Latest news with #SenateBill100
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local teen testifies about vaping
ASHLAND At 14, Delanie Crump has appeared before a Senate committee to testify about something she believes in. The Boyd County High School ninth-grader spoke to the General Assembly's Senate committee on education and the licensing and occupations committee in February about the negative impact vaping can have on youth using statistics to explain the urgency of the issue. She was urging the Senate to pass SB 100, which further enforces Tobacco 21, the law prohibiting those younger than 21 from purchasing tobacco or e-cigarette products. Crump, daughter of Daniel Crump and Brianna Davis, said the bill, which passed and will become law in January 2026, requires tobacco retailers to have a license to sell products and requires the use of a database to keep track of sellers; it also requires compliance checks on retailers and harsher penalties on those who violate the laws. These measures aim to enforce compliance, which would decrease underage sales. "This isn't just about lung cancer 30 years down the line. It's about kids dropping out of sports because their lungs can't keep up. It's about the anxiety and depression that nicotine addiction fuels. It's about academic distraction and under-performance. It's about an entire generation being stolen before they've had a chance to live fully," she said in her speech to the committees. Crump's mother said she was shocked to learn her daughter would speak to lawmakers. "It's not every day you see a 14-year-old who is brave enough to do that, especially on something as important as underage vaping," Davis said. "I'm so proud of her using her voice to make a difference." Crump said she enjoys public speaking, but she was nervous about speaking to the committee. "I've never spoken in a setting like that," she said. "However, once I was in the hearing room and on the stand, the nervousness went away, as I was focusing on what I was saying and how to say it in a way that would be most impactful. Following the speech, I was satisfied with the way it went, and I felt that the anxiousness leading up to it was worth it." Vaping wasn't an issue on her radar, but Crump said she joined the Youth Advisory Board for #icanendthetrend, a program through the University of Kentucky that aims to prevent vaping. Davis said joining the youth advisory board was a whim, but it turns out Crump found her passion. "They've really challenged all the students on the board and she made great friends in the process. She realized she wants to major in health care, thanks to this opportunity," Davis said. "I'm so grateful the program exists. I was also so impressed with the amount of respect the senators showed to her during her testimony. They were very encouraging and supportive. Senate Bill 100 is now becoming a law, thanks to these kids and the adults who believed in their bill." Crump's knowledge about vaping has grown, and learned some important facts, including: • Nearly one in 10 middle school students and one in five high school students uses e-cigarettes. • Flavored tobacco products, like menthols and sweet, fruity vapes, are directly designed to appeal to youth. • Nicotine can permanently damage developing brains. "These changes aren't radical. They're necessary. Every delay costs more lives. Every loophole in legislation lets addiction thrive," Crump said of the new law. Crump said the experience of speaking to the General Assembly was enriching. "I believe the most important lesson I learned was that anyone can make a difference, and the power of communities coming together," she said. "It was incredible to see so many other young people from around the state who are passionate about the issue coming together to make a change and actually seeing changes in progress. It taught me to never underestimate what can be done when people come together toward change." (606) 326-2661 | lward@
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Larry Rhoden gives nod to Mitchell's economic development triumphs
Mar. 24—MITCHELL — Gov. Larry Rhoden paused for a moment Monday afternoon following lunch at The Depot in Mitchell. As part of his Open for Opportunity Tour, he had earlier in the day taken a visit of Boyds Gunstocks, Trail King and High Plains Processing, the new soybean crush plant currently under construction along Highway south of Mitchell. Later he would be touring a local housing development. As he spoke briefly with local officials following lunch, he took a moment to show off the 2024 Governor's Cup, for which South Dakota had been named the recipient for the second year in a row by Site Selection Magazine, the premiere publication for economic development in the nation. He said it was appropriate to bring the trophy along during his outing Monday in Mitchell. "(South Dakota) won the 2024 Governor's Cup. It was a repeat from last year, and South Dakota was again number one in per-capita economic development. And we bring (the trophy) with us to Mitchell because Mitchell has certainly done their part in helping the state earn this award," Rhoden told the assembled leaders. "I mentioned it in a few interviews today, about how encouraging it is to come to Mitchell and to see the example they've set." Rhoden had seen plenty of examples of the economic development upswing even before the local tours came to an end during his visit. He opened up his visit with tours of Trail King and followed that with Boyds Gunstocks, the latter of which played host to the signing of a handful of bills meant to support Second Amendment rights in the state. Rhoden signed Senate Bill 100, which provides greater freedoms to exercise gun rights on college campuses; House Bill 1218, which protects the Second Amendment rights of employees, officers and volunteers of local governments; and House Bill 1222, which clarifies that if a parent comes on school property and has a gun on them, they can lawfully leave it in their car. In addition to the bills, Rhoden also signed a letter to United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, asking them to eliminate the seven-day waiting period to purchase a firearm or associated accessories, including silencers, over state lines. Rhoden said the time was right to reexamine the seven-day waiting policy now that President Donald Trump was back in the White House. "Once (Trump) was out of office the last four years, we've been on the defensive, just trying to hold things down and kind of hold your position," Rhoden said. "Now we have the opportunity once again to be on the offensive. There's no reason to have (the seven-day waiting period) on the books anymore with the Brady Act because they're already going through a background check. So why make our people wait seven days arbitrarily for no good reason?" Rhoden also took a tour of Boyds Gunstocks, the largest aftermarket gunstock manufacturer in the world , where he saw many of the processes that go into crafting its product. It was a return visit to the business, where he recalled having stopped by about 15 years ago looking for a stock to buy, not realizing the outfit is more a manufacturer than a retailer. He did eventually get a new stock from Boyds, and officials with the business told the Mitchell Republic they were excited to be able to share their space and process with the governor. "Obviously we're in the Second Amendment space being in the firearm industry. Anything that goes pro-Second Amendment, we're always for," Rob Carstensen, a co-owner of Boyds Gunstocks, told the Mitchell Republic following the tour. "South Dakota in general is a pretty lenient state when it comes to that stuff, so it was nice that he could stop here and sign a couple bills." The business, located just west of Mitchell, boasts about 70 employees engaged in a number of specialized and skilled positions. The number of employees can fluctuate, but Carstensen said when business is up there can be in excess of 100 employees hard at work on site. There was also plenty of work being done at the High Plains Processing plant, the under-construction multi-seed crush facility under the management of South Dakota Soybean Processors, LLC. The new facility has long been expected to have a major impact on the local economy, in part for its drawing employees to the area. Officials with the plant estimated a workforce of about 77 people, with a potential for a handful more. Of the hiring, the workforce at High Plains is expected to be from a diverse background of locations, including places like the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and Missouri to local natives from communities like Alexandria returning home to take advantage of the new employment opportunity. Officials estimated that they were about 20% of the way through the hiring process, but for all intents and purposes, that work had gone well despite the low unemployment figures in the state. "We really thought we were going to have to reach out a long way because we know labor's tight. But we've had a tremendous response from the community as far as the jobs that we've posted to date," said Tom Kersting, CEO of the South Dakota Soybean Processors and High Plains Processing. "A lot of the folks have been local." Rhoden and local development leaders took a tour of the plant, which comes in at a cost of around $500 million. Kersting noted to the gathered group that the work continues to be on time and on budget. It is expected to open in October this year. The employment impact is huge, but so is the value added to South Dakota soybeans as they make their way from the fields to plants like the one soon to be running outside Mitchell. The impact of the new plant will not only be felt in and around Mitchell, but all of South Dakota, he said. "35 million bushels of soybeans. That translates to 50 million gallons of oil and millions of tons of soybean meal. The economic development that represents for the state of South Dakota is huge," Rhoden said. The day in Mitchell was a chance for the governor to celebrate both South Dakota's receiving of the Governor's Cup award as well as Mitchell being named Community of the Year at the South Dakota Governor's Conference on Economic Development earlier this year. Following lunch at The Depot, Rhoden took a moment to present Jordan Hanson, mayor of Mitchell, with a declaration naming Mitchell as the 2025 GOED Community of the Year. There was still more on the schedule for Monday. The governor and his staff were scheduled early in the afternoon to visit a local housing development, another ongoing effort by local leaders to boost economic growth by providing potential future workforce members with an affordable place to live so they can work and contribute to the fabric of the community. Rhoden said that economic development progress like that which has emerged in Mitchell is a key reason why the community is receiving kudos and getting attention as an economic development leader in the state. When it comes to innovative and focused efforts on maintaining and improving the local economy, Mitchell exudes an energy that keeps its economic development plans on track and moving ahead. That's exciting, the governor said. "I've been really impressed when I come to Mitchell and talk to people and hear the excitement in their voice about what they have going for them in Mitchell. So, yeah, it's a shot in the arm to come here," Rhoden said.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers, other bills that ‘put our Kentucky families first'
Kentucky Capitol. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) Kentucky will begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from addictive chemicals. Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 100 into law on Monday, which is aimed at curbing minors' access to tobacco and e-cigarettes. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. Beshear also signed into law SB 120, which would require coaches and others to report abuse and neglect concerns; HB 38, which will make it a Class D felony to violate a protective order for the third time; HB 10, which will streamline the removal of illegal squatters from private property; and more. 'I will always put our Kentucky families first,' Beshear said in a statement. 'I was proud to sign into law several measures that will do just that – increasing opportunity and making our New Kentucky Home a better place to live, learn and do business.' Under the new law, Kentucky will license all retailers who sell tobacco and vape products, giving the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) inspection and enforcement powers over them, similar to those it exercises over alcohol retailers. It will also fine retailers who sell nicotine products to minors and give half the money collected in fines to a youth prevention program in a state where about 5% of high school students smoke and almost 20% use e-cigarettes, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Smoking costs the state more than $2 billion every year in health complications, according to the campaign. The other half would go toward enforcement expenses. Parts of the bill will go into effect immediately and others — including the licensing portion — will wait until Jan. 1.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House votes to ‘put Kentucky kids ahead of tobacco,' license retailers of nicotine products
In Kentucky, almost 20% of high school students use electronic cigarettes and 5% smoke, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (Getty Images) FRANKFORT — Kentucky is one step closer to licensing retailers who sell nicotine with the passage of Senate Bill 100 in the House Wednesday 82-11. It passed the Senate in late February. The House made some changes to the bill — which the Senate will have to vote on — but kept the licensing requirements laid out by Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, in place. Under SB 100, Kentucky would license all retailers who sell tobacco and vape products, giving the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) inspection and enforcement powers over them, similar to those it exercises over alcohol retailers. It would also fine retailers who sell nicotine products to minors and give half the money collected in fines to a youth prevention program in a state where about 5% of high school students smoke and almost 20% use e-cigarettes, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Smoking costs the state more than $2 billion every year in health complications, according to the campaign. The other half would go toward enforcement expenses. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death across the country, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. In Kentucky, smoking and lung cancer rates exceed those in the rest of the nation. The House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee passed Higdon's bill Wednesday morning and sent it to the House floor. In that meeting, Higdon reiterated he wants to go after 'bad actors' who expose youth to nicotine. 'We have a lot of good retailers. In fact, probably 99.8% of the retailers in Kentucky run good businesses and follow the rules and would never sell to an underage person,' Higdon said. 'This bill has teeth that ABC can enforce and get rid of bad actors.' Mallory Jones, a high school senior, testified alongside Higdon that her generation is being 'strategically manipulated' to purchase vapes. 'As a youth advocate and heart survivor, I'm concerned about what I'm seeing in my school, among peers and in my community,' said Jones, adding they get sucked in by 'intentionally flashy, colorful, fun, flavored products.' 'It's time for us to put Kentucky kids ahead of tobacco,' she said. Seven hours later, SB 100 cleared the House with bipartisan support. Several Republicans voted against it.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Concealed guns on campus could become reality with South Dakota governor's signature
Rep. Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on March 5, 2025. Gosch supported a bill Thursday allowing concealed handguns on college campuses so students can protect themselves "the way God intended." (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) People with firearms training will be allowed to carry concealed handguns on college campuses in South Dakota if Gov. Larry Rhoden signs a bill passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre. A call for rejection from a representative who formerly served as a Highway Patrol trooper and said he lost sleep over the proposal, along with a plea from another who leads a campus suicide prevention group, weren't enough to keep Senate Bill 100 from a 55-14 win. It passed even more decisively in the Senate on Feb. 12, with just two senators saying no. The bill came from Sen. Mykala Voita, R-Bonesteel, who amended it after input from the Board of Regents to allow colleges to ban guns near flammable chemicals and require them to be locked up when in their owners' dorm rooms. The amended bill also requires people to have an enhanced concealed carry permit — which can only be obtained after completing a firearms safety course — to carry on campus. Bill to allow concealed pistols on college campuses clears state Senate One senator said it 'might be the best bill' he'd ever seen, calling it a boon to self-defense for young people. The bill's prime sponsor in the House, Glenham Republican Spencer Gosch, added his own superlatives to the self-protection theme as he urged his fellow representatives to give the idea a green light. 'It's a great bill for the citizens of South Dakota to be able to protect themselves the way God intended,' Gosch said. 'I'd urge you to please vote yes.' Rep. Jim Halverson, R-Winner, was the first to rise in opposition. 'I slept very little last night because I couldn't make peace with my God if I didn't stand up and speak against this bill today,' Halverson said. He spoke of his time in the state Highway Patrol, firearms-related threats to law enforcement officers at the state Capitol, and 'a lot of stuff I don't want to talk about today' involving guns. Military members and law enforcement go to great lengths to secure their firearms, he said, and he doubts college students are likely to treat their weapons with the same degree of respect. 'A locked box in a dorm room just doesn't seem like a good plan,' Halverson said. It's a great bill for the citizens of South Dakota to be able to protect themselves the way God intended. – Rep. Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, is director of Lost & Found, a nonprofit group that works to prevent suicides on campus. Suicide is the leading cause of death among college-aged students, and he said South Dakota's rate of suicide by firearm is 12 times the national average. 'I hate seeing that statistic, because it hurts my heart, hurts my soul,' said Muckey, who said bills like SB 100 carry more risk of contributing to suicide than personal safety. Rep. Marty Overweg, R-New Holland, rejected that idea. He described himself as a grandpa who worries 'more than anyone,' but doesn't worry about guns causing suicides. People make their own choices, he said, and adults are empowered to take risks. The right to bear arms and protect oneself, he said, shouldn't be infringed upon 'because I'm worried something bad might happen.' 'Those rights are solid,' Overweg said. 'Those rights belong to every law-abiding citizen, 18 years and older, and I say if they have the right to protect themselves, they should have that right.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
