Latest news with #SenateBill208
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local Louisiana jailers could face 10 years in prison if they don't cooperate with ICE
New Orleans jail inmates line up during a mock evacuation drill June 15, 2023. (Nigell Moses/Verite) Under a bill moving toward passage in the Louisiana Legislature, sheriffs' deputies and other local law enforcement agents could face jail or prison time and heavy fines for failing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Louisiana Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to approve Senate Bill 15, which, if passed, would authorize prison sentences of up to 10 years for local officials who do not fully and proactively assist with immigration enforcement. If Senate Bill 15 were to become law, it would directly conflict with immigration policies adopted by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office and, potentially, the New Orleans Police Department, both of which are under federal orders to limit their cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration agencies. 'This bill, if it passes, would basically say that [Orleans Parish Sheriff] Susan Hutson would be in criminal malfeasance in office,' Will Harrell, a spokesman for the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, said in a phone interview Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Louisiana already has a law, passed last year, that prohibits local agencies from adopting policies against cooperating fully and proactively with immigration enforcement. Last year, Gov. Jeff Landry, an immigration hardliner, worked with Republican state lawmakers to pass Act 314 — enacted through Senate Bill 208, sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia — which prohibits 'so-called sanctuary city policies' that block cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents. That's a civil law, carrying no jail time for failure to comply. But Senate Bill 15, which calls for individual sheriffs and deputies to lose their freedom, represents a dramatic escalation in the state's crusade against so-called 'sanctuary cities.' 'This is part of a national movement to intimidate local leaders from Democratic-led cities that have been more sympathetic or more willing to addressing the immigration challenge in a humane way,' said Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, who voted against the bill Monday. Under the bill, it would be a misdemeanor under the state obstruction of justice law to 'hinder, delay, prevent, or otherwise interfere with or thwart federal immigration enforcement efforts.' Penalties for members of the public would be up to a year in jail. But the bill would also apply to public officials — even those acting in compliance with their agencies' policies — who would face up to six months behind bars and $1,000 in fines. It's not clear whether that would affect NOPD, which has a policy strictly limiting when officers are authorized to assist ICE. The policy was adopted in 2016 with sign-off from the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of the 2013 federal consent decree over the department. Mayor LaToya Cantrell's office and the NOPD both declined to comment for this article. Another provision in the bill is aimed squarely at local sheriff's offices, which are responsible for operating most local jails in the state. Senate Bill 15 would also make it a 10-year felony, under a state law against public malfeasance, for local jailers to refuse to hold jail detainees past their release dates when requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Though he did not name Hutson or any other New Orleans official when the bill came up in a committee hearing last week, Senate Bill 15 sponsor Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, said it is aimed at forcing local law enforcement to comply with ICE detainer requests. 'There've been quotes from elected officials that said they will not comply with ICE,' Morris said in a judiciary committee meeting earlier this month. Morris did not respond to an interview request. Except for a few limited circumstances where a detainee is accused of a particularly serious crime, complying with such requests is currently prohibited by an Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office policy adopted more than a decade ago as part of a legal settlement. The state recently asked a federal judge to rule the policy unlawful and order it dissolved. The judge has yet to rule on the request. In a December interview with Fox 8 News, Hutson was quoted saying that while she intends to comply with the law, she 'cannot do ICE's work … It's too big of a load.' During Senate floor debate Monday, Duplessis and Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, expressed concern over the apparent conflict between Hutson's obligations under state law and the court settlement. Responding to those concerns on Monday, Morris said OPSO offered up an amendment that would carve out an exception for government agencies under federal consent orders that limit their compliance with ICE. That amendment was introduced by Sen. Barrow. Morris said he discussed the exception with state Attorney General Liz Murrill — also an immigration hardliner — and decided it would 'gut the bill.' Senate Bill 15 passed without the amendment by a vote of 28-10. It has been transferred to the state House of Representatives for debate. As of Wednesday afternoon, it had not yet been scheduled for a House committee hearing. While in committee last year, Miguez said that Senate Bill 208 would not conflict with federal consent orders in Orleans Parish. However in February, Murrill petitioned in legal filings to become part of the long-settled 2011 federal civil rights case in an effort to toss the consent judgement and the OPSO policy, claiming that they are now in direct conflict with the newly passed state law. A federal court in New Orleans is considering whether to allow the state to become a party to the case. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers advance bills aimed at increasing regulation of hunting on Oklahoma's public lands
Two bills would tighten regulations for guides and nonresidents hunting on Oklahoma public land. An Oklahoma game warden speaks with hunters. (Provided photo) OKLAHOMA CITY — Lawmakers advanced two bills this week designed to tighten the state's hunting regulations on Oklahoma public lands by instituting new requirements for guides and nonresidents. Senate Bill 448 heads to the governor's desk after passing off the House floor with a nearly unanimous vote while Senate Bill 208 heads to the House floor moving through a committee Wednesday. The first, authored by Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, would require nonresidents to schedule and obtain written permission before hunting at any refuge or wildlife management area operated by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. A lottery system would be used, if necessary, to distribute permits to nonresidents to hunt. These permits would come at a cost of $100 and the lottery would be used to help ease overcrowding on public lands, Grego said. Micah Holmes, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said the agency supports the bill because it offers another tool to deal with overcrowding. The agency fields complaints of overcrowding on more 'popular' publicly managed lands, he said. Holmes said 'this is a good problem to have,' and it speaks to the 'excellent' land management done by the department. The agency is also looking into other options to monitor how many people are utilizing public lands, including electronic check-ins and road counters, he said. Senate Bill 208, authored by Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, would require the Wildlife Department to create a licensing and registration system for anyone providing 'guiding services' on public lands. Guides are trained professionals who help hunters locate game, navigate terrain and provide other services. The bill excludes 'commercial hunting facilities' and landowners that offer those services on private or leased property. The measure does not outline any fees or guidelines for implementation, but allows the department to create any rules necessary to carry out the legislation. Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, who voted against it, said he's concerned that the bill's language provided no enforcement authority to require these licenses and registration. This measure is eligible to be heard on the House floor. If approved and not amended on the full chamber, it will head to Stitt's desk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
While SD lawmakers consider limits on property tax growth, opting out of limits could get tougher
Rep. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, listens to Gov. Kristi Noem during her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the South Dakota Capitol on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight) As South Dakota lawmakers consider tighter limits on the growth of property tax collections, several have said local taxing entities could still choose to 'opt out' of those limits. But there's also legislation that would impose a new requirement on opt-out decisions by school boards. The House Education Committee advanced legislation Wednesday at the Capitol in Pierre that would require school boards to hold elections on opt-outs. Boards currently have the option to pass an opt-out without sending it to a public vote, although the public can refer it to a vote. Sen. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, said she introduced Senate Bill 208 as part of the effort to solve the state's 'property tax problem.' School boards would be required to hold elections for opt-outs and to issue capital outlay certificates, which school boards use from their capital outlay funds to purchase equipment, improve facilities or for emergency expenditures. Currently, school boards are only required to put general obligation bond votes to an election. General obligation bonds are more expensive and focus on building new facilities. 'This brings school boards into line with what counties are required to do,' Peterson said. 'Spending limits for local political subdivisions were put into place for a reason, but the current system of optional referral of opt-outs is making spending limits obsolete.' The bill already passed the Senate in a 19-15 vote. It heads to the House next. Property tax tinkering continues as SD lawmakers advance ideas to rival, complement governor's plan Nearly 42% of school boards opted out of property tax limits payable in 2024, totaling $34 million collected above the limits on property taxes, according to the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. In fiscal year 2023, the latest data available on the state Department of Education's website, 163 capital outlay certificates were in play across the state, totaling $832 million issued. Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota supported the legislation, with Deputy State Director Jen Beving saying it could increase transparency, engagement and voter turnout. Americans for Prosperity is a conservative political organization that has supported proposed diversions of public funds to pay for nonpublic education options. Public school education lobbyists opposed the legislation, saying it is unnecessary and would cost taxpayers more money to fund more elections. 'This is not one of the property tax bills I think that should be a priority,' said Dianna Miller, representing the Large School Group. Several property tax bills are still on the table, such as Gov. Larry Rhoden's property tax proposal including a cap on countywide assessment increases, and an assessment rollback bill — both of which passed the Senate — and a House-endorsed bill that would lower limits on local governments' annual increases in property tax collections to 2.5% or inflation, whichever is less. The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Greg Jamison, R-Sioux Falls, referenced opt-outs during the floor debate on his legislation. 'All of these bodies, taxing districts, all have the authority and ability to opt themselves out to raise the revenues that they need,' he said. Another pending bill from Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, would require local governments to publish an extra public notice 10 days before any hearing on an opt-out proposal. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House panel approves elections for all school tax levies
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The House Education committee passed a bill that would mandate elections if a school district proposes an opt out. In a vote of 8 to 7 the bill passed and will now head to the House floor for final consideration, if passed there the bill will then head for the governors desk. Senate Bill 208 would require school districts to hold local elections on every proposed excess tax levy and every proposed issuance of capital outlay certificates. The bill states, the governing body of the school district may raise additional revenues for general fund purposes only, from property tax through the imposition of an excess tax levy. The governing body of a school district may impose the excess tax levy with an affirmative two-thirds vote of the governing body on or before July fifteenth of the year prior to the year the taxes are payable. Speaking for the bill was Republican Sen. Sue Peterson, said from 2019 to 2023, school districts across the state opted out for a total of $165 million and issued capital outlay bonds totaling $413 million. 'Currently referral to the people is mandatory for counties that opt out of property tax limits, but only optional for school boards, This bill brings school boards into line with what counties are required to do,' Peterson said. 'Spending limits for local subdivisions were local political subdivisions were put into place for a reason, but the current system of optional referral of opt outs is making spending limits obsolete.' Also speaking in favor of the bill was Lobbyist for South Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Jennifer Beving, said the bill strengthens local control and gives more control to the people that live in the districts and It gives taxpayers of the district more local control over their own money. 'This bill does not cut funding to schools, It simply requires schools to tell people who fund them why they need more of those people's money,' Beving said. 'It's time to do the hard work to make sure that taxpayers know where their money is going.' Speaking in opposition was Heath Larson, executive director, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, who said school districts already have significant statutes and regulations to follow, and this bill is not needed. 'Our school boards are publicly elected officials who are very concerned about taxes, transparency, their local school and community,' Larson said. 'This bill is an attempt to make opt outs and issuing capital outlay certificates more difficult when there are already processes in place for local constituents to petition for an election. Also speaking in opposition was Dianna Miller, a registered lobbyist for the Large School Group, who said local school boards understands their taxpayers. She added that this bill takes away local control and the bill mandates that everything must go to a vote if this bill passed. 'I think when you force an opt out or capital outlay certificates to go to a vote, that is disregarding what they wanted in the taxpayers' world,' Miller said.' You're costing them additional money by forcing them to go to an election and then we're gonna have to schedule an election, pay that cost, so you're wasting taxpayer dollars at that point if they're satisfied with what their local school board has done. Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann, said that school boards are elected by their school districts and there are school districts out there that are doing their very best. 'Their communities can fire them at any time and do if they don't like the decisions that are being made,' Heermann said. ' At the end of the day you need the, you need the people to be on board regardless. Either they will get the signatures and they will work to defeat it, which you do not want, or you will proactively go out into the community and educate and inform so that they're on your side.' Republican Rep. Heather Baxter said the bill is all about bringing that local control back to the hands of the people. 'From 2015 to 2024 there was anywhere from 62 to 68 school districts that had opt outs,' Baxter said.' I know that oftentimes in this room, many people have continued to say local control, local control so I agree with the prime, I think we should give that local control and bring forth additional transparency.' Democrat Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk said districts can do this if they want and that the state does not need this bill. Republican Rep. Logan Manhart said the bill will give that power back to the voters, and the bill will help grant greater transparency on what's going on in their school districts. Yes- Baxter (R), Garcia (R), Ismay (R), Jensen (R), Jordan (R), Manhart (R), Rice (R), Schwans (R), No- Arlint (R),DeGroot (R), Halverson (R), Heermann (R), Uhre-Balk (D),Stevens (R), Greenfield (R) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peterson: School opt-outs should have to face voters
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Legislation that would require school districts to hold local elections on every proposed excess tax levy and every proposed issuance of capital outlay certificates has cleared the South Dakota Senate. Senators voted 19-15 on Wednesday to approve Senate Bill 208 and send it across the Capitol to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Republican Sen. Sue Peterson was the prime sponsor. Currently, state law says the districts may hold the elections. Peterson wants lawmakers to change 'may' to 'must.' She said that school districts in South Dakota from 2019 through 2023 opted out for a total of $155 million and issued capital outlay bonds totaling $413 million. 16-year-old dies from exposure to freezing temps 'The taxpayers of South Dakota should have a voice in whether or not they want their property tax bills to go up by almost $600 million over and above that allowed by law. Any property tax relief the Legislature passes is futile without this bill,' Peterson said. Public education lobbyists have blocked attempts this session to steer public funding to parents of private and home school students. In turn, lawmakers who supported those bills are trying to force publicly funded school districts to reduce spending, rather than raise new revenue. The dispute comes as the two chambers are weeding through several dozen proposals for providing property-tax relief to homeowners. The lead sponsor of SB 209 in the House is Republican Rep. John Hughes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
