Latest news with #SB83
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill repealing Wildfire Hazard Map passes Oregon Senate
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Senate unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday in an effort to repeal the state's controversial Wildfire Hazard Map. The Wildfire Hazard Map was created in 2021 under the bipartisan Senate Bill 762, which directed the Oregon Department of Forestry to map out fire-prone areas in the state. Under SB 762, homeowners living in areas that are at a high wildfire risk face stricter building codes and must reduce vegetation on their properties. A provision in 2023 disallows insurers to cancel or decline to renew homeowners' insurance policies or increase premiums. Despite this, the backlash against the Wildfire Hazard Map has persisted. Tribes battle PGE's plan to seize Willamette Falls land Now, with SB 83, lawmakers are aiming to eliminate the map, and the property maintenance rules, with the Democratic Majority Office noting the maps did not represent various individual property conditions 'and would have had consequences for land and building regulations.' 'We need Senate Bill 83 to heal the huge divide among Oregonians, triggered by a wildfire map that made no logical sense to thousands of affected people,' said Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee Chair Jeff Golden (D –Ashland). 'That divide was squarely in the way of building the broad-based collaboration we need to meet the wildfire crisis, which is far beyond what government on its own can solve.' While repealing the map, the bill also directs state agencies to create fire regulations that property owners can choose to follow, or municipal governments can adopt regulations to enforce at the local level. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now By voting to repeal the map, the committee also nullified requirements for sellers to disclose a property's classification on the map and that property owners in hazard zones follow certain construction rules for accessory dwelling units and replacement buildings. Under SB 83, two members will be added to Oregon's Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, including one member from the firefighting field, and a second from the insurance industry. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to issue reports on community smoke monitoring and response and directs the Public Utility Commission to report on efforts to reduce wildfire risk from utility infrastructure. 'Today, we celebrate a hard-fought victory for rural Oregon,' said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). 'Senate Bill 83 repeals the most flawed and overreaching aspects of Senate Bill 762 from 2021, including the State Wildfire Hazard Map, while preserving the programs that genuinely protect property owners and reduce wildfire risks.' Washington limits armed forces from entering the state without governor's OK 'I'm delighted to see Senate Bill 83 pass the Senate,' added Sen. Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction). 'Many of my constituents and thousands of Oregonians have made it clear: they want the ability to protect their homes without being burdened by unfair regulations. Today's vote is a crucial step toward undoing the damage caused by this flawed policy and returning control to landowners.' 'This has been years in the making. With today's overwhelming bipartisan support for Senate Bill 83, we are one step closer to undoing the harm caused by Senate Bill 762's wildfire map,' said Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford). 'I want to thank the thousands of residents who raised their voices to make this possible, as well as my colleagues for their support. I look forward to seeing Senate Bill 83 move swiftly through the House and be signed by Governor Kotek, bringing much-needed relief to our communities.' SB 83 passed the Senate unanimously and heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stewart's remaining climate bills await House hearing
Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) has two bills to infuse millions of dollars to address climate change pass through their final committee and await a hearing on the floor. Stewart said she wouldn't give up on legislation she sponsored to codify New Mexico emissions reduction goals into law, which stalled earlier this session. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Two bills that would funnel hundreds of millions for climate change adaptation into communities and state government advanced Tuesday night through the House Appropriations and Finance Committee along party lines. The bills now head to the House floor, but time is running out as the session ends at noon Saturday. Sponsor Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) told Source NM the House could consider Senate Bill 48 as soon as Wednesday. Senate Bill 48, also called the Community Benefits Fund and would make available $210 million for communities and the state to: train workers in the oil and gas industry for other jobs; reduce oil and gas emissions; improve the electric grid; develop renewable energy projects; modify public buildings to be more energy efficient; reduce the impacts of climate change on human health, agriculture and the environment; purchase electric vehicles and develop charging infrastructure. 'The idea behind this is that our communities are struggling with the results of climate change,' Stewart said during the hearing. Stewart noted impacts from the historic flooding in Roswell and the fires in Ruidoso in 2024 along with ongoing rebuilding in San Miguel and Mora Counties from the state's largest wildfires in 2022. Stewart said the fund offers communities a chance to prepare against disasters, which are more frequent due to the warming planet fueled by the extraction and burning of oil and gas. 'The climate impact to the Southwest is intense already,' she said. 'It's hotter, drier, more intense weather.' In response to questions about the financial cost to New Mexico from climate change, co-sponsor House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe) said in 2024,the state spent over $141 million in emergency state funding, while the damage from the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon fires, flash floods and mudslides has totaled more than $900 million, and will ultimately cost billions of dollars. Stewart noted the original $340 million ask was whittled down during the budget process to $210 million, but noted some of the funding in the bill was transferred to state agency budgets instead. 'It's just the process, and I'm happy with $210 million, if that's where we're at,' Stewart told the committee. Senate Bill 83 allocates $10 million in funding for seven state agencies — the largest pieces going to the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department. The budget contains funding for both bills, but does require SB 48 and SB 83 to pass. Stewart said the funding will be used to continue the work the agencies must do on climate change and adaptation and mitigation, but to also help the communities that might apply for climate change funding through the Community Benefits Fund. 'This just charges them with continuing that work, with increasing that work and having the ability to help these communities who want to do their own work on climate adaptation and mitigation,' Stewart said. Advocates have confidence the bills will make it across the finish line, Camilla Feibelman, the director of the Rio Grande Chapter of Sierra Club, one of the environmental nonprofits supporting the bill, told Source NM Wednesday. 'These two bills make unprecedented investments in not just attending to the global climate crisis and projects that can help reduce emissions, but they also invest and in the people and communities who can help bring in the transition in, and are also most impacted by the effects of climate change or the transitioning economy,' Feibelman said. Stewart brought the bills as part of an expansive package to enshrine climate action into state law. The linchpin Senate Bill 4, Clear Horizons Act, which would have enshrined greenhouse gas emission reduction goals into law, stalled in Senate Finance earlier this session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lottery chief: Profit estimates from slots bill have gone up
Mar. 10—The state's top lottery official is raising his bet on how much revenue slot machines could raise based on the overflow crowds at the opening weekend of the latest charity casino complex. Lottery Commission Executive Director Charles McIntyre said while the kickoff of The Nash casino at the Pheasant Lane Mall was supposed to be a "soft opening," there were lines of gamblers waiting to play the historical horse racing machines there. McIntyre said his team would produce a revised revenue estimate for a bill legalizing slot machines later this week. Another charity casino opened Monday night in Rochester, bringing to 3,500 the number of historical horse racing (HHR) machines in New Hampshire. Offered in states where traditional slot machines are illegal, HHR machines are similar to the traditional slots except that they use random archived thoroughbred races to generate results. A state-hired consultant has concluded the market could thrive with 6,000 machines across the state. Among 10 year-round charity casinos in the state, McIntyre said the average HHR machine is generating $280 in profit each day. "The standard in the industry is that if you are over $250 per machine, you add (to the market), if you are below that level, then you subtract," McIntyre said. The House Ways and Means Committee took testimony Monday on the House bill (HB 728) that would give charity casino owners just under three years to convert all their HHR machines to regular slot machines. State Sen. Timothy Lang, R-Sanbornton, has a competing bill (SB 83) the state Senate will debate Thursday which would allow the casino operators to decide when they wish to convert to slots. McIntyre said studies have shown Nashua was the ideal location for a charity casino since it was likely to attract the most business from gamblers coming north from Middlesex and Essex counties in Massachusetts. McIntyre said the Encore Harbor Place casino in Everett, Mass., is difficult to get to and Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut, is nearly a three-hour drive away. Last month, Gov. Kelly Ayotte attached a slot machine proposal to help finance her two-year state budget to the budget trailer bill. (See related story.) Ayotte's plan would raise an estimated $117 million a year for the state, increasing the state's take from 25% of the gross from HHR machines to 45% of the gross from slots. The House bill would raise the state's share to 30% while Lang's bill would retain a 25% share for the state. McIntyre said the 25% share is the lowest of the other New England states that have casinos. Former Rep. Patrick Abrami, R-Stratham, said casino operators currently pay 12% to 18% more in operating expenses with HRH than they would with slot machines. That's because the nation's thoroughbred racetracks charge those leasing the machines for each randomly selected horse race, he said. Abrami said converting to slots would also create more money to support programs that help addicted gamblers. The lottery commission currently has to set aside $150,000 a year for such programs. Rep. Susan Almy, D-Lebanon, agreed the state needs to do more to help those who can't control their gambling fixation. "We are just depending on addicts to run our state and I find that extremely offensive," Almy said. klandrigan@
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate approves bill requiring adult-size changing tables in public buildings
Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, speaks to colleagues on the floor of the Alabama Senate on Feb. 12, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate unanimously passed a bill to require adult-size changing tables be installed in public buildings. SB 83, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require the changing tables to be powered and height-adjustable and be installed in newly constructed or renovated public buildings starting in 2028. The bill passed 27-0. 'These families are citizens, our people, and need to be treated with respect and assistance. They've got a very hard life, more challenges, and the government, at all levels, can help them with these challenges,' Orr said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Just over 9% of Alabamians have an ambulatory disability, meaning they have a physical impairment that affects their ability to walk and move around independently. That is above the national average of 6.7%, according to the United States Census Bureau. The legislation would only apply to new construction and renovations that cost more than $500,000. Installing a changing table in a public building would cost the state and local entities at least $15,000, and that price would be revised every three years starting in 2030 based on the Consumer Price Index percentage increase. The fiscal note said the cost could be offset by grants through legislative appropriations. 'It's a small price to pay. I wouldn't call it a price to pay. It's taking everybody into consideration,' Orr said. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, called the legislation a 'good bill.' 'I commend you for bringing this. I think that is the highest level of sensitivity that we can deal with,' Smitherman said. Orr amended the bill twice on the floor. One amendment exempted public K-12 schools, and public universities and colleges. Orr introduced the bill after a constituent, June Wilson, told him about her struggles with changing her 4-year-old son's diaper. Wilson testified when the bill was considered in committee, saying that 'She's had people be pretty unkind when she had to change the child in the back of a hatchback vehicle in a parking lot … just being very insensitive to the situation. And so we're able to pass this and at least lead by example as a state,' Orr said. The bill moves to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SD House passes reducing ingestion penalties
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — On Thursday afternoon, the South Dakota House of Representatives debated SB83, a bill seeking to reduce the penalty for ingestion of certain controlled substances from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor for a 1st and 2nd violation. Under the terms of the bill, a 3rd violation would be a Class 6 felony. Rhoden to form prison task force, call special session Arguments for the bill focused on the perception that a felony is too harsh a penalty for ingestion, while arguments against centered on a desire to be tough on crime. Republican Rep. Brian Mulder, the lead sponsor in the House, spoke to the chamber, urging support of the bill. Mulder emphasized a felony is a label which lasts a lifetime and comes with many limitations. Including limits to housing and employment, as well the the inability to purchase a firearm. Opposing the bill, Republican Rep. Mary Fitzgerald argued passing the bill would send a message to children that drugs are OK, calling it 'decriminalizing' drug use. Republican Rep. Tim Reisch pushed back on Fitzgerald's comments, saying this bill is not a decriminalization of drugs, and arguing time spent in the county jail for a misdemeanor would be more productive than time spend in the prison for a felony. Republican Rep. Leslie Heinemann also opposed the bill, telling the House he'd spoken to the Moody County Sheriff, who opposed it, arguing that ingestion needed to remain a felony for him to be able to enforce the law, and the state needs felony ingestion as a deterrent. Republican Rep. Keri Weems spoke of her personal experience working with recently released felons. She recounted seeing their living situations, staying in hotel rooms because they cannot get leases, and attempting to raise their children in these rooms with only a mini-fridge and a microwave. Weems said she's become more compassionate on ingestion through these experiences and urged passage of the bill. Mulder said the state should not seek to over-penalize those suffering from addiction, adding this bill would not lower penalties for those dosing others or selling drugs, but only those who have ingested drugs. Democrat Rep. Peri Pourier emphasized the importance of recognizing the existence of substance use disorder, and not simply looking at ingestion as 'people getting high.' Discussion on the bill featured comments from other legislators who spoke on subjects such as treatment, over-incarceration and the fiscal costs of incarcerating people for ingestion. Following discussion on the bill, a vote was held. SB83 passed narrowly with 37 in favor and 33 opposed. The Senate approved SB 83 on a vote of 18-17. The bill struggled to get out of the House committee, reaching the House floor with no recommendation. That required a decision by the House whether to put it on the debate calendar. The House agreed 49-21 to allow the debate. The next stop now is the desk of Governor Larry Rhoden. SB 83's prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Tamara Grove, watched the House debate from the back of the chamber. After the vote, Grove and Mulder hugged in celebration. When she returned to the Senate, she received a congratulatory hug from Republican Sen. David Wheeler, who had voted for it there. Grove spoke to reporters about whether the governor will sign SB 83 into law. 'I guess I would be surprised if he would say, 'I'm not going to sign this, I'm going to veto this,' or something along those lines,' she said. Final approval came on the same day that the governor announced the appointment of a new task force to take another look at whether South Dakota needs a new men's prison. Rhoden said he plans to call a special legislative session July 22 to act on whatever the task force recommends. One of the reporters, Lee Strubinger from South Dakota Public Broadcasting, asked Grove if this was the right moment for the ingestion bill to be approved. 'It really was the right moment, because you're talking about building a prison for 1,500 people, and you have our own secretary (of corrections) saying we need to change our sentencing practices, and so this is the time,' Grove said. 'Now we can really honestly say how many people, what's the forecasted number of people that are going to be in prison. 'And I mean, just between 2019 and 2024, there's 961 people according to Secretary Wasko that were in prison for just ingestion. And so that's a whole lotta' beds right there — that's nearly a thousand beds.' She continued, 'If I use the rate we have right now which is 77 percent success, you're talking about 740 less people that need a bed. And so this is a really good time.' Capitol Bureau reporter Bob Mercer contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
