Hot Issues This Week

Business

VERMONT Gov. Phil Scott (R) vetoes SB 79, legislation that would have set up a rental registry, and statewide system to enforce property safety standards. Scott said he feared the bill would lead to less housing inventory “at a time when we are grappling with a critical housing shortage.”

FLORIDA Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signs SB 1120, a telemarketing regulation measure that, among several things bars all sales calls, text messages, and direct to voicemail transmissions using “an automated system for the selection or dialing of telephone numbers or the playing of a recorded message” without prior express written consent.

Education

The DELAWARE Senate approves HB 100, a bill that would require schools to have at least one counselor for every 250 K-5 students. The measure, which would also require schools to have at least one psychologist for every 700 students, moves to Gov. John Carney (D) for consideration.

OHIO Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signs SB 126, which expands the definition of hazing in state law to include “coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse” and makes hazing a second degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. School personnel who know about hazing but do nothing to stop could be charged with a third degree misdemeanor, with those found guilty facing three years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Energy

RHODE ISLAND Gov. Dan McKee (D) vetoes HB 6066, a bill that would have amended the process a renewable energy generator must follow when complying with a request from a renewable energy generator to connect to the electric system. The changes include stricter timelines to provide studies and cost estimates of infrastructure upgrades and new accounting and reporting requirements, as well as the establishment of an independent ombudsperson to oversee the electric distribution company’s interconnection practices.

Environment

COLORADO Gov. Jared Polis (D) signs HB 1162, which bans all polystyrene packaging and single-use plastic bags as of Jan. 1, 2024. The measure also requires retailers to begin charging a 10-cent bag fee as of Jan. 1, 2023.

CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signs HB 6441, a bill that allows towns and cities to create municipal storm water authorities, raise revenue and identify local climate change mitigation projects.

Social Policy

LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signs two abortion measures: HB 578, which requires abortion providers to inform women obtaining a medically-induced abortion that they may stop the process part way through if they change their mind, and HB 357, which requires minors seeking an abortion without parental consent to appeal to a court in a parish where they live.

Cities and Counties

RHODE ISLAND Gov. Dan McKee (D) signs SB 16, a bill that will make the Ocean State the first to create a two-year safe consumption site pilot program where people could test and use currently illicit drugs in a medically supervised environment. Individual municipalities will have the power to decide for themselves if they want a “harm reduction center” located in their community.

-- By RICH EHISEN

Governors

Murphy Signs NJ Worker Misclassification Bills:
Saying it “doesn’t just drag down families, it drags down our economy,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a quartet of bills intended to combat worker misclassification – the practice of employers improperly classifying workers as independent contractors in order to avoid paying state taxes and adhering to state-mandated worker benefits and protections.

The measures include: AB 5890, which allows the state to shut down and fine worksites that engage in misclassification; AB 5892, which allows officials to charge employers who engage in misclassification to avoid insurance premiums with insurance fraud: AB 5891, which creates and funds a state agency to investigate misclassification claims; and AB 1171, which requires companies bidding on state contracts to submit payroll statements to verify they have not been engaging in worker misclassification.

Two of the measures (AB 1171 and AB 5890) take effect in six months, while the other two go into effect immediately. (NJ BIZ, STAFFING INDUSTRY ANALYSTS)

Polis Signs Suite of CO Criminal Justice Bills:
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a collection of nine criminal justice reform bills, including HB 1251, which bars the use of ketamine for law enforcement purposes. The measure specifically requires emergency responders to be the ones to administer ketamine to someone, and then only after assessing their weight. Those responders must also be trained in advanced airway support techniques and have equipment to monitor the person’s vital signs. The governor also signed HB 1250, which requires Centennial State law enforcement agencies to release body camera footage within 21 days in cases where someone has complained about officer misconduct.

CA Gov Recall Election Date Set:
The election to determine if voters will recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will be held on September 14^th. Voters will determine whether to retain Newsom and, if not, who will replace him. (LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Dunleavy Won’t Block AK PF Transfer:
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) said he will not attempt to block a $4 billion transfer of Alaska Permanent Fund earnings into the fund’s constitutionally protected principal. Dunleavy said he planned to veto the transfer but did not cross the item out in the final version of Alaska’s state budget, something he later conceded was an error on his part. Lawmakers were not warm to a do-over, so the budget will stand as constructed. (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS)

Evers Signs First WI Sports Gambling Compact:
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed a compact with the Oneida Nation that would, if approved by federal regulators, make the tribe the first Badger State entity to legally offer sports wagering. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has 45 days to review the deal. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL)

HI Leg Overrides Record Number of Ige Vetoes:
Hawaii lawmakers overrode five of Gov. David Ige’s (D) vetoes last week, the most veto overrides of a sitting Democratic governor in Aloha State history. The overrides include those of a measure pulling dedicated funding of the state’s tourism marketing agency and a requirement that the state’s education department report cases of COVID-19. (HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT)

— Compiled by RICH EHISEN

Something Good Before You Go

With our attention focused on the terrible impact the coronavirus has had on people, it might be easy to overlook the deadly effects it has also had on animals. But the good news is that a vaccine is also now available for our critters. Better still, Zoetis - the veterinary pharmaceutical company that makes the vaccine - has donated 11,000 doses to approximately 70 zoos, animal sanctuaries, universities and other animal conservation sites across 27 states. This is incredible news for the perpetually cash-strapped animal benefit organizations, which have seen some large cats, gorillas and other large animals at facilities around the nation infected with the disease. And while their reasons might be different, some of the critters getting the shots did need some motivation – mostly a nice cool spray of water, though one bear did manage to wheedle a big dollop of whipped cream out of the deal. Boo ya!

That’s it for this week!