Senate Legislation Introduction Thread (New)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The National Public Welfare Act

Section 1. This bill will be cited as the National Public Welfare Act

Section 2: To create a fairer future

2.1: No Greed in Education:
(a) The existence of for-profit educational institutions shall be terminated, and they shall transition into non-profit entities prior to the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
(b) Funding and resources shall be redirected towards strengthening and expanding public educational institutions, ensuring quality education accessible to all without financial constraints.

2.2 Ending Corruption in Healthcare:
(a) All for-profit healthcare institutions, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, shall undergo a transition to nonprofit status effective immediately to ensure every citizen's right to affordable and quality healthcare.
(b) Emphasis shall be placed on the establishment of community-based primary healthcare centers and hospitals in underserved regions, bolstering preventive care, and improving health outcomes for all citizens.

2.3 Comfort over Profit:
(a) Private companies operating within the energy sector shall be nationalized effective immediately, ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of resources and an affordable energy supply for all.
(b) Investments in renewable energy sources shall be prioritized to mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainable development.

Section 3: Nationalized Free Public Transportation System

3.1 Establishment of National Public Transportation System:
(a) A comprehensive and efficient nationwide public transportation system shall be established.
(b) This system shall include various modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, trollies, and ferries, aiming to provide affordable, accessible, and reliable transportation options for all citizens.

3.2 Funding and Operation:
(a) Ten billion dollars paid for by an annual increase in the income tax for those making greater than $500,00 shall be allocated to develop, maintain, and expand the public transportation infrastructure.
(b) The operation and management of the national public transportation system shall be entrusted to a dedicated public entity responsible for ensuring efficiency, safety, and accessibility.

3.3 Integration and Accessibility:
(a) The national public transportation system shall be designed to seamlessly connect urban, suburban, and rural areas, ensuring equal access to transportation for all citizens, regardless of their geographic location.
(b) Special provisions shall be made to accommodate persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations, enabling their full participation in society.
(c) Proposals will begin effective immediately and the current projected deadline is to implement this program prior to January 1, 2038.

Section 4: Implementation and Collaboration

4.1 Phased Implementation Plan:
(a) Transition support programs shall be established to assist affected stakeholders during the phase-out of for-profit sectors.

4.2 Collaborative Efforts:
(a) Collaborative partnerships between relevant government entities, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, energy experts, and transportation authorities shall be fostered to ensure a smooth transition and effective implementation.
(b) Public participation and feedback mechanisms shall be established to gather input from citizens, organizations, and experts to refine and improve the implementation process.

Please note: This bill was created with the assistance of ChatGPT.

Respectfully, I believe this legislation is ridiculously impractical. While we may currently enjoy a surplus, it is not limitless. Nationalizing all healthcare institutions, energy companies, and public transportation systems could easily number in the trillions of dollars, which we simply do not have. The legislation provides only a funding source for the public transportation system, which may not even be adequate, while blatantly ignoring the rest of the costs.
Further, given that the language of the bill attempts to blatantly ban entire classes of private business, I question its constitutionality. Article III, Section III of the Constitution explicitly signals out only inter-regional commerce (between one region and another) for regulation by the Senate. Many of the businesses affected by this bill, including local clinics and pharmacies, may engage in only intra-regional (within a region) commerce, which it appears we do not have the power to regulate. Article II, Section III of the Constitution appears to appropriate that power to the regions themselves.

Therefore, under the powers prescribed to me by Article II, 2. of the OSPR, I hereby remove this legislation from the queue. This action may be overridden by the signatures of six senators in this thread.


I would further advise the Senate to avoid using ChatGPT for bill writing assistance, as it is just a bot that has no ability to actually think through ideas and just spits out text that is not often easily incomprehensible. If you feel you lack the ability to write a bill from scratch, I would recommend finding a RL proposed bill at https://www.congress.gov/ and trimming it down for Atlasia purposes, rather than trying to make sense of bot output.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Continuing Resolution
1. The  FY2023 Budget shall remain in effect until the passage of an FY2024 Budget, or November 3, 2023 at Noon ET, whichever is earlier.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Co-Sponsoring, in the order listed:

Hurricane Naming List for 2024-2026 Act
Edgecumbe Volcano Monitoring and Preparedness Action Plan
BILL DECRIMINALIZING PRIVATE INTIMATE ACTS BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS
Judicial Reform Amendment

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A BILL
to enrich the minds and bodies of Atlasians

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

1. This bill may be known as the Enabling Stimulants, Cocaine, and Other Bad Ass Remedies Act. It may be cited as the ESCOBAR Act.

Section II. Content

1. The stimulating substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant, commonly known as cocaine, coke, blow, and by a number of other names, is legalized at the federal level across Atlasia.
2. All persons currently imprisoned for cocaine-related crimes are to be released immediately.
3. Regional and local governments have the power to regulate cocaine sales in their jurisdiction.

Co-Sponsoring

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Blood Act

1. Donating blood shall require a mandatory health and quality check of a small sample of the donor's blood before the donation can be conducted.

2. All medical facilities engaged in donating blood are mandated to have the equipment and trained personnel to conduct these checks.

3. Any blood found to be of poor health or quality shall be communicated to the donor, with appropriate medical advice given, and the donation will not proceed.

4. Data collected from these checks will remain confidential and used solely for medical purposes.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Atlasian Steel Act

1. All steel manufacturers are brought into public ownership immediately upon passage of this act and shall be placed under the control of an Atlasian Steel Authority.

2. To complete the undertaking as outlined above, the Republic of Atlasia shall establish an Atlasian Steel Authority (hereafter ASA) which shall be comprised of all former privately-held steel companies and shall hold a legal monopoly in these sectors.

3. The purpose of the aforementioned ASA shall be the economization of operations and the modernization of production methods to raise safety and efficiency standards across the country, as well as provide steel at a low cost, prevent competitive waste, and co-ordinate research and development in those sectors.

4. The government of the ASA shall be federal and cooperative. In each region will be established a regional steel authority under a board of directors composed of representatives of labor, the consumers, security, and the environment. The number of labor directors shall be four, and the number of directors for all other constituencies shall be two. Each regional authority will elect five representatives to the national board of directors. Two of the national directors elected by each regional authority shall represent labor, and one each shall represent the consumers, security, and the environment.
 
5. The labor directors shall be chosen by a vote of the steel workers; the consumer directors by a vote of the regional legislature, the security and environment directors by the regional executive at the regional level and by the president at the federal level.

6. The term of a Board director shall be four years.

7. The President shall appoint a Chair of the ASA Board of Directors who shall have no vote unless they are equally divided. The Chair shall serve a four year term.

8. All persons owning any of the aforementioned industry brought into public ownership shall be fairly compensated for the sale of said industries to the Republic of Atlasia.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Regional Death Penalty Allowance Amendment


Amend Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution to read as follows:

No person accused of crimes under the laws of this Republic, or of the several Regions, shall be compelled to bear witness against themself, nor subjected to excessive bail, nor cruel or unusual punishment. Capital punishment may not be prescribed by a federal civilian court of law. However, capital punishment may be prescribed by a regional court of law in cases of first-degree premeditated murder, first degree premeditated rape, and/or by request of a convicted defendant who is serving a prison sentence of at least 30 years. The Death Penalty will only be offered or performed after a rigorous legal process that includes a grand jury indictment, a full jury trial, an opportunity to appeal the conviction, and a separate opportunity to appeal the sentence. The method of execution shall be limited to lethal injection, firing squad, or the guillotine. Each Region holds the sole authority to determine its stance on capital punishment within these limits.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Yankee Appreciation Day Act
An Act to Recognize the Achievements of a Great Man

Section 1: Title and Intent
1. This act shall be known as the "Yankee Appreciation Day Act".
2. The intent of this act is to honor and recognize the career of North Carolina Yankee in Atlasian politics.

Section 2: Yankee Appreciation Day
1. July 3rd shall annually be recognized as Yankee Appreciation Day. The President shall issue a proclamation acknowledging July 3rd as such.

Section 3: Enactment
1. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

At this time, bills posted will be held over to the next session. The floor is working to clear existing bills ahead of sine die adjournment of the current session.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Senate Resolution
To allow for Flexibility in At-Large Seats based on interest

As recommended by the DDNN Entrance Poll and in accordance with what already exists in 2 of our 3 regions

Be It Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled, that upon ratification by 2/3rds of the Regions, the Fifth Constitution of Atlasia shall be amended as follows:

(...)

3. The Senate shall consist of eighteen Senators; nine elected at large and one elected for each region and each subregion. The number of at large Senators shall be two less than the number of declared on-ballot candidates in a given election, except that the number of at-large senators shall never be fewer than six and never be larger than eleven.

(...)

i. The nine at-large Senators shall be elected for a term of two months by the eligible voters of the Republic according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by the Senate. (...)

This Constitutional Amendment changes the at-large senate seats from a fixed number of 9 to a range from 6 to 11 based on the current level of interest in the game as illustrated by the number of candidates declared.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Senate Resolution
To replace subregional seats with a second class of regional seats

The Second-Place Finisher in the DDNN Entrance Poll

Be It Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled, that upon ratification by 2/3rds of the Regions, the Fifth Constitution of Atlasia shall be amended as follows:

1. The several states of this Republic shall be apportioned among three contiguous, autonomous Regions. Each region shall be further subdivided into two subregions.
2. The northern Region shall consist of the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Atlasian Virgin Islands.
i. The Northeastern Subregion shall consist of the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Atlasian Virgin Islands.
ii. The Great Lakes Subregion shall consist of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
3. The southern Region shall consist of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
i. The Upper Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
ii. The Deep Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas
4. The western Region shall consist of the states of Alaska, Arizona, Atlasian Samoa, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
i. The Mountain West Subregion shall consist of the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
ii. The Pacific Subregion shall consist of the states of Alaska, Atlasian Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington.

(...)

2. In addition, no subregional senate election shall admit as eligible voters any person having resided in any other region within the fifty-six days prior to the commencement of the election. All persons registered in a subregion shall have a right to eligiblity for ballot access and a right to popular election to the subregional senate seat.

(...)

3. Aside from the exceptions as laid out by this section, no region-wide or subregional election or referendum may deny any person the right to vote who would, if a federal election were held concurrently, be eligible to vote in such an election.

(...)

(...)

3. The Senate shall consist of eighteen fifteen Senators; nine elected at large and one two elected for each region and each subregion.

4. No person shall be a Senator who has not attained two hundred or more posts, nor whose account is fewer than fourteen hundred and forty hours old, nor shall any person be a regional or subregional senator who is not a citizen of the region or subregion they are chosen to represent.

(...)

2. The manner of election for regional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each region shall elect a Senator for a term of four months by popular election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. There shall be two classes of regional senators. Regional Senate elections for class I Senators shall be held in the months of February, June, and October. Regional Senate elections for class II Senators shall be held in the months of April, August, and December.
ii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by special election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term, as well as the interim between a vacancy and a prescribed special election, may be filled in accordance with the laws of the region in question; should no such law exist then the region’s executive shall have the power to make such an appointment.

3. The manner of election for subregional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each subregion shall elect a Senator for a term of four months by popular election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Subegional Senate elections shall be held in the months of April, August, and December.
ii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by a special election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term shall be filled by the subregional Senator elected for the following term immediately upon conclusion of their election.

(...)

This Constitutional Amendment eliminates subregional seats in favor of a second class of regional seats.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Direct Democracy Stature

Section A. This bill will be cited as the Direct Democracy Stature
Section B. Reforming the legislature:
The rules and debating within the senate will be changed. Rather than the senate unilaterally voting on legislation, the legislation will be sent to the people, the registered voters during the federal election period. If no election period is held, there will be a 72 hour window during the 3rd weekend of each month.
Section C. Implementation:
This bill will take place effective the following month.

This bill is a compromise compared to my previous direct democracy proposals. Rather than allowing the people to have a say on every bill proposed during every weekend, it will reform the senate to allow the people to have more of a say on the legislative process and what is passed after it had been voted on.

If the Senator wants to modify either the SOAP or the Federal Constitution, he needs to introduce a text that directly quotes the portions of such document which are to be amended, specifically detailing the changes made to each clause affected. There are numerous proposed Constitutional Amendments and Amendments to existing bills above for the Senator to get an idea of the format needed. In the format the Senator has offered, there are numerous questions left unanswered, such as what would be the domain of senate debate and what would be the domain of the people, how the advancement from one step to the next would be handled, and whether the President would still maintain his role of signing, vetoing, and redrafting bills. It is worth noting that when this was done in the South, and when it had a legit vote in Lincoln, it was presented a comprehensive and specific overhaul of the Constitution and not just as an overly simplistic statement of ideals.

Ruled as Frivolous

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Honor the President's Wishes Act

1. S.B. 117-47: The End to Medical Termination Act of 2023 is hereby repealed immediately.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Ending (Corporate) Welfare As We Know It

Section 1. Title
This bill may be cited as the Ending Corporate Welfare As We Know It Act.

Section 2. Definition(s)
A. Corporate Welfare: Defined as subsidizations or bailouts from the federal government to corporations.
B. Contraction: Defined as a decrease in economic output.
C. Recession: Defined as contraction for at least two quarters
D. Depression: Defined as 3+ years of GDP contraction as well as a contraction of at least a 10% of the total GDP.
E. Struggling local economy: Defined as a county with an unemployment rate of >5%.

Section 3. Managing Bailouts
A. This bill will prohibit the use of corporate welfare except for bailouts during times of economic recession or depression. Exceptions will be given to areas such as the Rust Belt or Appalachia who have struggling local economies in which case local or regional revitalization efforts may use government funds.

B. Any bailout of a failing industry must be audited by the receiving companies. CEOs/Presidents who abuse the money may face penalties including fines of no less than $500,000 or no fewer than 5 years imprisonment.

Section 4. Implementation
This bill will take place effective immediately.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Defense and International Affairs Reformation Act

Section 1: Title
This Act may be cited as the "Defense and International Affairs Reformation Act."

Section 2: Restructuring of budget
1. The following changes will be made

Military Spending - Total: $277.00 Billion

Military Personnel: $80.00 Billion (reduced from $100 Billion)
Operation and Maintenance: $120.00 Billion (reduced from $150 Billion)
Procurement: $60.00 Billion (reduced from $75 Billion)
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation: $20.00 Billion (reduced from $25 Billion)
Military Construction, Family Housing, and Other: $12.00 Billion (reduced from $15 Billion)
Atomic Energy Defense Activities: $5.00 Billion (reduced from $6 Billion)
Fiscal Responsibility in our Military Act: $0.00 Billion (unchanged)
F-35 Procurement Halt: -$30.00 Billion (unchanged)

Military Retirement - Total: $200.00 Billion (reduced from $230.00 Billion)

Income Security for Veterans: $91.67 Billion (reduced from $100.00 Billion)
Veterans Education, Training, and Rehabilitation: $18.33 Billion (reduced from $20.00 Billion)
Hospital and Medical Care for Veterans and Retired Military: $91.67 Billion (reduced from $100.00)
Housing and Other Veterans Benefits and Services: $9.33 Billion (reduced from $10.00 Billion)

International Affairs - Total: $28.00 Billion

International Development and Humanitarian Assistance: $12.00 Billion (reduced from $18 Billion)
International Military Aid: $5.00 Billion (reduced from $8.55 Billion)
Conduct of Foreign Affairs: $10.00 Billion (reduced from $11.96 Billion)
Foreign Information and Exchange Activities: $1.00 Billion (reduced from $1.15 Billion)
International Financial Programs: $0.00 Billion (eliminated)

Section 3: Termination of the F-35 Procurement Halt

(a) The halt on procurement of the F-35, as referenced in previous legislation, is hereby ended.

(b) All F-35 units currently under procurement or in possession of the Republic of Atlasia shall be scrapped and responsibly decommissioned.

Section 4: Resolution on Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Commitment to Peace

The Republic of Atlasia, in line with its foundational values of peace, mutual respect, and the well-being of its citizens, hereby resolves:

Home Defense Focus: Our primary military objective is the defense of our homeland. Resources will be directed to ensure a robust defense infrastructure that prioritizes the safety and security of our citizens.

End of Imperialist Affairs: Atlasia will cease any and all foreign operations that reflect imperialistic ambitions. Our military engagements shall be defensive in nature and rooted in the principles of international law and human rights.

Commitment to Peace: Atlasia reaffirms its commitment to global peace. While we adjust our budgetary allocations, our dedication to being a responsible global actor remains unchanged. We will actively engage in diplomatic dialogues, promote mutual respect among nations, and champion peaceful resolutions to global conflicts.

Section 5: Implementation
This act will take effect immediately

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Homophobic Sanctions Act

An Act to sanction Foreign Assets in Atlasia

Section 1: Title and Intent

1. This act shall be known as the "Homophobic Sanctions Act".

2. The intent of this act is to formalize Atlasian disapproval of Anti-Homosexuality laws around the globe.

Section 2: Sanctions

1. All property and interests in property of the Governments, instrumentalities and controlled entities, and the Banks of the following countries which are or become subject to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Atlasia or which are in or come within the possession or control of persons subject to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Atlasia, are hereby blocked: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tongo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

2. All aid money previously allocated and appropriated to the countries identified above is hereby rescinded.

3. The President is authorized to employ all powers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

4. The President is authorized to remove any nation from this Act by certifying in writing to the President of the Senate that the nation has repealed their criminalization of same-sex marriage.

Section 3: Enactment

1. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

National Culinary Heritage Promotion Act

Preamble
Recognizing the rich culinary heritage of the Republic of Atlasia, stemming from diverse traditions including Soul, Barbecue, Cajun, Tex-Mex, Californian, Hawaiian food, and more, this Act aims to foster appreciation, ensure preservation, and encourage the widespread enjoyment of these cherished cuisines.

Section I: TITLE

This Act may be cited as the "National Culinary Heritage Promotion Act."

Section II: DEFINITIONS

"Culinary Heritage" refers to the traditional cuisines that have shaped the cultural identity of the Republic of Atlasia, notably Soul, Barbecue, Cajun, Tex-Mex, Californian, and Hawaiian.

Section III: PROMOTION AND SUBSIDIZATION OF CUISINE

Advertising Budget: A sum of $50 million shall be allocated annually for advertising campaigns aimed at promoting Atlasia's culinary heritage domestically and internationally.

Restaurant Subsidization: A budget of $30 million shall be designated annually to provide subsidies to local restaurants and bars that incorporate these traditional dishes into their menus.

Fast Food Requirement:

All major fast food chains operating within the Republic of Atlasia are mandated to introduce at least three items from the traditional cuisines as part of their regular menu.
Compliance checks will be carried out bi-annually.

Section IV: NATIONAL DISHES

The following dishes shall be considered national dishes of Atlasia

Regional Barbecue Styles:

Carolina BBQ: Pork-based, with vinegar or mustard-based sauces.
Kansas City BBQ: Known for its sweet tomato and molasses-based sauce.
Memphis BBQ: Famous for its pork barbecue, served either "wet" (with sauce) or "dry" (with a rub).
Texas BBQ: Focuses primarily on beef, especially brisket.
New England Clam Chowder: A creamy soup filled with clams, potatoes, onions, and celery.

Gumbo: A hearty soup from Louisiana, with ingredients like shrimp, sausage, okra, and chicken, thickened with a roux.

Jambalaya: Another Louisiana classic, this is a spicy one-pot rice dish with chicken, sausage, and sometimes seafood.

Biscuits and Gravy: Soft biscuits covered in creamy sausage gravy, a staple in the Southern Atlasia

Po' boy: A traditional sandwich from Louisiana, typically made with roast beef or fried seafood.

Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza: Characterized by its thick crust and deep toppings.

New York-Style Pizza: Known for its thin crust, which is crisp along its edge yet soft and pliable enough to fold.

Philly Cheesesteak: Thinly sliced beefsteak with melted cheese in a long roll, from Philadelphia.

Clam Bake: Popular in New England, this is a method of cooking seafood, like lobster, clams, and mussels, often with corn and potatoes.

Hamburgers and Hot Dogs: While their origins can be traced back to Europe, Atlasia popularized and gave them iconic status.

Buffalo Wings: Chicken wings that are deep-fried and then coated in a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter.

Cobb Salad: A garden salad with chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, and an assortment of fast-growing vegetables.

Apple Pie: Often referred to as a quintessentially Atlasian dish.

Fried Chicken: Especially Southern-style, which is seasoned, battered, and fried to perfection.

Meatloaf: Ground meat, usually beef, mixed with other ingredients and formed into a loaf shape before being baked.

Pecan Pie: A pie made from pecans mixed with a filling of eggs, butter, and sugar (typically corn syrup).

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich: A simple, iconic Atlasian sandwich.

Thanksgiving Meal: Traditionally includes roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pies (like pumpkin and pecan), and other regional dishes.

Section V: CULINARY INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS

Menu Inclusion: All public schools within the Republic of Atlasia are required to offer dishes from the identified traditional cuisines as part of their regular meal rotation.

Theme Days: Schools shall designate specific days to highlight these cuisines:

Tex-Mex Day
Cajun Day
Soul Day
Hawaiian Day

Health Initiative:

While celebrating these cuisines, emphasis must be placed on offering healthy versions of traditional dishes to combat the obesity pandemic.
Nutritionists and chefs will collaborate to ensure that meals are balanced and nutritious while retaining authentic flavors.

Section VI: IMPLEMENTATION

This Act will come into effect six months after its passage, allowing businesses and schools ample time for adaptation.

Section VII: REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

The impact and effectiveness of this Act shall be reviewed three years after its implementation to ascertain its benefits and to make any necessary adjustments.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Atlasian Steel Act

1. All steel manufacturers are brought into public ownership immediately upon passage of this act and shall be placed under the control of an Atlasian Steel Authority.

2. To complete the undertaking as outlined above, the Republic of Atlasia shall establish an Atlasian Steel Authority (hereafter ASA) which shall be comprised of all former privately-held steel companies and shall hold a legal monopoly in these sectors.

3. The purpose of the aforementioned ASA shall be the economization of operations and the modernization of production methods to raise safety and efficiency standards across the country, as well as provide steel at a low cost, prevent competitive waste, and co-ordinate research and development in those sectors.

4. The government of the ASA shall be federal and cooperative. In each region will be established a regional steel authority under a board of directors composed of representatives of labor, the consumers, security, and the environment. The number of labor directors shall be four, and the number of directors for all other constituencies shall be two. Each regional authority will elect five representatives to the national board of directors. Two of the national directors elected by each regional authority shall represent labor, and one each shall represent the consumers, security, and the environment.
 
5. The labor directors shall be chosen by a vote of the steel workers; the consumer directors by a vote of the regional legislature, the security and environment directors by the regional executive at the regional level and by the president at the federal level.

6. The term of a Board director shall be four years.

7. The President shall appoint a Chair of the ASA Board of Directors who shall have no vote unless they are equally divided. The Chair shall serve a four year term.

8. All persons owning any of the aforementioned industry brought into public ownership shall be fairly compensated for the sale of said industries to the Republic of Atlasia.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment To Evergreen-Tmthforu LGBTQ+ Rights Act

Section I: Amendment to the Evergreen-Tmthforu LGBTQ+ Rights Act

The Evergreen-Tmthforu LGBTQ+ Rights Act is hereby amended as follows:

In Section 5.2, strike the section and replace it to read as follows:

(2.) Use of Neutral Pronouns in Official Documents:

In alignment with the principles of inclusivity and respect for all gender identities, all future statutes, resolutions, official documents, and communications of the Republic of Atlasia or its subsidiary bodies shall employ the singular pronoun 'they' when referencing singular persons of indeterminate gender. Where possible, the Atlasian Government encourages the revision of existing documents to reflect such pronoun, underlining the Republic of Atlasia's dedication to recognizing and valuing the diverse identities of its populace.

Section II: Enactment

This Act will immediately be in effect upon passage

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Empowering the People of Alaska Act

Section 1: Recognition of Alaska Native Peoples

1.1 Rights for Alaska Native Peoples:
This Act formally recognizes the Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Yup'ik, Cup'ik, Aleut, Alutiiq, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and Athabaskan tribes as the original inhabitants of the lands of Alaska. The Act ensures specific rights pertaining to cultural practices, traditional lands, and resources. Traditional lands are defined as areas inhabited or used by these indigenous groups prior to the arrival of Western explorers. Rights include unrestricted access to traditional lands, the right to participate in decisions regarding resource management on these lands, social services, economic opportunities, and political representation. Violations of these rights will incur a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment.

1.2 Protection of Sacred Sites:
It shall be illegal to desecrate or harm sites of cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. Violations will result in a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to two years imprisonment. Businesses in violation may face the revocation of permits and licenses.

Section 2: Preservation of Alaska Native Languages

2.1 Preservation:
Efforts shall be made to preserve, promote, and revitalize the languages of each Alaskan tribe. The federal government shall allocate $50 million over a five-year period to support educational programs, immersion schools, and other initiatives specific to each language.

2.2 Establishing Immersion Schools:
Immersion schools shall be established throughout Alaska, covering all grade levels. $25 million from the federal government shall fund these schools over five years.

2.3 Supporting Existing Language Programs:
$5 million over five years will be designated to support existing language programs and initiatives led by native speakers.

2.4 Developing Online Resources:
An online portal, funded by $10 million over five years, will offer a range of materials for learning the indigenous languages of Alaska.

2.5 Promoting Indigenous Languages in Public Life:
Public institutions and businesses in Alaska will be required to incorporate these languages in signage and daily operations, depending on area. Signage will only be required in languages that are relevant to the area.

2.6 Cultural Events and Media:
$5 million over five years will fund cultural events that highlight the significance of Alaska's indigenous languages.

2.7 Collaboration with Global Indigenous Language Programs:
Collaboration with other global indigenous language revitalization programs will share best practices.

Section 3: Support for Land Initiatives

3.1 Land Trust Expansion:
Legislation shall expand land trusts in Alaska, with $20 million funding over five years.

3.2 Tourist Activity Tax:
A 5% tax on tourist activity and hotel occupancy within Alaska will support land trusts and social services. The Tourist Activity Tax created by SB 117-50 shall henceforth only apply to such activity on the islands named in Section 1 of said act. The Tourist Activity Tax created by SB 116-16 shall henceforth only apply to such activity within Hawaii.

Section 4: Implementation

4.1 Support:
The Republic of Atlasia will provide necessary resources and support for this Act's implementation, including institutions, legal frameworks, and funding.

The total funds allocated within this bill, for a five-year implementation period, are as follows:

Preservation and promotion of indigenous languages: $50 million
Expansion of land trusts: $20 million
The total allocation sums up to $70 million over a five-year period.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Worker's Bill of Rights

Section A. This bill will be cited as the Worker's Bill of Rights

Section B. Rights:
1. This law will designate workers to the following:
2. The right to strike without fear of termination
3. The right to join or become part of a union and guild with no threat of retaliation
4. The right to report unfair, exploitive or abusive working conditions without the threat of retaliation as well as the right to privacy when reporting such conditions
5. The right to an equal wage regardless of sex, gender, disability, gender identity, national origin etc as well as the public display of wages for each position although people with a higher completed education may be paid more as long as there is no discrimination based off of the above group and other employees with the same education background are making the same amount of money.
6. The right to attend counseling sessions free of charge.

Section C. Providing Psychological Support
1. All businesses will be required to hire an HR representative.
2. Furthermore in accordance to Section B #6, all businesses are required to hire a therapist who can regularly meet with workers outside of their scheduled shift. Businesses who choose not to hire a therapist or cannot find time to meet with a therapist must have sessions paid for by their employer.

Family owned and operated businesses who do not hire non-family members are exempt from this law.

Section D. Implementation
This bill will take place effective immediately

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Honor the President's Wishes Act

1. S.B. 117-47: The End to Medical Termination Act of 2023 is hereby repealed immediately.

Withdrawing this and sponsoring the above citizen bill

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Hate Has No Home Here Act

1. Any abortion performed due to the race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity of the unborn baby is against the public policy of Atlasia and is hereby prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, entity, or organization to perform or offer a referral for any abortion prohibited by this act.

2. A violation of this act shall be a felony punishable by imprisonment for no less than one (1) and no more than ten (10) years and a fine of $25,000.00.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment to the Senate Rules
Article 2: Introducing Legislation

1.) The President of the Senate shall keep a thread on the Fantasy Government board for introducing legislation. This thread shall be known as the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread. Sitting Senators may post in this thread. The President Pro Tempore shall maintain a record listing all sponsored legislation in the Legislation Introduction Thread.
2.) If the PPT determines that a piece of legislation is functionally impractical, frivolous, or is directly unconstitutional, they may, in a public post on the Legislation Introduction thread, remove said legislation from the Senate floor. The sponsoring Senator of the legislation shall have ninety-six (96) hours to challenge this action in a public post, and with the concurrence of one-third (1/3) of office-holding Senators in the affirmative, may override the actions of the PPT. (Nasolation clause)
3.) 2511 threads about legislation may be open for voting and debate simultaneously.
a.) The first 207 open threads shall be open to all legislation initially regarding bills, resolutions or constitutional amendments. If the sponsor already has two or more pieces of legislation on the Senate floor, legislation from Senators who do not shall take priority until all such other legislation is completed. The PPT shall be the Presiding Officer for these open threads.
b.) The twenty-firsteighth slot shall be reserved for national emergencies and administered by either the President of the Senate or the PPT.
c.) The twenty-secondninth slot shall be reserved for budgetary legislation and administered by either the President of the Senate or the PPT.
d.) The twenty-third and twenty-fourth slotstenth slot shall be reserved for the President of the Republic of Atlasia and administered by either the President of the Senate or the PPT.
e.) The twenty-fiftheleventh slot shall be reserved for public submissions and shall be introduced by the President of the Senate.
4.) A legislation is no longer on the Senate Floor when it has been tabled, rejected, or passed by the members of the Senate.
5.) If at any time the original sponsor vacates his office as Senator, all legislation introduced in the Legislation Introduction Thread shall, within a week of the vacancy, be declared withdrawn by the PPT by public post, if no Senator sponsors the legislation. If a piece of legislation has been introduced on the Senate floor, any office-holding Senator may assume sponsorship.
6.) Co-sponsors of legislation under consideration shall have no power to withdraw legislation nor contest withdrawal of legislation by the original sponsor. Any office-holding Senator may assume sponsorship of the legislation within 96 hours after the original sponsor has motioned to withdraw. Once a motion to assume sponsorship has been filed by a Senator, Senators shall have 24 hours to object to this motion. If any Senator objects, the PPT shall open a vote on the motion lasting until a majority has voted for or against the motion, but not more than 96 hours. If the motion is rejected, the bill shall be removed from the floor.
7.) All resolutions seeking to amend the constitution must be introduced along with a passage detailing what is being changed in the Constitution and why, called the Amendment Explanation. All amendments to the resolution, must change the explanation if they change the resolution so as to be inconsistent with it. This shall not infringe on the presiding officer's ability to correct for grammar and formatting issues, nor impede the presiding officer's ability to update and maintain a mission statement in the outer quote box of a given bill or resolution.
8.) All legislation on the Senate floor shall be given a distinct designation. The format of this designation shall denote in the following order "S" for the Senate chamber, followed by "B" for a bill or "R" for a Resolution. Immediately following the second letter will be number of the present senate at the time of introduction, followed by a dash if administered by the President of the Senate, and then a number displaying at least two digits beginning with "01" and increasing until the end of the session.

I find this to be functionally impractical at this time given the large agenda currently before the Senate.

This ruling might be revisited later.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Introducing with priority:

Capital Referendum Act

- Recognizing the large number of voters in the Capital naming referendum who voted for "None of the Above", voted for a choice that failed to become a finalist, or wrote comments on their ballot decrying the Capital relocation process
- Recognizing the presence of a public campaign against the moving of the Capital: https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=569688.0
- Desiring to have the final outcome regarding our capital accepted by the people

The Atlasian Senate hereby authorizes the following referendum to be placed on the December 2023 Federal Ballot:

"Shall the implementation of SB 117-41, to move the Atlasian Capital, continue?"

With the following options:

- NAY, which would constitute a repeal of SB 117-41 in full
- AYE but re-select the name, under which the naming process would be repeated, under the same process as before except 10 finalists will be selected.

[The name currently selected by the previous referendum would remain the legal name until the new naming process is complete. No finalist from such referendum would have automatic inclusion in the new process, all names would need to be (re-)suggested and (re-)selected.]

- AYE and keep the previously selected name in place.