Latest news with #SenateBill204
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposal to let schools opt in to expanded meal assistance gets bipartisan support
The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous voice vote, but it has received a tougher reception in the House. (Getty Images) The Merrimack School District has long maintained a breakfast program for high school students: $2 per meal, with discounts for lower-income students. And after the district recently extended the program to its middle school, the effects were immediately apparent, Kaitlyn Bernier says. 'We have seen test scores improve (after) the breakfast (program) just at that middle school,' Bernier, a member of the school district's budget committee, said in testimony to lawmakers last week. One bill this year would allow the school district to extend those discounts to more students. After years of debate among New Hampshire lawmakers over legislation to boost school meal assistance for low-income public school students, legislation to do so is moving forward with bipartisan support — at least in the state Senate. Senate Bill 204 would allow school boards to vote to raise the eligibility level for free and reduced-price lunches to 200% of the federal poverty level, up from the current 185% cap. Currently, the National School Lunch Program allows students from families making up to 130% of the federal poverty level — $41,795 for a family of four — to pay nothing for school lunches, and those from families making between 130% and 185% — $59,488 for a family of four — to pay no more than 40 cents per lunch. SB 204 would allow school boards to extend that second category up to 200%. And those school districts that chose to expand would also be required to offer online and physical applications to the free and reduced-price lunch program. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous voice vote, but it has received a tougher reception in the House, as Republicans on the House Education Funding Committee have voiced skepticism that school meal access is as big a problem as advocates say. 'Are you familiar with any situations where a child is not given the breakfast or lunch in school because they are unable to pay?' asked Rep. Daniel Popovici-Muller, a Windham Republican, speaking to Sen. Donovan Fenton, a Keene Democrat who sponsored the legislation, during a hearing on the bill. Fenton said while he didn't know of a student that was refused a meal, some school districts provide cold food options to children whose parents have school lunch debt. Others choose not to create consequences, but the meal debt still affects them, Fenton said. 'What we are finding out is that schools are trying to pay no matter what for these meals, oftentimes going into massive amounts of debt that we pick up the tab for: the state,' Fenton said. 'And if we have a program that is an opt-in program where the taxpayers aren't burdened with this, I think that would help tremendously.' Rep. Dan McGuire, an Epsom Republican, noted that the Legislature is increasing state funding to schools despite enrollment dropping. 'What we just passed in our House budget was more money — not just per pupil, but total dollars — for education than ever before,' he said. The cost of SB 204's proposed expansion would be split by the state and local taxpayers. In the existing national program, the federal government reimburses schools for a certain amount for students whose families make up to 185% of the federal poverty level — but no higher. Under SB 204, for those school districts that choose to expand to 200%, the state would pay half the additional cost and the school districts would pay the other half. The bill sets aside $250,000 for the first fiscal year for the Department of Education to distribute money to school districts, as well as another $107,000 to cover administrative costs for the department to help set up online applications. Fenton, who introduced the bill with Sen. Tim Lang, a Sanbornton Republican, said the bill is necessary to help more families avoid school lunch debt — and to help more students obtain more nutritious meals. 'We want to ensure that no child goes hungry in school,' he said. 'We recognize that well-nourished students are better learners, and that investing in them today leads to a stronger workforce and economy tomorrow.' The legislation comes a year after Democrats and some Republicans attempted to pass a bill that would increase eligibility for reduced-price lunches to 300% across all school districts. That legislation, House Bill 572, passed the House but was tabled by the Senate. This time, lawmakers are proposing to make it voluntary for each school district, Fenton noted. 'This is an opt-in program that allows communities to decide what is best for their students, while offering a cost-sharing structure that ensures neither the state nor local school districts bear the full financial weight,' Fenton said. New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, an advocacy group that has supported a number of bills to expand school lunch services in schools, endorsed the bill, arguing there are more children showing up to school hungry than may be known. 'I was at Somersworth Middle School: I popped into the (nurse's office) and I asked her if she was tracking hunger visits,' said Riona Corr, deputy director of the organization. 'It was 9:30 in the morning. I asked her how many kids came in because they were hungry. There was nine.' Corr said the nurse at Somersworth High School that day told her the number was 15. 'Our kids are hungry, and we're listening to the constituents within the schools and hearing what they need,' Corr said. 'We're not here to ask for solutions. We actually do have a solution.' But some Republicans have raised concerns about the cost of increasing the program to local taxpayers — even if the expansion option were voluntary. Rep. Riché Colcombe, a Hillsborough Republican, asked about the need for lower-cost options for breakfast. 'I understand the part about lunch, but I don't understand the part about breakfast,' Colcombe said. 'I've always been fed breakfast before or eaten breakfast before I left the house, so as a child, I had breakfast before school started.' 'I think that's amazing that you had breakfast,' Fenton replied. 'The problem here is that a lot of children aren't having those meals.' Bernier agreed, arguing that malnutrition and food insecurity do exist for children in New Hampshire. 'There's a lot of people that might not have that privilege to be able to have breakfast at home with their family beforehand,' Bernier said. 'Their parents might not have that money. They might be given a Pop Tart that was expired from the food pantry of their community that they're trying to put together because they're just trying to do what they can to give a child something, and what they could really benefit from is a more nutritious meal that our schools are trying to help provide.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell mayor rebukes Legislature for 'antagonistic, vindictive approach' to cities
Mar. 5—Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson on Monday slammed the state Legislature after learning lawmakers were again considering a bill sunsetting levies after 10 years. "I've never seen such an antagonistic, vindictive approach against cities, counties to a lesser extent, than any other state that ours has towards us," Johnson said of the Legislature. His remarks came during Kalispell City Council's March 3 meeting and after City Manager Doug Russell updated councilors on Senate Bill 204. The legislation originally required that all levies come with a sunset date but had been amended to exempt levies for fire protection and emergency medical service. While the public safety levy passed by Kalispell voters last year would remain safe, Russell warned that the bill could be amended further. Johnson accused legislators of scolding municipalities for not addressing the statewide housing crunch while pressing them to tighten their budgets. Johnson said that building infrastructure to support more housing inflates city budgets. And then "[legislators] sit in their chairs and yell at us because our budgets went up. The audacity is appalling," he said. He called the legislature "extremely dishonest" for dictating city budgets without understanding how they are produced. "They don't really represent us, they don't represent our taxpayers, they represent themselves and their party," he said. COUNCIL GAVE the green light to Texas-based developer Vista Ridge Cottages to ship in 96 prefabricated residential units — 53 detached single-family units and 43 townhomes — bound for nearly 16 acres off Two Mile Drive, east of the U.S. 93 Bypass. The land was annexed into the city and zoned under residential apartment (RA-1) with an approved preliminary plat and planned unit development, which will allow for smaller lot sizes than permitted under city code. The city's growth policy designates the land for high-density development. Developer Guy Hatcher has had a second home in the Flathead Valley since 2011 and said he has observed the rising need for affordable housing. He said the homes are intended for younger families looking for a starter home or seniors looking to downsize. Partnering with Fading West, the homes will be framed and shipped from its facility in Colorado. Hatcher said the homes should be ready to sell within a week of being delivered. "We are trying to get a really cool village-looking feel coming out of this product," Hatcher said. He wants to see homes begin to hit the market in summer 2026. He anticipates the homes to range from 580 to 1,800 square feet, with prices ranging from $325,000 to $480,000. While the style of housing was favored across the board, Councilor Ryan Hunter expressed concern over developing on the 100-year flood plain that lies underneath a large portion of the property. Building subdivisions on floodplains is disallowed under city code, but the developer can get approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to infill the land after it conducts an analysis of the property and revises the floodplain map to allow for development. Sorensen doesn't anticipate the permit to be approved by FEMA until next year. Hunter, who also works as a land protection specialist for the Flathead Land Trust, expressed concern over moving the floodplain which he said may still pose a risk to the surrounding area. "My understanding is that this is not a good idea," he said. Johnson voted for the development, wishing that FEMA would hand out the permit sooner. "In all reality, a city our size, we don't have access to the federal programs for money to buy down housing prices. We don't have access to these things, so our attack is on building inventory. Inventory to the point it gets so much, we have too much," he said. Still, Johnson in January sided with the Flathead County commissioners in their decision to reject a state program that would have funneled millions into Flathead County for workforce housing. AFTER DELIBERATING last week, Council voted to adopt a new project plan to hasten upgrades for the city's wastewater treatment facility in the face of a fast-approaching deadline to complete construction. With Glacier Gold Composting closing its doors, the city must upgrade its facility so it can ship its biosolids exclusively to the Flathead County Landfill. Council also authorized the issuance of a bond package of up to $100 million to finance capital improvements at Immanuel Living's Buffalo Hill Campus. The conduit bond is authorized through the city, but a private bank provides the funds. Johnson said the practice by companies is typical when pursuing larger projects. Council also allowed the 91-acre Spring Creek Park subdivision a preliminary plat extension after inflation and labor shortages kept the developer from starting construction in the required timeframe. Kalispell Police officers Chris Olsen and Cat Edson also were sworn in after completing their one-year probationary period. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A new task force on prisons clears a Senate committee
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The governor's plan to build a new men's prison for South Dakota in Lincoln County appears to have been set aside by the state House of Representatives. So the state Senate will now consider a Lincoln County lawmaker's proposal to have an incarceration task force take a fresh look at what to do next. Gosch wants to limit Noem-Johnson finance loophole The Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday morning recommended passage of the task force plan from Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen. The vote sends Senate Bill 124 to the full Senate for consideration on Tuesday afternoon. The House meanwhile was still scheduled on Monday afternoon to reconsider an amended version of House Bill 1025, which had failed 34-35 on Friday. The amendment calls for stripping the authorization for the proposed 1,500-bed prison in Lincoln County and would now only transfer $148,109,837 from state government's general fund to the state incarceration construction fund. Sen. Jensen's counter-proposal calls for establishing a 10-member panel that would meet at least six times this year and report its recommendations no later than December 1, 2025. State Department of Corrections finance officer Brittni Skipper opposed it. The Senate committee on a 5-4 vote however killed a companion measure, Senate Bill 204, from Jensen that sought to 'prohibit the expenditure of certain funds appropriated for purposes related to the construction of a prison facility.' Ryan Brunner, a senior aide to the governor, opposed SB 204. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It's a Thursday showdown over a new men's prison
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations will receive a presentation on Thursday morning about the state Department of Corrections plan to construct a new men's prison in rural Lincoln County. Gov. Rhoden takes new tack in fight for new male prison What those 18 appropriators learn during the 11 a.m. CT meeting in room 362 at the South Dakota Capitol could, in turn, shape what the Legislature as a whole decides on whether to go ahead with the $825 million project and whether the site should instead be someplace else. KELOLAND News will livestream the committee hearing at 11 a.m. You'll be able to watch the discussion Thursday morning in the video player above. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden used his weekly legislative-session news conference on Wednesday to talk about the need for the new prison. One of his senior aides, Ryan Brunner, told reporters that comparisons to a less-expensive proposed prison in Nebraska are based on prices that are four years old. Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen also spoke at the news conference. Venhuizen, a former appropriator, said that every building project that went through the committee in recent years wound up costing more than the Legislature had initially authorized. House Bill 1025 would authorize the construction and transfer from the state incarceration fund the final funding of $763 million needed for the project. A two-thirds majority — 47 in the House and 24 in the Senate — is needed in each chamber for the legislation to reach Rhoden's desk. This comes as the Legislature is grappling with unexpectedly slow growth in state sales tax and other revenues. Former Gov. Kristi Noem recommended millions of dollars in spending reductions before she resigned last month to become the new federal Homeland Security secretary. Millions of one-time dollars would be freed up in the budget deliberations if the new prison is delayed. Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen is leading the resistance to the new prison, which would be located in his legislative district. He has introduced two pieces of legislation that would halt, at least temporarily, the spending of money that was earmarked in 2023 and 2024 for the prison project. FAQ about the planned new men's prison Jensen's Senate Bill 125 calls for establishing an incarceration task force that would independently review the construction and improvement of state correctional facilities. The task force would issue a report no later than December 1, 2025. The project's guaranteed maximum price of $825 million however expires at the end of March. Jensen's Senate Bill 204 would prohibit spending any of the money that was set aside in 2023 and 2024 for the new prison until after the task force issues its report. How that money would be spent would have to align with the task force's recommendations. Both of Jensen's bills are pending in the Senate State Affairs Committee. He serves on the committee. Hearing dates haven't yet been set. Last week, Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko surprised some House lawmakers when she said the estimated costs for operating the new prison would be approximately $20 million more than the current $30 million annual cost for the State Penitentiary and Jameson Annex complex in Sioux Falls. She had previously told appropriators about the increase during a January meeting. Rhoden meanwhile told reporters on Wednesday he was planning to travel to the National Governors Association meeting on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills altering mill levies will jeopardize public safety, critics say
Feb. 8—Two bills designed to lower property taxes by changing the way mill levies work elicited opposition from local government officials, including those in Kalispell, last week. Senate Bill 204 would require all levies to sunset after 10 years while Senate Bill 205 would raise the voter turnout required for a levy to pass. Critics say the proposals would hamstring local governments. Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell spoke in opposition of the bills during a Senate Local Government Committee meeting Wednesday night, alluding to the "starvation path" cities would face if unable to collect mill levies. "This bill doesn't move the goal post. It changes the game," said Russell. Kalispell was far from the only city represented. Helena City Manager Tim Burton sarcastically referred to the legislation as the "Public Safety Reduction Act" during his testimony and Belgrade Mayor Russell Nelson joked that he was "starting to believe the Legislature does not like cities." Chief among opponents' concerns was the potential for more mill levy elections. Senate Bill 204's 10-year maximum sunset period on levies would require municipalities to regularly go back to the public for funding. Opponents say that would lead to voter strain. The bill also applies the new sunset period to levies already passed. In his testimony, Russell referenced a public safety levy passed by Kalispell residents last year. While the ballot measure defined the levy as permanent, voters would have to reapprove the measure in six years if SB 204 passed. And that could prove challenging under Senate Bill 205, which raises the percentage of voters needed to pass a levy-related ballot measure. Currently, a levy passes with a majority of votes if a 40% voter turnout is achieved and a supermajority if a 30% voter turnout is achieved. If fewer than 30% of voters cast a ballot, the measure automatically fails. Senate Bill 205 would raise voter turnout thresholds to 40% and 50%. While Russell and others expressed trust in their citizenry, they questioned whether voters would be willing to return to the ballot box again and again. "We can't control the active nature of our citizenship," said Russell. "We have our budget meetings, our public hearings. Very few people show up for a $150 million budget to be passed." Both bills are sponsored by Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson. He said the bills introduce necessary measures to curb local government spending, resulting in lower property taxes. "Unfortunately, what we have done in a lot of taxing jurisdictions, is probably, in my mind, gone beyond what a lot of citizens expect out of their local government," said Hertz. At a Feb. 6 press conference, Gov. Greg Gianforte agreed with the need to cut local spending and referenced "fear-mongering" by local officials. "This is a question of priorities at a local level. We've seen runaway spending," said Gianforte. On Feb. 6, Rep. Lukas Schubert, R-Evergreen introduced House Bill 410, which also addresses levy elections. Rather than raising voter turnout thresholds by 10 percentage points, HB 410 raises the thresholds by five percentage points. The bill is co-sponsored by Hertz, Amy Regier, R-Kalispell, Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, and 17 other lawmakers. Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@
