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So far Ryan Stevens has created 283 blog entries.

Veto-Proof Majorities Across the States

2023-03-21T09:30:46-04:00

  Photo credit: iStock.com/Pavel Muravev   Following the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats hold veto-proof majorities in both legislative chambers in nine states, compared to 18 for Republicans. In a state’s checks and balances system, governors maintain the power to veto legislation. Each state has laws and rules outlining the veto process, which varies from [...]

Veto-Proof Majorities Across the States2023-03-21T09:30:46-04:00

State Lawmakers Look to Reduce Light Pollution

2023-03-07T20:04:43-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/manuel_adorf According to NCSL, at least 19 states have laws to reduce light pollution, including so-called “dark skies” laws. As DMGS noted in 2021, light pollution is unwanted or excessive artificial light, which can cause adverse effects and degrade environmental quality. The International Dark Skies Association defines different components of light pollution, including glare, [...]

State Lawmakers Look to Reduce Light Pollution2023-03-07T20:04:43-05:00

Weekly State of the States: March 3rd Edition

2023-03-06T12:24:37-05:00

This week, legislative trends included measures to cut taxes on grocery and food products, legalization of marijuana and some controlled substances, and the passage of bills banning gender-affirming care. Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation stripping Disney of its control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Pennsylvania has a new House Speaker, and [...]

Weekly State of the States: March 3rd Edition2023-03-06T12:24:37-05:00

Should We Move To a 32-Hour, 4-Day Workweek? Some Lawmakers Think So

2023-02-28T22:59:51-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/Andrii Zastrozhnov Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, recently made headlines by calling for a four-day, 32-hour workweek. Sanders cited a recent four-day workweek pilot program in the UK, the world’s largest trial of a four-day workweek, which resulted in 15% of employees who participated [...]

Should We Move To a 32-Hour, 4-Day Workweek? Some Lawmakers Think So2023-02-28T22:59:51-05:00

Medical Marijuana Telemedicine Legislative Update

2023-02-28T13:21:08-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/Antoine Johnson Medical marijuana telemedicine services allow medical providers to issue medical marijuana certifications for eligible patients via a phone or video call. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have increasingly relied on Internet alternatives to access education, work, and healthcare services like medical marijuana telemedicine. Whether or not authorizing medical marijuana telemedicine has [...]

Medical Marijuana Telemedicine Legislative Update2023-02-28T13:21:08-05:00

New Jersey 100% Zero-Emission Car Sales by 2035

2023-02-27T17:57:30-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/Scharfsinn86 On February 15, 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed numerous executive orders (EOs) to advance clean energy and zero-emission vehicles, as well as beginning the stakeholder process that sets the state’s goal of all new car sales to be 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035. This proposal, known as Advanced Clean [...]

New Jersey 100% Zero-Emission Car Sales by 20352023-02-27T17:57:30-05:00

Regulating Kratom: 2022 Update

2023-02-27T17:54:25-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/Nikcoa According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), kratom (mitragyna speciosa) is a leaf from a tropical tree in Southeast Asia that can cause stimulant and sedative effects. In late June 2022, in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent letters to four companies selling unapproved [...]

Regulating Kratom: 2022 Update2023-02-27T17:54:25-05:00

Weekly State of the States: February 24th Edition

2023-02-24T17:53:04-05:00

This week, lawmakers around the country continued to legislate on various issues ranging from reinstating voting rights for felons to liquor law changes, automated speed enforcement, firearm restrictions, gender-affirming care, and more. Alabama Alabama’s Department of Education has requested a $984M budget increase in funding to the state’s Trust Fund. Learn more here. Arizona [...]

Weekly State of the States: February 24th Edition2023-02-24T17:53:04-05:00

Weekly State of the States: February 3rd Edition

2023-02-03T13:09:51-05:00

This past week, several states (Montana, Utah, Wyoming) introduced or advanced legislation to ban the provisioning of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Republican legislators in states including Arkansas, Kansas, North Carolina and West Virginia have introduced measures pertaining to school choice and curriculums. Additionally, bills pertaining to abortion legality were furthered in Idaho, Minnesota, and [...]

Weekly State of the States: February 3rd Edition2023-02-03T13:09:51-05:00

New Hampshire Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets Report Released: Blueprint For Other States?

2023-02-02T12:30:43-05:00

Photo credit: iStock.com/TU IS New Hampshire Executive Order Background In February 2022, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) issued Executive Order 2022-1, establishing the Governor’s Commission on Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets. The order noted that cryptocurrencies and other digital assets using blockchain technologies had gained momentum, with total global market capitalization estimates exceeding $3 trillion. [...]

New Hampshire Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets Report Released: Blueprint For Other States?2023-02-02T12:30:43-05:00
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