California Vetoes AB 1209 Citing its “ambiguous” details, CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) vetoes AB 1209 , which would have required large companies in California to disclose data on how they’re paying men and women differently (LOS...
Business In California The CALIFORNIA Public Utilities Commission opts to not require ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft to submit to the state fingerprints of their drivers. The agency did codify the need for the companies to submit proof annually...
Recreational use of marijuana has been approved by voters in eight states - Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington - and by state lawmakers in Vermont. Recreational marijuana measures are on the ballot in two...
FL GOV RACE HEADED TO RECALL As of last Thursday, Democrat Andrew Gillum had pulled to within enough votes of Republican Ron DeSantis to send the FLORIDA gubernatorial election to a mandatory recount. Gillum conceded defeat last Tuesday when it appeared...
SCOTT DECLARES FL ALGAE EMERGENCY FLORIDA Gov. Rick Scott (R) declared a state of emergency last week after a growing “red tide” algae bloom left Sunshine State beaches covered with dead fish and marine animals. His declaration will make...
With over eight years having passed since the end of the Great Recession, the third longest period of economic expansion in U.S. history, the next downturn could come at any time. But many states aren’t well prepared for it, according to a report...
TX Legislature Approves HB 910 The TEXAS Legislature gives final approval to HB 910, a bill that will allow certain Lone Star State residents to openly carry handguns. Under the measure, someone with a concealed carry gun permit could also openly carry...
Some have little patience for public retirees who return to paid work in the public sector when they’re already drawing a pension. “I think people who are collecting a big pension and a big salary, I just find that offensive,”...
The NEW MEXICO Senate approves a bill that would put the Land of Enchantment on permanent daylight savings time. The measure has moved to the House (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL).
Two sitting governors made big announcements about their futures last week: NEVADA Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) said he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by the Silver State’s retiring senior U.S. Senator Harry Reid, and VERMONT Gov....
There is apparently nowhere anyone can go to escape those darned Kardashians. But the California State Assembly is trying to at least limit their negative impact on humanity. As the Los Angeles Times reports, lawmakers last week approved a bill that would...
KS Approves SB 34 The KANSAS Senate has approved a bill (SB 34) that would grant the Secretary of State the authority to prosecute election fraud. LexisNexis State Net’s legislative prognosis tool places the bill’s chances of passage at...
GEORGIA Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signs HB 57, which will allow home and business owners to use third party companies to finance and install solar panels on their property (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION).
AK Gov Signs Highway Funding Bill ARKANSAS Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill that will tap the state’s budget surplus, investment returns and other funds to provide nearly $50 million for highway projects in the coming fiscal year (ARKANSAS...
Oregon Approves HB 3158 The OREGON House approves HB 3158 , which would award “preference points” to Beaver State hunters who provide law enforcement with detailed information that can help prosecute poachers. The points could be applied...
Facing a $3 billion budget shortfall through next summer, Pennsylvania, the nation’s second biggest commercial casino state after Nevada, is considering a host of gambling expansion ideas, including becoming the first state to take both its casino...
Kansas Approves SB 56 The KANSAS Senate approves SB 56, which would allow Sunflower State teachers to be charged with a felony for including “harmful material” in their curriculum. It moves to the House (TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL). Arkansas...
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) administration proposed a 2016 budget last month that included deep cuts that would close community health clinics and historic sites, as well as force more belt-tightening at the state’s colleges and universities...
Citing rapidly growing per-patient costs, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) issued an executive order last month (15-08) to create a commission to examine and overhaul the state’s Medicaid program. “The brutal fact is we have a Medicaid...
Calling family homelessness “a human tragedy,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has proposed a new $20 million fund to pay for counselors and other support services to help keep at-risk families from ending up on the streets. Baker...
Special from ALM Media Properties LLC Corporate Counsel® Some companies provide antibribery compliance training because they want to start a dialog with their employees; they hope that broad buy-in from their whole team will translate to good decisions...
If you are looking for the most unnecessary piece of legislation going, we have a nominee for you. As the Los Angeles Times reports , the California Senate last week approved AB 1687 , a bill that would bar employment sites for actors from disclosing...
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) introduced a bill last week to expand and overhaul the Last Frontier’s Medicaid program. Under the proposal, the state health department would seek out a federal waiver that would allow it to expand services provided...
The Oklahoma Democratic Party announced last week - on the 108th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood - that it will open its primary elections to independent voters, who have long been disenfranchised during primaries. Republican voters slightly outnumber...
SNYDER SIGNS MI POLICE MICONDUCT LAW Looking to prevent police agencies from hiding misconduct that leads to terminations, MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed legislation last week that requires law enforcement agencies to keep records of the circumstances...