Latest news with #SenateBill150
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Senators look to protect worker gender identity, expression in workplace
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Two Pennsylvania Senators announced legislation that aims to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Senators Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) argued in their new bill that in Pennsylvania, no one should be fired from a job, or denied housing or excluded from public spaces because of who they are. Their bill is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 150, which was co-sponsored by over 10 Senators. In Pennsylvania, the Human Relations Act prohibits discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations based on an individual's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, education status, handicap or disability. However, the act does not cover sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. 'Pennsylvania should be seen as a place that welcomes any individual who wants to work hard, succeed, and contribute to our economy without the fear of being fired, refused services or denied something as basic as a place to live because of who they are,' The legislation reads. 'Surveys repeatedly show that over 70% of Pennsylvanians agree.' The Senators argued that while there has been an increase in the number of Pennsylvania municipalities that have passed non-discrimination ordinances, without a statewide law, there are individuals across the Commonwealth who risk not being protected. The legislation noted that other states have already passed similar bills safeguarding an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Dog tied to fence during hurricane inspires law banning pet abandonment
A bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall has inspired a new state law against pet abandonment. Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles The dog who was left to drown during a hurricane is now the face of a new Florida law. On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed "Trooper's Law," making it a felony to restrain and abandon a dog during a declared natural disaster or when an evacuation order is in effect. The law was named after a bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall. The dog was discovered on Oct. 9 along Interstate 75 near Tampa, as evacuees fled the path of the Category 4 storm. Body camera footage shows Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales crossing a flooded field in the pouring rain to reach the frightened dog, who stood chest-deep in water and barked in fear. "I don't blame you," Morales said gently, trying to calm the animal. "It's OK." The dog's owner, 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, told investigators he had been heading to Georgia to escape the storm but left the dog, originally named Jumbo, behind "because he couldn't find anyone" to care for him. He was later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. In a statement, Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said, "Quite frankly, I don't think [five years] is enough," and urged lawmakers to consider tougher penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies. The dog was renamed Trooper in honor of Trooper Morales and was adopted by a couple in Parkland, Florida. Trooper recently survived cancer and stomach surgery after ingesting more than 100 pieces of garbage while in his former owner's care. Signed this week, Senate Bill 150 makes it a third-degree felony to leave a dog restrained and unattended during a declared disaster, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It also codifies existing misdemeanor penalties for failing to provide confined animals with adequate food, water, shelter and exercise. DeSantis also signed Dexter's Law on Tuesday, a second bill that strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty. Named after a shelter dog who was killed just days after being adopted, the legislation ensures that those convicted of extreme abuse face criminal consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime. "Florida stands by man's best friend," DeSantis said in a statement. Safe, healthy and loved, Trooper was recently honored as Parkland's "Favorite Dog" and now his name is part of Florida law.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dog tied to fence during Hurricane Milton inspires Florida law banning pet abandonment in disasters
The dog who was left to drown during a hurricane is now the face of a new Florida law. On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed "Trooper's Law," making it a felony to restrain and abandon a dog during a declared natural disaster or when an evacuation order is in effect. The law was named after a bull terrier found tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached Florida last fall. The dog was discovered on Oct. 9 along Interstate 75 near Tampa, as evacuees fled the path of the Category 4 storm. Body camera footage shows Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales crossing a flooded field in the pouring rain to reach the frightened dog, who stood chest-deep in water and barked in fear. "I don't blame you," Morales said gently, trying to calm the animal. "It's OK." The dog's owner, 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, told investigators he had been heading to Georgia to escape the storm but left the dog, originally named Jumbo, behind "because he couldn't find anyone" to care for him. He was later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. In a statement, Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said, "Quite frankly, I don't think [five years] is enough," and urged lawmakers to consider tougher penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies. The dog was renamed Trooper in honor of Trooper Morales and was adopted by a couple in Parkland, Florida. Trooper recently survived cancer and stomach surgery after ingesting more than 100 pieces of garbage while in his former owner's care. Signed this week, Senate Bill 150 makes it a third-degree felony to leave a dog restrained and unattended during a declared disaster, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It also codifies existing misdemeanor penalties for failing to provide confined animals with adequate food, water, shelter and exercise. DeSantis also signed Dexter's Law on Tuesday, a second bill that strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty. Named after a shelter dog who was killed just days after being adopted, the legislation ensures that those convicted of extreme abuse face criminal consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime. "Florida stands by man's best friend," DeSantis said in a statement. Safe, healthy and loved, Trooper was recently honored as Parkland's "Favorite Dog" and now his name is part of Florida law.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cigar bar bill fails, but Clean Indoor Air Act now includes e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes (Wikimedia Commons) A bill to strengthen the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act by including e-cigarettes and vape pens was signed into law earlier this month by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. Sen. Willis Curdy, D-Missoula, said Monday he had worked on Senate Bill 390 for several sessions with support from youth advocates and public health workers. 'This is long overdue,' Curdy said. The law now defines 'smoking,' which is prohibited indoors, to include using an electronic smoking device. The bill was one of a couple pieces of legislation in 2025 tied to the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act. However, Senate Bill 150, to create an exemption in the act that allowed for cigar rooms, failed in its last vote during the legislative session. Curdy said SB 390 was near and dear to him as a former high school teacher, and he and former legislator Fred Anderson, a Great Falls Republican and school principal, had talked about the effects on youth. 'I got some support from folks — quite a bit of support from folks — who had in the past opposed the bill,' Curdy said. He said some previous opponents came around after 'an epiphany with their own health,' and others after learning about the negative health consequences of e-cigarettes and vape pens. Curdy also said more work needs to be done to strengthen the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, and he is interested in additional legislation, although he declined to cite specifics Monday. However, he said persistence at the Montana Legislature paid off with SB 390. 'It was a matter of perseverance,' Curdy said. After clearing the Senate, a bill that would have created an exception in the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act for cigar rooms failed in the House in its last vote after some representatives changed their votes. Sponsored by Sen. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, the bill passed the House on second reading with 51 votes, but then it failed with only 45 votes in support on third reading. The bill was backed by the tourism and hospitality industry, and supporters argued Montana is at a disadvantage as a luxury destination because it cannot offer a place where cigar aficionados can legally smoke indoors. Public health advocates opposed the bill, pointing to detrimental effects of second-hand smoke. Some also alleged the bill would run contrary to an agreement made when Montana first passed the Clean Indoor Air Act in 2005 but gave bars four years to comply. Originally, the bill would have allowed cigar bars in standalone structures, but it was amended to create an exception for cigar rooms with separate ventilation instead. Galt said Monday he believes that change, along with an amendment that included a study related to gambling machines and opposed by the industry, might have ended up sinking the bill. Galt has worked on the bill for many sessions, and he earlier said cigar bars are legal in many other states. He said Monday he'll continue to pursue the opportunity for Montana. 'I do intend on running it again next session with some of the amendments we worked on,' Galt said in a text message Monday. 'Tenth year may be my lucky year.' Jackie Semmens, with the American Heart Association, had opposed SB 150 during the Montana Legislature. Semmens said Monday an amendment in the House Business and Labor Committee 'would have essentially brought back smoking sections to Montana bars.' But she said 'there is no safe level of second-hand smoke,' and she believes the change might have contributed to the demise of the bill. 'This really upset our members, who called their legislators to ask them to vote 'no' on SB 150,' said Semmens, government relations director for Montana for the association. 'Montanans by and large don't want to return to the days of smoking in bars.' However, in a phone call and email, Semmens also praised the addition of e-cigarettes to the Clean Indoor Air Act. 'We believe that the addition of e-cigarettes to the Clean Indoor Air Act was an important update to the law given the youth vaping epidemic,' Semmens said. 'Nicotine in any form is an addictive drug, and we want to send a clear message to youth in Montana that vaping is not safe for you or for people around you. 'We also hope this will inspire more interest in what else Montana can do to help curb the youth vaping epidemic.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Montana lawmakers, please don't bring back smoking indoors
Cigar in ashtray (Martin Vorel/Common Creative license) Some ideas are so bad that they're ridiculous. Like bringing back smoking rooms to Montana businesses. This is what Senate Bill 150, now being debated by the Montana Legislature, stands to do. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Wylie Galt of Martinsdale, would weaken Montana's 20-year-old Clean Indoor Air Act and allow so-called 'cigar rooms' to operate in our state. If the idea sounds familiar, that's because lawmakers have rejected it time after time in past legislative sessions. But those who put profits ahead of our health keep trying. SB 150 will subject employees and non-smoking patrons to secondhand cigar smoke, which can cause lung cancer and heart disease and stroke, and which contains all the same toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Every worker deserves a safe place to work – free of toxic air pollutants. If passed, Galt's bill as proposed with amendments will irreparably weaken our Clean Indoor Air Act, which, as stated in Montana law, is intended to 'protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places and places of employment; to recognize the right of nonsmokers to breathe smoke-free air; and to recognize that the need to breathe smoke-free air has priority over the desire to smoke.' There is no way to contain cigar smoke within a room or building. Smoke filters through cracks in windows and walls, through air ducts and even through electrical outlets. And there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. If bars or brewpubs have 'cigar rooms,' everyone inside the building, not just the smoking area itself, will be at risk, just as they were back in the bad old days when smoking was allowed in restaurants and on board airplanes. Say 'so long' to the family environment many establishments have cultivated during the past two decades. Many Montanans may see their favorite spots opting in to allow smoking. There is no ventilation system that can effectively protect against secondhand smoke. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, which sets engineering standards for ventilation systems, says that 'the only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity' from a building. Ventilation may reduce odor, but it won't protect people's health. In fact, people who go inside a cigar bar or room will be at risk even when smoking isn't taking place. Toxins from cigar smoke seep into carpet, furniture and walls and can be absorbed through the skin or by breathing in contaminated dust or by eating contaminated food. Employees charged with cleaning or otherwise maintaining a cigar bar or room will be at risk. Cigar bars or rooms can even pose a hazard for neighboring businesses. Not only are backers of SB 150 and its amendment undermining our health and the Clean Indoor Air Act, but they also are breaking a promise made to the people of Montana. When the Clean Indoor Air Act was adopted 20 years ago, it included a four-year phase-in period for Montana's tavern owners to make their bars and casinos smokefree. The phase-in was agreed upon by the tavern industry, legislators and some health groups. SB 150 breaks this promise, which has been held for 16 years. The bill also runs counter to public opinion in our state. A 2021 poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the American Heart Association showed that 89% of Montana voters from across the political spectrum support the Clean Indoor Air Act, and 77% (3-in-4) of Montana voters oppose allowing cigar smoking in bars. SB 150 breaks a promise made to Montana citizens and hospitality workers, and it undermines our Clean Indoor Air Act, which prevents disease and saves lives. We've had 20 years of smokefree workplaces and 16 years of smokefree bars and casinos. Why bring back the days of smoke-filled air and coming home with your clothes, skin and hair stinking of smoke? We've come to expect clean, healthy air in our public spaces. Let's not go back to the days of smoking rooms.
