We’re getting close to the silly season at the Massachusetts statehouse. While serious issues still dominate Bay State lawmakers’ attention – marijuana legalization and a budget deal come to mind - a wealth of less critical measures...
AR Gov Outlines State Budget ARKANSAS Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) outlined a budget proposal for state lawmakers last week that includes a $50 million tax cut and increased funding for education and foster care but no money for executive and legislative...
State and federal courts have slowed the steady march of the states toward sterner standards of voter identification. A state judge in Arkansas and a federal judge in Wisconsin recently struck down strict voter ID laws. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett ...
HI Senate Approves SB 2384 The HAWAII Senate approves SB 2384 , which would require the department of education to develop a comprehensive plan to integrate design thinking and coding in middle, intermediate, and high school curriculums and submit...
Many states have joined multi-state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage investment in clean energy and energy efficiency, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). Nine states participate in the Regional Greenhouse...
Every state requires children to be vaccinated against certain diseases. But all 50 states grant exemptions from those vaccination mandates for medical reasons. All but two grant exemptions for religious reasons. And 20 grant exemptions for moral or other...
Alabama’s Judicial Inquiry Commission argued this month that Chief Justice Roy Moore should be removed from office for urging his state’s probate judges to defy recent federal court rulings upholding gay marriage. “Because the...
On Friday, March 3, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats’ computer network was hit by a “ransomware” attack, a form of cyberattack in which computer access is blocked until a ransom is paid. The following Monday the caucus’ network, including...
Kiley’s line was a good one, but it wasn’t the best one of the week. That honor goes to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. When asked by yours truly his thoughts on the Trump administration’s plans to reinvigorate the war on...
Missouri House Members Fail to Override Veto House members fail to override a veto by Gov. Eric Greitens (R) on a spending bill ( HCB 3 ) that will mean budget cuts to senior services will remain in place for now. Legislative leaders say they’ll...
California Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen is a big fan of electrically-motorized skateboards.Unfortunately for her the snazzy boards, which are definitely a few notches up from the man...uh, boy-powered kind yours truly bombed around on as a kid...
The most significant recommendation this month from a consulting firm hired by Oklahoma to review the hundreds of millions of dollars in business incentives it doles out every year was to limit an income tax credit for wind-power electric generating plants...
In a post-session tour around the state, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) lauded wide-ranging gun control measures he signed weeks after the mass shooting at a Parkland high school and shrugged off an NRA effort to block the legislation he signed on March...
IN Governor Signs SB 632 INDIANA Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signs SB 632 , which requires the Hoosier State Department of Health to educate schools about how to test for radon. The law takes effect July 1 (INDYCHANNEL). ND Governor Signs HB 1332 NORTH...
Republicans control both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office in 24 states, while Democrats hold that level of control over the government in just seven. Control of the legislative and executive branch is split between the two parties...
Republicans won control of a few more governors’ offices and state legislative chambers in November, giving them command of both branches of the government in states where Democrats had previously maintained footholds, including Iowa, Kentucky,...
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) filed paperwork last Thursday to establish a legal defense fund in preparation for an expected legal battle over Tuesday’s election. Democratic challenger Attorney General Roy Cooper, who now holds a slight lead...
Newly-minted North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper campaigned in part on repealing the state’s controversial “bathroom bill” that bars transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity. But while a strong majority...
Indiana Signs HB 1085 INDIANA Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signs HB 1085 , which would allow someone to break into a car to rescue a dog or cat that had been left inside during a time of extreme heat or cold without facing criminal liability. The law does...
Pennsylvania Approves HB 1071 The PENNSYLVANIA Senate gives final approval to HB 1071 , legislation that would prohibit cities, towns, and counties from banning or taxing recyclable plastic bags. It moves to Gov. Tom Wolf (D) for consideration (PHILADELPHIA...
Last week Louisiana’s Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs voted 7-2 in favor of a measure that would eliminate sales tax holidays on back-to-school purchases in early August and hurricane preparedness supplies next May in order to help...
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) called on Tar Heel State lawmakers to quickly repeal 2016’s controversial “bathroom bill” or risk losing over 130 NCAA championship events over the next six years. The measure bars local municipalities...
Kevin Durant of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder is set to become a free agent soon. As one of the league’s best players, he is for sure gonna cash in big time. But while teams in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Dallas might be able to offer...
Among the state laws taking effect this year are new gun restrictions in California tightening that state’s existing ban on firearms on school grounds and allowing individuals to request the temporary seizure of weapons from relatives who may pose...
Utah Approves HB 415 The UTAH House approves HB 415, a bill that would require retailers to obtain a license in order to sell electronic cigarette products and outline criminal penalties for vendors who violate those requirements. It moves to the Senate...