Latest news with #SenateBill451
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EPA clears way for CO2 project to proceed
Wabash Valley Resources received the final permits to begin constructing two injection wells for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide, the Environmental Protection Agency reported in a press release Friday. The final permits contain no changes from the 2024 permits for the projects, one in West Terre Haute and one in Vermillion County. The EPA opted not to exercise its discretion to allow additional public notice and comment. Pete Rimsans, WVR's VP of government relations, issued a statement on behalf of the company: "Today, following an internal administrative review, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits for Wabash Carbon Services. The permits clear the way for one of the nation's most advanced carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. "The decision, which follows a remand from the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) to EPA Region 5, marks a turning point for American energy and agricultural security," the statement continued. The statement then quoted Dan Williams, chief operating officer of WVR: 'We sincerely appreciate the EPA restoring momentum to a permitting process. Their decisive action reflects a renewed national commitment to leveraging America's abundant resources in clean and innovative ways that promote American infrastructure, American jobs and American-made energy solutions.' It concluded, "The finalized permits authorize WVR to construct injection wells for the safe and permanent sequestration of captured CO₂ deep underground, supporting the company's $2.5 billion investment in low-carbon ammonia fertilizer production. "By transforming a shuttered coal gasification facility into a manufacturing hub, WVR is demonstrating the future of American fossil fuel infrastructure and a reliable energy addition to the nation's supply." In 2023, Indiana Senate Bill 451 authorized carbon sequestration in West Terre Haute and Vermillion County, paving the way for the deep underground injection wells. Former District 38 Sen. Jon Ford championed the bill, which was immediately unpopular locally. Citizens and the Vigo County Commissioners publicly expressed anger that WVR was able to embark on such an enterprise without input from local leaders and residents alike and expressed concern about the wells' environmental impact on the area. On July 7, 2023, the EPA issued WVR two draft Underground Injection Control permits to construct wells for injection of carbon dioxide for permanent sequestration. A public meeting regarding the draft permits was in Terre Haute in August of 2023. Things quickly grew contentious, with residents expressing concern about the resulting damages from a potential leak in the underground well. WVR provided statistics showing that since the 1950s, only nine fatalities have resulted — four in the '60s and five in the '90s, which saw 18 accidents, the most of any decade. Concerned Citizens against Wabash Valley Resources was formed, and vociferously protested WVR's efforts every step of the way in a series of frequent appearances at Vigo County officials' meetings and Facebook posts. In July of 2024, Vigo County Commissioners received the brunt of residents' anger during discussions of the Community Benefits Agreement that WVR had proposed. Speakers during the meeting's public comments section were unmoved on WVR's proposal to endow the Wabash Valley Community Foundation with $3 million. Commissioner Mike Morris said, 'If the community does not take this money, that does not stop [WVR's] plan. The plan will go ahead.' In September of 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office announced a conditional commitment of a $1.559 billion loan to WVR to finance its waste-to-ammonia fertilizer production facility in West Terre Haute so it can employ carbon capture and sequestration technology. In March this year, the Environmental Appeals Board issued a statement that said WVR's project "ensures non-endangerment of USDWs [underground sources of drinking water]." It raised no new issues or substantial questions. At this point, Concerned Citizens against Wabash Valley Resources' last recourse may be to take the issue to court. Resident Whitney Boyce said in July of 2024, 'Litigation is not our goal, but if that's what it takes to get the protections in place for our community, that's what's going to have to happen.' Construction of the plant is expected to create 500 jobs and 125 full-time employees will work at the facility.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arkansas governor vetoes two more bills from 2025 legislative session
Sarah Huckabee Sanders addresses the crowd outside the State Capitol on Jan. 10, 2023, after she was sworn in as Arkansas' 47th governor. (Karen E. Segrave/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders vetoed two bills from the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday and returned them to their respective chambers. Both bills had emergency clauses, meaning they would have gone into effect immediately upon Sanders' signature. House Bill 1961 would have created limited reasons for medical providers to 'temporarily withhold a patient's medical records from being released directly to the patient or any individual authorized by the patient' for up to 30 days. Those reasons would have included the need to review a patient's medical information or discuss it with the patient, or if the provider 'reasonably believes that immediate disclosure of the medical records may lead to the patient's misinterpreting the information in a manner that could adversely affect the patient's health or safety.' 'Individuals have a right to access personal medical information, including medical imaging, test results, and other health records, in a timely fashion,' Sanders wrote in a letter explaining her decision not to sign HB 1961. 'Because this bill may, in some cases, unduly delay the release of such information to patients who are entitled to it, I am vetoing this legislation.' Senate Bill 451 would have required the state Education and Human Services departments to collaboratively establish 'regional behavioral health programs' to help public and charter schools determine how best to help students who display behavior 'substantially likely to cause injury to the student, other students, or staff.' It also would have required both state agencies to formulate behavioral health management plans for these students and help them transition back into school after the behavioral issue has been addressed. Sanders wrote in her veto letter that she understands the need for 'sufficient interventions' and has directed the Education and Human Services departments to 'come up with a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools' than SB 451. 'School administrators, teachers, and principals are increasingly managing student behavioral issues, including aggression and violence,' Sanders wrote. 'These issues cause disruptions in the academic environment, distracting from schools' core function: a safe environment where all students can learn.' Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, was SB 451's primary sponsor and said he appreciated Sanders' 'assurances that she understands the seriousness and the need for an immediate solution.' 'I'm less concerned with how it's done, just that it is done,' Hester said. SB 451 passed the Senate with a bipartisan majority of 30 votes, but it passed the House by the slimmest margin of 51 votes. Emergency clauses require two-thirds of lawmakers' support to pass, and the House voted three times before SB 451's emergency clause passed with 77 votes, 10 more than the minimum. Similarly, HB 1961 passed the House with 75 votes but scraped the minimum of 18 votes in the Senate. The emergency clause subsequently passed with 26 votes when 24 were needed. HB 1961 was sponsored by two pharmacists: Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle, and Sen. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith. The intent behind HB 1961 was to give medical professionals the opportunity to 'sit down and have a real conversation' about a patient's health needs, such as a cancer diagnosis, 'before this scary news or potentially unclear news gets uploaded into an electronic chart of some sort and becomes immediately available without the appropriate context and compassion and the human side of the doctor-patient relationship,' Boyd said Wednesday. He added that he might sponsor similar legislation in the future that addresses the governor's 'implementation concerns.' Arkansas elected officials reflect on achievements as session comes to a close Sanders issued two vetoes last week — one that vetoed a bill to legalize the delivery of medical marijuana or the purchase of it from a drive-thru, and a line-item veto eliminating the salary for the director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Institute on Race and Ethnicity. A UALR spokesperson said the position was vacant and the university had not planned to fill it. Lawmakers can vote to override the governor's vetoes with a simple majority in both chambers before the sine die adjournment of a legislative session. Hester and Boyd said they do not expect to ask their colleagues to override the vetoes of their respective bills. The Legislature concluded its session and recessed April 16, and it will reconvene May 5 to handle any unfinished business before adjourning sine die. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Sanders vetoes two bills regarding behavioral health programs in schools, patient access to medical information
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — After signing dozens of bills into law following the end of the legislative session, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has vetoed two more bills sent to her desk for a signature. Senate Bill 451 would have required the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to establish regional behavioral health programs. Sanders released the following statement on Tuesday night explaining why she vetoed the bill: 'School administrators, teachers, and principals are increasingly managing student behavioral issues, including aggression and violence. These issues cause disruptions in the academic environment, distracting from schools' core function: a safe environment where all students can learn. Without sufficient interventions, these issues will continue to distract from our focus on academic improvement. I have directed the Secretaries of the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services to work with interested parties to come up with a solution that is more tailored to the needs of our local public schools.' Gov. Sanders vetoes two bills on last day of legislative session The bill was sponsored by President Pro Tempore Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) and Rep. R. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Denise Gardner (D-Fayetteville) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs). The bill passed the Senate by a 30-1 vote on April 8 with Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff) as the lone vote against. It passed the House on April 15 by a 77-13 vote. The other bill, House Bill 1961, would have allowed 'medical providers temporary exemptions from federal information-blocking regulations to safeguard patients during information disclosure.' It also would have provided therapeutic privileges for medical providers under specific circumstances. Sanders released a statement after vetoing HB1961: 'Individuals have a right to access personal medical information, including medical imaging, test results, and other health records, in a timely fashion. Because this bill may, in some cases, unduly delay the release of such information to patients who are entitled to it, I am vetoing this legislation.' HB1961 was introduced by Rep. Brandon Achor (R-Maumelle) and sponsored by Sen. Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith). The governor vetoed two other bills on the last day of the legislative session, one that would have allowed for marijuana dispensaries to deliver and offer drive-thru service, and the other would have created a 'Dir. of Institute on Race & Ethnicity' position at the University of Arkansas – Little Rock. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
College IDs for voting, parental rights, transgender athletes: These Indiana bills are on the move
University of Indianapolis students Madison Riley, left, and Sam Hunt protest Senate Bill 10 outside the House Chamber on April 1, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A rousing debate over college students voting in Indiana punctuated legislative action Tuesday. Other topics ran the gamut, from tax cuts and transgender sports to water resources and parental rights. The voting measure, Senate Bill 10, would no longer allow students at Indiana's public institutions to use their college IDs as proof of identity at the polls. But the reason seemed unclear — as sponsor Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer, continually referred to 'concern' that college students aren't residents. 'I think a lot of the concern here that we're missing is: a university ID does not prove that that is an Indiana resident,' he said. But Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, noted there is an entirely different part of law that governs residency and voter registration. The bill doesn't impact that law. 'We're singling students out. If your concern is about registration, then deal with that,' he said. Pierce and others noted that most college IDs meet the four requirements in state law: to have a name, photo, expiration date and to be issued by a state or federal entity. Rep. Chris Campbell, D-West Lafayette, observed that U.S. passports are allowed as proof of identity at the polls, but don't have addresses or even a state of residency on them. 'Who are these students voting for overall? I'm just going to be truthful. They are a threat. They are a threat to Republicans in this state,' said Rep. Renee Pack, D-Indianapolis. But Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, held up his driver's license and listed things Hoosiers can't do without it: buy alcohol, some cold medicine, fly on a plane. 'We already have created a system where you need one of these to do everything almost everybody over the age of 18 is doing,' he said. 'I don't think it's too much to ask if you are going to vote to have one of these.' Non-drivers can also obtain state identification cards. The bill passed 67-24 and now returns to the Senate. Hoosiers could see upcoming cuts to the state individual income tax rate under a different measure approved 74-18 in the House. Senate Bill 451 would drop the rate by 0.05% beginning in 2030, if state general fund revenue collections exceed 3.5% growth in each of the four preceding fiscal years. The next year's revenue forecast also must be at least 3.5%. The reductions would continue in every even-numbered year through 2040. Current law is phasing Indiana's flat income tax rate down from 3.05% in 2024 to: 3.0% in 2025, 2.95% in 2026, and 2.9% in 2027 and years thereafter. Each 0.05 percentage point reduction of tax rate would result in a decline of income tax revenues between $150 million to $200 million annually, according to a fiscal analysis for the legislation. 'It's a hard bar to cross, but it would occur in those cases where state revenue is really growing,' said Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton. The human existence is all about opportunity cost. When we forgo billions of dollars, we are making a decision to disinvest in the future. – Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis He added that 'we gain as a state when we do this' because it attracts business and residents. Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, said Indiana's coffers have already lost $6 billion since 2015, when lawmakers started slowly reducing the rate. The bill would mean billions more in revenue gone. 'The human existence is all about opportunity cost. When we forgo billions of dollars, we are making a decision to disinvest in the future,' he said. Porter noted the state could afford things like a fully funded statewide Pre-K program or subsidies for paid family leave and child care if taxes weren't continually cut. The bill was changed in the House, meaning the Senate must accept the changes before it goes to the governor. Transparency and entrepreneurship additionally highlighted a separate bill also passed in the House, on an 87-4 vote. Senate Bill 516 establishes an office for entrepreneurship and innovation, an agenda item for Gov. Mike Braun. But it also holds provisions taking aim at the IEDC, which has faced years worth of backlash from lawmakers and constituents alike over its secretive approach to economic development efforts like the Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace (LEAP) District. CONTACT US The legislation would require the quasi-public agency to tell local units of government and the State Budget Committee about acquisitions of more than 100 acres — whether it's bought in one or multiple transactions — at least 30 days before those purchases close. The bill also tasks the IEDC and the executives of communities that host innovation development districts — like one within LEAP — with annually compiling reports about the districts' activities over the last calendar year. And it lists what would be included: revenue received, expenses paid, fund balances, debt details, information on parcels within tax increment financing districts and the amounts locals receive in revenue-sharing agreements. The reports would go to the community's fiscal body and to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. The Senate has to accept changes to the bill or send it for final negotiations. The House unanimously approved two other bills dealing with water withdrawals. Senate Bill 4 would require that developers of long-haul water pipelines — over 30 miles long and transporting more than 10 million gallons a day — must go to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and seek certificates of public convenience and necessity. There are also strict permitting requirements for transferring water from one water basin to another. 'This deals with concerns as we have been building water policy,' said Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso. 'It's a pretty important bill.' Senate Bill 28, dealing with 'significant' groundwater withdrawals of more than 100,000 gallons of water a day, also passed easily. Rep. Shane Lindauer, R-Jasper, said the legislation is intended meant to head off disputes when water withdrawals might cause nearby well failures as the state continues to pursue water-intensive industries. Both bills were changed in the House, so the Senate must accept the changes before they go to the governor. A bill spurred by anger at the Indiana Department of Child Services over parental rights passed the House 69-24. Lindauer said the bill recognizes that 'parents have a fundamental God-given right to direct the upbringing of their children.' Senate Bill 143 specifically requires courts to give deference to parental rights when disputes with government regulations occur. During the committee hearing, parents from multiple counties told stories of having their children taken away due to alleged abuse but later being exonerated. In some instances, medical records of the children have been kept from parents. The Senate has to accept changes to the bill or send it for final negotiations. Across the building on Tuesday, Senate Republicans batted away a series of Democratic amendments to a bill limiting transgender female athletic participation. Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, authored two identical amendments — one for high school students and another for college enrollees — that would bar officials from examining an athlete's 'bathing suit area … to determine the student athlete's biological sex.' 'There is no evidence that this has happened in Indiana under the current law in place and I haven't heard of any requirements in any other state,' said Sen. Stacey Donato. 'I ask you to defeat this amendment.' A fight challenge, musical moments and long meetings: Inside committee day at the Statehouse Donato, R-Logansport, sponsored House Bill 1041, which would bar transgender female athletes from participating on college athletic teams aligning with their gender. The proposal is an expansion of the current ban on K-12 students. Republicans also beat back three other amendments to the bill: one establishing a grievance process for college students injured by the bill; one allowing a college to discipline students who make accusations; and another creating a student-athlete 'bill of rights.' Only Donato, who read her brief rebuttals from a piece of paper, spoke on any of the amendments. All five were defeated on party-line votes. Two other bills encountered little opposition: one letting the Indiana Gaming Commission regulate bare-knuckle fighting and another granting students additional excused absences for 4-H or Future Farmers of America activities. The latter, House Bill 1660, now heads to the governor's desk. 'FFA and 4-H are important organizations that help prepare our youth to be successful adults,' Buchanan said. 'As someone who has worked with FFA for many years, I have seen firsthand the great work these youth organizations have done in our communities across the state,' said Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, in a statement. Buchanan sponsored the bill. Both bills moved out of the Senate on a 47-2 vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Montana Senate tables two bills aimed at restricting libraries
The Great Falls Public Library photographed on June 7, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan) The Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee on Friday tabled two bills seeking to put limitations on public libraries. The bills, both sponsored by Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls, would have put stricter rules around how the state's public libraries handle 'sexually explicit' material and prohibited libraries from offering services 'not related to their core function.' During a hearing on Feb. 27, Emrich described how sad he was that his local library was bereft of books and no longer focused on 'library related things,' which prompted Senate Bill 451. 'My local library has decided that they would rather, you know, become a resource for offering homeless people, you know, getting them signed up for public services. That sort of thing really has nothing to do with the library,' Emrich said. 'This bill just says, get back to being a library and quit trying to be a public outreach for services that are otherwise covered by other, government organizations or governmental entities.' No one spoke on behalf of his bill but critics decried the insinuation that libraries should strictly stick to books and information. Susan Gregory, director of the Bozeman Public Library, wrote in testimony read in committee that a library's services 'vary from one community to another, depending on local choices and patron requests.' 'Some examples of these services include providing test proctoring, notary and passport services, partnering with local food banks to provide free lunches for children who don't have access to free and reduced hot lunches,' Gregory wrote. 'Last year, six Montana libraries worked to address the epidemic of loneliness by hosting artists and residents that offered classes to lonely seniors, offering free health and wellness classes. And the Belgrade community library supports wellness through a fitness library.' Susie McIntyre, director of the Great Falls Public Library, also opposed the bill and added that she welcomed Emrich to visit the library and see the work they do in person. 'The mission of the Great Falls Public Library is that we serve as a connection point,' she said. 'We empower the community and enhance the quality of life by providing individuals access to information and social, cultural and recreational resources. We work to serve our community based on our community needs.' One example McIntyre provided was when a retired nurse asked if the library could find a way to support families dealing with dementia. The library applied for a grant and began hosting educational workshops on Alzheimer's, and monthly social spaces for people experiencing dementia and their caregivers. 'This falls in line with our mission of connecting people to the resources that they need,' she said. Emrich pushed back against his critics, saying the bill was worded to describe a core function of a library as accessing information, including printed, digital and onsite information. 'That's pretty darn broad, and could cover anything,' Emrich said, but noted that the bill was meant to put some guardrails in place, eliminating uses such as healthcare and fitness. 'Childcare has never been a function of a library in any stretch of the imagination. That's an extracurricular that really has nothing to do with a library being a library.' 'The library seems to have forgotten what their purpose is,' Emrich said. 'If we fund them as libraries, people expect them to be libraries.' The committee tabled SB 451 in an 8-6 vote. Emrich's other bill, Senate Bill 396, would have required libraries to house materials of a sexual nature within the adult or young adult collections, even if they're intended for a younger audience, and directed chief librarians to develop cataloging standards for materials. But opponents to the bill said it infringed on the local control of library boards and discounted the expertise of degree-carrying librarians. 'Local library boards and professional librarians already established policies to ensure that materials of any subject in any section of the library contain the resources that are appropriate for that section's target audience and subject,' said Danny Hess, on behalf of the Montana Library Association. 'These policies are grounded in professional standards and best practices and also outline the process by which patrons can challenge books in their libraries.' Two proponents for SB 396 are current trustees of the Flathead County Library, which went through several years of turmoil after the conservative-leaning board ran off multiple library directors and attempted to censor the library's collection. The trustees argued that the bill is in the best interest of families and kids. 'Placing sexually explicit material in the adult section, as this bill demands, empowers parents and caregivers to choose whether to expose their children to the material or not,' said trustee Dave Ingram. 'It also creates children's and teen sections where all parents can let their children wander freely, knowing that no child will encounter sexually explicit content until the parents decide to expose them to it.' Many librarians testified against the bill, including Bozeman Public Library children's librarian Ellie Newell, who said the law could have unintended consequences with its definitions. 'The bill's fault lies in its overly broad and incorrect description of public library materials of 'a sexual or graphic nature,'' Newell said. 'Historically, such language has been used to exclude materials that discuss anatomy and physiology, puberty, consent and sexual abuse. While these topics may cause discomfort for some people, my experience is that many Montana families need and value age-appropriate material on these subjects from their public library.' The committee tabled the bill in a 9-5 vote.
