...or at least really foolish things people say, allow me to introduce the lawyer Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear hired to defend the Bluegrass State's ban on same-sex marriage. As the Lexington Courier-Journal reports, attorney Leigh Gross Latherow told...
The NEW JERSEY Senate approves SB 1041, legislation that would ban companies from treating, discharging, disposing, and storing waste from hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, in the Garden State. It moves to the Assembly (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). •...
With wildfires burning the state down amidst the usual end-of-session jamming through bills that really ought to have had a lot more deliberation, California lawmakers can point to at least one epic accomplishment: surfing is now the official state sport...
Saying it would guarantee “a better auto insurance system for everyone,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed SB 1 , a sweeping overhaul of the Wolverine State’s auto insurance laws. One of the most significant changes contained...
SISOLAK SIGNS SWEEPING HEALTH MEASURES NEVADA Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed two significant health care measures last week: AB 170 , which codifies into Silver State law a prohibition on health insurers from denying patient coverage due to pre-existing...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) announced a 10-step reform plan last week for the scandal-plagued State Police, with changes that will include completely eliminating the troop responsible for patrolling the 138-mile Massachusetts Turnpike from Boston...
The 2016-17 budget year was a good one for West Virginia’s investment portfolio, about 81 percent of which supports the state’s pension funds. The state’s portfolio grew 15.8 percent. “As far as I know, we’re the best...
CA Board Announces Plan LOCAL FRONT : The LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA County Board of Supervisors announces a plan to install showers and bathrooms for the homeless to use in or near some of the city’s 93 metro train stations. A final plan is expected...
TN no longer covers OxyContin In an effort to combat the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic, health insurer BlueCross BlueShield announces it will stop covering OxyContin prescriptions in TENNESSEE . BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee reps say the company...
The United States Supreme Court declines to hear a challenge to an appeals court ruling that blocked an ARIZONA law that prohibited women from taking the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone after the seventh week of pregnancy. The court declined to overrule...
KENTUCKY Gov. Steve Beshear (D) announces the state will furnish three urban Bluegrass State hospitals with a total of 2,000 naloxone kits to send home with heroin overdose patients. Naloxone, which has proven to be very effective in stopping and reversing...
CA Air Resources Board Unveils Pollution Proposal The CALIFORNIA Air Resources Board unveils a proposal for new rules that would force automakers to meet the Golden State’s existing standards on car and truck pollution even if weaker ones are...
MA Governor signs SB 2260 MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signs SB 2260 , legislation that overturns a number of “antiquated and inappropriate” Bay State laws, including one that made abortion illegal. The measure also strikes down...
In a move framed as another step toward universal single-payer health care in the state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) proposed expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income young adults aged 19 to 25, regardless of immigration status. Newsom made the...
The U.S. Department of Energy is looking into whether 10,000 gallons of wastewater at a Cold War nuclear weapon production site in South Carolina can be reclassified from high-level waste to low-level waste and moved to low-level waste disposal sites...
NJ Governor Signs AB 261 NEW JERSEY Gov. Chris Christie (R) signs AB 261 , which bars the installation and sale of wheel weights containing lead or mercury and prohibits the sale of new motor vehicles equipped with wheel weights containing lead or...
This is our final issue of the year, so let me pass along best wishes for a very merry holiday season to all of you from all of us here at the State Net Capitol Journal. We'll be back in mid-January to do our best to keep you all up to speed on legislative...
Last week in our Bird’s eye view section we incorrectly identified Illinois as a state that had introduced new motor vehicle event data recorder or so-called “black box” legislation in 2015. The EDR legislation in IL was actually introduced...
The WEST VIRGINIA House approves HB 4145, which would allow adults to carry concealed handguns without obtaining a permit. It moves to the Senate (CHARLESTON GAZETTE). WISCONSIN Gov. Scott Walker (R) signs AB 142, a bill that eliminates the Badger State’s...
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) signed controversial legislation last Monday that makes dramatic changes to the state’s ailing public pension system. Among SB 151 ’s many tenets are provisions that move teachers hired after Jan. 1 2019 into...
MI Senate Approves SB 1 The MICHIGAN Senate approves SB 1 , a measure that would, among several things, allow Wolverine State drivers to choose levels of medical coverage instead of automatically getting unlimited coverage, create an auto insurance...
Going On In TX A federal judge declines to order that the U.S. government halt the federal Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, which shields young immigrants brought to this country as children from deportation. U.S. District Judge Andrew...
NJ Governor Signs SB 478, SB 493, and SB 705 NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signs a trio of transgender rights bills: SB 478 , which allows Garden State residents to amend their birth certificate without proof of having undergone a sex-change operation;...
VA City Council Rejects Proposal The VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA City Council rejects a proposal to regulate short-term rentals. The Council is expected to reconsider possible regulations and introduce a new proposal (WAVYTV [VIRGINIA BEACH]). WY City...
While it might sound like an oxymoron to some, political ethics remains one of the top issues in many statehouses this year. For instance, as the Missouri political blog PoliticMO.com reports, the Missouri Senate last week endorsed a bill that would require...