Latest news with #Bill3
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Lord mayor uses ‘strong mayor powers' to empower new CAO
The lord mayor has dipped his toes in the pool of the province's 'strong mayor powers.' He used them for the first time on Monday to give newly appointed chief administrative officer Nick Ruller full authority over the town's organizational structure and staffing decisions. Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said he is simply restoring authorization that the town's top administrator had before the province granted more decision-making power to mayors in 169 more municipalities earlier this year. Monday also marked Ruller's first day on the job. His appointment was announced June 19, following a 17-month search to replace former CAO Marnie Cluckie. 'I have full confidence in Nick's ability to guide the organization with strategic vision, professionalism and a strong sense of municipal responsibility,' Zalepa said in a July 7 news release. The powers granted to Ruller give him the final say over staffing decisions and how the town delivers services through departments such as fire and emergency services, operations, planning and public works. Zalepa told The Lake Report he acted in part to show immediate confidence in Ruller, whose experience, he said, makes him well-suited to the role. Ruller was previously NOTL fire chief and a NOTL councillor. Under Ontario's Bill 3, which came into effect in May, mayors in designated municipalities were granted strong mayor powers. Currently, 216 towns and cities across the province fall under this legislation — nearly half of Ontario's municipalities. The law gives mayors the authority to hire and fire senior staff, propose budgets, create committees and appoint a CAO. It also allows them to delegate those powers to the CAO. Zalepa said his intention was to maintain the previous structure of municipal governance in NOTL. 'Prior to the province enacting the strong mayor powers, the role of hiring staff and the organizational structure of the town was always the responsibility of the chief administrative officer,' he said. 'When the province changed these rules … they actually gave authority to the mayor to influence those things.' 'I thought it was important at this juncture to bring clarity to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and make it very clear to our new CAO that these areas I would firmly like to be back in the responsibility of the CAO.' All municipal departments report to Ruller. Despite granting greater authority to the CAO, Zalepa said he still values collaboration. 'While this new legislation provides mayors with enhanced decision-making authority, I remain committed to working in partnership with staff and council to serve our community effectively,' he said. Zalepa added he does not plan to use his strong mayor powers again in the near future. daniel@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls special legislative session to address recently vetoed bills
With the final decisions on all the bills from the 89th Texas Legislature solidified, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has officially called lawmakers back to Austin for a special session. The governor's move comes after giving his veto to 26 bills from the regular session — including the proposed state THC ban — while also signing 1,155 bills into law. Others are reading: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs historic $20 billion water investment bill, talks state impact Of those 26 bills, Abbott has named five for lawmakers to address during the special session set to start on July 21. However, another bill, SB 1758 — relating to the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility — was made law without the governor's signature. It was not immediately made known why the governor wished lawmakers to look at the bill again. With the governor indicating these are just the initial bills being referred to for the special session, here's a look at what vetoed bills will be brought up again and why the governor vetoed them. Senate Bill 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products. Reason: In a four-page veto proclamation, Abbott says SB 3 would pit state laws against federal laws, which will burden Texans who have legitimate businesses and practices in dealing with hemp-derived THC. "That is why I am vetoing Senate Bill 3 and calling a Special Legislative Session in July to craft a law that does as much as possible to corral the problems while also being structured so that it can go into effect this year," read the proclamation. Senate Bill 648: Relating to recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property. Reason: The bill seeks to curb title theft and deed fraud but would burden low-income Texans, rural residents and those handling family land without legal assistance by jumping through more hoops. "I am adding this issue to a special session call so that legislators may tackle title theft and deed fraud without creating separate rules for the haves and have-nots," read Abbott's veto proclamation. Senate Bill 1253: Relating to impact and production fees for certain water projects and to the regulation of certain wells; authorizing a fee. Reason: Abbott said the bill's original version was to encourage water conservation by allowing political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include facilities to increase water conservation and efficiency. However, the bill was changed by the House. "It now singles out property owners in one groundwater conservation district and subjects them to new burdens for exercising private property rights, like new fees that increase every year and entry onto property without the owner's permission," reads the veto proclamation. Senate Bill 1278: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. Reason: While the bill does aid and support victims of human trafficking, Abbott said that the bill "severs the link between culpability and conduct" through the creation of an affirmative defense that would void a crime. "That means a person could be immune not only to acts of prostitution that are linked to their own prior victimization, but also raping a child, murdering a law enforcement officer, or engaging in acts of terrorism," reads the veto proclamation. Senate Bill 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government. Reason: While agreeing with parts of the bill, Abbott said lawmakers need a second pass at it before signing it into law to address its issues. "For example, the bill would allow unlimited automatic expunctions for completing any pretrial intervention program," reads the veto proclamation. Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Gov. Abbott calls special session to address vetoed bills, issues
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls special legislative session to address recently vetoed bills
With the final decisions on all the bills from the 89th Texas Legislature solidified, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has officially called lawmakers back to Austin for a special session. The governor's move comes after giving his veto to 26 bills from the regular session — including the proposed state THC ban — while also signing 1,155 bills into law. Others are reading: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs historic $20 billion water investment bill, talks state impact Of those 26 bills, Abbott has named five for lawmakers to address during the special session set to start on July 21. However, another bill, SB 1758 — relating to the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility — was made law without the governor's signature. It was not immediately made known why the governor wished lawmakers to look at the bill again. With the governor indicating these are just the initial bills being referred to for the special session, here's a look at what vetoed bills will be brought up again and why the governor vetoed them. Senate Bill 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products. Reason: In a four-page veto proclamation, Abbott says SB 3 would pit state laws against federal laws, which will burden Texans who have legitimate businesses and practices in dealing with hemp-derived THC. "That is why I am vetoing Senate Bill 3 and calling a Special Legislative Session in July to craft a law that does as much as possible to corral the problems while also being structured so that it can go into effect this year," read the proclamation. Senate Bill 648: Relating to recording requirements for certain instruments concerning real property. Reason: The bill seeks to curb title theft and deed fraud but would burden low-income Texans, rural residents and those handling family land without legal assistance by jumping through more hoops. "I am adding this issue to a special session call so that legislators may tackle title theft and deed fraud without creating separate rules for the haves and have-nots," read Abbott's veto proclamation. Senate Bill 1253: Relating to impact and production fees for certain water projects and to the regulation of certain wells; authorizing a fee. Reason: Abbott said the bill's original version was to encourage water conservation by allowing political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include facilities to increase water conservation and efficiency. However, the bill was changed by the House. "It now singles out property owners in one groundwater conservation district and subjects them to new burdens for exercising private property rights, like new fees that increase every year and entry onto property without the owner's permission," reads the veto proclamation. Senate Bill 1278: Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. Reason: While the bill does aid and support victims of human trafficking, Abbott said that the bill "severs the link between culpability and conduct" through the creation of an affirmative defense that would void a crime. "That means a person could be immune not only to acts of prostitution that are linked to their own prior victimization, but also raping a child, murdering a law enforcement officer, or engaging in acts of terrorism," reads the veto proclamation. Senate Bill 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government. Reason: While agreeing with parts of the bill, Abbott said lawmakers need a second pass at it before signing it into law to address its issues. "For example, the bill would allow unlimited automatic expunctions for completing any pretrial intervention program," reads the veto proclamation. Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Gov. Abbott calls special session to address vetoed bills, issues
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 bills
Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session early Monday, ordering state legislators back to the Capitol to tackle six bills that he vetoed shortly before the deadline late Sunday. Among them is Senate Bill 3, which would have banned the sale of hemp products containing THC in Texas. Abbott, who said the 30-day special session will begin July 21, can still add items to the call list. In a press release, he described that list as 'initial.' He has faced pressure from President Donald Trump to ask lawmakers to redraw some of Texas' 38 U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterms, but that request was not on the list release Monday. The state constitution only allows lawmakers to pass bills during special sessions on issues selected by the governor. The other bills that lawmakers will reconsider during the special session are: Abbott released statements explaining his rationale for the vetoes. He also vetoed 18 other bills late Sunday that he did not add to the call for the special session. Those measures ranged from changes to the criminal justice system to water rights management that lawmakers had passed during the recently completed legislative session. Abbott had already vetoed two bills by the time the session closed on June 2. Among the bills Abbott vetoed was House Bill 413, which would have ensured that no defendant could be held in custody before trial for longer than the punishment they would receive if convicted. That bill, which was co-authored by a bipartisan group of five lawmakers from around the state, passed the House 126-10 and the Senate 30-1. More: With only 8% built, Texas quietly defunds state border wall program When promoting the bill on KCEN news before its passage in May, co-author Rep. Pat Curry, R-Waco, said, 'if there's a penalty that requires two years in prison and you've spent two years waiting to go to trial, you need to be released.' Abbott vetoed the bill against the backdrop of sweeping changes to bail laws that he championed this past legislative session that sought to keep violent repeat offenders behind bars. Abbott also vetoed Senate Bill 974, which would have allowed public school teachers to serve on residential appraisal review boards. Supporters of the bill, like Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, had argued that the bill was necessary because "many smaller rural counties have difficulty filling their appraisal review boards during the summer months." However, the bill became a target of conservative activists who argued that the harms of letting teachers sit on these boards statewide outweighed the benefits to rural counties. Andrew McVeigh, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, wrote in a letter to Abbot that he should veto the bill because appraisal review boards have the ability to influence property tax valuations, which help fund school districts. 'Letting teachers sit on these boards undermines the objectivity of the appraisal process and threatens public trust,' McVeigh wrote. The other bills Abbott that vetoed this session include:
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Saying Goodbye to the High: Bill could outlaw THC products in Abilene, sparking local outcry
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Texas House Bill 3 proposes a ban on the sale and consumption of any product containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but what will the move mean for Texans who rely on these types of products for alternative medical uses? Texas House bans THC products, reduces criminal penalty for possessing intoxicating hemp It comes in gummies, chocolates, or even just the traditional flower form. THC products can be found in a variety of styles with uses that span beyond simply recreational. Texas Senate Bill 3, which has now passed both the Texas Senate and House, seeks to completely ban the consumption and sale of hemp products that contain any amount of THC, though it would not affect the sale of non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG. Brittany Manske, the owner of the Abilene CBD House of Healing, expressed concerns about the bill and claimed that Texas lawmakers are mischaracterizing the product she sells. 'The picture that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has painted just doesn't apply to businesses like ours. We operate with integrity, high standards in regards to quality and safety,' Manske said. The bill is now on Governor Greg Abbott's desk and just needs his signature to become Texas law. Now, many who rely on the product as a substitute for various treatments for both medical and mental ailments are voicing their concerns about this action. CBD and other hemp products make their mark on the Key City One of those individuals is retired Veteran Andrew Peterson, who regularly uses THC products to help with pain management from injuries he sustained while he was serving, and says that more military members like him are switching to using THC products as a safer alternative than other coping mechanisms. 'I feel like when people get out of the military, it's a lot better than choosing to go directly to alcohol and ruining their lives and going down that rabbit hole,' Peterson explained. Valerie Armstrong said that she uses THC products for a variety of ailments, including both physical and mental, and speaks to the benefits of the product, as well as proposing monetary ventures that could benefit the state. 'It is good for people who have cancer. It helps them eat. It helps them get through their day. You say this is going to affect our kids? Yeah, it could affect our kids,' Armstrong said. 'You know what we could do? We could take the money from the taxes. We can no longer make kids pay for school food.' Lawmakers hope to expand medical marijuana program as state bans intoxicating hemp products At this point, no action has been taken by the governor's office regarding SP3, but Brittany Manske says she's not waiting around and has decided to take action. Manske and her business have Texas Senate Bill 3 and are seeking 100,000 signatures to present to Governor Abbott. If the bill is signed into law, the ban will take effect in September of this year. However, the proposed law will not apply to individuals in Texas who possess a license for medical THC use. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
