Yearly Archives: 2020

2020 DMGS Year in Review

2020-12-30T07:15:00-05:00

This year, DMGS has helped provide legislative updates and insight into various issues in state capitals around the country. In 2020, state lawmakers across the country were confronted with a myriad of issues related to responding to COVID-19, as well as changing the way they operate to help prevent the spread of the virus. In [...]

2020 DMGS Year in Review2020-12-30T07:15:00-05:00

President Trump Signs COVID-19 Relief Deal

2020-12-28T14:47:14-05:00

Digital Collage by Ryan Stevens; image source by forcal35 from Pixabay Trump Yields on COVID-19 Relief Deal President Donald Trump signed the COVID-19 relief bill Sunday night. By waiting until Sunday to approve the COVID-19 relief deal, as many as 14 million Americans lost one week of expanded unemployment assistance.  Meanwhile, Trump’s surprise attack on the relief [...]

President Trump Signs COVID-19 Relief Deal2020-12-28T14:47:14-05:00

Gun Legislation Update & 2021 Outlook

2023-09-11T01:43:58-04:00

Digital Image by Ryan Stevens; image source by Brett Hondow from Pixabay In early 2019, we looked at potentially major changes to “gun control” laws.  We also looked at legislation and regulations related to “ghost guns” earlier this year.   As lawmakers in states around the country pre-file legislation for the 2021 legislative sessions, many bills [...]

Gun Legislation Update & 2021 Outlook2023-09-11T01:43:58-04:00

Lobbyists, Lawmakers, and the Revolving Door

2023-09-11T01:31:14-04:00

Digital collage by Ryan Stevens; image source by David Mark from Pixabay A “revolving door” is the practice of public officials or employees leaving their positions to lobby.  However, each state has rules and laws that stipulate when public officials or employees can begin lobbying.  The period that someone must wait is a “cooling off” [...]

Lobbyists, Lawmakers, and the Revolving Door2023-09-11T01:31:14-04:00

COVID-19 Vaccine Plans by State: Phased-Approaches and Who Will Have Access First

2023-09-11T01:43:59-04:00

Digital Image by Ryan Stevens; image source by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay  As COVID-19 vaccines become available and distributed, public health professionals are laying the groundwork across the country for how best to distribute the vaccines.  An FDA panel formally recommended that the FDA authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on December 10, and vaccine shipments to states have already [...]

COVID-19 Vaccine Plans by State: Phased-Approaches and Who Will Have Access First2023-09-11T01:43:59-04:00

Pre-Filed Legislation in State Capitols: a 2021 Session Preview

2023-09-11T01:31:16-04:00

Digital Collage by Ryan Stevens; image source by David Mark from Pixabay In 2021, every state legislature in the country will meet, with the vast majority beginning their sessions in January.  While lawmakers might not meet until next month (or later), most states allow lawmakers to prepare pre-filed legislation.  Only 13 state legislative bodies do [...]

Pre-Filed Legislation in State Capitols: a 2021 Session Preview2023-09-11T01:31:16-04:00

State Action to Allow College Student-Athletes to be Paid

2023-09-11T01:31:16-04:00

Digital Illustration by Ryan Stevens In the midst of the college football season, the debate over whether or not college athletes should be allowed to profit off of their image and likeness is heating up.  College athletes help earn the NCAA, their schools, TV networks, clothing companies, video games, etc., millions, or even billions, in [...]

State Action to Allow College Student-Athletes to be Paid2023-09-11T01:31:16-04:00

2021 Presidential & Congressional Transition Tracker

2020-11-30T12:19:53-05:00

UPDATED: 01/11/21 at 2:30 PM Keep track as President-elect Joe Biden names individuals to his cabinet and Administration heading into next year, as well as new Congressional leadership, with the DMGS Presidential & Congressional Transition Tracker! The document, which you can download below, outlines the following: President-elect Biden's Cabinet nominees.President-elect Biden's nominees to lead independent [...]

2021 Presidential & Congressional Transition Tracker2020-11-30T12:19:53-05:00

State Legislative 2021 Leadership

2023-09-11T01:44:00-04:00

Digital collage by Ryan Stevens; image sourced from by Kim Broomhall from Pixabay  As the dust settles from the 2020 elections, state lawmakers will elect new leadership for 2021 sessions. Familiar faces are continuing in their legislative leadership roles in some states, while new leaders appear in others. Connecticut Connecticut has a new House Speaker in Matt Ritter.  [...]

State Legislative 2021 Leadership2023-09-11T01:44:00-04:00

Michigan Criminal Justice Reform

2023-09-11T01:31:17-04:00

Digital Illustration by Alana Burman Earlier this year we looked at clean slate and second chance legislation introduced and passed around the country, including Michigan. The package of bipartisan clean slate criminal justice reform bills in Michigan were signed into law in October by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, but this was not Michigan’s first foray into [...]

Michigan Criminal Justice Reform2023-09-11T01:31:17-04:00
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