Welcome to the latest edition of the DMGS State of the States, your go-to source for the most recent legislative updates from across the country. This week, we’re covering a wide array of developments, from Alabama’s significant investments in environmental infrastructure to Alaska’s push for renewable energy solutions. We’ll also dive into California’s new legislative package addressing retail theft, Connecticut’s upcoming policy on phone use in schools, and much more. Stay informed on the latest policy changes that could impact your state.

Alabama

Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced $30 million in funding for 25 projects in Mobile and Baldwin County. Programs mainly emphasize environmental education and outreach, infrastructure, and water quality. The effort was carried out in close collaboration with Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 

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Alaska

Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) signed legislation boosting community solar projects. SB-152 creates a framework for individuals purchasing solar from central solar farmers. The measure looks to address the inability of residents to install renewable energy. 

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California

California lawmakers have approved a package of 10 bills aimed at combating retail theft, highlighting a significant division within the Democratic Party as they face key issues in the upcoming November election related to addressing retail theft. While the district attorneys’ tougher stance on crime will appear on the ballot as Proposition 36, the Legislature’s alternative approach targeting organized theft rings and online marketplaces now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) signature.

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Connecticut

Governor Ned Lamont (D) is preparing his administration for a new model policy for phone use in schools. The plan is set to be released on August 21st and is part of Lamont’s initiative to fully eliminate smartphones from classrooms.

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Delaware 

Governor John Carney (D) signed a package of bills (SB 282, 283, and 284) that eliminate fees and fee-related debt within the state’s criminal legal system. These reforms aim to reduce financial burdens on individuals involved in the criminal justice system and promote fairer outcomes by removing costs that can disproportionately affect low-income residents. 

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Illinois

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed House Bill 2323 into law, establishing the Uniform Statewide Crime Statistics Task Force. This new task force, developed in collaboration with two local legislators and the Lake County state’s attorney, aims to accelerate the publication of Illinois crime data.

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Kentucky

Although Kentucky lawmakers are not currently in session, preparations are underway for the upcoming session, including efforts to expand free meal programs for students. Representative Shawn McPherson emphasized the bipartisan support for feeding children, with proposed legislation aiming to address both student food needs and benefits for Kentucky farmers.

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Massachusetts

Governor Maura Healey (D) signed the HERO Act, which will establish a psychedelics working group to study its therapeutic benefits. The program is centered around supporting treatment for military veterans. 

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Missouri

The Secretary of State certified an initiative that would reverse the state’s total abortion ban. The measure will be on the ballot in November, joining nearly a dozen states with propositions on abortion rights in the upcoming election. 

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Montana

Montana’s Supreme Court ruled that minors do not need parental consent to obtain an abortion, citing that the state’s privacy clause grants them the fundamental right to make medical decisions independently. This ruling comes as a ballot initiative to protect the right to a pre-viability abortion in the state constitution is expected to appear in the November election, with enough signatures already verified to qualify the measure.

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Nebraska

Lawmakers advanced legislation that would cut $117 million worth of budget spending. Despite the cuts, the version of the bill is considered watered-down from the demands of Governor Jim Pillen (R). The incremental changes have been part of a strenuous process in the current special session addressing property taxes.

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New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy (R) signed legislation looking to improve student literacy rates. Senate Bill 2644 requires students in kindergarten through third grade to be screened for literacy at least twice a year. Parental notification will be required when students are underperforming on these exams. The bill received unanimous support in both the Assembly and Senate. 

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New Mexico

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) continued her promotion of a new initiative aimed at incentivizing Texas medical professionals to relocate to her state. The program is inspired by recent abortion bans in Texas, centering around allowing practitioners to move to New Mexico for greater medical provision freedoms. 

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New York

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced new funding for bonuses for healthcare workers. Around $2 billion will be sent to qualifying members of the 800,000 healthcare employees in the state. The incentives align with Hochul’s push to address shortages in the healthcare sector.

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Ohio

An Ohio lawmaker is proposing to exempt tips and gratuities from income tax, a move aimed at benefiting over half a million working-class Ohioans. While the bill currently contains only a placeholder sentence, the full legislative language is expected to be introduced when the legislature reconvenes in November.

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Oregon

Lawmakers and representatives from the insurance industry convened to discuss homeowner insurance rates, motivated by detrimental wildfires that destroyed several homes. The discussions follow a 2023 bill that prohibited insurance companies from using wildfire maps as a basis for increasing premiums. 

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Pennsylvania

Starting next year, Pennsylvania will begin automatically returning some unclaimed money to residents without requiring them to file a claim, thanks to a bill passed unanimously by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro (D). This legislative success is a significant win for Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who proposed the change and is up for re-election this November.

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South Carolina 

A question on the November ballot in South Carolina will ask voters if the state constitution should specify that “only a” citizen can vote, instead of “every” citizen who is at least 18 and properly registered. The Constitutional Ballot Commission decided that no additional explanation is needed, as proponents argue it will safeguard against any future rulings allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections, despite Democrats labeling the measure as unnecessary.

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Texas

The House Public Education Committee began hearings on topics relating to public education that are expected to be prominent in next year’s legislative session. Specifically, debates were had on religion in schools and education savings accounts, including the issue of school vouchers. 

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Wisconsin

Voters in Wisconsin participated in the first primary elections under the state’s newly adopted legislative maps, following a state Supreme Court ruling that declared the previous maps unconstitutional. Incumbent legislators largely held off challengers from outside the Legislature, while two of the state’s prominent election deniers lost their races.

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