Latest news with #HouseBill45
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor Beshear signs 20 new bills into law in Kentucky
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been busy. The governor has recently signed 20 bills into law, vetoed 12 and returned 4 without a signature. The governor's goal is that these bills will help Kentuckians and improve communities across the state. 'We've been laser focused on addressing the everyday needs of our Kentucky families and communities, and the 20 bills I signed do just that,' says Beshear. Below are the 20 bills Governor Beshear has signed into law: House Bill 15 lowers the age at which Kentucky drivers can obtain instructional permits from 16 to 15 years old. House Bill 45 strengthens campaign finance regulations. House Bill 315 prohibits hostile foreign governments from indirectly owning, leasing or otherwise acquiring an interest in agricultural land in the commonwealth. House Bill 321 addresses issues related to zoning map amendments. House Bill 342 requires a financial literacy course in high school. House Bill 422 makes procedural changes for how emergency regulations are administered through the Commonwealth Office of Technology. House Bill 443 makes Kentucky Highway 80 in Perry, Knot and Floyd counties part of the Hal Rogers Parkway. House Bill 537 provides clarity regarding the Opioid Abatement Fund. House Bill 682 includes cable operators and broadband providers in the definitions of 'utility' for reimbursement of costs associated with relocation of their facilities. House Bill 701 safeguards the rights of Kentuckians to use and mine cryptocurrencies. Senate Bill 27 requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create and maintain a Kentucky Parkinson's Disease Research Registry. Senate Bill 68 makes several changes aligning with Kentucky Academic Standards. Additionally, it will reduce staff time costs at the Kentucky Department of Education. Senate Bill 69 creates certification through the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to license qualified candidates to work in animal chiropractic and equine dentistry. Senate Bill 129 allows governmental, quasi-governmental and nonprofit entities to purchase properties that have been placed in a tax delinquency diversion program. Senate Bill 145 changes the period of time for which delinquency charges can be collected on vehicle payment installments. Senate Bill 162 strengthens protections against unemployment fraud. Senate Bill 179 appropriates $10 million to create the Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program. The measure aligns with the state's energy strategy and new U.S. Department of Energy priorities. Senate Bill 202 creates a licensing and regulatory framework for 'intoxicating THC infused beverages' within the 3-tier system regulated by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Senate Bill 237 requires certain out-of-state peace officers, who were previously employed in another state for 10 years, to have passed a physical agility test in the state where they were certified. Senate Bill 244 establishes the Department of Child Support Services and its offices within the Office of Attorney General's Department of Law. Below are the bills Governor Beshear vetoed: House Bill 2: Beshear says this bill would prioritize tax breaks for purchasers of gold. He says this is 'out of touch with reality for most people in Kentucky. House Bill 90 restricts access to medical care, places barriers on doctors and undermines their clinical judgement, and threatens the life of pregnant women in Kentucky. House Bill 136 would force the executive branch to breach a contract with a vendor opening the government up to costly litigation funded by taxpayers. House Bill 399 criminalizes interference with a legislative proceeding which is already subject to existing laws and is therefore unnecessary. House Bill 424 would limit employment protections for educators at Kentucky's colleges and universities. House Bill 546 makes changes to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Road Plan, and Beshear says this would include 'unnecessary tolling' on the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project. House Bill 566 received line-item vetoes because it prevents the Governor from being able to fulfill his duty under the Kentucky Constitution that the laws are faithfully executed by the president of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. House Bill 684 limits the forms of valid identification that may be used to allow a voter to cast a ballot, making it harder for Kentuckians to participate in the voting process. House Bill 694 breaks the promise made to Kentucky teachers in 2010 to fully fund health insurance for retirees by requiring teachers to pay a higher rate much longer than the law calls for. House Joint Resolution 30 seeks to appropriate funds through a resolution instead of through legislation. Senate Bill 28 violates the Kentucky Constitution and will lead to the disclosure of confidential information on economic development projects. Senate Bill 89 eliminates protections currently in place to prevent pollution of groundwater and flooding of creeks, streams and rivers. Below are the bills that were returned without Governor Beshear's signature: House Joint Resolution 15: Beshear aims to show respect to the 79 faith leaders who oppose the resolution. House Bill 241: Beshear says this contradicts the General Assembly's own actions and attitudes toward in-person and all-virtual learning. Senate Bill 136: Beshear says this is due to the General Assembly not providing any funding to support the bill, which would reportedly cost taxpayers $500,000. Senate Bill 201: Beshear says this is due to the requirement that administrative law judges be confirmed by the General Assembly before they can begin service. He says there is concern with not having enough administrative law judges and that members of the Senate may practice before these judges. One more veto day remains before the General Assembly reconvenes for the last two days of the 2025 regular session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Intense debate erupts over controversial bill that would have big impact on rivers: 'We would be smart to wait'
Wildlife experts and constituents pleaded with Wyoming lawmakers to cease a bill introduced in the state that would end 72 years of protection for river otters, WyoFile reported. The bill passed the House with a 52-8 vote and passed the Senate with a 22-9 vote. Republican lawmakers in Wyoming's State Legislature have proposed House Bill 45, "Removing otters as protected animals," which would do exactly that. The bill, conceived by Andrew Byron, originated from the trouble fishers were having in polluted waters and locals who were "having trouble with otters." If the bill passes, it would remove otters from a list of "protected animals for purposes of hunting regulations." Northern river otters, the only species of otter in Wyoming, according to Cowboy State Daily, have been protected since 1953, prior to the Federal Endangered Species Act. "After they were protected in 1953, you started to see their population spread," said Wyoming Game and Fish director Angi Bruce. According to Bruce, having the bill pass would help authorities deal with "problem-causing otters." Reports of otters in fish-stocked waters or attacking tubers have caused some concern. "Having this tool, in my perspective, allows us to help gain support for more otters," said Bruce. However, wildlife experts and other lawmakers caution that the bill is moving too quickly. Merav Ben-David, a University of Wyoming professor, asked for lawmakers to leave river otters alone. Her plea stemmed from research on otters that were nearly wiped out during the fur-trading eras and slowly reintroducing themselves to their habitats. "In 2021, we had 25% of the otter activity at these latrines compared to what we had a decade ago," Ben-David told lawmakers. "River otters are slowly clawing their way back. Their existence is tenuous, depending on water flow, fish abundance and pollution." " We would be smart to wait until we get viable populations in other places, [like] along the Wind River," Ben-David continued. "I would encourage a change in their status when I start getting complaints from anglers in the Bighorn River or friends of mine who live in Glendale." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. State Rep. Karlee Provenza deferred to Ben-David's expertise: "If the number one scientist that knows what is going on says, 'No,' then I would also urge you to vote no on this bill." The bill passed the committee with a vote of 8-2 before moving through the House and Senate and being signed by governor Mark Gordon. According to the International Otter Survival Fund, northern river otters are listed as "least concern," meaning they are not at threat of extinction. However, this status is supported by the protections otters have had in Wyoming for 72 years. Bill 45 could place river otters in danger of becoming endangered. Removing the protected status allows for the moving and killing of "fish-eating nuisance otters," according to WyoFile. "The first step would be to try to relocate them to somewhere else," Game and Fish chief warden Dan Smith said. "In the end, if nothing works, that still would give us the tool to lethally remove them, but that would be a last step," said Angi Bruce. Food supplies for otters are dwindling due to rising water temperatures. This forces otters to move to different areas for food and to get creative in their search. Researchers even found otters eating foods 35% harder than their teeth are used to and using glass bottles to help break down their food. According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, river otters, as predators, are ecologically important as they help control populations of kelp and other species. They even help control the spread of invasive species. But they are also susceptible to "environmental contaminants," such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. In England, scientists found high levels of toxic chemicals in dead otters due to waste. With less protection, otters can be more susceptible to these environmental hazards and have a harder time finding their food supply. Even though the bill was passed, there still are protections in place. According to Wyoming Public Media, the bill doesn't allow an open season on otters. "There are fears out there that this is an all-out attack, this is a free-for-all," said Rep. Byron. "It's really, really not the case." First steps would be to use electric fences and other mitigation practices before resorting to lethal methods. "I personally believe that when we are able to go in and address conflict situations with landowners, it helps build support for that species as they become more popular across the state," Angi Bruce said. According to River Otter Ecology, there are plenty of ways you can help protect otters on a personal level. These include picking up trash, not using chemical fertilizers, and supporting conservation groups and political candidates. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kentucky House passes bill to limit foreign influence in ballot measure campaigns
Election Day at the Landsdowne Elementary School precinct in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes) FRANKFORT — A bill that seeks to limit foreign influence in campaigns on Kentucky ballot measures easily passed the House Wednesday. Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, introduced House Bill 45 to prevent foreign donors and entities from donating to campaigns on ballot measures, such as a constitutional amendment. He argued the change would close a potential loophole in the state's current election laws. Currently, political candidates are barred from taking campaign contributions from foreign nationals. However, Hodgson said that his bill would expand that prohibition to groups campaigning on ballot measures. The House passed the bill 85-12 in a floor vote Wednesday afternoon. It had bipartisan support, though 12 Democrats voted against the measure. 'I think it's a matter of consistency between our candidate elections and our ballot issue elections. Right now, the law is inconsistent. It's just an oversight,' Hodgson said after the House adjourned Wednesday. 'And I think there will be increasing pressure in future years, especially as people propose constitutional amendments, to keep the foreigners out of our elections that have not bought into our American system.' Some states have passed similar laws banning foreign participation in ballot measures. A study by OpenSecrets found more than $163 million in political contributions were made by foreign-influence companies in six states between the 2018 and 2022 election cycles. If Hodgson's bill becomes law, political issue committees could not 'knowingly or willfully receive, solicit, or accept contributions or expenditures that are directly or indirectly funded by a prohibited source.' The bill would also require records to be kept about independent expenditures supporting or opposing a ballot measure for six years. Under the bill, the committees would have to verify donors are not foreign committee and donor could face legal ramifications if the donor lies. U.S. citizens or green card holders would not be affected by Hodgson's bill. The bill would also require political issue committees to disclose themselves in ads for or against ballot measures. In Kentucky, voters must decide to approve constitutional amendments in elections. Two constitutional amendments were on the ballot in 2024 — one that would have allowed the General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools and another that barred noncitizens from voting in elections within the state.
