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 a broad spectrum of policy shifts aimed at addressing pressing local issues. Join us as we explore the latest developments in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, and beyond, highlighting how these legislative actions may impact residents and set new precedents nationwide.
Alabama
A new law that took effect recently in the state now expedites the process for removing squatters from properties. Under HB 182, property owners can have squatters removed within 24 hours by providing a sworn affidavit, with law enforcement mandated to enforce the removal. This change addresses the previous long-standing “squatters’ rights.”
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Arizona
The Arizona House of Representatives passed the contentious “Secure the Border Act” (House Concurrent Resolution 2060), which will now go to voters in November. If approved, it will mandate that undocumented immigrants can only enter the state through official ports of entry, bypassing a previous veto of a similar legislative measure by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.
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California
California’s decade-old ban on single-use plastic bags has inadvertently resulted in a 47% increase in plastic bag waste by weight, due to a loophole allowing thicker “reusable” bags. In response, lawmakers have passed bills AB 2236 and SB 1053 to close this loophole and redefine reusable bags, aiming to reduce the state’s annual 230,000 tons of plastic bag waste.
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Colorado
Governor Jared Polis (D) has signed several bills into law to enhance support for residents with disabilities. Such bills include HB 24-1115, which mandates accessible prescription drug labels for visually impaired individuals at no extra cost, and HB 24-1322, directing a study on expanding Medicaid to include nutrition, housing, and other health-related services.
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Connecticut
Governor Ned Lamont (D) signed two significant elder-care bills on Tuesday, focusing on improving the quality of care. These laws, effective October 1, 2024, introduce presumptive eligibility for Medicaid recipients awaiting care and expand the capacity for individuals living in nursing homes.
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Delaware
Legislators are considering a bill requiring state universities to provide access to contraceptive services. The bill has passed committee and under consideration by the Senate.
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Florida
Two bills sponsored by state Rep. Kristen Arrington have been signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and will take effect on July 1. HB 1161 streamlines the homestead exemption process for fully-disabled veterans and their spouses, while HB 59 mandates that homeowners’ associations provide their members with copies of rules and covenants, enhancing transparency and ensuring residents are informed about regulations.
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Georgia
Effective July 1, 2024, HB 1193 eliminates the need for permits to use amber flashing or revolving lights on vehicles, specifying which vehicles can use these lights and under what conditions. The bill clarifies that these vehicles are not authorized emergency vehicles, and the Department of Public Safety will stop accepting applications for amber light permits after June 30, 2024.
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Hawaii
Governor Josh Green (D) signed two bills into law: HB 2404, which offers the largest income tax cut in Hawaii’s history for working families, and SB 1035, exempting medical services reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE from the state’s General Excise Tax. HB 2404 will increase the standard deduction and amend tax brackets over seven years, reducing state income taxes for working-class families by 71% by 2031. For instance, a median-income family of four will see an increase in take-home pay of $3,613.
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Illinois
Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has signed Illinois’ largest-ever state budget, totaling $53.1 billion, for the fiscal year 2025. This budget focuses on making child care, education, healthcare, and housing more affordable and accessible.
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Kansas
Kansas lawmakers are set to consider a substantial public financing package to attract the Kansas City Chiefs to the state during a special session starting June 18, backed by top Republican leaders. Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers, while wanting to keep the team, are not rushing to counter, emphasizing the need for financially sustainable incentives.
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Louisiana
Governor Jeff Landry (R) signed Senate Bill 462, granting him the power to appoint leaders of nearly 150 boards and commissions.
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Maryland
Governor Wes Moore (D) signed an executive order to advance the state’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan. This comprehensive order requires all state agencies to submit a Climate Implementation Plan by November 1, proposes new emissions standards, and establishes the Governor’s Subcabinet on Climate. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% below 2006 levels by 2031 and achieve net zero emissions by 2045, while promoting environmental justice and clean energy initiatives.
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Michigan
The state Senate passed SB 599, aiming to improve the release of medically frail prisoners on parole. The bill is intended to allow more terminally ill prisoners to receive treatment outside the Department of Corrections, though it excludes conditions like mental illness from qualifying.
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New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed a bill that overhauls access to the state’s public records, potentially making it harder for the public and media to obtain certain documents according to some critics of the bill. Despite acknowledging the concerns of critics, Murphy asserted that the changes are modest and necessary updates to the Open Public Records Act.
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New York
The State Legislature has passed a series of bills aimed at reducing plastic waste, including a ban on the sale of single-use plastic utensils and expanded polystyrene foam containers. These bills now head over to Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to be signed or vetoed.
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Ohio
As Ohio prepares to expand medical marijuana dispensaries to include recreational sales, lawmakers introduced legislation to refine the law approved by voters. The bill mandates that individuals 21 and older attest they will not sell homegrown plants, creates a new “adult use hemp product” category to regulate Delta-8 and similar products, and prohibits their sale to those under 21. Additionally, it extends the ban on smoking and vaping marijuana to align with existing indoor public tobacco smoking restrictions.
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Pennsylvania
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) signed SB 37, known as “Paul Miller’s Law,” which bans the use of hand-held devices while driving, making Pennsylvania the 29th state to enact such a law.
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South Carolina
Governor Henry McMaster (R) vetoed two expungement bills that would have allowed people with multiple low-level offenses to clear their records. McMaster argued that the bills were too broad and could potentially expunge records of individuals who have repeatedly broken the law.
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Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) signed the state’s two-year budget totaling $188 billion. The budget includes over $2 billion for K-12 education with annual 3% raises for teachers and state-supported local employees, expanded behavioral health services, and the discontinuation of a new sales tax on digital goods.
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Washington
Washington implemented 310 new laws on Thursday, including new limits on carrying guns openly in public, loosened restrictions on police pursuits, a shorter storage period for unclaimed human remains in mortuaries, and a ban on octopus farming. Most of these laws, passed during the legislative session and signed by Governor Jay Inslee (D), take effect 90 days after the session ends, which this year was June 6.
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