective measure, called the clean fuel standard, to determine the total greenhouse emissions of a fuel. The standard measures the 'well-to-wheel' intensity, said Michelle Miano, who leads NMED's Environmental Protection Division. 'It includes the drilling of the well, taking up petroleum or fossil products from the well, what it takes to refine, take to market and go to sale,' she said. 'We are calculating the carbon intensity of that entire lifecycle and we're doing that for all the different kinds of fuels.' Miano said the marketplace meets the goals of diversifying the economy; working to curb pollution; and incentivizing fuel producers to reduce their carbon footprints. New Mexico would be the fourth state to adopt this kind of program, behind California, Washington and Oregon. Miano said the program will be entirely state-run, and doesn't require federal input. 'This is a state program and state law, so no matter what happens at the federal level, this program will remain in place so that the economic benefits are received by New Mexico, regardless of federal movements,' Miano said. Transportation ranks as New Mexico's second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions behind oil and gas production, according to Travis Madsen, the transportation program director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a nonprofit that advocates for electrification across the intermountain West. 'Most of that is burning petroleum in cars and trucks,' he told Source NM. 'And in order to reduce those emissions, we need to move our transportation and energy supplies towards less emitting, or zero-emitting energy sources — that's what the clean fuel standard aims to do.' Madsen said the efforts to use renewables on the electrical grid and the further adoption of electric cars at home could translate to cost-savings. 'Using electricity instead of gasoline can provide some major savings on fuel costs for residents or businesses, and I'm expecting that the net effect of this policy is going to be that New Mexicans save money,' he said. Madsen referenced recent proposals from House Republicans to gut clean energy tax credits and pollution rules as a driving reason for New Mexico to create the program. 'I think the federal government is definitely not moving toward emission reductions and is probably moving away. That would push things in the wrong direction and make it harder for New Mexico to achieve those pollution reduction goals that it set out,' he said. 'I think it's even more important now that New Mexico pursues actions that it can take on its own without the help of the federal government — the clean fuel standard is a prime example of that.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PIAA playoff reform bill advances out of Pa. House committee
(Getty Images) The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) may soon be able to create separate playoffs and championships for public schools and non-public schools. A proposal to hand the association that power passed a state House committee on a bipartisan basis Monday. Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), sponsor of House Bill 41, believes his measure would correct what he and other supporters argue is an 'imbalance' in the current system, which pits public schools, which they describe as 'boundary' schools, in the same state playoffs and championship games as non-public schools. They include private, charter and parochial 'non-boundary' schools. Conklin mentioned that a few other states, including neighboring Maryland, currently use this approach. 'It's worked very, very well,' Conklin said. He likened his proposal to Penn State football being able to play an Ivy League team in the regular season and being able to 'beat the tar out of them,' but ultimately the two schools won't be vying for the same championship. Among the reasons Conklin's cited in pushing the measure are that in the past, some high schools were talking about dropping out of the PIAA over the issue. He also highlighted how non-public schools only represent a small percentage of schools in the state, but ultimately win state championships at a larger rate. A Capital-Star report in May 2024 found that at that time, non-public schools comprised 24% of the high schools in the PIAA, but accounted for a disproportionate amount of state champions in most common sports over the past decade. Conklin also made the case that his proposal is not meant to 'harm' those non-public schools in any way. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The PIAA has said that they don't have the authority to make such a change without legislation. A co-sponsorship memo notes it gives the association the power to make changes. However, the proposal is not a mandate for the PIAA, unlike a previous 2019 plan that would have mandated the PIAA to hold separate playoffs for public and non-public schools in certain sports. Several committee members spoke out in support of the bill, including Rep. Jeff Olsommer (R-Pike), who said his brother is a football coach at a public high school in the state. 'I can't tell you how many times he's gone into the state playoffs, faced a charter or a private school that is loaded with talent and just gets mowed down. I hear it from the coaches on the staff and his friends of coaches, that this idea that is in this bill that you're talking about, is widely prevalent and thought of as a great idea amongst the coaches, at least, in my brother's circle,' Olsommer said. The bill passed the House Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations Committee by a 20-6 vote and will be referred to the full chamber for consideration.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police, firefighters rely on drones made in China. Texas shouldn't ground them
Nearly a decade ago, as fire chief and emergency management coordinator for the Texas city of Joshua, I saw firsthand how drones could transform public safety. That experience inspired me to help pioneer their use among first responders — a journey that began in the Lone Star State and continues today in my role at the drone manufacturer DJI. Now, Texas stands at a crossroads with House Bill 41, which would ban state and local agencies — including police, fire departments and sheriff's offices — from purchasing or operating drones made in China, such as those from DJI, the most widely used and capable drones available. While it claims to address data security concerns, HB 41 ignores safeguards already in place and threatens to strip life-saving tools from Texas first responders, waste taxpayer money and put communities at risk. As a 26-year veteran of the fire service, I've witnessed drones become indispensable to emergency professionals. They provide eyes in the sky quickly and affordably when every second counts — often making the difference between life and death. In Texas, this isn't hypothetical; it's proven. In 2024, the Arlington Police Department used drones to assess dangerous situations before sending in armed units, improving efficiency and officer safety. In 2023, the Orange County Sheriff's Office aided area fire departments by gathering critical intelligence during wildfires, helping firefighters save lives and property. That same year, the San Marcos Police Department and Hays County Sheriff's Office deployed drones to track and apprehend a fleeing suspect in a stolen vehicle pursuit. These are just a few examples of how DJI drones have become a cornerstone of public safety across Texas. Yet HB 41 would ground these proven tools — not because of actual security risks, but simply because of where they're made. This blunt approach dismisses the reality that DJI drones already offer robust data security features. Users can activate 'Local Data Mode' to sever the flight app's internet connection, or operate the drone with the controller's phone in 'airplane mode' for total disconnection. Agencies can also bypass DJI's app entirely by using third-party software, including options from American companies. Images and videos are never shared with DJI unless users opt in — and U.S. users can't even sync flight logs with our servers. Multiple third-party audits, including from government agencies, have validated these protections. Texas first responders already follow strict IT and network standards, layering additional safeguards to keep their data secure. Some argue that agencies can simply switch to American-made drones, but as things stand that's not feasible. A similar ban in Florida has cost taxpayers millions of dollars to replace drone fleets, forcing first responders to adopt less reliable, less capable alternatives or give up their programs altogether. In Texas, replacing DJI drones could cost agencies 8 to 14 times more for inferior technology — drones with weaker cameras, shorter battery life and fewer safety features. The bill's proposed 'Law Enforcement Secure Unmanned Aircraft System Grant Program' is no fix; it lacks a budget and would waste taxpayer money by scrapping functional fleets. This legislation is also premature. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 mandates a federal review of DJI's security features within the year. Texas should wait for those findings rather than rush into a sweeping ban that upends proven programs. I've spent my career protecting Texans, first as a firefighter and now by ensuring agencies have the tools and training they need. HB 41 doesn't enhance security; it undermines it. Instead of grounding drones, let's educate agencies on the security features already available and allow for the free market freedom of choice for our public safety agencies. Our first responders — and the people they serve — deserve nothing less. Wayne Baker is the director of stakeholder engagement at drone manufacturer DJI. He is a paramedic and 26-year veteran of the fire service who also served 10 years as fire chief and emergency management coordinator for Joshua, Texas. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas, don't ground life-saving drones for first responders | Opinion
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio business leaders urge support for child care measures in legislature
Child care worker Marci Then helps her daughter, Mila, 4, put away toys. (File photo by Elaine S. Povich/Stateline.) Ohio businesses say they're ready to implement pending legislation that would improve the child care industry, and in fact, some already have programs in place that they say prove the usefulness of not only business support, but state support in child care. Ron Holbrook, of Sugar Creek Packing Company, said the food manufacturer works as an example of public-private partnerships and their ability to work. The company has 2,400 employees in two states, and already has two child care facilities open on or near company worksites. 'As an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented company … we have become intimately aware of 'barriers to work' that many Ohioans face, and have implemented programs to help overcome them,' Holbrook said during a meeting of the Ohio House Children and Human Services Committee. The committee heard supportive testimony on both House Bill 2 and House Bill 41, bills aimed at increasing the funding and capacity for the child care sector. H.B. 2 is a Republican-led reintroduction from the last General Assembly of a cost-sharing model that would split child care expenses between the state, employers and eligible employees of those companies. Under the 'Child Care Cred Program,' employers would apply for funds to help employees with child care in a first-come, first-served program that would be funded with $10 million, handled by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. H.B. 41 is also a Republican-led bill, one that would require the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to establish a grant program 'to expand child care capacity, support the state's workforce and aid in business growth and recruitment,' according to a bill analysis by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The bill would create grants of up to $750,000 to help employers equip themselves with child care facilities and partner with child care providers, governmental agencies, or nonprofits 'on initiatives to create child care capacity.' The basis of the child care program at Sugar Creek's facilities — one of which is at the Washington Court House campus and another near their Indiana facility — is utilizing the skills the company has of building and maintaining property and furniture, allowing licensed child care providers to run the day-to-day operations of taking care of children. In their child care facilities, the first slots available go to Sugar Creek employees, and any leftover slots go to other residents of the community. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Child care and other benefits have been a focus for Sugar Creek Packing Company because Holbrook said the leadership of the company, specifically owner John Richardson, sees support for workers as a foundation for a successful company. 'He's always told me in my position that you can't have a successful business in a community that isn't successful, and a community can't be successful if their businesses aren't successful,' Holbrook said. 'Aside from that, we need the employees.' For the Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries, having the needed services like child care helps the employees of their company, but also brings a solution to areas of the state where residents struggle to pay for child care, but also can't find child care to utilize at all. In 2023, Goodwill of South Central Ohio became the first Goodwill in the state to open a child care center and only the fourth Goodwill in the Midwest to do so, according to Prince Garuba, executive director of the association. 'This center addresses a critical need in Ross County and the broader Appalachian region, which is classified as a child care desert where access to child care facilities is significantly limited,' Garuba said. 'The demand for more centers in this area was, and remains, urgent.' Rick Carfagna, a former Republican legislator who is now senior vice president of government affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said the cost-sharing model in H.B. 2 is priority legislation for the chamber, and something for which the chamber has heard plenty of support from businesses. 'They want to be a part of the solution, but they also don't want to assume total responsibility for solving the problem either,' Carfagna told the committee. In Ohio, Carfagna said the child care problem is two-fold: child care is too scarce, and 'when it's available, it's too expensive.' 'We support these measures (in H.B. 2) and we believe that encouraging employers to privately invest in such an employee benefit is an innovative solution to address costs and reduce barriers to employment,' he said. That loss of employees due to the rising costs and lack of access to child care has already had significant impacts in the country and in the coffers at the state level as well. The chamber is set to release its version of an annual report conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation showing state-by-state financial impacts due to a lack of child care. The 'Untapped Potential' report has not been released for Ohio quite yet, but Carfagna said he'd seen a 'raw copy' that showed a loss of $5.5 billion in economic activity every year for the state 'because of the child care crisis,' and an estimated $1.52 billion in lost annual tax revenue. The state could be clawing back that money by supporting the child care industry in the areas of cost, capacity, and staffing support, he said. Through the implementation of the grants included in H.B. 41, it could also be funding more programs like those already underway in the state that are using 'dormant or underutilized commercial properties that are ripe for conversion into child care spaces,' he told the committee. Ashland County, for example, has a public-private collaborative called the Women's Fund Childcare Initiative, which plans to use donated land in an industrial park for a 12,400 square-feet child care space, after raising more than $4 million from donors to do so. 'These types of partnerships leverage existing facilities operated by trusted organizations within our communities to increase child care capacity,' Carfagna said. While the measures to improve child care in the state are all important to the chamber, Carfagna also mentioned a component of the governor's executive budget that he and his organization hope to see continue on to the final draft: raising the eligibility for publicly funded child care to 200% of the federal poverty level. When talking about the cost-sharing model in H.B. 2, Carfagna brought up other states which have implemented pilot programs similar to the model proposed for Ohio. He said Michigan has now scaled their original pilot program out to now serve about 700 families, in partnership with about 200 employers. The state is kicking in about $3 million for that effort, but the state is also bolstered by publicly funded child care eligibility at the 200% level. 'We actually support that, top priority, keeping what's in the executive budget, but that's a separate issue,' Carfagna said. Kentucky and Pennsylvania also set their eligibility at 200% of the federal poverty level, though Carfagna acknowledged that raising it from the current level of 145% doesn't come without costs itself. 'If you really want to make the biggest impact, that's the biggest impact,' Carfagna said. 'Now I also know that has the biggest cost to it.' Budget conversations are ongoing in the Ohio legislature, with a deadline of July 1 to get the budget to the governor for his signature. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
