Latest news with #SenateBill188
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
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.
