Business In MA The MASSACHUSETTS Senate approves SB 2033, legislation that would expand the scope of workplace disfigurement injuries covered under workers' compensation policies to include injuries anywhere on a person's body. The measure is now in the House (BOSTON GLOBE). Also in MASSACHUSETTS...

Education in MA The University of MASSACHUSETTS Foundation, which manages charitable giving for the five-university UMASS system, announces it will divest itself of direct investments of its $770 million endowment in coal companies. The Foundation said it will also look for ways to manage endowment...

The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear a challenge to an ILLINOIS city’s ban on semiautomatic, high-capacity assault weapons. The city, Highland Park, is a suburb of Chicago. Seven states — MARYLAND, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, HAWAII, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW JERSEY and NEW YORK — have similar...

Energy In NJ The NEW JERSEY Senate approves SB 1707 , which would require Garden State utility companies to source at least 80 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2050. It moves to the House (CLEANTECHNICA.COM). Energy In MA The MASSACHUSETTS House and Senate...

Business In NJ The NEW JERSEY Supreme Court rules that employers may not terminate or discriminate against workers simply for getting divorced or separated from their spouse. The suit stemmed from the case of an employee who was terminated after revealing to his supervisor that he was involved in...

MA Approves SB 2394, SB 2409 and SB 2119 The MASSACHUSETTS Senate approves SB 2394 , which would bar Bay State employers from running credit checks on job applicants. The measure, which makes exceptions for positions where the employee would handle more than $6,000 in funds or which require national...

Business In NJ The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that a 2014 NEW JERSEY law allowing sports betting at casinos and racetracks violated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 federal law prohibiting the practice in all states other than NEVADA, DELAWARE, MONTANA and OREGON...

California Approves SB 1062 The CALIFORNIA Senate gives final approval to SB 1062 , which would ban the use of bull hooks, baseball bats and other instruments meant to cause pain in the training of elephants. Violators face fines up to $10,000. The bill moves to Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who vetoed similar...

NJ Governor Signs AB 1414 NEW JERSEY Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver (D) signs AB 1414 , a bill that mandates the state Board of Education include financial literacy instruction in the curriculum for sixth- through eighth-grade students in public schools across the Garden State. Oliver signed the bill while...

WA Governor Signs SB 5116 WASHINGTON Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signs SB 5116 , a bill that establishes a mandate for Evergreen State utilities to eliminate coal as an energy source by the end of 2025, with the ultimate goal of providing carbon-free electricity by 2045. At least six other states - MINNESOTA...

MA House Endorses HB 3904 The MASSACHUSETTS House endorses HB 3904 , a bill that would establish a framework for licensing and regulating appraisal management companies in the Bay State. It is now in the Senate (STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE [BOSTON]. NJ Governor Signs AB 5321 NEW JERSEY Gov....