In this week’s legislative roundup, states across the country have made notable strides in addressing pressing issues in their respective jurisdictions. California approved a budget with significant spending cuts and tax increases to manage a substantial deficit, and in Colorado, a new law bans toxic “forever chemicals” in various products.
Explore these updates and more as we provide a look at the latest legislative actions shaping state policies and impacting communities nationwide.
Alabama
State lawmakers have pre-filed a bill for the 2025 legislative session that would allow the governor and attorney general to appoint police chiefs in certain municipalities.
Learn more here
Arizona
Last week, Arizona lawmakers adjourned after considering an unprecedented number of water bills, though none effectively addressed rural groundwater management. Of the bills passed, Governor Katie Hobbs signed eight and vetoed twelve, expressing a willingness to collaborate on future water reforms.
Learn more here
California
California lawmakers approved a budget on Wednesday that includes spending cuts and temporary tax increases on some businesses to address a $46.8 billion deficit. This marks the second consecutive year of scaling back progressive policies due to financial constraints, contrasting with the $100 billion surpluses seen just two years ago fueled by federal COVID-19 aid and high tax revenues from wealthy residents.
Learn more here
Colorado
A new state law bans the sale of dental floss, clothing, and household products containing toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
Learn more here
Connecticut
Governor Ned Lamont (D) vetoed two bills that would have provided financial assistance to striking workers and required certain training programs. Lamont expressed concerns about the fiscal impact and practical implementation of the proposed legislation, emphasizing the need for sustainable and balanced approaches to worker support and workforce development.
Learn more here
Delaware
The State Senate has approved a bill that would allow assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, moving it one step closer to becoming law. The legislation includes strict guidelines and safeguards to ensure that the decision is voluntary and well-considered, reflecting ongoing debates over end-of-life care and patient autonomy.
Learn more here
Florida
On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed three bills into law and vetoed one. The signed bills address antisemitism definitions (HB 187), balloon releases (HB 321), and security funding for Jewish schools (HB 1109). DeSantis vetoed House Bill 1241, which aimed to tighten regulations on probation violations.
Learn more here
Georgia
On July 1, new laws are set to take effect in Georgia, including the acceleration of the largest state income tax cut in history,
Learn more here
Hawaii
Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green (D) has announced his intent to veto 17 bills from the latest legislative session, citing the state’s financial outlook and the need to address high living costs, affordable housing, and wildfire impacts. The potential vetoes include a $300 million rainy day fund infusion and a $450 million allocation for Maui recovery, redirecting these funds to cover the state’s depleted reserves and major disaster fund, respectively. Lawmakers are considering overriding these vetoes, which would require a two-thirds majority
Learn more here
Illinois
Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has signed a comprehensive economic development bill that includes incentives for the quantum computing industry. HB 5005 aims to boost economic growth by attracting high-tech investments and fostering new partnerships in the coming months, reflecting a strategic push to position Illinois as a leader in advanced technologies.
Learn more here
Iowa
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state’s strict abortion law, which bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, is legal, directing a lower court to lift a temporary block on the law. Abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy until the lower court formally acts on the ruling, which will be communicated in 21 days.
Learn more here
Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill aimed at attracting the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from Missouri. The legislation provides financial incentives and infrastructure investments to entice the teams to relocate.
Learn more here
Louisiana
Governor Jeff Landry (R) has vetoed several bills from this year’s legislative session, including measures to ease pardons for marijuana possession, regulate deepfake technology, and allocate more funds to parishes with carbon sequestration projects on state lands.
Learn more here
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill on Tuesday aimed at expanding renewable energy adoption to help meet the state’s climate goals, including achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The bill includes provisions to lower utility bills for low and middle-income consumers, ban competitive electric suppliers, and enhance electric vehicle infrastructure. It also extends the EV tax incentive program through 2027, offering residents $3,500 to $6,000 for purchasing new or used electric vehicles.
Learn more here
Michigan
The Michigan House passed House Bill 5803, aimed at reducing school district contributions to teacher retirement and redirecting excess funds to classroom needs. This bill, alongside SB 911, also eliminates the 3% tax public school teachers pay into a retirement health care fund.
Learn more here
Nebraska
The state’s special legislative session will commence on July 25, focusing on property tax relief. Governor Jim Pillen (R) called the session to address urgent issues related to property taxes, aiming to implement reforms that will alleviate the financial burden on homeowners and improve the state’s tax system.
Learn more here
New Jersey
After incorporating an additional $600 million in spending earlier this week, legislators are preparing to forward Governor Phil Murphy (D) a record-breaking nearly $57 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year starting Monday. The final approval votes for the fiscal year 2025 budget bill are scheduled for Friday afternoon in both the Assembly and Senate, where Democrats hold the majority.
Learn more here
Ohio
State lawmakers concluded their final sessions before a long summer break by voting on over 50 bills, with plans to reconvene in November. They addressed various issues such as health care, education, and human trafficking. The most significant item approved was the state’s capital budget, a $4.2 billion funding package that received broad bipartisan support.
Learn more here
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lawmakers are working to finalize a new budget, but it is expected to extend beyond the new fiscal year’s start, with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and top lawmakers remaining optimistic about progress in closed-door discussions despite the missed July 1 deadline. This marks the second consecutive year Shapiro’s budget has missed the deadline in the state’s politically divided government. The Republican-controlled Senate recessed on Thursday and will return after the weekend, while the Democratic-controlled House planned a voting session on Friday before also breaking for the weekend and reconvening on Monday.
Learn more here
Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee (D) concluded Pride Month by signing three bills into law on Thursday, including measures to streamline the name change process, remove obstacles to accessing HIV medication, and establish legal protections for healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care and reproductive health services.
Learn more here
Vermont
Following Monday’s historic veto session where the legislature overrode six of Governor Phil Scott’s (R) vetoes, the governor voiced his strong disapproval on Tuesday, calling it a sad day for Vermont. He also reiterated his frustration with the legislature, highlighting their boast of reducing average property tax increases to 13.8% from a projected 20.5%.
Learn more here
Latest News
Welcome to the DMGS Weekly State of the States! This week, we highlight various legislative developments, including Alabama's proposal for state oversight of local police departments, Arizona's budget adjustments to address a financial shortfall, and [...]
Welcome to the latest DMGS State of the States, where we provide a roundup of key legislative activities across the nation. This week, we cover a variety of important developments, from Arizona's budget cuts impacting [...]
In this week's States of States, we explore a range of new laws and bills making headlines across the nation. From significant tax relief in Hawaii to tightened gun laws in Washington, these changes reflect [...]
Welcome to this week's State of the States, where we explore the dynamic landscape of state-level policy changes across the United States. From healthcare reforms and environmental initiatives to education funding and civil rights legislation, [...]
Stay In Touch