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Business In Arizona An ARIZONA judge rules that a Grand Canyon State law barring local municipalities from requiring employers to provide additional employee benefits is unconstitutional. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joshua Rogers said the law violates the Voter Protection Act, which forbids...

California Assembly Gives Final Approval The CALIFORNIA Assembly gives final approval to a bill making the first year of community college free for in-state students going full time. The measure ( AB 19 ) now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) (ASSOCIATED PRESS, SACRAMENTO BEE). New Arizona Law Backed...

ME House Veto HB 1139 The MAINE House upholds Gov. Paul LePage’s (R) veto of HB 1139 , which would have established a regulatory and taxation system for marijuana. LePage said there was still too much uncertainty that federal marijuana policy would nullify public and private investments into...

AZ Federal Judge Blocks A federal judge permanently blocks a 2010 ARIZONA law that prohibited Grand Canyon State schools from offering courses in ethnic studies. U.S. District Court Judge A. Wallace Tashima ruled that the ban was “not for a legitimate educational purpose, but for an invidious...

AZ House Approves SB 1394 The ARIZONA House approves SB 1394 , a bill that would require Grand Canyon State hospitals and clinics to ask patients the reason they are seeking an abortion. The measure returns to the Senate (ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES [PHOENIX]). WI Governor Signs Suite of Bills WISCONSIN...

AZ Supreme Court Rules The ARIZONA Supreme Court rules that public colleges and universities are not legally able to offer in-state tuition rates to immigrants covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The ruling upholds a 2017 Arizona Court of Appeals ruling that said...

LA Senate Approves SB 178 The LOUISIANA Senate approves SB 178 , which would allow Pelican State students to wear bulletproof backpacks on school grounds. It is now in the House (FOX8LIVE.COM [NEW ORLEANS]). IL Governor Signs SB 863 ILLINOIS Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signs SB 863 , legislation designed...

CA Senate Rejects SB 827 The CALIFORNIA Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing rejects SB 827 , which would have forced cities to allow taller, denser development around public transit (CAL MATTERS [SACRAMENTO]). WI Governor Signs AB 771 WISCONSIN Gov. Scott Walker (R) signs AB 771 ...

NH House Approves SB 313 The NEW HAMPSHIRE House approves SB 313 , which would expand Medicaid eligibility to cover an additional 50,000 residents. It has returned to the Senate (UNION LEADER [MANCHESTER]). CO House Approves HB 1436 The COLORADO House approves HB 1436 , which would allow judges...

CA Federal Judge Strikes Down A federal judge in CALIFORNIA strikes down a ban on shipping coal through the Port of OAKLAND . U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said the City Council did not have enough evidence that the coal operations would pose a substantial health or safety danger (U.S. NEWS &...

MI Senate Approves SB 741 The MICHIGAN Senate approves SB 741 , which would bar local governments from banning the ownership of certain dog breeds. The bill, which would nullify all current bans and bar municipalities from imposing new ones, moves to the House (OGEMAW COUNTY HERALD). MN Governor...

Supreme Court Overturns Sports Betting Law The Supreme Court of the United States overturns a federal law that barred states from authorizing sports betting. The ruling came in the case of Murphy v. NCAA. (For more, see Budget & Taxes in this issue ). In addition to NEW JERSEY , at least 20 states...

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...

CO River Water Agreement Seven states that depend on the Colorado River for water reach agreement on a management plan for the waterway. The deal between COLORADO, UTAH, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, NEVADA and WYOMING creates a collection of drought contingency plans designed to manage and minimize...

AZ House Endorses SB 1014 The ARIZONA House endorses SB 1014 , which would decrease the required English instruction time for English language learners from the current standard of four hours per day to about two hours per day. The measure is now with Gov. Doug Ducey (R) for consideration (ARIZONA...

FL House and Senate Approves SB 182 The FLORIDA House and Senate approve SB 182 , which would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana. It moves to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who pushed the measure and is expected to sign it right away (MIAMI HERALD). MT Governor Vetoes SB 54 MONTANA Gov. Steve...

IN Governor Signs SB 632 INDIANA Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signs SB 632 , which requires the Hoosier State Department of Health to educate schools about how to test for radon. The law takes effect July 1 (INDYCHANNEL). ND Governor Signs HB 1332 NORTH DAKOTA Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signs HB 1332 , which...

CO House and Senate Give Final Approval to SB 78 The COLORADO House and Senate give final approval to SB 78 , net-neutrality legislation that would bar internet service providers from receiving state taxpayer money if they slow access to the internet or unfairly favor certain websites. It moves to...

TX Supreme Court Rules The TEXAS Supreme Court rules that the state does not have to reveal the identity of the manufacturer of the drugs used to carry out executions. Doing so, the court ruled, “would create a substantial threat of physical harm to the source’s employees and others”...

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...

TX House Approves HB 3703 The TEXAS House approves HB 3703 , which would add multiple sclerosis, autism, cancer and many other diseases and medical conditions to those eligible to be treated with cannabis oil. The bill, which would also allow for the state’s three legal medical cannabis dispensaries...

OR House Approves HB 3063 The OREGON House approves HB 3063 , which would remove vaccination requirements based on religious, philosophical or personal reasons. The bill would allow unvaccinated kids to attend public school until August 1, 2020, after which they would need to be home schooled or take...

Arizona Board of Regents Approves Proposal The ARIZONA Board of Regents unanimously approves a proposal to charge undocumented students who graduate from high school in the Grand Canyon State 150 percent of the in-state tuition rate, a 50 percent reduction from the out-of-state rate previously charged...

Arizona Supreme Court Rules in Phoenix Ordinance The ARIZONA Supreme Court rules that a PHOENIX ordinance that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination cannot be used to force artists to create custom wedding invitations for same-sex couples. The city said the ruling...

New York Governor Signs SB 5091 NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signs SB 5091 , a bill that requires pharmacies to inform patients whenever a Class 1 recall has been issued for a prescription drug they're taking. The notification, which can be made by phone or mail, must come within three days...