Latest news with #SB188
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would boost penalties for suspects who barricade themselves to avoid arrest
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently introduced Ohio bill seeks to boost penalties for suspects who barricade themselves to avoid arrest. Senate Bill 188, introduced by Sen. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) in late April, would make it a crime in the state for individuals to barricade themselves to evade law enforcement. Barricading occurs when a suspect takes position in a location, such as a structure or vehicle, where police cannot readily reach them and refuses to follow orders. Columbus spent $95,000 on Department of Public Utilities rebrand, records show 'Curbing the rate of criminals who barricade themselves from law enforcement safeguards our peace officers from further harm and helps ensure the safety of our communities,' Patton said in a news release. The legislation specifically prohibits a person who is under arrest for a felony or violent misdemeanor from occupying a location that prevents immediate access by law enforcement and refusing to exit. The bill classifies doing so as a third-degree felony, which can carry a penalty of nine months to three years in prison, in addition to a possible $10,000 fine. The charge could be upgraded to a second-degree felony if the person who committed the offense created a risk of serious physical harm to any person, indicated to law enforcement that they were in possession of a deadly weapon, or if a third person was also unwillingly barricaded. If the third person present was a minor or elderly individual, the charge would be bumped up to a first-degree felony. For these escalated offenses, prison time would be mandatory. Offenders charged with a second-degree felony would serve a minimum of two years in prison and those charged with a first-degree felony would face a minimum sentence of three years. The bill would also make it a fourth-degree felony to assist a fleeing suspect in establishing a barricade. Ohioans get green light to collect signatures to get property tax issue on ballot Patton said the U.S. Marshals Service brought the issue to his attention. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliot called the bill a 'necessary step' in reducing barricade situations, as well as lowering the risk of harm to law enforcement officials and the community. 'Our officers of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force deal with barricaded subjects on a daily basis, greatly increasing the danger to themselves and to surrounding neighbors,' Elliot said in a statement. While there is currently no law in Ohio specifically banning people from barricading during a police encounter, it is illegal to flee and elude law enforcement. Doing so is a first-degree misdemeanor, which can be escalated to a fourth-degree or a third-degree felony depending on the prior crime committed and if the person posed a risk of serious physical harm to people or property. SB 188 was referred to the Judiciary Committee, where it awaits its first hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: Legislation is needed for equitable school district modifications
The November voter approval of two interlocal agreements to reconfigure Alpine School District triggers the creation of three new districts. Critically, one district forms by default, without a direct vote from constituents on its establishment. Utah's recent legislative session, with the passage of Sen. Keith Grover's SB188, purportedly aimed to streamline school district modifications. However, a closer look reveals the bill sets a treacherous precedent for equitable education across the state. This legislation, rather than ensuring fair district divisions, lays the groundwork for potentially devastating divisions driven by financial self-interest, leaving vulnerable communities behind. The core issue is SB188's failure to address the vulnerability of disadvantaged areas during district splits. With Jordan, Canyons and now Alpine as stark examples, it's clear that these divisions are often fueled by wealthier areas seeking to separate from those with greater needs. This isn't just an Alpine problem; it's a statewide threat. The current legislative interest in dividing large school districts in Utah is noteworthy. The Legislature seems to be intent on stripping large districts of their power, potentially to ease legislative initiatives. Large district reconfigurations could lead to a shift in the dynamics between school districts and the state Legislature. This context is important alongside the recent wave of legislative actions affecting education at every level, including classrooms. To prevent future inequitable school district modifications, Utah needs legislation that establishes clear, objective standards to assess the potential harm of a district split. Current Alpine School District board member Ada Wilson has identified criteria to determine a district reconfiguration's viability for all affected areas. Such benchmarks include studying the age of school buildings, poverty and student transiency rates, projected enrollment declines, number of students receiving nutrition assistance, required tax increases to maintain services, English language learner and special education student enrollment, and the cost of essential infrastructure of any potential new district. Only then can we determine if a proposed split will significantly disadvantage potential new school districts. Furthermore, SB188 fails to guarantee the fundamental right of all impacted citizens to vote on district modifications, regardless of the initiation method. In a Senate Education Committee hearing on the bill, Sen. Kathleen Reibe noted this is a concerning oversight that should be addressed. The bill also neglects to reinstate the ability of school boards to place such modifications on the ballot, despite Rep. Brammer's promise in the June 2024 special Senate session that this was a temporary measure. This broken promise undermines local control and democratic principles. Finally, SB188's elimination of mandatory reimbursement for implementation costs to the reorganized district is a consequential injustice for those left in the remaining district. Those who vote to leave a district should bear the financial burden of their decision, not saddle the remaining, often less affluent, communities. This isn't just about the current Alpine District reconfiguration. It's about protecting every student in Utah from the potentially devastating consequences of inequitable district splits. SB188 falls drastically short of this goal. The Legislature must act swiftly to create new legislation which ensures fairness, transparency and the protection of our most vulnerable communities.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislature approves community solar legislation
A solar panel array. (Photo illustration by Getty Images) The Montana Legislature last week approved a bill to boost private community solar projects across the state. Shared solar projects are gaining momentum across the country with more than 44 states offering similar programs, according to Sen. Chris Pope, and in Montana through nine of the state's rural electric cooperatives. Pope, a Bozeman Democrat, introduced Senate Bill 188, laying out requirements for shared solar projects and how they will connect with the state's public utilities. Shared solar projects allow individuals who cannot put solar panels on their own property or business to invest in, and benefit from, solar energy. Community solar projects are 'a small but meaningful part of an all-of-the-above energy approach that's embraced by our governor and frankly, which is needed, as we know in this committee and in Senate Energy, it's needed by Montana's quickly growing electric grid,' Pope told the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee on March 24. The bill creates a framework for developers to build a solar facility that generates between 50 kilowatts and five megawatts and sell the generated electricity to subscribers located within the service area. Subscribers would receive a monthly bill credit proportional to their share of the project. The bill passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support, including a final 46-4 vote in the Senate during the weekend. In both the Senate and House committee hearings, more than a dozen groups and individuals testified in support of the legislation, while NorthWestern Energy and Montana-Dakota Utilities, Montanan's largest utilities, opposed the bill. SB 188 opens up community solar to individuals who are unable to tap into the solar market otherwise, proponents said, such as those who rent their homes or live in apartment complexes. It also expands opportunities for those who develop solar arrays, including public-private partnerships, individuals such as farmers and ranchers, and can make use of underdeveloped property. 'These programs provide energy cost savings for households and businesses without needing to install the system on site,' Matthew Hargarten, vice president of government and public affairs at the Coalition for Community Solar Access, said during the house committee hearing. His organization represents more than 130 businesses nationwide that have invested in more than 2,000 shared solar projects. 'The reality is there's a lot of research and numerous cost-benefit analyses from around the country that smaller projects bring benefits to the entire electric grid and stabilize long-term cost for all ratepayers,' he said. However, Alan Olson, director of government affairs for Northwestern Energy, said he didn't believe the bill offered a 'happy outlook.' He, and the representatives of Montana-Dakota Utilities, stated they'd prefer shared solar projects operate as qualifying facilities — an existing program for small-scale generators to use the utility-scale infrastructure. Those projects are regulated by the Public Service Commission. Olson also brought up concerns over the administrative cost burden utilities would have to bear by keeping track of community solar subscribers; but a House amendment to the bill shifted that responsibility onto the shared solar facility owners. Justin Pearce, CEO of A-Team Roofing & Solar in Billings, said the bill would be an economic boon to Montana. His veteran-owned company employs 27 people just in their solar department, a number he expects will grow to more than 50 by the end of the year. 'You might not know this, but Billings has 285, what they call, sun days a year. Phoenix, Arizona, only has 283,' Pearce said. 'Energy production in Montana is really good in the solar world. I feel this is one more piece of energy dominance for the state of Montana. So jobs, jobs, jobs.' Senate Bill 188 was also supported by more than a dozen groups including the Montana Farmers Union, Northern Plains Resource Council, the Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's, and the Montana Environmental Information Center, 'This is a happy bill,' Pope told the house committee. 'And everyone benefits.' Fifty-four representatives supported SB 188 on third reading in the House and all but four Senators supported the bill in its final Senate vote.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: SB188 and the power of a collaborative process
Some bills make headlines because they spark controversy. Others go unnoticed because they reflect something quieter but no less powerful: good governance. When a bill does exactly what it's supposed to do — empower communities, ensure stability and prepare for the future — it may not be flashy, but it's precisely what we need more of. SB188, the School District Modifications bill, outlines how new school districts are created following the vote to split Utah's largest district. Crafted and sponsored by Sen. Keith Grover, R-Provo, it gives cities and school boards the tools they need to make reorganizations successful — tools grounded in flexibility, fairness and local decision-making. The bill received full bipartisan support and passed unanimously in both chambers before being signed by Gov. Spencer Cox. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution or favoring one side over another, SB188 gives each new district room to succeed on its own terms. Without SB188's clarified code and process for dividing assets, these new districts would likely have faced costly legal battles. This new framework allows school boards to continue meeting student needs. It treats the divided district as a valuable partner, recognizing that those who will shape the new districts are best positioned to guide the transition. What made SB188 remarkable wasn't just what it did — it was how it was done. Grover's approach to the legislative process was deliberate and transparent. Months before the legislative session even began, he released a complete bill draft. That early start allowed time for feedback, collaboration and refinement long before any official hearing took place. Over the 45-day session, SB188 went through many revisions and five substitutes. Substitute 3 dropped 16 pages of code due to a lack of broad support. That willingness to test and refine produced a bill made to stand the test of time. Throughout that process, Grover welcomed input from elected local leaders, school board members, educators and community members. When we allow open collaboration, good policy follows. Grover led with consistency and a commitment to solutions, demonstrating how thoughtful policymaking leads to better outcomes. Not everyone agreed with every final detail, but I trusted the process because of the honesty and transparency of a senator who cared more about lasting legislation than scoring political points. Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, selected as the House sponsor, brought a unique and essential perspective. As a resident of the new district opposite Grover, she understood regional needs and contributed key additions. Her selection spoke volumes about the desire to get this legislation right. The bill reflects lessons from the Jordan and Canyons district split, which faced early financial and structural challenges. SB188 avoids those pitfalls through safeguards and flexibility. It also refrains from making assumptions — it doesn't conclude that wealthier areas always separate from those with fewer resources. In the Alpine split, the area with the highest tax revenue and assets per student chose not to vote. That's why this neutral, durable legislation can apply to any district split. Not every request made it into the final version. I had hoped for multiyear salary guarantees for employees. Instead, we got something more balanced: guaranteed jobs for contracted employees and salaries protected for one year. However, by limiting state mandates, SB188 reinforces that a district's success rests with us. Good governance leaves room for local decisions. It is the responsibility of voters to elect principled, capable board members who prioritize employees and strengthen their districts. Lasting and supportive solutions come not from mandates but from trust, flexibility and local accountability. I'm not suggesting every bill must follow this process to reflect good governance, but I am saying this worked. It brought people from all perspectives together. It was principled and showed that with exemplary leadership, we can write laws that are fair, effective and built to last. Grover's collaborative approach and transparent leadership made SB188 possible. It's a model — not just for Utah, but for how legislation should be made anywhere. When we focus on what matters, listen to differing opinions and take the time to truly understand the needs of those impacted by these changes, the results speak for themselves.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose adding menstrual products as annual sales tax holiday items
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Tennessee lawmakers would like to see new products added to the state's annual sales tax holiday. HB 813/SB 188 would add feminine hygiene products to the list of qualified products that have sales tax suspended during the state's annual sales tax holiday in the summertime. Currently the annual sales tax holiday only applies to school supplies, certain technological products like laptops or tablets, and clothes. The idea behind the sales tax holiday is to give Tennesseans the opportunity to purchase school-related items ahead of each school year. But the bills, brought by Memphis Sen. London Lamar and Rep. Larry Miller, would add menstrual products to the list of tax-free items. The bill includes tampons, pads, liners, menstrual cups and douches. Miller, who carries the bill in the House, said he was proud to carry the companion legislation for Sen. Lamar, as it was something he was interested in learning more about. 'The more I read, the more impressed I am with what we're trying to do here,' he told News 2. Specifically, Miller said a study revealed 44% of female students reported feeling 'stressed or embarrassed' because they could not afford menstrual products. 'If that's such an issue and this tax exemption could relieve some of that stress, I'm all for it,' he said. Suspension of federal grants affecting finances at TSU According to the fiscal note on the bill, the measure would result in a net loss of about $255,000 each year for the state, which Miller said was easily affordable for a government with a budget in excess of $50 billion. 'The state can afford that, and I think citizens of this state could support that as well,' Miller said. Further, when a significant portion of the female population view access to menstrual products as a 'critical issue,' lawmakers should take notice. 'When you have that many females saying that it is a critical issue to them, then we should listen. We should pay attention to them,' he told News 2. ⏩ Both Senate and House versions of the bills have been placed behind the budget, according to Miller, meaning no further discussion will take place until lawmakers hash out those details. Additionally, the Senate version of the bill received a negative recommendation from the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee. But Miller also said placing a bill behind the budget or having a negative recommendation does not mean it has no chance of passage. He told News 2 he has been able to get several bills that received negative recommendations through to passage throughout his time in the legislature. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
