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April 10, 2014 1 Volume 8 1 Issue 7 Zoning Bulletin <br />Source: Northwest Herald; www.nwherald.com <br />MISSISSIPPI <br />The House Judiciary B Committee recently passed Senate Bill 268 —the <br />Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act —that "says state and local <br />government cannot put a substantial burden on religious practices." Sup- <br />porters reportedly say "the bill would reinforce the constitutional guarantee <br />of religious freedom and could have practical applications, such as helping <br />churches that encounter problems with local zoning rules." Opponents <br />reportedly fear the bill "could lead to discrimination." <br />Source: Sun Herald; www.sunherald.com <br />MISSOURI <br />A five -bill package affecting local control over telecommunications <br />companies— Senate Bills 649-653--was fast - tracked through the Missouri <br />Senate and reportedly could soon be out of the House. The bills set forth a <br />120 -day limit for cities to study and consider whether to approve, reject, or <br />seek modifications in a communication company's proposal. The bills also <br />prohibit local governments from requiring companies to remove an existing <br />wireless tower or pole in order to build a new one. Further, the legislation <br />places a cap on fees that local governments could charge companies for us- <br />ing municipal utility poles. <br />Proponents "say the five -bill package streamlines the regulatory process <br />for communications companies hoping to expand their wireless services." <br />Opponents, including a number of communities, "fear the legislation would <br />allow companies to build, replace or upgrade cell towers and antennae, for <br />example, with no zoning approval or public hearings." <br />Source: The Joplin Globe; www.joplinglobe.com <br />WISCONSIN <br />A joint legislative committee is considering Senate Bill 63, which would <br />"prohibit communities from imposing new rules on existing sand mines, <br />leaving them free to regulate new sand mines " Reportedly, the bill "hopes <br />to limit the impact of a 2012 State Supreme Court decision that ruled towns <br />could regulate sand mining operations with their zoning ordinances and <br />their general police powers." "Wisconsin is the nation's number one pro- <br />ducer of sand used in hydraulic fracturing, a drilling technique used to <br />extract oil and natural gas." <br />Source: Think Progress; http: / /thinkprogress.org <br />12 © 2014 Thomson Reuters <br />