States were busy across the country again this week passing legislation on a variety of issues, namely infrastructure, cannabis, automated speed enforcement, and state budgets.
Alabama
The Alabama legislature is considering House Bill 479, which would reduce the statewide sale tax on food.
Learn more here.
Arizona
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed Senate Bill 1234 which would have banned the use of photo cameras to enforce speeding or red light violations.
Learn more here.
California
California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require a human driver to be present in the cab of driverless vehicles for at least the next five years.
Learn more here
Colorado
Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera (D) has signed House Bill 23-1215 into law, which changes regulation around facility fees in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Learn more here.
Connecticut
The Connecticut House passed Senate Bill 922, which will prevent higher education institutions from using debt as reason to withhold student transcripts.
Learn more here.
Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed new legislation that would allow the use of cameras to enforce school zone speed limits.
Learn more here.
Illinois
The Illinois legislature has failed to pass Senate Bill 1559, a cannabis reform bill, partially due to legislators’ disagreements over the role of Delta-8 THC.
Learn more here.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is considering a new $42 million funding grant to research for treatment of opioid addictions.
Learn more here.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Legislature passed a new $50 billion plan to protect and restore the coast over the next half century.
Learn more here.
Michigan
Michigan lawmakers proposed a package of bills that would change who is eligible for driver’s licenses, including adding those who are in the country illegally.
Learn more here.
Minnesota
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) signed a bill that will legalize the usage of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older.
Learn more here.
New York
New York lawmakers are closer to passing the Clean Slate Act, which will seal criminal records for certain misdemeanors and felonies.
Learn more here.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma legislature has passed tax reforms, including the state’s franchise and marriage taxes. The legislature failed to repeal the state’s grocery tax, however.
Learn more here.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s House Finance Committee is set to vote on the rewrite of their proposed $1 billion tax plan that was proposed earlier this year. Final disputed items included tax cuts and funding for education.
Learn more here.
Texas
Proposed teacher pay raises failed this past week, with proposals getting tied up in a debate over private school vouchers programs.
Learn more here.
Vermont
Governor Phil Scott (R) is set to sign House Bill 127 into law which will make Vermont the 38th state to have legal online sports betting.
Learn more here.
Virginia
The Virginia legislature has released $6 million of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to procure food products from local farmers.
Learn more here.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice (R) has approved a series of 17 West Virginia Water Development Authority Projects.
Learn more here.
Capital and Capitol Happenings: New Positions, Promotions, and More
- Adam Nagel: new Director of Government Affairs, PennFuture
- Noah Marty: new Senior Legislative Aide, California State Assembly
- K. Elizabeth Gross: new Director, Government Relations, Discovery Financial Services
- James Logan: new Manager, State Government Affairs, American Cleaning Institute
- Tony Signorella: new Director of Government Affairs, Comcast
- Marisa Balanda: new Deputy Policy Director, PennDOT
- Bryan Barash: new Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and External Affairs, Dutchie
- Danielle Waterfield: new Senior Advisor for Environmental Review – CHIPS Program Office, U.S. Department of Commerce
Happy Birthdays This Week
- Shelby Vannoy: Assistant Director of Public Policy, Tennessee Farm Bureau
- Sean Slone: Senior Policy Analyst, The Council of State Governments
- Jeffrey Waldock: Chief of Staff, Texas House of Representatives
- Timothy Graham: Director of Governmental Relations & Coalitions, Kansas National Education Association
- Matt Herriman: Director of External Affairs & Development, Noble Education Initiative
- Katie Troller Bond: Director, Federal Government Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim
- Juan Vargas: Public Policy Coordinator, Meta
- Alexandra Kozak: Pennsylvania Field Manager, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
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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