WI Gov Signs SB 459 WISCONSIN Gov. Scott Walker (R) signs SB 459 , a bill that designates privately-held riverfront lands as specialized wetlands, allowing property owners to conduct more building activity in those areas. The law also requires disputes...
The Texas Supreme Court ruled this month that the state’s “Robin Hood” school funding system, under which wealthy districts share property tax revenues with poorer districts, while not perfect, is not unconstitutional. “Our...
It could cost over $3.3 trillion over the next decade to keep up with repairs on America’s roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure, according to the latest “report card” from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The engineers...
Sports fans know that in Texas the Dallas Cowboys are akin to royalty. But that doesn’t mean everyone is okay putting up with the bad behavior of a spoiled prince. As the Dallas Morning News reports , state Sen. Royce West has filed suit against...
Last month, Missouri lawmakers invoked for the first time the power they were granted by voters in 2014 (Amendment 10) to overturn gubernatorial budget restrictions. With bipartisan support the state’s Republican-led House voted to release $575...
Social Policy in KY KENTUCKY Gov. Matt Bevin (R) signs HB 2 , a bill requiring women to obtain an ultrasound prior to proceeding with an abortion and for images from that procedure to be shown to the mother. The American Civil Liberties Union quickly...
WI Assembly Approves AB 501 The WISCONSIN Assembly overwhelmingly approves AB 501 , which would give 2,000 Badger State families who receive food stamps a discount on healthy foods for 10 months in hopes it will encourage them to eat better. It moves...
Just two states - New Jersey and Virginia - held general elections on Nov. 7 in which state legislative seats were contested. Democrats made modest gains in New Jersey, where all 80 seats in the Assembly and all 40 seats in the Senate were up for grabs...
Visitors to the Illinois statehouse this month will be greeted by all the usual pageantry of the holiday season: Christmas decorations, a nativity scene, a Menorah and a display from the Chicago chapter of the Satanic Temple. Wait, what? Old Ned himself...
California Signs AB 797 CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs AB 797 , which exempts citizens from criminal or civil liability for breaking the window of a vehicle to rescue an animal left in hot or freezing conditions (CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S...
Next month Arizona voters will decide whether their state will prohibit the expansion of its already limited sales taxes on services, which are currently levied only on certain software and transportation businesses. In 2016 the Missouri Association...
Thanks to an expanding national economy, many state governments are flush with cash. Virginia ended its 2018 fiscal year on June 30 with a $551 million budget surplus. Ohio ended last fiscal year with a $657 billion budget surplus. And California is projecting...
In the last bill signing session of his long political career, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a number of so-called #MeToo bills aimed at stopping pervasive sexual harassment in the work world. But to the consternation of many victims’ advocates...
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said he will not accept a voter-approved ballot measure to expand Medicaid to cover approximately 80,000 more residents unless lawmakers find a way to pay for it without raising taxes or drawing on state reserves. Pine...
Calling the decision by former Gov. Chris Christie (R) in 2012 to pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative lacking in “common sense,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued an executive order last week returning the state to the...
LAWSUIT INCREASES PUBLIC ACCESS TO AZ VOTER DATA ARIZONA has reached a legal settlement with the national voting-rights group, Project Vote, which will make voter information more accessible and affordable to the public. Under the terms of the settlement...
MA Pension Fund Takes Big Hit MASSACHUSETTS’ state pension fund lost $521 million in value in the past fiscal year, as a result of its holdings in fossil fuel stocks. Boston-based Trillium Asset Management calculated that the Massachusetts Pension...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) unveiled a proposal last week to help stem a rising tide of heroin and other opioid-related deaths in the Bay State. Under his plan, a doctor’s initial opioid prescription per patient could be for no more than...
Cuomo, NY Lawmakers Reach ‘Buy American’ Deal After previous failures, NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has reached a deal with Empire State legislative leaders on a bill that would require that certain state agencies require the use of American...
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...
And then leave the car running if you like...as long as you are on your own property. As the Detroit Free Press reports , Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed legislation last week that allows Michiganders to leave their car running in their own driveway...
VT Assembly Approves Election Day Registration The VERMONT General Assembly has given final approval for a bill that would allow Vermonters to register to vote on Election Day. If Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) signs SB 29 -- and a spokesman said he supports...
A Maricopa County Judge rules that undocumented students in ARIZONA who have work visas under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are allowed to pay the in-state tuition rate at Grand Canyon State colleges and universities...
CA Senate SB 320 The CALIFORNIA Senate approves SB 320 , which would make the Golden State the first to require public universities to offer medication abortion. The law would take effect in 2022, with startup finding provided by private donors. The...
NM House Approves House Memorial 9 The NEW MEXICO House approves House Memorial 9 , a measure that would authorize a study on allowing residents to buy in to the state Medicaid system. The measure moves to the Senate (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT)...