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...
Wyoming has more government employees per capita than any other state, according to 2013 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As The Wall Street Journal reported last year, more than 11.39 percent of the state’s total population -- or 114 people...
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...
In 2002 the Council of State Governments and the National Association of State Personnel Executives issued a report entitled “State Employee Worker Shortages: The Impending Crisis,” which referenced estimates showing “state governments...
Feuding between centrist Republicans and Tea Party and Libertarian activists in Virginia could cost the GOP the crucial swing state and possibly the White House in 2016, some prominent members of the party fear. A principal source of the conflict is the...
After two hours of arguing, Mississippi’s House passed a bill last month that would potentially phase out the state’s personal income tax over 15 years. The GOP-led chamber approved HB 1629 on an 82-32 vote, with several Democrats supporting...
If 18 is old enough to vote, join the army or go to prison, then it’s old enough to govern a state. That may sound like the theme of a Disney movie but it’s actually the gist of a bill making the rounds in Nebraska. As the Omaha World Herald...
New York Gov Andrew Cuomo (D) kicked off a statewide tour last week to promote his plan to raise the Empire State minimum wage to $10.50 per hour, which he said would lift 100,000 workers out of poverty and produce a $3 billion annual boost to the state’s...
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...
Most of us have heard the goofy song “Hang On Sloopy,” from The McCoys, an Ohio-based band who turned it into their lone hit way back in 1965. The song, which had been released a year earlier by a band called the Vibrations under the title...
The PENNSYLVANIA Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to a moratorium on executions imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf (D) in February. The court did not say when it will hear the case (PHILADELPHIACBSLOCAL.COM). * UTAH Gov. Gary Herbert (R) said he would...
Wisconsin Approves Right-to-Work Bill (SB44) The GOP-led WISCONSIN Senate voted largely along party lines last month to approve a fast-tracked right-to-work bill (SB 44) that spurred about eight hours of debate. The bill comes four years after Gov...
Georgia Approves SB 139 The GEORGIA Senate approves SB 139, a bill that would bar Peach State cities from banning single-use plastic bags at grocery and other retail stores. The measure moves to the House (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION). Washington...
Washington Senate Approves Gas Tax Increase The WASHINGTON Senate passed a $15 billion transportation package this month that included an 11.7-cent increase in the gas tax. The 27-22 vote came shortly after Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (D) declared he would...
Utah Approves HB 94 The UTAH House gives final approval to HB 94, a so-called “right-to-try” bill that allows terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs and devices that have yet to receive full approval from federal regulators....
Nebraska Same-Sex Marriage Ban Struck Down A federal judge strikes down a NEBRASKA law barring same-sex marriage. Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon’s order was scheduled to take effect on March 9, but it was stayed after state Attorney...
New Mexico Committee Kills HB 410, 411, 412 The NEW MEXICO House Committee on Agriculture, Water and Wildlife kills a trio of bills (HBs 410, 411 and 412) that together would have prohibited the slaughter of horses for human consumption, granted horses...
Editor: Rich Ehisen Associate Editor: Korey Clark Contributing Editor: Mary Peck, David Giusti Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Lauren Davis (MA), Steve Karas (CA) and Ben Livingood (PA), Cathy Santsche (CA), Dena Blodgett...
With Congress still gridlocked on immigration, the real action has moved to the states. But the path forward isn’t really any clearer there. In case you missed it, the story can be found on our Web site at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal...
Challenges are always in the eye of the beholder. Case in point: During the recent winter meeting of the National Governors Association, Fox Business reporter Maria Bartiromo moderated a panel discussion in which she asked all the attending govs to share...
Here are some of the topics you may see covered in upcoming issues of the State Net Capitol Journal: - Right to Try - State worker exodus - Legalizing pot
The week in session States in Regular Session: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD...
(02/27/2015 - 03/20/2015) 03/03/2015 Kentucky Special Election Senate District 27 Massachusetts Special Primary House Districts 1st Suffolk and 11th Worcester 03/10/2015 Maine Special Election House District 93
In The Hopper Number of 2015 Prefiles last week: 699 Number of Intros last week: 5,815 Number of Enacted/Adopted last week: 1,084 Number of 2015 Prefiles to date: 16376 Number of 2015 Intros to date: 74,871 Number of...
The ARKANSAS House approves HB 1087, legislation that would among several things allow employers to “friend” or connect to their employees on social media. The bill, which would also exempt summer camps and other organizations responsible...