A new way to cover the rising costs of social service programs, which has been gathering momentum in state and local governments across the country, is coming to Denver. Under the financing method, known as a social impact bond or “pay for...
A CALIFORNIA judge rules that Medicaid applicants in the Golden State who have been waiting for more than 45 days can receive temporary health benefits while officials determine their eligibility for the joint state-federal insurance program (SACRAMENTO...
The TEXAS Supreme Court has announced it will hear the state’s appeal of the long-running lawsuit challenging the way it funds public education (AMERICAN-STATESMAN [AUSTIN]). * MINNESOTA Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has called for a $6 billion transportation...
The CALIFORNIA Supreme Court votes to bar state judges from belonging to non-profit youth organizations if those groups practice any form of discrimination (LOS ANGELES TIMES).
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs House Bills 4882 and 5421, which together allow homeowners facing financial hardship to use a payment plan to meet tax responsibilities and avoid foreclosure and further allow county treasurers to waive additional monthly...
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs SB 1140, which clarifies that anyone involved with stealing a vehicle, whether driving or not, is not entitled to personal injury insurance benefits (LEXIS NEXIS STATE NET, MICHIGAN GOVERNOR'S OFFICE). • Also...
Credits 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...
In Case You Missed It California Gov. Jerry Brown started his historic fourth term with a call for the Golden State to strengthen its green agenda. In case you missed it, the story can be found on our Web site at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal...
If you think that after the wave of malfeasance in the California Senate last year that all the dirty, greasy stuff is contained in legislative chambers, think again. As the Sacramento Bee reports, health inspectors recently shut down Griselda's World...
In The Hopper At any given time, State Net tracks tens of thousands of bills in all 50 states, US Congress, and the District of Columbia. Here's a snapshot of what's in the legislative works: Number of 2015 Prefiles last week: 3824 Number of Intros...
Upcoming Stories Here are some of the topics you will see covered in upcoming issues of the State Net Capitol Journal: - Common Core - State worker exodus - Legalizing pot
New Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's (R) first few days in office were anything but dull. Rauner, who replaced Democrat Pat Quinn on Monday, issued new rules for both public employees and lobbyists, met with lawmakers and vowed to undo a long list of...
Upcoming Elections (01/16/2015 - 02/06/2015) 01/27/2015 Florida Special Primary House Districts 17 and 24 Senate District 6 02/03/2015 Georgia Runoff House Districts 50 and 120
A couple of weeks ago, North Carolina state Rep. Paul Tine changed his political party designation from Democrat to unaffiliated. "Independent fits for me, and I think when you look at voter registration, it's fitting for a lot of people,"...
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights — requiring lawmakers to obtain voter approval to raise taxes and to issue refunds to taxpayers when revenues grow faster than inflation and population growth — has survived repeated challenges...
Prim arily as a result of the November elections, Republicans now control both the governor's office and legislature in 23 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The GOP also holds the governor's office in Nebraska...
The Week in Session States in Regular Session: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, US, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY States in Informal Session: States in Skeleton...
In case you are pondering using your vacation time to visit a state capital, you should know they are not all created equal. In fact, as the USA Today reports, some are downright spiffy places to hang out. The top of the list, according to a reader survey...
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs SB 74, which adds cyberbullying to the forms of harassment specifically barred under the state's anti-bullying law. The law defines cyberbullying as any form of electronic communication intended to harm or harass...
As the nation's capital resumes its customary political gridlock, both political parties are turning to the states to advance national agendas. In the process of doing so, however, they are finding that they are far from united within their own ranks...
Getting elected to a second term as governor is a big deal, no doubt about it. But in Ohio, nothing is bigger than the Ohio State Buckeyes playing for the college football national championship. To his credit, Gov. John Kasich gets it. Which is why when...
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs a series of bills (SBs 795, 796, 797, 799 and 800) that collectively increase fines and penalties for anyone caught possessing, transporting and introducing non-native plant or animal species into the Wolverine State...
The earth moved in California last week, but it was only a political earthquake rather than a real geological trembler. More accurately, the earth moved twice: once when United States Sen. Barbara Boxer announced she would not seek another term in 2016...
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs SB 879, a bill that requires radiologists to provide patients with written summaries of a mammogram, including about *** density (LEXIS NEXIS STATE NET, MICHIGAN GOVERNOR'S OFFICE). • Also in MICHIGAN, Gov...
Recently termed-out Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has apparently never warmed up to new Gov. Doug Ducey, a fellow Republican but not the guy she initially backed in the GOP primary last year. (That would be Mesa mayor Scott Smith, who lost out to Ducey in that...