Welcome to this week’s comprehensive roundup of legislative activities from across the United States. Each state’s lawmakers have been busy addressing a myriad of issues, from Alabama’s push to expedite public records requests to Wisconsin’s debate over environmental funding. 

Dive in to learn more about the legislative changes proposed or enacted, whether it’s Alaska’s healthcare agreements, Arizona’s new standards for dementia care, or Florida’s initiatives to curb crime. 

Alabama

An Alabama Senate committee has approved a bill that would necessitate state agencies to recognize and address public records requests within a 10-day timeframe. 

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Alaska

Lawmakers approved legislation that seeks to authorize healthcare agreements in the state. SB 45 would specify that direct care agreements are not considered insurance and are therefore not subjected to insurance regulations. 

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Arizona

Governor Katie Hobbs (D) signed legislation into law this week that would mandate the Department of Health Services to set minimum training standards for individuals working with residents with memory issues. HB 2764 would provide state health officials greater authority to monitor, fine, and eliminate assisted living facilities that endanger the patients seeking help. 

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Arkansas

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) delivered her State of the State address this week. Her speech laid out her legislative priorities including addressing ongoing crime, the effects of recent weather disasters, and showing support for the LEARNs act. 

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California

Two pieces of legislation related to artificial intelligence have advanced in the legislature. These  bills propose an extension of the penal code to ecompass AI-generated content involved child sexual abuse material as well as amend the current penal code to revise the definition of obscene material. 

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Colorado

Lawmakers have passed a bill out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, SB24-10, that would create an interstate compact for out-of-state dentists and dental hygienists to gain easier access to licenses to practice their professions in Colorado. 

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Connecticut

Lawmakers advanced legislation out of the state Senate that seeks to improve children’s mental health and safety in the state. SB 126 would require state employees to conduct home visits to monitor families with active safety plans. 

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Florida 

Lawmakers advanced numerous pieces of legislation to address crime in the state, including measures that would limit smash-and-grab thefts, update the registration process for sexual predators and offenders, and would make engaging in verbal or written explicit communication a third-degree felony.  

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Georgia

Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed legislation into law that would permit municipalities to hold promoters of events that are not permitted responsible for public service costs and damages. SB 443 seeks to manage damages that are incurred by public events that take place throughout the year. 

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Hawaii

Two pieces of legislation have advanced this week in the state legislature that seek to gradually eliminate short-term rentals not utilized by their owners. The bills would attempt to address homelessness and increasingly costly housing expenses in the state. 

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Idaho 

Governor Brad Little (R) signed legislation into law that would prohibit staff and students to use their preferred name and pronouns in school settings. This bill would ban public employees from using a student’s name that does not align with their sex assignment at birth. 

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Illinois

Legislation advanced out of the state Senate that would increase regulations on funeral homes to utilize when dealing with human remains. SB 2643 would institute a tagging system and implement identification rules for funeral establishments and crematory authorities to implement when handling deceased individuals. 

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Iowa

Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed numerous pieces of legislation into law this week. The list of bills include measures to address illegal immigration, stormwater and topsoil, and increased options for maternal support. 

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Kentucky 

Governor Andy Beshear (D) vetoed legislation this week that would make numerous changes to the state’s criminal code, imposing harsher sentencing for certain crimes. This bill would impose a three-strike penalty, establish an unlawful camping offense, and address other concerning crimes in the state. 

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Louisiana

Lawmakers passed legislation that would bar transgender individuals from using restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters aligning with their gender identity. This bill specifically prohibits use of these facilities in public schools, correctional facilities, and domestic violence shelters. 

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Maine

Legislation advanced out of the legislature would establish a commission instructed to study and recommend regulations related to accessing psychedelic substances and services for therapeutic use. 

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Maryland

Governor Wes Moore (D) signed legislation establishing the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade Act, a bill that would support businesses and individuals who were affected by the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

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Massachusetts

This week, the State House unveiled its fiscal year 2025 budget proposal. The $57.9 billion spending package includes a 3.3% spending increase over the previous year and the legalization of online lottery sales to increase state revenue.

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Minnesota

The State Senate has passed a bill that would expand tenants’ rights in the state. SF 3492 would permit tenants the ability to organize, the right to call emergency services, and provide remedies for tenants who are unable to move into their rentals because of uncontrollable factors. 

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Mississippi

Legislation has moved forward in Mississippi that would define where individuals in the state are allowed to use bathrooms and changing rooms. Under the Safer Act bill, gender specific areas in public buildings and spaces would be required to be utilized by individuals based on their birth-assigned sex rather than the gender they identify with. 

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Missouri

Lawmakers approved legislation that seeks to prevent public funding from going towards Planned Parenthood. The bill would block Planned Parenthood from qualifying to receive reimbursements from the Medicaid program in the state.  

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Nebraska

Lawmakers have advanced bills to improve the recruitment of special education teachers and increase training and programming to improve literacy abilities for students. 

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New Jersey

Lawmakers introduced legislation that seeks to raise the tax rates for online sports betting and casino operators in the state. Under the proposed legislation, sports betting and online casino operators tax rates would be increased to 30%. 

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New York

Lawmakers advanced legislation aimed at improving anti-slaughter laws, mandating inspections of abandoned properties for neglected animals, and broadening the ban on the sale of exotic animals in the state. 

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North Dakota

Nebraska lawmakers approved a plan to provide state-funded scholarships for private school attendance, after a four-hour debate. The vote was 31-12 in favor of advancing the bill.

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Ohio

A House committee advanced legislation that would prohibit transgender students from using restrooms that align with their gender identity. 

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Pennsylvania

The House voted 124-77 to pass a bill that expands the ban on using handheld devices while driving. The bill, which has already cleared the state Senate, would make any use of a handheld device a summary offense subject to a $50 fine.

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Rhode Island

Legislation advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee to increase penalties for individuals found driving under the influence. This bill would require drunk drivers to remain at the scene of a crash and failure to do so would result in facing up to 30 years in prison. 

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South Carolina

Lawmakers advanced legislation that would permit candidates for elected offices to use donations from their campaigns to cover the cost of childcare. This goal of the bill is to increase the number of individuals who run for office in the state.

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South Dakota

State lawmakers have approved adjustments to a law that provides healthcare providers with reimbursements for providing care to Medicaid recipients. The state reimbursements will now be annually adjusted for inflation.

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Tennessee

Lawmakers passed legislation that would require public schools to teach gun safety courses to students. This bill would ensure that students learn about age-appropriate and grade-appropriate gun safety. 

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Utah

Governor Spencer Cox (R) signed legislation into law to increase safety in schools across the state. This bill would require schools to install silent alarms that can be utilized in emergency situations. 

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Virginia 

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) signed legislation allowing up to 200 MW of shared power projects between Virginia’s two major utilities. The bills aim to improve and expand solar access and create a shared solar program for southwest Virginia customers.

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Wisconsin

Governor Tony Evers (D) vetoed a bill that would have allocated $125 million to combat PFAS in Wisconsin. He called for a special meeting of the Joint Finance Committee to address this issue and an additional $15 million for hospitals in western Wisconsin. The veto was based on concerns about the bill’s grant program under the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which would have provided funding for properties contaminated by PFAS.

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