Jensen For Senate

Legislative Update, week 8                        Representative Kevin Jensen

After the events of last week it would be hard to not comment on the attacks on personal freedom, property rights and local control that many of this year’s bills propose. HB1048 seemingly forced the school districts to give the entire amount of the state increases to pay only teachers. The governor made a blanket criticism that school districts were not using the state funding to increase teacher salaries utilizing the funding increase percentage.  When you compare a district of 25,000 students to one of 250 students, there are significant differences in funding issues. I trust the administrators to do what is best for the teachers and the rest of the employees. It takes many non-teachers to make a school run smoothly. There has been an amendment moved and passed in the senate which will make it much easier for the schools to comply with the new requirements. The bill as amended will be going to a conference committee this week and I can support that bill as amended. But to be clear, it has no effect on the proposed amount of the increase.

HB1186 was offered as a compromise for the easements and would add to the five hundred dollar amount paid to each land owner which paid for the entry on, and survey of their property. HB1186 required the pipeline company to make and annual payment to each land owner a minimum of one dollar per linear foot of pipeline crossing their property. On the Senate side, the bill was amended to remove the additional payments to the land owner. I believe on the House side, this amendment is tonally unacceptable. HB1186 now goes to a conference committee. 

SB201, the bill which nullifies the county’s and township’s ability to have any control over carbon dioxide pipelines and electric transmission lines, was heavily amended in the house last week and that bill will also head to a conference committee. The frustration for many legislators is that if the leadership is in favor of a bill they will appoint those members to the committee that will support the passage of some form of the bill. In this case, since the last amendment was added by the House, it is up to the Senate to concur with the amendment. If the senate concurs, as amended,  the bill passes. If they amend the bill in committee it faces another vote on the floor. I voted no on the amended bill in the House.

SB49 also passed last week which sets aside 230 million additional dollars for the incarceration construction fund. I voted against the funding because I still believe we have many policy and operational problems we need to address before moving those policies to a new facility. A new building does not fix poor policy. I am also convinced we do not need a new prison at this time. 

I was proud to be the House Prime sponsor of SB203. This bill will allow the school districts to give the school principal authority to give written permission to a person who holds an Enhanced Concealed Carry permit to carry a concealed pistol in the school and on school property.  In almost every case this will be a school staff member or members. I know from experience that in many school districts a law enforcement response may be 30 minutes to an hour away. When these horrific tragedies happen there is no time to lose. From the beginning of a mass shooting to the end is typically less than 10 minutes. When law enforcement does arrive, it is generally to begin an investigation and clean up, not to intervene with the shooter. 

As stated in the bill, final approval would be given buy the principal because they know everyone in the building and more importantly they know who should not be there. Democrat Representative Pourier of  District 27 testified that in Wanble, where she lives, in would likely be over an hour before there would be any law enforcement response. As I testified, we pass bills on limiting juvenile access to social media, books, pornography and other social issues but when it comes to protecting them from physical harm, all we do is talk. This bill offers the opportunity to put trusted people in place in the schools to protect the kids and staff. SB203 passed the House 62-8, and the Senate 31-3.. It seems the time is right! 

As the legislature removes more and more local control, the only outcome is growth of state control and state government;  is that what you elected your legislators to do? I am proud to serve District 16 and I will always work for the people, not special interests or government. As always, if you want to reach out please use my private email, kevinj6-5@gmail.com