And speaking of motions not of this realm, the Asbury Park Press reports that last week lightning struck the New Jersey governor’s mansion. The governor wasn’t there and nobody was hurt, but you have to wonder just how many signals from on...
Dedicated members of “Arnie’s Army” know the great golfer Arnold Palmer was a native of Latrobe, PA. But in later years Palmer loved to winter in Florida, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill near Orlando is one of the most...
Georgia Senate Approves HB 481 The GEORGIA Senate approves HB 481 , which would regulate the operation of drones in the Peach State and bar local governments from adopting their own laws around drone operation. It goes to Gov. Nathan Deal (R), who...
Between 2014 and 2015 death rates due to opioid overdose rose by over 25 percent - more than twice the national average (11 percent) - in five states and the District of Columbia. The five states with the highest opioid death rates in 2015 were West Virginia...
Mississippi Lawmakers Approve HB 638 Lawmakers in MISSISSIPPI give final approval to HB 638 , which would allow authorities to use a firing squad to carry out executions. The measure is now with Gov. Phil Bryant (R), who has indicated he will sign...
For policy makers at all levels of government, battling the national opioid epidemic can feel like a deadly game of Whack-a-Mole: No matter how many times they attack a particular element of the problem, another one just pops up somewhere else. But since...
Mississippi Legislature Approves SB 2273 The MISSISSIPPI Legislature gives final approval to SB 2273 , which would reinforce that cursive writing be taught to Magnolia State public school students. It is now with Gov. Phil Bryant (R), who is expected...
California Air Resources Board Approval The CALIFORNIA Air Resources Board approves new rules that will require oil and gas companies above a certain size to implement vapor recovery systems that will allow for methane that would otherwise be lost...
Oklahoma Senate Declines SB 226 The OKLAHOMA Senate Judiciary Committee declines to hear SB 226 , so-called “Good Samaritan” legislation that would have allowed Sooner State law enforcement discretion to not arrest someone who calls for...
Vermont Governor Signs SB 79 VERMONT Gov. Phil Scott (R) signs SB 79 , legislation that makes it illegal for any Vermont law enforcement agency to enter into a formal enforcement agreement with federal immigration authorities, unless that agency gets...
Montana Senate Approves SB 329 The MONTANA Senate approves SB 329 , which would prohibit abortions on potentially viable fetuses and subject doctors to criminal charges if they failed to take steps to try and save the life of the child. It moves to...
Nevada Senate Approves SB 370 The NEVADA Senate gives unanimous approval to SB 370 , which makes it illegal to transport hunters, their gear or animals from an airport or heliport unless the facility was established by a government agency and is accessible...
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) joined with legislative leaders on Wednesday to propose a suite of tax hikes and fees intended to produce $5.2 billion a year over the next decade to repair the state’s crumbling roads and bridges. The proposal...
Faced with losing out on the chance to host numerous NCAA sporting events over the next six years, North Carolina lawmakers reached a compromise with Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on repealing HB 2 , the state’s controversial “bathroom bill,”...
MORE GOVS NOW PONDERING MEDICAID EXPANSION : With the failure of the Congressional proposal to overturn the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, a growing number of governors are expressing openness to expanding their states’ Medicaid programs...
Several bills before the Florida Legislature would significantly limit the power of local governments in the state. They include HB 17 , which would require cities to obtain legislative approval before adopting new regulations impacting businesses; SB...
Last month Nevada made history by becoming the 36th state to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment, stipulating that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”...
FL PASSES TERM LIMITS FOR JUDGES: The FLORIDA House narrowly approved legislation - the first of its kind in the nation - limiting the terms of judges and Supreme Court justices in the state to 12 years. HJR 1 still has to pass the Senate and be approved...
The Trump administration’s push for deep cuts to the federal budget is drawing public opposition from some state governors, including Republicans. Of particular concern to the GOP governors are prospective cuts to regional economic development agencies...
States are projecting income tax revenue growth of 3.6 percent and sales tax growth of 3.1 percent this fiscal year, down from 4 percent and 3.6 percent respectively last fiscal year and well below annual averages prior to the Great Recession, according...
A lot of taxpayers are going to be waiting longer than usual for their state tax refunds this year. At least 21 states, including Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin, say refunds could be delayed...
ID PASSES GROCERY TAX REPEAL: The IDAHO Legislature has passed legislation repealing the state’s tax on groceries, effective July 1, 2018. If signed by Gov. C.L. Butch Otter (R), IDAHO would join 37 other states without a grocery tax. (ASSOCIATED...
The non-profit and fundraising worlds had a strong and successful year in 2016 but now the question is, will this trend continue into 2017? With so much change occurring in the new year Andrew Payne , director of product marketing and product management...
Many have wondered how the corporate compliance landscape might change with a new administration at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. After all, reducing regulation on Corporate America was a frequent talking point on the campaign trail. But the first Guidance...
If you have ever seen legislation come out of a statehouse and wondered, “What is wrong with those folks,” freshman Rhode Island Rep. Moira Walsh may have the answer. As radio station WPRO in East Providence reports , when asked during a recent...