Latest news with #SB1098
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon legislature passes bill to combat ‘politicized' book bans
PORTLAND, Ore. () – The Oregon legislature passed a bill on Monday in an effort to combat 'politicized' book bans across the state, the Democratic House Majority Office announced. Senate Bill 1098, the Freedom to Read bill, prevents books from being banned based on protected topics such as race, sex and religion, or bans based on the author's identity. The bill also ensures that people who are directly connected to a school – including parents, guardians and school staff – can file complaints about textbooks or library materials rather than allowing complaints from politicians, campaigns or people outside of Oregon. Under the bill, local review committees will make the final call if the material is allowed. DON'T MISS: Oregon representative counters bill against book bans by reading explicit excerpt 'This legislation is a clear statement of our values as Oregonians and a society', said Representative Travis Nelson (D-N & NE Portland), a chief sponsor of the bill. 'It embodies our commitment to creating an educational environment where every student can learn, grow, and see themselves reflected in the stories and histories that shape our world.' The bill comes as 127 books were challenged in Oregon schools and libraries in 2024, marking the highest number since the State Library started tracking challenged titles, according to the House Majority Office. 'SB 1098 creates a process to make sure such decisions are made with community input, and to protect librarians from being targeted by activist groups. Under this bill, a book challenge must come from a parent, guardian or school employee, not from an outside person or organization,' said Rep. Zach Hudson (D -East Multnomah County). Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'As an elementary teacher, I observed daily the importance of students having access to a broad range of cultures, histories, and experiences,' added, Rep. Lisa Fragala (D – Eugene). 'All students deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read at school. Book bans erase the voice and experiences of too many children, and we need learning environments that affirm students' identities, so they feel empowered to learn.' In a press release issued Monday, however, Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), a member of the House Education Committee, argued that the bill limits school districts' ability to choose age-appropriate books for school libraries. 'I voted against SB 1098 because there were no sideboards on age appropriateness. I do not support banning books. I support age appropriateness when choosing instructional materials,' Rep. Wright explained. Wright noted that Rep. Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) introduced an amendment, which would affirm a school's ability to consider age and grade-level appropriateness when reviewing books, Wright said, adding, 'The amendment supporting age appropriateness was not adopted. If it had, I could have voted in support of SB 1098.' Cars damaged near Portland school after teen suspect rammed cars outside, police say After passing the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives, the bill now heads to Governor Tina Kotek's desk. The bill comes after written testimony was submitted by State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen, noting the State Library is neutral in its support of the bill. According to Cornelisen, Oregon is seeing a 'clear pattern' in recent reports of book challenges. 'Incidents and challenged materials are disproportionately about, by, or center the stories of individuals who belong to an underrepresented protected class under ORS 659.850. In 2023-24, 87% of the items challenged told the stories of one or more underrepresented groups. Sixty-six percent of challenged materials focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ people, while 22% centered Black, Indigenous, or people of color,' Cornelisen said. 'The data shared here were gathered through reports of challenges at schools and libraries, media stories, and our staff's experience working on challenge incidents. However, we have reason to believe that incidents in Oregon are underreported. Many school and library staff are not aware of the option to report such incidents. Despite the anonymity of the reporting process, staff also may decline to report for fear of political blowback, job repercussions, or media attention on their organization,' Cornelisen continued. 'We anticipate the numbers we have shared here would be significantly higher if all intellectual freedom incidents in Oregon were reported.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Murfreesboro lawmakers file bill to allow moratorium on apartment complex development
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Republican lawmakers who serve Murfreesboro and Rutherford County have filed legislation that would allow the Rutherford County Commission to halt all development of apartment complexes. SB 1098/HB 1161, filed by Sen. Dawn White and Rep. Robert Stevens, authorizes a local government to impose a moratorium on the development of apartment complexes if they wish and pass it with a two-thirds majority vote. The moratorium would only apply to counties with a population of at least 325,000, according to the 2020 census or a subsequent federal census; the provision would not apply to any county with a metropolitan form of government. According to U.S. Census data, the only counties in Tennessee with a population of at least 325,000 were Rutherford, Hamilton, Knox, Davidson, and Shelby. Since Davidson County has a metropolitan government, it would be excluded from the provision. According to the text of the bill, the moratorium could be imposed if the county legislative body adopts the resolution. The moratorium would be 'limited to one (1) year in duration,' the bill says, but that year-long moratorium could be extended by the county authority upon another two-thirds majority vote. The extensions would also be limited to one year, but there is no limit to how many extensions the county legislative body could pass. Smyrna High School celebrates new space on campus The bill's text also specifies an 'apartment complex' means a 'building or group of buildings for multi-family use within the same development containing twenty-five (25) or more individual dwelling units for residents.' If passed, the law would take effect immediately upon receiving Gov. Bill Lee's signature. The measure comes as Rutherford County is seeing explosive growth. According to the Tennessee State Data Center in the University of Tennessee Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research, Rutherford County saw more than a 30% growth in population from 2010 to 2020. It was listed as the fifth-largest county in the state in the 2020 federal census, according to the Boyd Center. Murfreesboro city officials recently approved a nearly $5 million road improvement project. The project includes adding turn and through lanes and a traffic signal at the intersection of Burnt Knob, Manson Pike and Blackman Road. A new elementary school is set to open in August, followed by a new middle school. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County Smyrna High School celebrated a new addition to its campus to accommodate an influx of students earlier this year. The new wing has 39 new classrooms that replace 19 older portable buildings used for schooling. The increased capacity is around 2,500 students, according to Rutherford County Schools (RCS) Director of Schools Jimmy Sullivan. La Vergne High School also submitted a request for expansion later in the year to the Rutherford County Commission. In October, RCS sent the commission an approximately $40 million funding request to build an annex onto the high school. La Vergne High School annex vote comes to Rutherford County School Board The annex will be roughly 100,00 square feet in space and increase the school's capacity to about 2,600 students, according to the school board. RCS spokesman James Evans said the Rutherford County Commission approved the funding request. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
