Latest news with #SenateBill14
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Texas Lawmakers Aim To Address Unfinished Business In Special Session
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing in the State Capitol on ... More April 23, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Senate Bill 14 introduces and establishes a new Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office which seeks to create better practices within state agencies and terminate unnecessary regulations. (Photo by) Following the early June conclusion of the Texas Legislature's regular session, one that was marked by the enactment of a long sought conservative goal, the state's first school choice program, Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) has called a special session starting this week to address unfinished business. In his proclamation calling legislators back to Austin, Governor Abbott laid out a special session agenda that is likely to generate spirited debate, particularly over proposed reforms that could serve as national models for reining in government spending and limiting the rise in property tax burdens. Nation's First Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban In approving Senate Bill 19 during the regular session this spring, the Texas Senate, as it has done multiple times in previous sessions, passed legislation that would prohibit local government officials from hiring contract lobbyists. After the Senate transmitted SB 19 to the House, however, the bill was referred to the House State Affairs Committee, where it subsequently never received a hearing before the end of the regular session. Though SB 19 did not receive consideration in the House during the regular session, Governor Abbott added the proposal to the special session agenda, presenting lawmakers with another opportunity to get this reform to the Governor's desk before the next regular session in 2027. Not only does SB 19 have the votes to pass out of the Senate and backing from the Governor, Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) has also expressed his support. Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) reintroduced his proposal to end taxpayer-funded lobbying for consideration during the special session as Senate Bill 12. Senator Middleton and other supporters of SB 12 point out that taxpayer-funded lobbyists are frequently the top opponents of conservative reforms that would reduce property tax burdens, limit increases in property tax bills, and restrict the growth in government spending. In 2023 alone, local government officials across Texas spent nearly $100 million on contract lobbyists. Senator Middleton explains that the impetus for this proposed reform is not primarily about the amount of taxpayer dollars being spent on lobbyists, but the fact that local government officials frequently hire contract lobbyists to advocate against taxpayer interests. 'The practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying violates the principles of constitutional order and limited government,' noted the Texas Public Policy Foundation's James Quintero and John Bonura in a report published earlier this year. 'Local governments that spend tax dollars to hire lobbyists oftentimes do so for the purpose of securing higher taxes, more spending, and greater regulatory authority.' Local government officials and the contract lobbyists they hire with taxpayer dollars are the most vocal opponents of SB 12. Many legislators, including Republican legislators, are loathe to upset them if it can be avoided. Speaker Burrows, however, has already demonstrated he does not shy away from disagreements with local officials in the name of advancing conservative reforms that he thinks are needed. In 2023, for example, Speaker Burrows championed legislation that bars local governments from imposing new regulations on an industry or activity that is in a field already regulated by state government. That proposal, referred to by opponents and supporters alike as the 'Death Star' bill, introduced the concept of 'field preemption.' While the implementation of Speaker Burrows' field preemption bill has been held up in court since Governor Abbott signed it into law in 2023, Texas's Third District Court of Appeals issued a ruling last week that will allow it to at last take effect. 'The Death Star is now fully operational,' Speaker Burrows posted to X shortly after that ruling came down on July 18. Similar to the Death Star bill, SB 12 will need to overcome robust opposition from local government officials, but lawmakers appear committed to getting this long sought conservative policy goal to the Governor's desk this summer. 'The special session will be a total failure if the Texas legislature fails to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying,' Representative Briscoe Caine (R) posted to X on the first day of the special session. Many Believe Time Has Come For The State To Limit The Growth Of Local Spending Barring local officials from hiring contract lobbyists isn't the only special session agenda item that is sure to draw the ire of local politicians. So too will Governor Abbott's call for lawmakers to consider legislation 'reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.' While Texas is one of eight no-income-tax states and boasts a lower overall tax burden than most states, it does have one of the nation's highest average property tax burden. According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, Texans face the nation's sixth highest average property tax burden. Texas already has a law in place preventing state spending from rising faster than the rate of population growth and inflation, but localities do not face a similar restriction. Governor Abbott and many in the Texas Legislature believe that greater restrictions on local spending growth are needed to keep rising property tax burdens in check. The state does have a property taxpayer safeguard on the books referred to as 'the rollback rate.' The Texas rollback rate was reduced in 2019 to require that local governments receive voter approval if they wish to increase spending faster than 3.5% annually (2.5% for school districts). Because of the many exemptions and exclusions in Texas's rollback rate, local government officials across Texas have been able to grow their budgets and property tax burdens much faster than 3.5% annually despite the 2019 rollback rate change. Though the rollback rate reduction of 2019 has saved taxpayer billions of dollars in property tax payments over the past half decade relative to what would've been paid under the higher rollback rate, it has proven to be an insufficient taxpayer safeguard. If Texas lawmakers were to use the special session to remove the exclusions that prevent the rollback rate from being the strong spending cap that it has the potential to be, they could prevent unsustainable increases in property tax burdens moving forward. 'Reducing the rollback rate from 8% to 2.5% for school districts and 3.5% for most other local governments, along with requiring an automatic election to exceed those caps, was a step in the right direction,' said Vance Ginn, a Texas-based economist who previously served as chief economist at the White House Office of Management and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 'However, the 2019 rollback rate changes fell short in a few key ways, particularly its exclusion of new property, property located n natural disaster areas, and other jurisdictions significantly weakened the protection the rollback rate provides to Texas taxpayers. Despite the improvements made to the rollback rate in 2019, property taxes were hiked 13.7% by special purpose districts, 11.5% by counties, and 9.5% by cities in 2023, which reduced the property tax relief from the state that year.' 'The lesson learned is that the rollback rate should be 0% for all property and all jurisdictions,' Ginn added, noting that 'a local spending limit and a 0% rollback rate would help rein in the excessive burden of local governments.' In addition to enacting the state's first school choice program, Governor Abbott and state lawmakers passed other reforms that were praised by conservatives. The research and development tax credit that businesses can apply against their state gross receipts tax liability was scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. Not only did Governor Abbott and Texas lawmakers prevent that tax break from expiring, they passed legislation to make the R&D tax credit more generous and permanent. 'For every $1 in R&D incentive, Texas gains $12.47 in Gross State Product over 20 years,' Senator Paul Bettencourt, noted in a statement posted to X shortly after the Texas Senate passed the Senate Bill 2206, bill to boost and permanently extend the R&D tax credit. 'This bill creates 6,662 new jobs annually, $445M in labor income, and $748M in GSP growth every year. SB 2206 ensures Texas remains a national leader in research, innovation, and job creation — making sure our economy keeps pace with the demands of the 21st-century.' The strengthening and permanent extension of the state's R&D tax credit isn't the only form of tax relief that employers received during the regular session. With the enactment of House Bill 9 in June, Texas lawmakers and Governor Abbott advanced business personal property tax relief through an increase in the inventory tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000. This tax cut, which is subject to voter approval, is projected to save Texas employers $400 million annually. 'Cutting the inventory tax has long been a priority of our members here in Texas,' NFIB State Director Jeff Burdett said following the signing of HB 9. 'By increasing the exemption, Main Street employers will have more of their hard-earned money to expand their operations, invest in their employees, and contribute to their communities.' Texas voters will also get the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit state taxation of capital gains thanks to a constitutional amendment that Governor Abbott and state legislators referred to the ballot during the regular session. Texas already has a constitutional prohibition against taxing income, which was approved by voters in 2019. The new constitutional amendment specifically barring taxation of capital gains, if approved by voters, would make clear that a capital gains tax is also off limits per the Texas constitution. After a regular session in which Governor Abbott and state lawmakers accomplished significant and historic reforms, they return to Austin this week to tend to matters that were not addressed before time ran out on the regular session. Some think that a second special session could even be in the offing, depending on how this one goes. While Governor Abbott and Texas legislators were catching up with the rest of the country by providing school choice, the special session presents them with an opportunity to pass reforms that could serve as national models that other states seek to adopt, reestablishing Texas as a state on the leading edge of conservative governance and policy innovation.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NH House passes mandatory minimums for fentanyl possession and reduces punishments for shrooms
The New Hampshire House of Representatives debates bills during a voting session in the State House Thursday afternoon. Earlier Thursday, they approved Senate Bill 14, which institutes mandatory minimums for fentanyl possession. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted, 214-167, Thursday to pass Senate Bill 14, which creates mandatory minimums for fentanyl possession and reduces the penalty for people caught with psilocybin mushrooms. If enacted, SB 14 would create mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted on fentanyl charges. That includes manufacturing, selling, transporting, or possessing the drug with the intent to sell. People convicted with 20 grams or more of the drug would face at least 3½ years in prison under the bill. People convicted with 50 or more grams would face no less than seven years. There is currently no minimum sentence under state law, which gives judges leeway to decide. There is, however, a maximum of 30 years on the first offense and life imprisonment for repeat offenders. The bill was previously approved by the Senate in February. 'The people asked us for law and order,' Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican, said on the House floor. 'Let's give them law and order.' One Republican lawmaker doubted the bill's minimums would actually be impactful. 'Twenty grams plus of fentanyl possession is almost certainly gonna be prosecuted as a federal crime,' Rep. Kevin Verville, a Deerfield Republican, said. 'The odds of the state actually using this bill when it becomes law is infinitesimally small in my opinion.' The representative characterized the mandatory minimums as something being done for show. 'You can campaign on law and order on this,' Verville said. 'In my opinion, that's what this is.' However, the bill was amended on the House floor to add a provision that aligns with one of Verville's biggest priorities as a legislator. That provision reduces the penalty for possession of psilocybin, a psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms. Under the amended bill, possession or use of less than three-quarters of an ounce of psilocybin would be a misdemeanor on first offense as opposed to a felony, which is currently state law under the Controlled Drug Act. Verville is the sponsor of another bill, House Bill 528, that would reduce the penalty to a simple violation. Verville and his colleagues have argued it's less dangerous than other harder drugs and that it has medicinal benefits such as treatment for PTSD or migraines. HB 528 was approved by the House in March. Verville is a vocal proponent of fully legalizing psilocybin, though he has acknowledged he doesn't believe he can convince enough of his colleagues of that, so he settled for this measure. Verville urged his colleagues to approve SB 14. 'What this bill now has in it is it has real psychedelic reform for the citizens of New Hampshire,' he said. 'Compounds that help people beat alcoholism, opioid addiction, other drug addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome.' Verville said SB 14 'finally ends a felony charge for simple possession for a small amount of psilocybin,' which he called 'an excellent trade.' He also argued that the minimum sentences outlined by the bill were 'fairly short.' 'The benefit of the psilocybin far outweighs — far outweighs — any mandatory minimums,' he said. 'I'm begging you.' Eight Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill, while six Republicans bucked their party to vote against it. Most Democrats were opposed to the legislation. 'I want to be clear, SB 14, like several other bills, is not about crime,' Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright, a Nashua Democrat, said. Harriott-Gathright pointed out that fentanyl possession is already illegal and punished severely by law. She, and many of her Democratic colleagues, argued that mandatory minimums were ineffective at hindering crime. 'The question before us today is whether we think adopting mandatory minimums and maximums, an outdated one-size-fits-all solution, is going to be an effective use of taxpayer dollars to address the many substance issues in our state,' she continued. 'The bottom line is that our country has already tried that approach. … We all know that it has failed.' She said the bill 'robs judges of their ability to fully consider all relevant facts and circumstances and 'undermines basic principles of justice.' She also argued the psilocybin provision was 'likely to vanish in committee of conference,' the process where House and Senate members negotiate the differences between their bills. Because the bill was amended by the House, it will return to the Senate to be reconsidered. The Senate can now either accept the amendment, enter the committee of conference process to hash out its differences with the House, or reject the bill outright. Enacting the mandatory minimums has been a priority for Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who publicly called on lawmakers to bring the legislation to her desk. A similar bill, Senate Bill 15, would've created even harsher minimum sentences for cases where a death was involved. It would've created a minimum sentence of 10 years for people who illegally manufactured, sold, or dispensed fentanyl that resulted in someone dying. The Senate approved that bill the same day as SB 14 in February. However, that bill was retained in committee and has not yet been considered by the full House.
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Bill Author Removed From California Child Sex Trafficking Bill
California Democratic Assemblywoman Maggy Krell from Sacramento was removed as author of her own bill on May 1 after she joined Republicans in a renewed attempt to strengthen penalties for buying 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. The state Assembly voted 55–21 to reject a provision of Krell's name as bill author was replaced by two of her Democratic colleagues, Assembly Public Safety Chair Nick Schultz from Burbank and Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen from Elk Grove. In 'Minors of any age in the state of California that are contacted for a sexual purpose, that is punishable by a felony already,' said Schultz, a former deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice (DOJ). In response, Krell, who is also a former deputy attorney general for the California DOJ, said there is still a loophole in California law that fails to clarify that purchasing sex with a minor is rape. Related Stories 4/30/2025 5/1/2025 'The problem with [the law], which my colleague from Burbank referenced, is it includes a whole host of statutes for contacting a minor, but there's one that's missing: prostitution,' she said. She said she didn't care whether her name was on the bill, but she said she was concerned that the bill no longer treats 16- and 17-year-olds as victims. 'We need to say loud and clear that if you're under 18, a child, a minor ... that the person who's buying that person should be charged with a felony. It's plain and simple,' she said. The legislation advanced on April 29 after the provision was removed in a 7–0 vote in the public safety committee. Democratic Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and LaShae Sharp-Collins abstained from the committee vote. They did not reply to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. At the time, Schultz 'As we've heard today and outside of this chamber, there are Californians who are concerned about unintended consequences on young adults and LGBTQIA+ Californians, should it be a felony for 16- and 17-year-olds,' Schultz said before the vote. The Epoch Times reached out to Schultz and Krell for comment. California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who pushed for the same provision to be removed in a similar bill last year, Newsom Criticizes Removal of Provision In response to the committee vote, California Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke out against members of his own party for removing the provision from the bill. 'The law should treat all sex predators who solicit minors the same—as a felony, regardless of the intended victim's age. Full stop,' the governor's office said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on April 30. The governor's office says Newsom has been consistent on this issue, pointing to a bill he signed in 2023, Senate Bill 14, that made sex trafficking of minors a In 2024, the governor signed into law Senate Bill 1414, also authored by Grove, which Back then, amendments also excluded 16- and 17-year-olds, which Grove said was disappointing. This year, she co-authored AB 379 with Krell to fix this loophole, along with implementing penalties for loitering to purchase sex and funding survivor support. Democratic committee leaders again removed the provisions that would have made purchasing older minors a felony. 'They did that to my bill last year,' Grove told The Epoch Times on May 1. 'They excluded 16- and 17-year-olds from the felony provisions, treating them like adults, which is completely absurd.' Republican Assemblyman Juan Alanis, vice chair of the public safety committee, who co-authored the sex trafficking bills both this year and last year, said he had 'never been more angry and disturbed by actions taken on the Assembly Floor' on May 1. 'Purchasing or trafficking any minor of any age for sex should be a felony. Period,' he said in an emailed statement. The public safety committee plans to schedule an informational hearing in the fall to discuss the felony provision, according to Schultz.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Landry signs order to ban buying soda, candy with SNAP benefits
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday to ban the purchase of soft drinks and candy using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while pushing for state and federal legislation. Landry directs the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to submit a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude the purchase of sodas and candy using food stamps in the state. 'In Louisiana, we're going to focus on the food that our bodies need to grow and function properly. If you want to consume these items, well, that money should come out of your pocket,' Landry said in a video posted on X. The governor publicly supports Senate Bill 14, proposed legislation tied to a broader national health initiative co-founded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known as Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The campaign, organized by a political action committee of the same name, promotes public policies aimed at improving food quality, reducing chronic disease, and limiting exposure to harmful substances. RFK Jr. is targeting ultraprocessed foods: What are they, and are they bad? McMath's bill aligns with Landry's order to require DCFS to submit a waiver to the USDA seeking permission for Louisiana to prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing soft drinks. SB 14 advanced in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on April 30. 'It's time to incentivize good food over junk food. Exercise over screen time. Water over soda,' Landry said. 'Our nation is stronger when we are healthier, and I'm committed to working alongside President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to bring the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement to every corner of the state.' According to the order, Landry tasks DCFS with finding ways to incentivize buying fruits and vegetables. The agency has implemented a USDA-funded pilot project in six parishes to encourage SNAP recipients to make healthy food choices at participating stores by offering a 30-cent produce bonus for every dollar spent. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 847,000 Louisiana residents currently receive SNAP benefits. The program provides financial assistance for low-income households to purchase food. Louisiana SUN Bucks: How to apply, do you qualify and when they will go out Michelle Obama: 'Everybody would know' if my marriage was in trouble City of St. George voters to elect councilmembers in May 3 runoff $2K tip helps West Virginia server reach for her dreams Gov. Landry signs order to ban buying soda, candy with SNAP benefits Metal band guitarist killed in police standoff in California Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Louisiana seeks waiver to ban candy, soft drinks purchases with SNAP benefits
Louisiana will seek a waiver from the federal government to prohibit the purchase of soft drinks and candy with federal food assistance. Gov. Jeff Landry announced his intentions Thursday in an executive order he touted in a video posted on social media. 'The Make America Healthy Again movement is not one of words, but of action!' Landry posted. 'That is why today I signed an Executive Order banning soda and candy purchases from Louisiana's food stamp program.' Landry's executive order doesn't actually prohibit these purchases, as he does not have that authority. The order instructs the state's Department of Children and Family Services, which oversees the state's implementation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to seek a waiver to do so from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program. Landry's executive order does not define either soft drinks or candy. The governor also urged the Legislature to approve Senate Bill 14 by Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, a sweeping piece of nutrition legislation that, among other things, seeks a USDA waiver to prohibit the purchase of beverages with more than 5 grams of added sugar or any artificial sweetener. Drinks that include milk or milk substitutes would be exempt from this prohibition. When McMath presented his bill to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee this week, he said he specifically decided not to seek prohibition of candy purchases with SNAP benefits. Many Louisiana residents live in food deserts, and McMath said he did not want to prevent people who might only be able to shop at convenience stores from eating. Landry's order also instructs DCFS to find ways to incentivize SNAP recipients to buy produce, such as participating in the Double Up Food Bucks program. The program provides matching aid dollars for fruit and vegetable purchases in more than two dozen states. The order sets an Oct. 1 deadline for DCFS to submit its waiver application to the Trump administration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
