Around the country, lawmakers and governors took action this week on various issues including penalties for fentanyl possession, social media oversight, increasing starting teacher salaries. Meanwhile, Louisiana is gearing up for its 2023 legislative session next week.

Alabama

Alabama’s Senate unanimously passed a bill to create mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl possession.

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Arkansas

Arkansas’ House of Representatives approved a bill that would require social media users to verify that they are 18 years old or obtain parental consent.

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Colorado

Colorado’s House of Representatives approved bills that would restrict advertising for crisis-pregnancy centers, and extend protections for abortion and gender-affirming care providers.

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Florida

Florida’s House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through eighth grade, and prevent teachers from using students’ preferred pronouns.

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Georgia

Georgia legislators passed a bill to increase the weight limit on rig trucks.

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Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that would require tourists to pay an entrance fee in order to access state parks and trails.

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Idaho

Governor Brad Little (R) signed a bill banning gender-affirming care.

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Illinois

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced a $27 million investment in electric school buses.

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Indiana

Governor Eric Holcomb (R) has signed a bill banning gender-affirming for minors in the state.

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Iowa

Lawmakers in Iowa are considering a bill that would require a 2/3 majority to increase taxes in the state. 

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Kansas

Lawmakers in Kansas voted to override Governor Laura Kelly’s (D) veto of a measure that would ban trans athletes from participating in school sports teams that conform to their gender identity.

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Louisiana

With state lawmakers set to convene for the 2023 Legislative Session, big topics of concern are starting to come into focus, including reform for automotive and homeowners insurance.

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Maine

State lawmakers are debating legislation that would raise the minimum salary for teachers in the state to $50,000 per year.

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Maryland

Maryland’s General Assembly gave final approval to a measure that would allow survivors of sexual abuse to sue their abusers.

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Massachusetts

Governor Maura Healy (D) has established a Latino Empowerment Council to advise the state’s executive branch.

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Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill that repealed the state’s 1931 law banning abortion.

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Minnesota

Minnesota’s Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved a bill that would legalize marijuana.

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Missouri

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) has declared his candidacy for Missouri Governor.

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has passed a $15.9 billion budget that rejects a northern border control program and an amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana.

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New Jersey

New Jersey’s state Assembly passed a bill that would allow people with autism to include their diagnosis on their driver’s license.

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New Mexico

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)  signed legislation that would shield abortion or gender-affirming care patients and providers from out-of-state investigations.

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New York

New York’s Department of Education, Police Department, Fire Department, and City University of New York have all been asked to cut their budgets by at least 3%.

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North Carolina

State Rep. Tricia Cotham (R) has switched her party from Democrat to Republican, giving the GOP a supermajority in the state House of Representatives.

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North Dakota

North Dakota’s state Senate gave final approval to a bill that would ban foreign governments or businesses from owning more than 160 acres of agricultural land in the state.

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Ohio

Marsy’s Law, created to protect the rights of victims of crime and was passed earlier in the year, is now in effect.

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Oregon

Oregon’s House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee advanced a bill that would ban flavored tobacco products, with an exception for hookah lounges.

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South Carolina

South Carolina’s House of Representatives voted to repeal the state’s sales tax on menstrual hygiene products.

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South Dakota

Governor Kristi Noem (R) vetoed a bill that would have increased THC levels in industrial hemp and its derivatives.

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Tennessee

Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted to postpone all legislation dealing with firearms until 2024.

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Texas

The Texas Senate approved a bill that would prohibit prosecutors from refusing to prosecute certain classes or types of offenses. The bill targets prosecutors who said that they will not enforce abortion bans.

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Utah

Republican lawmakers blocked the appointment of physician and Salt Lake County Councilmember Suzanne Harrison (D) to the Utah Air Quality Board.

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Vermont

Vermont’s House of Representatives has sent its version of the FY2024 state budget to the Senate.

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Virginia

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has amended a bill that would end sub-minimum wages for disabled workers.

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Washington

Governor Jay Inslee (D) has required the Department of Corrections to purchase a three-year stockpile of mifepristone in anticipation of a federal case in Texas that might block the sale of the abortion medication.

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West Virginia

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) has announced his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia.

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Wisconsin

State Representative Dan Knodl (R) won a state Senate seat, giving Republicans a supermajority in the state.

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Wyoming

Governor Mark Gordon (R) has submitted a petition for a review of the EPA’s decision to defer acting on the state’s implementation plan for ozone transport.

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Capital and Capitol Happenings: New Positions, Promotions, and More

  • Catherine Hendricks: new State Affairs Manager, American College of Surgeons
  • Eric Blackwell: new Director, Government and Political Affairs, NRG Energy
  • Stephanie Joyce: new Senior Director, Communications, American Gas Association
  • Kyle Abercrombie: new Chief Administrative Officer, Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development
  • Corey Chubner: new Executive Director of Government Affairs & Investor Relations, United Wholesale Mortgage

Happy Birthdays This Week

  • Lisa Smith: Director of Legislative Affairs, Assistant General Counsel, Maryland Public Service Commission
  • Nina Kaplan: Chair, New Jersey Digital Assets Working Group
  • Jason Wagner: Director of Policy and Government Relations, Associated Pennsylvania Constructors 
  • Cadie DiGiambattista: Government Relations, Repauno Port and Rail Terminal
  • Griffin Caruso: Senior Research Analyst, PA House Policy Committee
  • Sarah Crockett: Director of Public Policy, Texas CASA
  • Philip Moore: Government Affairs, Southwest Airlines
  • Hayden Rigo: Deputy Chief of Staff, Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General

Want to wish someone a happy birthday or recognize their new job or promotion? Email future suggestions to rjstevens@dmgs.com.

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