Senate

Halt on Senate Bill 4 Provides Relief and Uncertainty for Immigrants, Local Experts Aim to Inform Public About Rights

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Tyler, Texas – Senate Bill 4, a controversial immigration law in Texas, has been temporarily halted by a federal judge. The ruling has sparked hope among local experts who are eager to continue educating people about their rights and are even optimistic that the law may be permanently stopped. Earlier this year, an immigrant-focused organization in Tyler hosted two meetings to inform the public about Senate Bill 4. Immigration lawyer Ginger Young, who led the event, provided insights and answered questions about the law’s provisions and how to handle encounters with law enforcement. To prepare … Read more

Federal Judge Dismisses Wisconsin Senate from Lawsuit Over Green Bay City Hall Audio Recording Equipment

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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – A federal judge has dismissed the Wisconsin Senate from a lawsuit against the city of Green Bay over the installation of audio recording equipment as part of a city hall security system. The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for approximately a year, alleges that the recording equipment violated the privacy rights of visitors to city hall and has cost state taxpayers over $400,000. The lawsuit was filed in the weeks leading up to last year’s mayoral election, with individuals involved having close ties to Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich’s Republican opponent. … Read more

Oregon Senate Passes Bill to Provide Tax Relief for Wildfire Survivors, Allowing Them to Keep More of Their Settlements

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SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that aims to provide financial relief to survivors of wildfires in the state. Sponsored by Senator Brian Boquist, the bill, known as Senate Bill 1520, introduces a tax exemption for court awards and settlements related to wildfires. The legislation comes in response to several lawsuits filed against PacifiCorp, which a jury found responsible for sparking four Labor Day wildfires in 2020. Survivors of these wildfires have received millions of dollars in settlements and awards. However, due to federal tax laws, they have only … Read more

Kansas Senate Introduces Bill to Limit Health Officers’ Authority Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Senate is once again attempting to revise public health laws in response to criticism of the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, a bill to remove health officers’ authority to issue orders was passed, as was a bill guaranteeing visitation access to hospitalized family members. However, neither bill had enough votes to override a potential veto. In November 2021, backlash against the pandemic response prompted Republicans to call the state’s first special legislative session, leading to the passage of a bill targeting employer vaccine mandates. Democratic Governor Laura … Read more