Latest news with #SB121
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Classism' in the capital at hearing on HOAs, Neal says
'There were just very interesting comments on the Senate side that I felt were just very classism,' Sen. Dina Neal said on Friday during the Assembly Judiciary hearing. (Photo: Richard Bednarski/Nevada Current) A legislative hearing on a bill intended to give homeowners some 'wiggle room' and avoid the onerous fines imposed by homeowners' associations exposed what state Sen. Dina Neal called 'classism' on the part of HOA industry representatives and opponents. Senate Bill 121 would, among other things, afford cash-strapped new homeowners three years rather than 180 days to landscape their backyards. An HOA could require that owners put down a single layer of rocks after 18 months, to prevent blowing dust. 'Most people have spent most of their money on the refrigerator, the blinds, the furniture, and they actually don't have the funds' to spend within six months on landscaping, Neal, a Democrat from North Las Vegas, said while presenting SB 121 to the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Friday. 'Home ownership is very important. Achieving the American Dream is very important. But not all people are walking into a home with the same amount of money in their bank account.' New homebuyers are 'fully informed' of their obligations, HOA attorney Adam Clarkson had earlier testified in opposition to the bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April on its way to passage in the Senate. 'When they purchase a home, they know whether or not they can do it. The bright line test is don't purchase these homes if you don't want to have to do this.' However, finding a home that's not in a HOA is a challenge in Nevada, where HOAs represent the owners of 623,917 housing units – half of the state's 1.3 million homes, according to the state. 'You're protecting people that bought something they couldn't afford in the first place, knowing that they couldn't afford it, while at the same time you're harming their neighbors,' Clarkson said. 'Now they're not going to be in this beautiful community, because you've taken that away from them, because now people don't have to do the landscaping, and they're going to have those blights in the neighborhood.' Mark Leon, president of the Mountain's Edge Master Association, agreed with Clarkson while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April. 'If landscaping your backyard is too much of a burden for you to handle, then buy a house that was already landscaped,' Leon suggested, adding the provision 'only has the effect of pandering to homeowners too lazy or too unwilling to follow through on their obligation to the community, and that directly affects the property values of their neighbors who are working hard to build their new home.' 'There were just very interesting comments on the Senate side that I felt were just very classism,' Neal said on Friday during the Assembly Judiciary hearing. At the hearing in April, Neal said she 'slightly took offense to the idea that you shouldn't buy the home if you can't afford to landscape your backyard,' adding she doesn't 'believe that a homeowner should be labeled as lazy' or told to find another home if they don't like the rules. Failing to comply with HOA rules can be costly. The boards wield powers generally reserved for government tribunals. They can assess fines, deny property rights, and even foreclose. Neal's bill is intended to take the sting out of common complaints from homeowners. Current regulations permit an HOA to require a resident whose vehicle has a commercial logo or ad to cover it with a magnet. SB 121 would eliminate the requirement for all vehicles, with the exception of those with a 'sexual portrayal or depicting an image relating to the sale of a controlled substance.' The bill would prohibit an association from assessing late fees sooner than 30 days after an obligation becomes past due, and from reporting any past due obligation to a credit agency. There was no opposition to that provision. The legislation would also curtail an HOA from assessing a fine for an oil stain that is entirely on a homeowner's driveway, however, a homeowner could still be responsible for oil stains on the asphalt in front of their property. 'My vehicles do not leak but my neighbors' do,' testified Tanya Bates, an HOA community manager in Washoe County. 'I still clean the oil stains on my street to prevent oil from being tracked into my home. It's a maintenance obligation for homeowners.' An amendment offered by the HOA industry would, among other things, reduce the proposed landscaping deadline to 12 months to lay down rocks and 24 months to complete landscaping. 'I haven't decided if it is friendly or not,' Neal said when asked if she'd accepted it. 'There are provisions I appreciate and there are provisions I do not.' The committee did not take any action on the measure.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alaska can't afford these health care bills
Close-up of a nurse pushing patient on wheelchair in hospital. Healthcare worker hand pushing sick patient on wheelchair. Health care in Alaska is expensive. Some say the most expensive in the country. And it's only getting harder for families and businesses to keep up. Now, two bills in the Alaska Legislature, Senate Bills 121 and 122, could make things even worse. They would raise health care costs for nearly everyone with private insurance, without improving access or quality of care. At Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, we're very concerned about what these bills would mean for Alaskans. Some people think these bills would only affect certain types of insurance, like individual plans or small businesses. But that's not true. At Premera, we use one provider network for all of our Alaska customers, whether they buy insurance on their own, get it through a small business, or work for a large, self-funded employer. That means if these bills force us to pay higher prices to providers, everyone's costs go up; not just the people directly covered by the law. SB 121 would bring back a version of Alaska's old '80th percentile rule.' That rule said insurers had to pay high out-of-network bills, no matter how inflated they were. It led to huge increases in health care costs, and it was finally repealed last year. After the rule was repealed, access to care didn't get worse. In fact, our network of doctors and providers grew. That shows we don't need extreme payment rules to keep providers in the system. Now, SB 121 proposes a similar rule: insurers must pay providers either the 75th percentile of billed charges or 450% of what Medicare pays, whichever is higher. That would raise costs across the board. We estimate that for a family of four in the individual market, this could mean $5,000 more per year in premiums starting in 2026. And because we use one network, those increases would hit all of our customers. SB 122 would force insurers to include almost every provider in the state in their network, even if those providers charge high prices or don't meet our quality standards. It would also limit our flexibility in how we build networks in different regions of Alaska. The end result? Less control over costs, higher prices, and no improvement in the quality of care. Together, SB 121 and 122 would raise costs for almost everyone in Alaska's private insurance market, including large employers, union trusts, and small businesses. They wouldn't improve access to care or help people get healthier. They would just shift more financial burden onto families and businesses who are already struggling. And in a state where the working-age population is shrinking, asking employers to pay even more for health insurance just isn't realistic. If lawmakers want to improve access to care, there are smarter ways to do it: Raise Medicaid payments so providers can keep serving low-income patients Push for higher Medicare rates that reflect Alaska's true cost of care Support innovations that improve care while keeping costs under control Businesses across Alaska face significant challenges in offering good benefits and supporting their employees. Let's keep working together to make health care more affordable for Alaska. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: Utah — a launchpad for the future
Utah is known for its breathtaking landscapes, pioneering spirit and industrious people. But did you know our state is also a powerhouse of aerospace and defense innovation? With industry giants like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing driving technological development alongside our world-class universities and Hill Air Force Base, Utah has solidified itself as a leader in this high-flying sector. Nationally, 2.2 million people are employed in this thriving sector, earning wages that are 50% higher than the national average. In Utah, the aerospace and defense industry accounts for an impressive 20% of Utah's economy, employing nearly 300,000 individuals. Utah's foresight ensures we're punching above our weight. This legislative session marks the dawn of an exciting chapter for Utah's aerospace ambitions. We are proposing the formation of an exploratory committee to evaluate the feasibility of building a spaceport in our state, focusing on logistical, economic and environmental factors. Imagine it: a Utah spaceport — the gateway to the next frontier of exploration and discovery. Why Utah? The answer is simple: Utah's aerospace ecosystem is already soaring, and we're about to take it to a whole new altitude. Our existing aerospace infrastructure provides a solid foundation, while our geographic advantages — clear airspace, favorable weather and excellent transportation networks — make us an ideal candidate. This isn't just a pipe dream. On Feb. 11, 1971, the Utah Legislature passed SB121, establishing the 'Space Port Committee.' This committee brought together a wide range of local business leaders, political figures and state government officials. Feasibility studies led by University of Utah professors from engineering, economics and other fields highlighted that Utah's high elevation could result in significant cost savings for space shuttle launches. The studies emphasized that more payload could be sent into orbit at a lower cost. The Utah Spaceport Committee worked diligently to gain support, gathering endorsements from Utah's congressional delegation, state and local officials and even representatives from neighboring states. The committee also organized visits to Utah for members of Congress and NASA officials to bolster their case. While Utah was primed and ready, Cape Canaveral was ultimately selected as the launch site for the research and development phase. This time around, we're already one foot in the door. Utah-based Northrop Grumman already produces the solid rocket boosters for NASA's Space Launch System, which powers the Artemis missions. Utah universities and research institutions contribute to space exploration through cutting-edge research in fields such as robotics, material science and planetary science. Institutions like Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory are renowned for building small satellite systems and conducting research on space weather and imaging technologies. A spaceport would solidify Utah as a prominent player in the global space industry and open more doors for Utahns in high-tech careers like aerospace engineering and space science. A spaceport would act as a magnet for investment, partnerships and talent, bolstering Utah's thriving clusters in technology, manufacturing and aerospace. It would diversify our economy, create high-quality jobs and foster innovation across sectors. Some might wonder if this initiative is too ambitious. To that, we say: Utah's story has always been one of bold ambition. From building a thriving economy in the heart of the desert to becoming a global hub for innovation, we've never shied away from dreaming big. By investing in the future of space exploration, we're paving the way for the next frontier of possibility. Utah stands at a crossroads. We can watch from the sidelines as the space industry takes off, or we can lead the way. By exploring the feasibility of a spaceport, we're choosing to lead, to innovate and to dream big.
