Sen. Tim Richards

Maddy summarySB 500 clarifies labeling and advertising rules for coffee grown and processed entirely within the state, requiring producers to accurately state regional origin. It specifically defines what qualifies as "State-Grown" coffee to prevent misleading claims. This directly affects coffee producers and sellers operating within the state who market their products as locally sourced. The bill establishes clear standards to ensure consumers receive accurate information about the coffee's origin.

Establishes the State's Hospital Price Transparency Act. Prohibits hospitals from taking certain debt collection actions against a patient if the hospital is not in compliance with hospital price transparency laws. Allows patients and patient guarantors to file suit against hospitals in violation. Requires hospitals to make public and post their Medicare reimbursement rates no later than 10/1/25 and deems violations as an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Health to conduct performance assessments of hospitals for adherence to federal transparency rules annually and make a list of hospitals with poor performance available on its website no later than 2/1/2026. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and administer a Biosecurity Fencing Cost-Sharing Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires the counties to upgrade to zero emission buses by 2045. Requires the state agencies to prioritize zero emission buses in the procurement policy for purchasing or leasing motor vehicles. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Allows state projects to be exempt from county building permit requirements under certain conditions. Requires all exempted state projects to be included in a report that is regularly made available to the public. Allows state agencies that undertake projects to be dedicated to a county to prepare programmatic or project-specific agreements that establish requirements and standards for review and acceptance if the agency wants the project to be exempted. Allows state agencies that want to be exempted from county permitting processes to establish a cooperative working group. Requires cooperative working groups to submit an interim report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2026. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Establishes the Shipping Container Inspection Program. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to submit reports to the Legislature on implementation of the Shipping Container Inspection Program. Exempts employees of the Department of Transportation and DLE from personal liability under certain conditions. Requires any damages to container goods be borne by the State. Requires DLE and DOT to designate a site outside of the immediate port area to conduct inspections. Require the DLE to secure all illegal goods. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Appropriates funds for the establishment of five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Changes the fees that a towing company may charge to tow vehicles left unattended on private and public property. Prohibits a towing company or parking management company from installing immobilization devices on motor vehicles. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Allows all-terrain vehicle to drive on streets with posted speed limits of not more than forty-five miles per hour. Allows all-terrain vehicles to drive in the evening and night if they are equipped with headlights, tail lights, and while displaying a slow moving vehicle emblem. Allows drivers of all-terrain vehicles to wear a safety helmet with a securely fastened chin strap. Includes in the definition of "utility-terrain vehicle" a motor vehicle that accommodates one driver and one passenger sitting side-by-side, and up to six people in seat belts.