Latest news with #SenateBill51
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Removal of abortion exemptions for rape, incest sees its third introduction to the West Virginia legislature
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — A bill that would remove abortion exemptions for rape and incest has been introduced to the West Virginia legislature for the third time in as many weeks, this time called Senate Bill 608. Similar to Senate Bill 51, and House Bill 2712 before it, SB 608 would amend §16-2R-3 of the West Virginia state code so that victims of sexual assault or incest would be blocked from receiving an abortion in the state of West Virginia, even if the victim is a minor or considered incompetent or incapacitated. Senate Bill 51 was withdrawn earlier in February, but if HB 2712 or SB 608 were passed, only three legal avenues would remain for women seeking an abortion: The embryo or fetus is nonviable, The pregnancy is ectopic, which is when a fertilized egg is outside the uterus, or if a medical emergency exists. SB 608 was introduced on Wednesday, and Patricia Rucker (R – Jefferson, 16) is the bill's only sponsor. Earlier in the session, Rucker also put forward another bill, SB 85; SB 85 would prohibit the use or sale of 'abortifacients,' which are defined as 'any drug, medicine, substance, chemical, or means used to cause an abortion which either requires a prescription based on FDA guidelines or is not approved by the FDA and is primarily used to cause an abortion.' West Virginia senator withdraws bill that would've removed abortion exemptions after voter backlash You can read the bill in its entirety below, or online. You can also track the status of SB 608 on the West Virginia Legislature website. sb608-intrDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to remove abortion exemptions for rape, incest introduced for second time in West Virginia legislative session
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Less than 24 hours after a West Virginia senator withdrew his bill that would've removed rape and incest as exemptions to the state's abortion law, a functionally identical bill was reintroduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday morning. House Bill 2712 would remove sections from §16-2R-3, which makes abortion illegal in West Virginia with some exceptions. The wording in the bill is the same as Senate Bill 51, which was introduced by Senator Jay Taylor (R – Taylor, 14) and later withdrawn. Delegate Lisa White (R – Berkeley, 096) is the lead sponsor of the bill, and is joined on the bill by nine other delegates, two of which are from north central West Virginia: Adam Burkhammer (R – Lewis, 064) Elias Coop-Gonzalez (R – Randolph, 067) Chris Anders (R – Berkeley, 097) Larry D. Kump (R – Berkeley, 094) Pat McGeehan (R – Hancock, 001) Bill Ridenour (R – Jefferson, 100) Jonathan Pinson (R – Mason, 017) Bryan Ward (R – Hardy, 086) Henry C. Dillon (R – Wayne, 029) The proposed amendment would remove abortion exemptions for victims of rape or incest, including exceptions for victims who are minors. Exceptions to West Virginia's abortion ban currently include a nonviable embryo or fetus, an ectopic pregnancy, a medical emergency, or early-stage pregnancies that were the result of rape or incest that was reported to law enforcement. The proposed amendment would also remove language requiring the agency or person a rape or incest against a minor was reported to also report it to the Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit of the West Virginia State Police within 48 hours. Senator Taylor eventually withdrew the bill from the senate, saying he had received threats directed towards his family after introducing the bill. Fire at Leer South Mine in Barbour County cost company $30 million: Report Delegate White, the lead sponsor for the new bill, was also attached to another house bill that would ban 'woke words' from state legislature. You can read the proposed amendment to West Virginia's abortion law below, or online at the West Virginia legislature website. hb2712-intrDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ten Commandments in school bill fails
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A bill that would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in all South Dakota classrooms failed in the House on Monday. In a 37-31 vote, representatives failed an amended version of Senate Bill 51. Bill aims to show abortion videos in high school The original bill would have required every classroom in the state to display the Ten Commandments on a poster no smaller than eight by 14 inches. The Ten Commandments must be the focus of the poster and in large, easily readable font. The amendment changed the language from every classroom in the state to a single, prominent location in the school. However, lawmakers were still concerned with the inclusion of teaching the Ten Commandments and ultimately voted against the amended bill. Proponents say the bill isn't about religion but argue the Ten Commandments have historical significance to the foundation of America and our laws. Opponents brought up strict regulations, out-of-state influence and the potential for lawsuits for why they were against the bill. A similar bill was passed in Louisiana last year and contested in court. Although the Louisiana Attorney General gave the OK for schools to display the signs, the case is still tied up in the 5th Circuit Court for a few schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
10 Commandments in schools bill passes House panel
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A bill that would require all South Dakota classrooms to display the Ten Commandments is one step closer to becoming law. After nearly two hours of testimony and debate, the House Education Committee voted 8-7 to pass Senate Bill 51. It will now move to the House floor and if passed, be sent to Gov. Larry Rhoden's desk. Immigration bill is Rhoden's first new law as governor 'When you think about the overall corrosion of our kids and society's issues that they're dealing with… I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to start having conversations with kids about their moral stance and where that could help guide them in the future,' Republican Rep. Tesa Schwans said. 'I think we should give it a chance and at least give it a shot.' The bill would require every classroom in South Dakota to display an 8 by 14 inch poster with the Ten Commandments on it, along with another document that explains other circumstances where the decalogue was present in schools. Curriculum on the subject must be taught at least three times; once in elementary, middle and high school. Supporters maintain the bill isn't aimed at religious indoctrination, but rather to highlight the historical significance the Ten Commandments had on the foundation of America. 'We based all of our laws (on it), the Supreme Court has it on the wall. I think that it would not hurt anything to have this in our schools,' Republican Rep. Travis Ismay added. Grace Sergeant, a college student in Brookings, agreed. During her proponent testimony, Sergeant said she would have liked to have been taught about the Ten Commandments in her history class when she was in school. 'I see the Ten Commandments as a moral framework for the laws we have today and see their display and teaching to be nothing but a reminder of simple morals that are nothing but beneficial for us as humans to remember,' Sergeant said. In a committee hearing earlier in the session, lawmakers questioned how and who would pay for the displays in every single South Dakota classroom. One of the bill's prime sponsors, Republican Sen. John Carley, explained on Friday both in-state and out-of-state organizations have offered to pay for all the displays. When asked by Republican Rep. Lana Greenfield who the donors were, Carley said they wished to remain anonymous, to which Greenfield said would 'cause a problem.' Greenfield also expressed her frustrations for school districts consistently taking the blame and responsibility for student behavior and 'failing kids.' 'When the students have no food, somebody always comes in and helps pay for it,' she said. 'Now, when the students are not properly taught by their parents any kind of religious instruction, now the schools have to take over. I mean, where does it end?' Also in opposition was Republican Rep. Mike Stevens, who was worried about the state stepping over local control. 'We're trying to be the school board of South Dakota here in Pierre by once again mandating things to our schools that are not necessary, that they can decide themselves,' Stevens said. Multiple pastors also spoke out against the bill, asserting that the Ten Commandments are religious moral guidelines and not historical documents. Concerns about mature subject matter like adultery and murder being present in elementary classrooms was a prominent point of discussion. 'Why is my daughter in kindergarten having the word adultery put on her classroom wall? Why is the word murder on her classroom wall,' questioned Sam Nelson, a lobbyist for the Sioux Falls School District. 'That's a 'me' thing to talk about, and I'd like you to keep it that way.' Carley argued young children are already exposed to those themes on the school bus with older kids and in the media they watch. He said the Ten Commandments in classrooms would provide an outlet for teachers and students to discuss those topics in an age-appropriate way. A similar bill was passed in Louisiana last year and contested in court. Although the Louisiana Attorney General gave the OK for schools to display the signs, the case is still tied up in the 5th Circuit Court for a few schools. Those in opposition believe the case will inevitably be brought to the U.S. Supreme Court and are worried about passing a similar bill in South Dakota that would open the state up for potential legal battles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Demoted legislator wants to mandate another motto on classroom walls
State Rep. Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on Jan. 16, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Under God, the people rule. The South Dakota state motto can be heard quite a bit during the legislative session. Former Gov. Kristi Noem liked to trot it out as a way of reminding lawmakers that they needed to be good stewards of their constituents' tax dollars. Obviously that interpretation meant something else to Noem as she spent millions of those tax dollars to protect the Texas border. The motto was used again by our new governor, Larry Rhoden, in his first address to a joint session of the Legislature. He said his new lieutenant governor, which turned out to be Rep. Tony Venhuizen, must recognize that 'under God, the people rule.' One of those rulers wants to make it a law that the state motto be in the face of public school students every day that they show up for class. House Bill 1105 would mandate that each public school classroom display the state motto in a prominent location. Its prime sponsor is Rep. Phil Jensen, the Rapid City Republican who was demoted from his vice chairmanship of the House Education Committee earlier this week for filing a bill to defund the Huron School District over a bathroom issue. Lawmaker loses vice chairmanship after trying to defund Huron schools over bathroom issue According to HB 1105: 'The display of the state motto may take the form of a mounted plaque, student artwork, or any other form deemed appropriate by the administrator, provided that the text of the motto is easily readable and the motto is at least twelve inches wide by eight inches high.' While the form it takes is of no concern, it seems that when it comes to the state motto, size matters. Jensen is also the House sponsor of Senate Bill 51, which calls for the classroom display of the Ten Commandments. If both bills become law, classes that like to display student art may become cramped for wall space. Like the Blues Brothers, Jensen is on a mission from God. It sure looks like his mission is to get God mentioned as many times as possible on the walls of public school classrooms. HB 1105 is scheduled for a hearing Friday. It will be interesting to hear the case that Jensen makes for how his bill serves to promote education in South Dakota. It's hard to imagine that putting the motto bill into law would do anything more than help burnish Jensen's credentials as a conservative. HB 1105 has an additional provision, guaranteeing that anyone who gets sued because of the display of the state motto in public school classrooms — the school district, a district employee or the school board — will have their defense provided at no charge by the state's attorney general. This same provision was included in 2019 when the Legislature mandated that the national motto —In God We Trust — be displayed in a high traffic area of each public school. It was also added as an amendment when the Senate narrowly approved the Ten Commandments bill on a vote of 18-17. Too often, when endorsing legislation that may very well land the state in court, lawmakers act as if they have the attorney general on retainer. They never stop to think that any court case that results from the law they sponsored, and its promise of free legal representation, is paid for by taxpayers. South Dakota's public schools need help from legislators, but not in the form of more mandated mottos on the walls. Lawmakers should be putting their efforts into finding a way to come up with more than the paltry 1.25% increase in education funding in the budget that Noem offered. They should be seeking a way to get the state's teacher salaries out of the bottom of national rankings. They should find a way to fight off the devastating budget cuts that have been proposed for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the State Library. When Jensen testifies about HB 1105, it will be interesting to hear how many of his constituents put aside their concerns about higher property taxes and their fear of the misuse of eminent domain to insist that the best use of his time in Pierre was to ensure that public schools have the state motto on their classroom walls. In South Dakota, 'Under God, the people rule.' Well, we'll see about that. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
