Christian Employers Alliance

Jervonte Edmonds

This bill makes a number of reforms to the state's Consumer Finance Act, including raising the maximum allowable interest rate on consumer loans by 6% at each tier and raising the maximum rate from 30% to 36%. The bill is designed to slightly loosen government restrictions and price controls on interest due to high inflation and national interest rates.

Expanding Borrowing and Lending Opportunities by Raising the Maximum Allowable Interest Rate on Consumer Loans from 30% to 36%.

This bill amends the state's waiting period for retail firearm purchases. Under existing law, the waiting period is 3 business days or until a background check is complete, whichever is later. This bill removes the provision related to background checks, which allowed the waiting period to extend past 3 business days. As a result, the waiting period cannot extend past 3 business days.

Strengthening Second Amendment Rights by Amending the Firearm Purchase Waiting Period.

This bill largely prevents a local government from forcing a contractor to pay the "prevailing wage" rates. This is accomplished by expanding the definition of public works projects to also include projects using local funds. The prevailing wage is an above-market rate typically linked to labor unions. Prevailing wage mandates needlessly drive-up taxpayer costs by imposing significant additional costs onto government contractors.

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting Prevailing Wage Requirements in Local Public Works Contracts.

This bill provides that if a person travels into a county they don't reside in, with intent to commit grand theft or any forcible felony, the offense classification is increased one level. Previously, this only applied to burglary. This does not apply to certain individuals, such as first-time offenders. Protecting property rights and ensuring public safety are essential components of government.

Strengthening Law and Order by Increasing Penalties for Certain Cross-County Crimes.

The Valdés amendment to a bill prohibiting various local employment regulations. This amendment adds language allowing localities to require private employers, that hire employees to work outside, to post a sign with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) information on heat illness and heat stress, "in a language understood by all of the employees."

Growing the Regulatory State by Allowing Local Governments to Impose a Heat Illness and Heat Stress Poster Mandate on all Outdoor Employers.

This bill requires localities to produce a "business impact estimate" for ordinances related to land development and zoning, which were previously exempt from this requirement. The report must summarize the regulation and provide an estimate of the economic impact, such as costs and fees for businesses. Additionally, the bill requires that a local referendum authorizing a locality to issue bonds (debt) over $500 million must take place at a general election.

Combatting Local Government Overreach by Reducing Loopholes to the "Business Impact Estimate" that Protect Businesses from Overregulation.

This bill prohibits local governments across the state from imposing any ordinance which allows individuals "to regularly engage in public camping or sleeping on any public property." Under the bill, counties are permitted to designate areas on public property for this purpose for up to 1 year, if approved by the Department of Children and Families, but must provide restrooms, prohibit illegal drug and alcohol use, and meet other requirements. Homeless encampments on sidewalks and streets present many health and safety concerns, including increased crime rates, open drug use, and sanitary concerns.

Strengthening Public Safety by Prohibiting Localities from Allowing Homeless Encampments on Public Sidewalks and Streets.

This bill establishes the "Health Care Innovation Council" to hold public meetings on healthcare innovation and develop ways to improve healthcare such as "best practice recommendations." The bill then appropriates $50 million annually through FY 2033-2034 for loans to select healthcare facilities, including certain hospitals and nursing homes, to implement such "innovative solutions." Not only does this measure further grow the size of government and central planning, but also worsens corporate welfare and cronyism by providing taxpayer-subsidized loans.

Worsening Government Central Planning by Establishing a Crony Health Care Innovation Council to Enrich Certain Healthcare Providers.

This bill restores the age at which an adult age 18 and older may purchase or receive a firearm after the age requirement was increased to 21 in 2018.

Strengthening Individual Liberties by Restoring the Age to Purchase a Firearm Back to 18 After Being Raised to 21 in 2018.

This bill requires weapons and arms taken by police during an arrest to be returned to the owner after their release from jail, rather than after a trial, unless the weapons are evidence or forfeited under state law. The weapons must be returned within 30 days of a request if the person is released from jail and completes a background check. The bill also ensures that a firearm taken by police without a search warrant is returned (a judge previously had to order it be returned).

Strengthening Property Rights by Requiring Seized Firearms to be Returned if Not for Evidence or Forfeited.

This bill allows companies that install, operate, or maintain school bus traffic infraction cameras to receive a portion of the fines from violations. The bill also allows school districts to use the fines for, among other uses, "driver recruitment and retention stipends." Additionally, the bill allows the photos and videos recorded by the system to be used to enforce other traffic violations. This measure fuels policing for profit by allowing companies to keep a portion of the fines from violations.

Encouraging "Taxation Through Citation" by Allowing School Bus Camera Companies to Receive Funds from Fines.

This bill allows credit unions to qualify as qualified public depositories (QPDs), which is currently limited to just banks and certain savings associations. The bill caps public deposits held by an individual credit union to 10% of its assets, and credit unions collectively are limited to 15% of the state's public deposits. This measure expands competition among financial institutions, providing greater returns on investment funds. All public investment actions should be based on producing the maximum return and value for taxpayers.

Increasing Public Investment Returns Through Expanded Competition by Allowing Credit Unions to Hold Public Funds.

This resolution amends the state Constitution by doubling the tangible personal property ad valorem tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000.

Providing Tax Relief by Amending the State Constitution to Double the Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption to $50,000.

This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to create a state-wide "waste reduction and recycling plan." The plan must include several components, such as established recycling goals based on "sustainable materials management and waste diversion" and recommendations to "develop and promote markets for recycling materials."

Expanding Government Central Planning by Mandating a State-Wide "Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan".

This bill repeals existing law which prohibited the sale of firearms and ammunition, display of firearms and ammunition in a store, and possession of a firearm in public, if a state of emergency is declared due to a riot or disorder.

Lifetime Ratings by Policy Category