Latest news with #SenateBill73
American Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- American Press
Louisiana lawmakers reject all but one carbon capture bill
A liquid carbon dioxide containment unit stands outside the fabrication building of Glenwood Mason Supply Company in 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. New York is forcing buildings to clean up, and several are experimenting with capturing carbon dioxide, cooling it into a liquid and mixing it into concrete where it turns into a mineral. (Associated Press) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Legislators rejected seven bills on Tuesday that would have greatly hindered the development of carbon capture and sequestration, a major blow to Louisiana constituents concerned about eminent domain and CO2 leaks. Only one bill moved through the House Natural Resources Committee. Senate Bill 73, from Sen. Mike Reese, R-Beauregard, passed without objection. The bill requires the commissioner of conservation to give significant weight to local government input when making decisions on carbon dioxide sequestration projects that involve public comments or hearings. Marketed as a way to reduce carbon emissions, carbon capture and sequestration allows various industries to market their products as low carbon to international and domestic markets. According to Louisiana Economic Development, there are currently $23 billion in carbon capture related investments in the state, with a projected 4,500 jobs. The committee met for more than 13 hours. Opposition to the restrictive bills included industry and parish leaders from all over Louisiana, such as Anna Johnson, president of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Ray Gregson, executive director of the River Regions Chamber of Commerce, Michael Hecht, president & CEO of Greater New Orleans and representatives from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Entergy, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Landowners Association. The technology is a potential 'game changing opportunity,' according to the River Region Chamber of Commerce. The regional chamber recently announced strong support for carbon capture and sequestration, calling the technology essential to securing billions in industrial investment, creating high-quality jobs, and maintaining Louisiana's competitive edge in global energy markets. Citing the 2024-25 Louisiana Economic Forecast by economist Dr. Loren Scott, the chamber emphasized that more than $150 billion in industrial projects across three metro areas are tied to the successful implementation of CCS and access to renewable energy. Beyond economics, the chamber argued CCS is a proven, safe technology that has operated in the U.S. for decades, with more than 200 million tons of CO₂ safely stored underground since the 1970s. It said supporting CCS can both reduce emissions and modernize the state's energy infrastructure without relying on restrictive energy policies or mandates. The chamber also emphasized job creation, noting that the state's oil and gas sector has lost more than 20,000 jobs since 2015. CCS, they argue, could absorb much of that displaced workforce, especially in areas like welding, operations, and maintenance. There are currently over 20 bills filed which would've greatly limited the technology. Some of them function to give landowners and local communities more power in refusing carbon capture, others impose heavy regulations on the technology itself. Much of the testimony from witnesses expressed concerns on the use of eminent domain, which several bills aimed to address. 'You have to give it back to people and let them have the right to vote,' said Renne Savant, representing the Louisiana CO2 Alliance. Savant took issue with former Sen. Sharon Hewitt's 2020 law which extended eminent domain authority to include pipelines transporting CO2 to storage facilities. 'She said 'we're going to take it out of the air, and put it in existing pipelines and sequester it. Never did she mention the hundreds of miles of new pipelines',' Savant said. 'Never did she mention the millions of toxic CO2 byproducts that will be put underground, never mentioned anything about property rights.' Savant was one of many whose testimony was less than friendly to the burgeoning technology. Chris Alexander, a Baton Rouge attorney, called CCS 'a complete racket that is being paid for with our money and being imposed on citizens throughout this state, whether or not they want it or not, and that, quite frankly, is a disgrace' Roland Hollins, an Allen Parish Police Jury member, said that parishes are 'being forced to take this poison that we don't want.' 'I'm not saying I'm for or against [CCS],' Hollins said in an interview with The Center Square. 'But our people ought to be the ones who make that decision. Not Baton Rouge, not industry. Right now, the industry has a pistol in their pocket with eminent domain.' Rep. Shane Mack, R-Livingston, introduced a bill to strengthen safety and environmental protections for carbon dioxide storage and pipeline projects. Schamerhorn introduced a bill that would allow victims of CO2 leaks to claim money for damages. Opponents argued that Schamerhorn's bill would drive CO2 investment out of Louisiana by creating legal risks companies wouldn't accept and that Mack's bill was superfluous and because the bill imposed broad, open-ended financial liabilities and regulatory obligations on carbon storage operators. 'The benefits do not outweigh the costs,' Schamerhorn said.
American Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- American Press
Louisiana lawmakers reject all but one carbon capture bills
A liquid carbon dioxide containment unit stands outside the fabrication building of Glenwood Mason Supply Company in 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. New York is forcing buildings to clean up, and several are experimenting with capturing carbon dioxide, cooling it into a liquid and mixing it into concrete where it turns into a mineral. (Associated Press) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Legislators rejected seven bills on Tuesday that would have greatly hindered the development of carbon capture and sequestration, a major blow to Louisiana constituents concerned about eminent domain and CO2 leaks. Only one bill moved through the House Natural Resources Committee. Senate Bill 73, from Sen. Mike Reese, R-Beauregard, passed without objection. The bill requires the commissioner of conservation to give significant weight to local government input when making decisions on carbon dioxide sequestration projects that involve public comments or hearings. Marketed as a way to reduce carbon emissions, carbon capture and sequestration allows various industries to market their products as low carbon to international and domestic markets. According to Louisiana Economic Development, there are currently $23 billion in carbon capture related investments in the state, with a projected 4,500 jobs. The committee met for more than 13 hours. Opposition to the restrictive bills included industry and parish leaders from all over Louisiana, such as Anna Johnson, president of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Ray Gregson, executive director of the River Regions Chamber of Commerce, Michael Hecht, president & CEO of Greater New Orleans and representatives from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Entergy, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Landowners Association. The technology is a potential 'game changing opportunity,' according to the River Region Chamber of Commerce. The regional chamber recently announced strong support for carbon capture and sequestration, calling the technology essential to securing billions in industrial investment, creating high-quality jobs, and maintaining Louisiana's competitive edge in global energy markets. Citing the 2024-25 Louisiana Economic Forecast by economist Dr. Loren Scott, the chamber emphasized that more than $150 billion in industrial projects across three metro areas are tied to the successful implementation of CCS and access to renewable energy. Beyond economics, the chamber argued CCS is a proven, safe technology that has operated in the U.S. for decades, with more than 200 million tons of CO₂ safely stored underground since the 1970s. It said supporting CCS can both reduce emissions and modernize the state's energy infrastructure without relying on restrictive energy policies or mandates. The chamber also emphasized job creation, noting that the state's oil and gas sector has lost more than 20,000 jobs since 2015. CCS, they argue, could absorb much of that displaced workforce, especially in areas like welding, operations, and maintenance. There are currently over 20 bills filed which would've greatly limited the technology. Some of them function to give landowners and local communities more power in refusing carbon capture, others impose heavy regulations on the technology itself. Much of the testimony from witnesses expressed concerns on the use of eminent domain, which several bills aimed to address. 'You have to give it back to people and let them have the right to vote,' said Renne Savant, representing the Louisiana CO2 Alliance. Savant took issue with former Sen. Sharon Hewitt's 2020 law which extended eminent domain authority to include pipelines transporting CO2 to storage facilities. 'She said 'we're going to take it out of the air, and put it in existing pipelines and sequester it. Never did she mention the hundreds of miles of new pipelines',' Savant said. 'Never did she mention the millions of toxic CO2 byproducts that will be put underground, never mentioned anything about property rights.' Savant was one of many whose testimony was less than friendly to the burgeoning technology. Chris Alexander, a Baton Rouge attorney, called CCS 'a complete racket that is being paid for with our money and being imposed on citizens throughout this state, whether or not they want it or not, and that, quite frankly, is a disgrace' Roland Hollins, an Allen Parish Police Jury member, said that parishes are 'being forced to take this poison that we don't want.' 'I'm not saying I'm for or against [CCS],' Hollins said in an interview with The Center Square. 'But our people ought to be the ones who make that decision. Not Baton Rouge, not industry. Right now, the industry has a pistol in their pocket with eminent domain.' Rep. Shane Mack, R-Livingston, introduced a bill to strengthen safety and environmental protections for carbon dioxide storage and pipeline projects. Schamerhorn introduced a bill that would allow victims of CO2 leaks to claim money for damages. Opponents argued that Schamerhorn's bill would drive CO2 investment out of Louisiana by creating legal risks companies wouldn't accept and that Mack's bill was superfluous and because the bill imposed broad, open-ended financial liabilities and regulatory obligations on carbon storage operators. 'The benefits do not outweigh the costs,' Schamerhorn said.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Marijuana billboard ban, towing rules stripped from Senate's BMV bill, but advance in House
From left: Rep. Bob Morris questions Rep. Jim Pressel about towing regulations on the House floor on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A finance-focused Senate panel excised a billboard-specific ban on marijuana advertising and regulations on towing services from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles's legislation Thursday morning — hours before the House advanced tweaked versions. Commercial driver's license (CDL) reciprocity also got the ax, with lawmakers citing immigration-related fears. Appropriations Committee chair Sen. Ryan Mishler, said the marijuana and towing provisions were nixed — just a week after both were inserted — because they weren't germane to the underlying agency bill. The edits were accepted by consent. But both ideas advanced in the House that same afternoon. Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, commandeered Senate Bill 73 in a Monday committee hearing for amendments outlawing all marijuana advertising and regulating towing. He made further changes on the House floor Thursday — despite opposition from fellow Republicans — setting up a contentious vote as soon as next week. Lawmakers cited illegal immigration as they scrapped a provision allowing CDL holders from other states to get Indiana CDLs without the written or skills exams. 'There are other states in our union that hand out driver's licenses like candy,' said amendment author Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis. '… I'm fine if they follow the Indiana process to get a license. I am not fine if that process is California's or New York's or name your other state's process, and I wanted to ensure that I didn't have a non-citizen getting a license.' Freeman promised to undo the change 'if this needs to go back in.' Pressel said CDL requirements are federal, describing them as another layer of standards that lie atop state mandates. He resisted the amendment, but added, 'This is not a hill I'm going to die on. If you all would like to take it out, I'm okay with that.' The committee adopted the changes by consent. But some expressed hesitation. CDL holder Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond noted the tests take 'a lot of time and money.' Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, said her district is a major logistics hub, and would benefit from reciprocity. She instructed her colleagues to 'get this figured out.' The committee advanced Senate Bill 1390 — sans deletions — on a 12-1 vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana considers ban on all marijuana advertising — not just billboards
All advertising for marijuana would be illegal in Indiana under an amendment adopted Monday. (Illustration by Leslie Bonilla/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana lawmakers could ban all marijuana advertising within state lines, under an amendment adopted Monday in a transportation-focused committee. It goes beyond the billboard-specific prohibition taken in a Senate panel last week. Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, said his community is 'inundated' with billboards advertising illegal marijuana. The district is near Michigan, which has legalized it. But that's not all. 'My constituents, myself included, receive up to two — what would look like political mailers — a week advertising an illegal substance' at dispensaries in nearby New Buffalo, per Pressel. He chairs the House Roads and Transportation Committee. He commandeered Senate Bill 73, dealing with utility trailer sales, for an amendment outlawing the advertising of marijuana and other drugs on Indiana's list of Schedule I controlled substances. Indiana's attorney general could sue for injunctions, civil penalties of up to $15,000 and 'reasonable costs' incurred throughout the investigation and lawsuit. 'I've heard about (how) the First Amendment, I'm trampling on it. I don't believe that to be true,' Pressel told the committee. He cited a federal appeals court decision that, 'basically, if it's a criminal activity, you have no First Amendment right to advertise. That's my understanding.' The ban would take effect upon the bill's passage. Advertising from contracts entered into or renewed before the approval date would be exempt. The committee accepted the edits by consent. Pressel told reporters that the panel 'deal(s) with billboard issues all the time,' but acknowledged that his amendment would also affect mailers, truck adverts, television and more. It also has the potential to impact online activity. 'We're able to geofence a lot of different things. … So is it possible to geofence that out? I believe that it is, but can't confirm,' Pressel said. 'I haven't talked to those folks.' Pressel authored an additional amendment inserting tweaked towing regulations into Senate Bill 73. The proposal was advanced on a 12-0 vote. When opposition to a rural intersection safety measure erupted too close to the legislative session's first-half deadlines, its author promised he'd fix it — or kill it. Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, developed the measure after his friends' eldest son was killed in a crash along an uncontrolled intersection overgrown with tall corn. A thorough amendment, taken by consent Monday, appeared to ease concerns from farmers. Rural intersections sightline proposal to rack up edits Senate Bill 183 initially mandated large 'line of sight triangles' by uncontrolled intersections to be kept clear of crops, vegetation and other obstructions above 3 feet tall. Units of government would've sent landowners or renters notice for noncompliance. People involved in vehicle crashes resulting from blocked sightlines would've been able to sue for damages. An amendment replaced the triangle concept with a 'line of sight area.' That would be, at minimum, the 20 feet of road right-of-way extending on each side from the center line. The 3-foot rule would still apply for 55 feet along each road from the center of the intersection. If a local government decides a landowner or lessee isn't compliant, it would have seven days to send written notice through certified mail. The person or entity responsible for the land would have seven days after receiving notice to clear the sightlines. Otherwise, the local government could take 'corrective action' — and, if warned a second time or more for the same property, charge up to $500 per subsequent clearing. 'We have worked very diligently with stakeholders on … making sure that a traveling motorist doesn't have an obstructed view when they get to an intersection,' Pressel said. 'So, lots of time, lots of hours, have gone into this amendment.' An Indiana Farm Bureau representative said the edits had softened the group's opposition into neutrality. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Mexico to allow ‘Idaho stop' so cyclists can roll through stop signs
Starting on July 1, people riding bicycles in New Mexico will be able to ride through stop signs without coming to a full stop, and stop at red traffic lights and continue even if the light hasn't turned green — as long as it's safe to do so. That's according to a new state law Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed on Friday. Senate Bill 73 changes New Mexico's traffic law to allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and to treat red traffic lights as stop signs and proceed if there are no other cars, cyclists or pedestrians. While it may seem counterintuitive to people who don't use bicycles, this is already common practice among bicycle riders in New Mexico because a cyclist wants to carry their momentum on the bike, said Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, who carried the bill, during a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Doing this gets the cyclist out of the blind spot of motorists who have stopped at an intersection, Sedillo Lopez told the committee. Eric Biedermann, a board member at-large of nonprofit advocacy organization BikeABQ, told the committee being able to treat a stop sign as a yield sign and a traffic light as a stop sign enhances cyclist safety because it reduces their exposure to cars, increases their visibility to cars and reduces the risk of being 'right hooked' if a car doesn't see them or a 'left cross' from oncoming traffic. 'There are a number of ways in which being able to proceed through an intersection with a head start before the cars move really enhances cyclist safety,' Biedermann told the committee. He was also speaking on behalf of Bike Santa Fe and Velo Cruces. The so-called 'Idaho stop' — taking its name from the first U.S. state to ease traffic laws for cyclists — resulted in a 14.5% reduction in cyclist injuries a year after the state of Idaho enacted a similar law in 1982, according to a review of Idaho Office of Highway Safety data. In New Mexico, between 2019 and 2023, 1,457 cyclists had crashes, according to the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies Center. Of those, 39 were killed, 115 were seriously injured and 694 were able to walk away. Lynn Pickard, a retired New Mexico Court of Appeals judge and member of Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes, told the committee data show that as many as half of collisions between cars and bikes happen within intersections. 'So anything we can do to get cyclists into and out of the intersections quickly — leaving of course, for us, to determine our own safety if there are other cars there or pedestrians there — would be really helpful for us,' she said. Source New Mexico, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@
