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‘Unauthorized Alien’ Limits Among Trio of Auto Insurance Proposals Under Consideration in LA House Three auto insurance bills cleared the Louisiana House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure...
Social Media Bill Dodges Veto Override in CO Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ (D) veto of a social media bill ( SB 86 ) survived an override attempt. The state’s Democrat-controlled Senate voted...
WA Enacts Law Keeping Medical Debt Off Credit Reports Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) signed a bill ( SB 5480 ) prohibiting collection agencies from reporting unpaid medical debt to credit agencies...
In 2022, there were about 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the United States. That’s the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income nations worldwide. That sobering statistic...
DOGE-Like Effort in FL Could Impact Insurance Industry The wave of housecleaning that’s swept through the federal government courtesy of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency appears...
Business
The VERMONT House and Senate give final approval to HB 313, a measure that would extend for two years an earlier executive order by Gov. Phil Scott (R) allowing for the curbside pickup and delivery of alcohol. It is with Gov. Scott now for consideration.
TEXAS Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signs SB 315, a bill that bars anyone under 21 from working in or even entering a “sexually oriented business.” Businesses that violate the law face steep fines.
The OREGON Senate approves HB 2966A, a bill that would give businesses that missed rent payments from April to September 2020 until Sept. 30, 2021, to bring their rent current. It goes to Gov. Kate Brown (D) for consideration.
NEBRASKA Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signs LB 561, a bill that legalizes sports wagering in the Cornhusker State. The measure allows bets to be placed though retail sportsbooks at pari-mutuel facilities. The bill also will create a gaming commission to create and oversee gaming regulations.
Education
The ILLINOIS House and Senate overwhelmingly approve HB 219, a bill that would bar Prairie State school workers from locking children alone in seclusion spaces and limiting the use of any type of isolated timeout or physical restraint to when there’s “imminent danger of physical harm.” The bill, which also requires schools that receive state funding to make a plan to eventually eliminate the practices over the next three years, moves to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who is expected to sign it into law.
NEVADA Go. Steve Sisolak (D) signs AB 231, which requires Silver State schools to add instruction on the Holocaust and other incidents of genocide in world history.
COLORADO Gov. Jared Polis (D) signs HB 1173, which bars state-supported colleges and universities from considering an applicant’s legacy status in their admissions policies.
Social Policy
FLORIDA Gov. Ron DeSantis signs SB 1028, a bill that bars transgender girls from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. The Sunshine State becomes at least the seventh this year to adopt such a law, joining ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, MONTANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH DAKOTA and WEST VIRGINIA.
OREGON Gov. Kate Brown (D) signs SB 554, which bars guns at the State Capitol and requires Oregonians to secure firearms at home with a trigger or cable lock, in a locked container or gun room.
Local Government
TEXAS Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signs HB 1900, which bans municipalities with populations of 250,000 or less from increasing property taxes or utility fees if they choose to reduce police budgets. Abbott also signs SB 23, which requires counties with populations of 1 million or more to hold elections before reducing or reallocating their law enforcement budgets. Counties that do so without voter approval would have their property tax revenue frozen.
-- By RICH EHISEN