This week, lawmakers were busy wrapping up sessions for the year as well as continuing to prepare for 2024 legislative sessions. Notably, Connecticut lawmakers are proposing to ban non-disclosure agreements in the workplace, New Jersey’s governor is open to increasing the minimum wage above $15 an hour, and Pennsylvania lawmakers finalized the state budget, but not before declaring 2023 as “Taylor Swift’s Era.”

Alabama

Lawmakers in Alabama discussed how to best help ongoing issues in state prisons during a legislative prison oversight committee hearing. 

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Arizona

The Arizona Department of Child Safety announced they will halt investigating reports of marijuana exposure to newborns as long as the child’s parents are registered medical marijuana patients.

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California

Gavin Newsom (D) signed several new bills this year prioritizing workers’ rights that will take effect in 2024. These include a minimum wage increase to $16 per hour, a $23 per hour raise for healthcare workers, and an increase to $20 per hour for fast food workers. Under additional new laws, workers will be entitled to five paid sick days (increase from three days per year) or 40 hours of time off per year and employers will be prohibited from noncompete agreements.

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Colorado

Colorado air pollution regulators are advocating for a meeting with Governor Jared Polis (D) to discuss the potential of a 30% cut in ozone precursors and limiting oil and gas companies’ nitrogen oxide emissions to a per barrel limit. 

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Connecticut 

Some lawmakers are proposing to ban non-disclosure agreements in the workplace.

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Florida

The House Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee approved a bill that weakens child labor laws, allowing teens to work longer hours and eliminates curfew restrictions. The bill allows 16 and 17 year-olds to work before 6:30 A.M. and after 11 P.M. and more than 30 hours a week. The bill is expected to resume progress in the upcoming legislative session.

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Illinois

A new law in Illinois will guarantee at least one week of paid leave for all workers within the state. Under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, employees working for companies with at least five employees will be eligible for a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave per year.

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Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill repealing an abortion law requiring the purchase of a special insurance rider to cover abortions.

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New Jersey

As the minimum wage statewide is set to reach $15 an hour at the start of the new year, Governor Phil Murphy (D) announced he is open to the possibility of raising it even higher.

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New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has signed four new laws to protect consumers from price gouging, medical debt, and unfair business practices. The legislative package includes measures prohibiting the sale of medicine for excessive prices during drug shortages, prohibiting hospitals from reporting medical debt to credit agencies, and requiring companies to notify customers of automatic subscription renewals and provide clear instructions for canceling services.

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North Carolina

New teen driving laws will start on January 1, increasing the time young drivers must hold their level 1 limited learner permit to nine months. The new law will also permanently require teen drivers to be at least 16 years old, log 60 hours of driving time, pass a road test, and show proof of insurance in order to obtain a level 2 license.

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Ohio

This week, state lawmakers passed a bill to prohibit doctors from providing gender-affirming care,  including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to trans youth. Governor Mike DeWine (R) has ten days to sign or veto the legislation.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers finally wrapped up the budget, but not before the state House narrowly passed a resolution recognizing 2023 as the “Taylor Swift Era.” 

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Texas

Texas is set to implement 31 new bills and sections for 13 other bills on Jan. 1, 2024. Notable bills include SB 10, which will provide a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers, HB 4758, which will make e-cigarette marketing a Class B misdemeanor, and SB 2, which would permanently raise the homestead exemption on local school taxes.

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

  • Alex Arnold: new Director of Government Affairs, New Jersey Association of Health Plans
  • Blair Anderson: new Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Scout Motors Inc.
  • Oscar Garza: new Director – Government Relations, ERCOT

Happy Birthdays This Week

  • Lora Miller: Director of Government Affairs & Public Relations, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants 
  • Luke Harms: Director, Government Relations, Whirlpool Corporation
  • Prashanthi Raman: Vice President of Global Government Affairs, Cruise
  • Annie Dutton: Director of Government Relations, Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky 
  • Jacob Caplan: Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs, ACCSES New Jersey
  • Peter Chandler: Vice President of Federal Policy and Government Relations, TechNet 
  • Erik Rison: Senior Regional Manager, Government Relations, Westrock Company
  • Deno Peridou: Director of External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T

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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