Probable cause: Carthage man sprays Pump N Pantry cashier with urine, steals cigarettes, liquor

A Carthage man sprayed a clerk at the Pump N Pantry in Diamond with urine and stole cigarettes and one bottle of liquor Sunday, according to a probable cause statement filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court.

The alleged urine attack was only the first for Bowman Sunday, according to another probable cause statement filed today which says Bowman sprayed a woman who was cleaning a vacant home next to his, temporarily blinding her, then broke three windows in the vacant house. He was charged with assault and property damage.

Bowman, who has a lengthy criminal history, is being held without bond in the Jasper County Detention Center.

From the Diamond probable cause statement:

On 5/31/2026 at 1733 hours Trey Matthew Bowman entered the Pump and Pantry convenience store
located at 45 State Highway 59, Diamond, Jasper County, MO 64840, immediately went behind the
cashier's counter with a common white spray bottle in his hand containing an unknown liquid, and
sprayed Allison Calentine multiple times with the liquid substance in the spray bottle, striking
{her} in the right arm with the unknown liquid from the spray bottle. 

The cashier fled from behind the counter into the main area of the store. While behind the cashier's counter, Bowman grabbed eight packages of Decade brand cigarettes, then went into the main area of the store to the liquor area and took one 750 milliliter bottle of Crown Royal liquor from the shelf. Bowman then exited the business through the front door and fled the scene. Bowman was located in the area and

Bowman was located in the area and taken into custody. Security video captured the entire incident and all of Bowman's actions on film. The total value of the eight packages of cigarettes was $28.72. The value of the Crown Royal liquor was $33.09. The total value of the merchandise taken by Bowman was $61.81.

Allison Calentine, that was sprayed by Bowman, stated she believes the liquid substance was urine because she could smell the liquid that struck her shirt. Allison Calentine stated Bowman's actions placed her in fear of immediate physical injury. Bowman declined to speak with deputies.

I believe that the defendant will not appear in court in response to a criminal summons because: On
4/16/2019 Bowman was found guilty of Driving While Intoxicated RSMO 577.010 Case Number
18APRCR02196 by the Jasper County Circuit Court and sentenced to two years probation. 

On 11/30/2022, Bowman was found guilty of Stalking 2nd degree 1st offense RSMO 565.227 case
number 22A0CR00460 in Jasper County Circuit Court and sentenced to 120 days of confinement
and 18 months probation. This probation was revoked o 02/01/2024. 

On 12/02/2024, Bowman was found guilty of Domestic Asault 3rd degree RSMO 565.074 case number 23A0CR0039701 and sentenced to 5 years probation. 

On 5/8/2026, Bowman was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for Driving While Intoxicated RSMO 577.010. By his repeated conduct and actions, Bowman has demonstrated that he has no regard for the statutes of the State of Missouri. These actions make it likely Bowman will not appear in court in response to a criminal summons.

From the Carthage probable cause statement:

On 05/31/2026 I, Sergeant Nathan Deherrera #371, responded to 5975 S. Garrison Avenue outside

On 05/31/2026 I, Sergeant Nathan Deherrera #371, responded to 5975 S. Garrison Avenue outside
Carthage Missouri within Jasper County for an assault in progress.

I contacted reporting party, Holly Graham, who advised Trey lived at 5975 S. Garrison Avenue and she had been employed to clean the vacant house next to him. While walking back to her vehicle, Trey had came outside his residence, screaming incoherent statements which she ignored. Holly stated Trey came around the side of his residence, approached her, and spray her in the eyes with an unknown substance. 

Holly advised the substance caused her pain, discomfort, and temporary blindness. Trey retreated into his residence prior to my arrival. A surround and call out was attempted but was unsuccessful. Due to
multiple reports of Trey assaulting or being a danger to his neighbors and the community, entry was
made into the residence and Trey was taken into custody. 

While on scene, property owner Chris Anderson, arrived and stated Trey had broken three windows on the vacant house Holly had been cleaning. I located three shattered double-paned windows. Chris valued the damage initially at $750.00. 

Both Chris and Holly wished to pursue criminal charges against Trey.

Webb City man charged after stabbing at family gathering

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed second degree domestic assault and armed criminal action charges against a Webb City man after he allegedly stabbed his cousin in the parking lot at the Gene Taylor Community Building in Sarcoxie.

Ferdinan Billy (DOB 1984) pleaded not guilty during a video arraignment today in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Billy is being held in the Jasper County Detention Center on aa $50,000 cash-only bond. A bond review hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The stabbing took place just after midnight Saturday with the Sarcoxie Police Department,  Jasper County Sheriff's Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol responding.

From the probable cause hearing:

On arrival, we observed a disturbance occurring in the parking lot, with an estimated 40-50 persons in a heightened emotional state.

Confidential Victim (CV) was lying face down screaming loudly in pain on the north side surrounded by family members, with an apparent steak/kitchen knife protruding from his left lower back, drifting in and out of consciousness.

When exiting our patrol vehicles, several bystanders pointed out the location of Ferdinan Billy near the south side of the parking lot.

Billy was being restrained against a vehicle by multiple male bystanders. Billy was detained without incident and I placed him in the rear of my patrol vehicle.

Multiple witnesses on scene stated Billy was intoxicated and became upset from an incident inside the building during their family party. Witnesses stated Billy rushed outside the building toward the middle of the parking lot waving a knife then stabbed CV with the knife where CV stumbled north and collapsed onto the pavement.

CVV was transported emergent by EMS to a Springfield hospital sustaining injury to his left flank from the knife.

According to witnesses on scene, Billy is a cousin to CV.

Branco Enterprises transitions to employee stock ownership plan

(From Branco Enterprises)

Branco Enterprises Inc., Neosho, announces its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), making its employees beneficial owners of the company.

“Our team has always been the driving force behind what we do,” said Justin Branham, President of Branco Enterprises. “This transition gives our employees a direct stake in the company’s future while strengthening the culture we’ve worked hard to build.”

Founded in 1933, Branco Enterprises delivers infrastructure and building projects across the Midwest.

“Our clients trust us to be good stewards of their projects and their resources,” said Sean Thouvenot, Vice President of Branco Enterprises. “Employee ownership aligns our team around long-term success and reinforces the accountability and performance our clients expect.”

The ESOP structure is designed to reward tenure, foster an ownership mindset, and keep the team aligned for the future. Branco’s leadership and operations remain unchanged.

Freeman completes $110 million purchase of Northwest Arkansas hospitals

(From Freeman Health System)

Freeman Health System today announced it has completed its acquisition of Northwest Health in Northwest Arkansas following the close of its purchase agreement with a subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH). 

The system’s care network now includes Freeman Health System – Bentonville Medical Center, Freeman Health System – Springdale Medical Center, Freeman Health System – Willow Creek Medical Center, and Freeman Health System – Siloam Springs Medical Center, along with associated outpatient centers, physician practices and a workforce of approximately 2,200 dedicated employees.

“Welcoming Northwest Health into the Freeman network supports our commitment to long-term growth and enhances our ability to provide compassionate, coordinated care across a broader regional footprint,” said Matthew Fry, President and CEO of Freeman Health System. “Northwest Health’s hospitals and care teams bring tremendous strength to our organization, and together, we’re elevating care delivery, expanding access to essential services, and investing in the health of the people and communities who rely on us every day.”

The acquisition marks Freeman Health System’s first expansion into Arkansas and reflects the organization’s Freeman Forward strategy to increase access to high-quality, community-focused care while advancing clinical collaboration, operational excellence, and innovation across the Four-State region. The announcement follows several recent growth initiatives across the system, including the opening of Freeman Fort Scott Hospital late last year.

“As one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., Northwest Arkansas sits at the center of powerful economic forces, with leading retail, food, and logistics companies driving sustained population growth,” Fry added. “We owe it to these communities—both new and longtime residents—to ensure access to high-quality healthcare that keeps pace with growth and reflects the care people expect and deserve.”

While teams from both organizations continue immediate-term integration efforts, long-term goals for the newly expanded system include:

Addressing a growing need for behavioral healthcare in Northwest Arkansas by expanding specialized mental health and substance use services

Empowering local teams to enhance care delivery and sustain community-focused services

Increasing access to maternal care

Expanding specialty care services, including cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics

Strengthening recruitment and retention efforts to educate, train, and hire the next generation of providers

Northwest Health patients will continue to have access to care and valued providers at the facilities they know and trust, now backed by the strength and resources of the region’s largest local healthcare provider. There will be no changes to the insurance plans accepted at the facilities or practices. Naming updates will continue to be shared in the coming months, and the community can expect ongoing updates.

(Note: Modern Healthcare reports Freeman paid $110 million to acquire the hospitals.)

Jason Smith: Working Families Tax Cut gives next generation a head start

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

As high school graduations are taking place in communities throughout Missouri’s 8th District and across America in recent weeks, many graduates face uncertainty as they embark on their next chapter, whether it be college, entering the workforce, joining the military, or learning a trade. These young men and women represent the future of our country, and we owe it to them to create an environment of opportunity, not one plagued by inflation, job-killing policies, and doubt about what lies ahead. As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, which I authored, we enacted tax relief for students no matter the path in life they choose.

For graduates who are choosing to start working right away, there are numerous pro-growth tax policies included in the Working Families Tax Cuts, which I authored, that are already creating new opportunities, good paying jobs, and certainty to chase the American Dream just like generations before them. For example, the Small Business Tax Deduction, also known as 199A, provides long-term certainty that gives comparable tax relief to small businesses that large corporations receive. This provision alone is estimated to create 1 million jobs every year for the next 10 years, and 2 million jobs per year in the decade after. That helps provide real opportunity for those newly entering the workforce.

For students who have decided to pursue a trade or skilled profession, our legislation gives new relief for students to pursue their interest in learning a trade. The new Workforce Pell Grant allows students to use Pell grant money towards certificate programs that can be completed in as little as 8 to 15 weeks, ensuring the working class can benefit from this assistance just as much as students who choose to go to college. We also expanded 529 accounts to allow the money to be used for vocational training or professional licensing, making it easier to pursue a career. For students who choose to attend college, we also expanded the amount employers can repay in student loans for employees.

Perhaps most significantly, every American child, regardless of background, gets a stake in the U.S. economy and is eligible to receive a Trump investment Account, giving them an opportunity to start their adult life with a meaningful financial head start when they reach 18 and begin their next chapter of life. For every American born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, they will receive a $1,000 seed investment into their Trump Account that will grow as they get older thanks to compound interest. For the next generation, this will be a tremendous head start in their lives. 

 

This is a pro-family, pro-future initiative, and it has already inspired remarkable generosity. Texas philanthropists Michael and Susan Dell pledged to invest $250 into the Trump Accounts of 25 million American children — a $6.25 billion investment in the next generation directed toward kids in middle- and low-income households. That kind of contribution shows exactly what this program can become as families, churches, employers, and private foundations all pitch in to benefit the future of our nation.

The graduates walking across the stage this spring worked hard to get there, and they deserve every opportunity to succeed in the years ahead. Republicans in Congress are determined to help them with the challenges they face now, while also looking ahead to the next generation and giving our children and grandchildren the foundation to dream bigger and achieve more. That is the kind of future worth investing in, and it is exactly what we delivered.

Racine man pleads guilty to DWI hit and run that killed pedestrian

(From the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

A Racine man has entered a guilty plea to a Class B felony of Driving While Intoxicated Resulting in the Death of Another on Monday June 1, 2026.

Richard Scott Taylor II, 37, entered the plea in front of Judge Charles Gensisio of the 40th Judicial Circuit, admitting to his role in the fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian on July 5, 2024.

According to the investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Taylor was operating a 2004 Dodge Dakota westbound on Douglas Fir Road in Newton County when he drove off the roadway and struck a pedestrian. The victim died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. 

After striking the victim, Taylor fled the scene without reporting the crash or rendering aid.

Investigators located Taylor the following morning at a residence in Carterville. During the investigation, Taylor admitted he had been driving the vehicle involved in the crash and had consumed alcohol prior to the collision. A preliminary breath test administered by law enforcement indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .131 percent. 

Remains of the victim located on the vehicle as well as damage consistent with the collision, further connected Taylor to the fatal crash.

"This case involves a devastating and entirely preventable loss of life," said Prosecuting Attorney
William Lynch. "Driving while intoxicated places every person on our roadways at risk. Leaving
the scene after taking a life compounds that tragedy. 

"While no court proceeding can restore the life that was lost, this guilty plea represents an important step toward accountability and justice for the victim and the victim's loved ones."

Sentencing is scheduled to occur on August 10, 2026. Because Taylor was not offered a plea agreement, he will face the full range of punishment of 5 to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and prosecuted by Sarah Crites and William Lynch of the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Nancy Hughes: No more rooftops or deserts for me

“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

Proverbs 21:9 (NIV)

I wasn’t the only person in the long checkout line who tried to casually peek around to see the owner of the woman’s voice. At any given time, hundreds of people are shopping and talking in this department store. But the one-sided conversation began to feel like an annoying bee that keeps trying to nest in your hair on a hot summer day as you balance on a tall ladder with a paintbrush. You just want it to stop. Immediately.

The longer this woman spoke, the higher the pitch of her voice. The higher the pitch, the harsher the comments. These were some of her nicer comments to her husband: “You never take me anywhere. All you do is work in the yard or play golf with your buddies. But THIS woman has needs, too. I need to go shopping. I need to see MY friends. I need to have a social life. Why can’t you understand that?” His response was a mumbled “yes” or “okay” or an occasional nodding of his head. 

While I admit I had no idea what caused this woman’s observations, I did have a few of my own. First, he HAD taken her somewhere – shopping – which covered two of the “needs” on her list. Secondly, I silently wondered if she even HAD any friends or social life, if she spoke as negatively around them as she did her husband.

I glanced one last time at him: shoulders drawn together and hunched over the cart, eyes glancing at her with a silent pleading to at least stop the negative talking until they could be out of the store, teeth clenched together so tightly that water could not get between them. His body language was more deafening than his wife’s shrill voice.

Solomon must have been married to a woman just like the one I listened to in the checkout line. Not once but four times in Proverbs, he wrote about a woman who made him long for solitude in a desert or on the corner of a roof rather than living with her. He even wrote that she reminded him of a constant dripping that wouldn’t stop.

But Solomon also wrote about a precious woman in chapter 31 of Proverbs. He described her as being like a rare and priceless jewel. She was a woman who worked hard in her home and her community and loved her family, but what he admired most about her was her love and reverence for the Lord.

I wonder . . . if Proverbs were written about me, what might it say? Would my neighbors look out the window and exclaim, “Oops. There’s LeRoy on the corner of the roof of the house again. Must be another crabby, nagging day for Nancy!” Or would they see my love for the Lord and how I am doing everything I can to honor my husband and respect him as Scripture teaches? 

My prayer for each of you is that, in your marriages, there would be no references to corners of roofs or deserts or constant drips, but instead, it would be spoken: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but (insert your name) is a woman who fears the Lord and is to be praised.”

Father, forgive me for the times I have spoken to my husband in such a way that would make him want to be on a roof or desert alone. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever listened to conversations around you that were like the one described in the devotion?

Did you consider that you have had similar conversations with your husband without realizing how they sounded?

Apply

Memorize Proverbs 21:9. Write it on note cards and place it around your home.

When you are tempted to speak like the quarrelsome wife in that Scripture, picture your husband sitting on a roof corner rather than with you. Then ask the Lord to help you become a Proverbs 31 woman and wife to your husband.

Power

Proverbs 21:9 (NIV) “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

Proverbs 31:30 (NIV) “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 21:19 (NIV) “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)

Joplin man charged with molesting 14-year-old girl

A felony child molestation charge was filed in Newton County Circuit Court against a Joplin man who allegedly committed the crime against a 14-year-old girl in 2020 at a Fairview home.

An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Kenneth Wayne Ball (DOB 1964) with bond set at $10,000 cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

A forensic interview was conducted on April 23rd, 2026, at the Joplin Children's Center with V1. During the forensic interview, V1 disclosed that Kenneth W. Ball molested and raped V1 while at VI's home located in Fairview Missouri. 

V1 disclosed that while lying on an air mattress at VI's home, Mr. Ball came to VI's air mattress and put V1 on him. V1 disclosed that Mr. Ball told V1 to take off {her} shorts and underwear and his penis went inside VI's vagina. 

V1 disclosed that it hurt and if felt like something sharp went into {her} when Mr. Ball inserted his penis inside VI's vagina. V1 disclosed that Mr. Ball told V1 to move up and down and that his hands were on VI's waist while he was groaning.

V1 disclosed that this continued until the door to the room where they were located was knocked on. V1 disclosed that Mr. Ball got V1 off him and told V1 to get dressed at which time Mr. Ball told V1 to pretend to be asleep and he opened the door.

Carterville woman charged after hit and run at W. Junge and S. Schifferdecker

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney filed felony charges Friday against a Carterville woman who allegedly caused a traffic accident, injuring the driver and a passenger in the other vehicle, abandoned her injured daughter at a gas station and fled the scene.

Shayla Kay Louise Tilton (DOB 1994) was charged with two felonies, endangering the welfare of a child and leaving the scene of a crash and two misdemeanors, driving while suspended and operating the vehicle of another knowing the owner hasn't maintained financial responsibility.

From the probable cause statement:

On May 9, 2026, in the City of Joplin, Jasper County. officers were dispatched to the area of W. Junge
Blvd. and S. Schifferdecker Ave. In reference to an injury motor vehicle crash. 

Upon arrival, officers observed a red Toyota Grand Highlander occupied by Frank Tisdale (driver) and Patricia Tisdale (passenger). Both occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported by METS ambulance to Freeman Hospital for treatment.

The second involved vehicle, a tan Lincoln MKX, was located abandoned at the scene. A juvenile
passenger, identified as J1, was located nearby. J 1 stated she had been a passenger in the Lincoln MKX, which was being operated by her mother, Shayla Tilton. 

J 1reported she did not know the events leading up to the crash, but stated that following the collision, Tilton exited the vehicle with her, walked to a nearby gas station, and then left J 1behind before fleeing the area. J 1 was observed to have injuries to her lower torso and face.

Officers obtained video surveillance from the Mac Stop gas station, which showed Tilton operating the Lincoln MKX southbound on S. Schifferdecker Ave. The video showed Tilton fail to stop for a steady red traffic signal, entering the intersection and striking the passenger side of the Toyota Grand Highlander. The impact caused the Toyota to roll before coming to rest upright. 

The video further confirmed that Tilton fled the scene on foot after leaving the juvenile at the gas station.

Further investigation revealed that Shayla Tilton's driving privileges were suspended at the time of the
crash. Tilton fled the scene prior to officer arrival and has not been located at this time. No proof of
insurance was provided, and no valid insurance information was located for the Lincoln MKX.

Frank Tisdale advised he wished to pursue charges and was found to have serious injuries, including
four fractured ribs and a right-sided pneumothorax. Patricia Tisdale was also found to have serious
injuries, including a brain bleed, liver and spleen lacerations, and shoulder injuries.

Missouri bill aims to make it easier to dismiss lawsuits that punish public criticism

By Jason Hancock

Missouri Independent

A Missouri bill awaiting action from Gov. Mike Kehoe would give judges broader power to quickly dismiss lawsuits designed to chill speech, replacing what supporters have long described as among the weakest anti-SLAPP laws in the country.

The legislation, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mike Henderson of Desloge, would repeal Missouri’s current anti-SLAPP law and replace it with the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, a model statute meant to curb lawsuits filed to intimidate critics, activists, journalists or others speaking on matters of public concern.

So-called SLAPP lawsuits — short for strategic lawsuits against public participation — are generally claims brought not necessarily to win in court, but to burden defendants with legal costs and pressure them into silence or settlement.

Missouri has had an anti-SLAPP law on the books for years, but it applies narrowly. Henderson’s bill would expand the law to cover civil actions based on communications in government proceedings, speech about issues under consideration by government bodies and the exercise of speech, press, assembly, petition or association rights on matters of public concern.

The bill passed the Senate 31-0 in April and cleared the House 135-4 on the final day of the legislative session earlier this month. The proposal was also added as an amendment to a larger bill pertaining to civil proceedings.

If signed by Kehoe, it would apply to civil actions filed, or claims asserted, on or after Aug. 28.

Supporters say the change would bring Missouri closer to states with stronger protections against lawsuits that use litigation itself as punishment.

“This bill at long last gives it some bite, and would cause Missouri to catch up with the roughly 30 other states with strong laws protecting citizens’ right to free speech,” Eric Weslander, a Kansas attorney who has handled prominent anti-SLAPP cases, previously told The Independent.

Under the bill, someone sued over speech covered by the law could file a special motion to dismiss within 60 days of being served. Once that motion is filed, discovery and most other court proceedings would generally pause while the judge decides whether the case can continue.

A hearing would generally have to be held within 60 days of the motion, with a ruling due within 60 days after the hearing.

For a lawsuit to survive, the plaintiff would have to show enough evidence at the outset to support each required element of the claim. A judge also could dismiss the case if the defendant shows the claim is legally deficient or that there is no genuine dispute over material facts.

If the defendant wins, the case is dismissed with prejudice and the defendant is entitled to recover costs, reasonable attorney fees and litigation expenses tied to the motion.

If the plaintiff defeats the motion, the plaintiff can recover costs and fees only if the court finds the motion was frivolous or filed solely to delay the case.

That difference drew questions during House debate on the last day of the legislative session. State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia, asked how the fee provision would work and whether the bill applied only to defamation and slander cases.

State Rep. Ben Keathley, a Chesterfield Republican who handled the bill in the House, said defamation and slander are examples of claims that could be affected, but the bill is broader than that.

“It’s to stop any lawsuits related to speech-based content,” Keathley said during debate.

Keathley said the bill is aimed at cases where a person is sued over constitutionally protected speech and forced into expensive litigation before a court determines whether the claim has merit.

“The idea is to avoid long, protracted litigation for things that are meant to just extract settlements rather than result in a ruling on the merits,” Keathley said.

The legislation includes several exceptions.

It would not apply to lawsuits against government bodies or public employees acting in their official capacity. It also would not apply to certain government enforcement actions brought to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety.

The bill also excludes some claims against people or businesses primarily engaged in selling or leasing goods or services when the claim arises from communications related to those sales or leases. But the legislation specifies that “goods or services” do not include dramatic, literary, musical, political, journalistic or artistic work.

In practical terms, supporters say, the bill would force speech-related lawsuits to clear an early legal threshold before defendants are required to go through discovery, depositions and prolonged litigation.

Weslander said the attorney fee provision is central to that deterrent effect.

“If this bill becomes law, Missouri attorneys will need to sit up and take notice: don’t blindly agree to your client’s request to haul off and file a defamation lawsuit against the client’s critics if you haven’t done your homework and can’t establish each and every element of your claim,” Weslander previously told The Independent. “Otherwise you may end up with an order to pay the defendant’s attorneys’ fees.”

Weslander, a former journalist who has represented The Independent in the past, was among the attorneys awarded legal fees after Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning’s defamation lawsuit against Kansas City Star columnist Steve Rose and the newspaper was dismissed under Kansas’ anti-SLAPP law.

Missouri Right to Life and the Missouri Press Association have been among the groups that pushed for stronger anti-SLAPP protections in recent years. Similar proposals have advanced before but did not reach the governor’s desk.

During House debate, Tyson Smith noted that the bill had drawn support in committee from groups that often find themselves on opposite sides of political fights.

Keathley said that reflected the nature of the issue.

“There’s generally,” Keathley said, “been nonpartisan, broad-based support.”