ID House Approves HB 217 The IDAHO House approves HB 217 , a bill that would require a public vote on any public projects using urban renewal money. It moves to the Senate (IDAHO STATESMAN [BOISE]). 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Rejects Challenge...
MD HOUSE SPEAKER DIES MARYLAND House Speaker Michael Busch died last week after being hospitalized with pneumonia. The 72-year-old was the longest-serving speaker in the state’s history, having initially assumed that post in 2003. (NBC NEWS,...
Ohio Gov. John Kasich may or may not make another run at the White House, but he is certainly setting himself up as the antidote for that building’s current inhabitant. As the Washington Post reports , Kasich has a new book coming out – titled...
At least five states have passed laws this year nullifying or preempting local ordinances, including those regulating ride-sharing, fracking and concealed-weapons permits, according to analysis by LexisNexis State Net. Local-control legislation is also...
California and New York are “emerging as the East and West Coast headquarters” of the Democratic resistance to immigration and other policies proposed by Republican President-elect Donald Trump that are opposed by progressives, according to...
AR Governor Signs HB 1439 ARKANSAS Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signs HB 1439 , which outlaws abortion 18 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy except in medical emergencies and in cases of rape or incest. Opponents have indicated they will sue to block...
Nevada Gov Vetoes AB303 & AB259 Citing his belief that the bill infringed upon executive branch authority, NEVADA Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) vetoes AB 303 , which would have barred the Silver State from utilizing private prisons (LAS VEGAS SUN...
Although the decennial census is required by the U.S. Constitution, it’s not a topic that makes the heart go pit-a-pat. After doing a TV episode on a census issue, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin observed that the very word “census” put the...
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 &...
Saying he wants to work with lawmakers to pass a statewide law, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed legislation that blocks a New York City ordinance that would have imposed a 5-cent fee on plastic bags used by retailers in the Big Apple. Cuomo said...
One of the first things any candidate needs is name recognition. So perhaps then Meteorologist Drew Anderson is already one up in the game. And no, I didn’t screw that up. Anderson legally changed his name to Meteorologist Drew Anderson last year...
Citing legal precedent is part and parcel to most any lawsuit. But one might think that a savvy legal beagle would avoid citing decisions more infamous than laudable. When it comes to Kansas Solicitor General Steven McAllister, one would be wrong. As...
POT LEGALIZATION HAS POSITIVE IMPACT ON CO COUNTY: A study by researchers at COLORADO State University-Pueblo found that the marijuana industry had a net positive impact of over $35 million on Pueblo County in 2016, despite increasing costs for law...
It’s a safe bet that many of the folks living in the affluent Bay Area suburb of Hillsborough grew up on the 1960s-era Flintstones cartoon. But city officials have filed suit against a wealthy homeowner who has turned her entire property into a...
While Gov. Dayton was hooking fish, out west in California lawmakers were doing their best to scare off some frogs. As the Capitol Morning Report notes, lawmakers and staffers came together for the 43 rd Annual Capitol Frog Jump, a gig inspired by the...
Washington Approves HB 1371 The WASHINGTON House approves HB 1371 , which would bar Evergreen State drivers from holding any hand-held devices while driving, including phones, tablets and other electronic devices, even while stopped in traffic. It...
Gov. Charlie Baker Signs HB 3680 Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signs HB 3680 , legislation that requires Bay State employers to offer “reasonable accommodations” to pregnant workers and makes it illegal to fire or refuse to hire a worker because...
Saying the federal government has abdicated its responsibility to address climate change, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) issued an executive order directing the state Department of Environmental Quality to begin assembling regulations to reduce carbon...
President Donald Trump said his administration is preparing to declare a federal emergency aimed at addressing the national opioid abuse crisis, but what that means to beleaguered governors seeking to quell the crisis remains unclear. The president...
Ducey Seeks to Repeal AZ Welfare Limit : Just six months into a new policy that limits welfare recipients to no more than a year on public assistance, ARIZONA Gov. Rob Ducey (R) proposed last week returning to the previous limit of two years. The one...
Oregon appears poised to become the next state to join the National Popular Vote Compact, after the state’s Senate approved legislation to do so last week. Bills to ratify that agreement, which pledges the electoral votes of its signatory...
SD Governor Signs SB 15 SOUTH DAKOTA Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signs SB 15 , which clarifies that the Flickertail State Public Utilities Commission has authority to ensure solar and wind energy facilities are permitted in a timely fashion and with public...
FL House and Senate SB 7026 The FLORIDA House and Senate approve SB 7026 , which would raise the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21, require a three-day waiting period for most gun purchases and ban the sale or possession of “bump stocks...
Revenue collections in the first few months of fiscal 2017 were below projections in 24 states, the highest number early in the fiscal year - which for most states begins July 1 - since fiscal 2010, according to the National Association of State Budget...
All district, appellate and Supreme Court judges in Nevada are currently elected by voters. But that would change under a proposed constitutional amendment in the state’s Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee. Under the proposed...