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A federal court dismisses a lawsuit brought forth by ALABAMA officials seeking to block Syrian refugees from being relocated in the Heart of Dixie. The court said the suit was too vague and “fails to state a claim for which relief may be granted” (MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER).

Social Policy In Virginia The VIRGINIA Board of Health votes to not require hospital building requirements for clinics that provide abortion services in the Old Dominion. The vote comes months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a TEXAS law imposing similar requirements on Lone Star State clinics...

Kentucky Approves SB 17 The KENTUCKY Senate approves SB 17 , which would codify the right for students to express religious viewpoints in school, including in their homework and clothing. It moves to the House (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER). Virginia Approves HB 1578 The VIRGINIA Senate approves...

Supreme Court Returns Virgina Case The Supreme Court of the United States returns to a lower court the case of a transgender VIRGINIA boy who was refused the right to use the boys’ restroom at his high school. The SCOTUS returned the case to the 4 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider...

Alabama Approves HB 36 The ALABAMA House approves HB 36 , which would extend the Heart of Dixie’s so-called “stand your ground” law, which allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves, to include churches. It moves to the Senate (DECATUR DAILY). Texas Approves HB 1729...

Texas Approves HB 281 The TEXAS House approves HB 281 , which would create a statewide database for DNA evidence from sexual assault. It moves to the Senate (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN). Iowa Approves SB 444 The IOWA Senate gives final approval to SB 444 , which would require Hawkeye State drivers...

Alabama Approves HB 315 The ALABAMA House approves HB 315 , which would allow midwifes to legally practice in the Heart of Dixie. It moves to the Senate (BIRMINGHAM NEWS). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

Illinois Approves SB 1502 The ILLINOIS Senate approves SB 1502 , a measure that would require online companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to disclose to consumers what data about them has been collected and shared with third parties. It is now in the House (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). Georgia Vetoes...

Missouri Amends HB 90 The MISSOURI House declines to take up an amended version of HB 90 , which would have made the Show Me State the last in the nation to adopt a prescription drug monitoring system (KANSAS CITY STAR). Iowa Signs HB 524 IOWA Gov. Terry Branstad (R) signs HB 524 , a bill that...

Nevada Approves SB 106 The NEVADA Senate approves SB 106 , which would raise the Silver State minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2022. The measure, which would hike the wage standard by .75 cents every year for the next five years, moves to the Assembly (NEVADA APPEAL [CARSON CITY]). Alabama Approves...

California Approves SB 562 The CALIFORNIA Senate approves SB 562 , which would implement a single-payer health care system in the Golden State. It moves to the Assembly (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET). California Approves AB 402 The CALIFORNIA Senate approves AB 402 , a bill that directs state health...

Social Policy In South Carolina The SOUTH CAROLINA Supreme Court rules that people in same-sex marriages are covered under the state’s domestic violence laws. The law does not pertain, however, to unmarried same-sex couples (CHARLESTON POST & COURIER). Social Policy In Arkansas A federal...

CA Senate Approves SB 460 The CALIFORNIA Senate approves SB 460 , net neutrality legislation that would bar broadband providers from blocking or limiting access to the Internet. The measure moves to the Assembly (LOS ANGELES TIMES). CA Senate Rejects SB 705 The CALIFORNIA Senate rejects SB 705...

Going On In AL ALABAMA officials announce they are banning the importation of deer carcasses from MISSISSIPPI to stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, a neurological disease which affects deer, moose and elk and is always fatal (ASSOCIATED PRESS).

SD Governor Signs SB 62 SOUTH DAKOTA Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) signs SB 62 , which among several things requires businesses and other data holders to notify consumers of a breach within 45 days of being informed of the breach occurring. The law leaves only ALABAMA without a data breach notification...

VT Legislature Endorses SB 55 The VERMONT Legislature endorses SB 55 , legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21, limit the capacity of gun magazines that retailers may sell, ban bump stocks – devices that allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more rapidly – and...

TN City Council Approves Ordinance The Knoxville, TENNESSEE City Council approves an ordinance to allow goat grazing on private property. The new law allows private property holders to obtain a permit to use goats to rid land of invasive plants, which have been used for years to clear public parks...

NC House Approves HB 389 The NORTH CAROLINA House approves HB 389 , a bill that would authorize public colleges and universities to allow alcohol sales at stadiums, athletic facilities and arenas located on school property. It moves to the Senate (WECT [WILMINGTON]). WA Senate Approves HB 1638...

KS Supreme Court Rules The KANSAS Supreme Court rules that women in the Sunflower State have a constitutional right to obtain an abortion. Justices ruled that both the state and U.S. constitutions support that right. Opponents vowed to seek to amend the state constitution to block abortion in the...

Federal Court Rules on KY Law A federal court rules that a 2018 KENTUCKY law that effectively banned abortions after the 15 th week of pregnancy is unconstitutional. State officials say they would appeal the ruling (LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL). ND Governor Signs HB 1050 NORTH DAKOTA Gov. Doug...

AL House and Senate Endorse SB 73 The ALABAMA House and Senate endorse SB 73 , a measure that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from employing contractual “gag clauses” to forbid pharmacists from telling customers if they can save money by buying a prescription out-of-pocket with...

CA Assembly Endorses AB 5 The CALIFORNIA Assembly endorses AB 5 , a bill that could require employers to officially recognize hundreds of thousands of so-called “gig” workers as employees. Under the bill, employers seeking to avoid having such workers considered employees would have to...

AL Governor Signs SB 236 ALABAMA Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signs SB 236 , which will create a commission to study the effects of medical marijuana and renew a current state law that allows cannabis oil to be used for treating seizure disorders in children (WHNT [HUNTSVILLE]). FL Governor Signs HB 487...

North Carolina Governor vetoes HB 370 NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoes HB 370 , which would have required sheriffs in the state to closely cooperate with federal immigration enforcement or face removal from office (CNN). Birminghan Mayor Announces New Program BIRMINGHAM Mayor Randall...

Oklahoma Judge Issues Temporary Injunction An OKLAHOMA judge issues a temporary injunction against an impending state law that would make it a felony for doctors to perform medically induced abortions without informing patients that such an abortion may be reversible, a practice that critics say is...