This week, state lawmakers across the country were busy addressing various policy issues, including action to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF), address public safety issues, implement tax cuts, regulate AI, and fund infrastructure projects.
Alabama
The state legislature has advanced a series of bills to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF procedures have been halted in Alabama following a ruling by the state Supreme Court that determined frozen embryos are legally children.
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Florida
State lawmakers are considering bills to fund sickle cell research. If passed, the bill will allocate $10 million per year to research centers in the state.
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Hawaii
State lawmakers are considering legislation to punish dog owners whose dogs injure or kill someone. The proposals come after a number of communities in Hawaii have suffered attacks by vicious dogs against people and animals.
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Idaho
State lawmakers are considering legislation to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Idaho. The initiative follows the halting of IVF procedures in Alabama following a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that determined frozen embryos are legally children.
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Indiana
State lawmakers have proposed a bill to ban the use of high-fructose corn syrup in all foods and beverages in the state.
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Iowa
The State Legislature has unanimously passed a bill to strengthen enforcement measures of Iowa’s limit on the amount of farmland allowed to be owned by foreigners. The bill increases fines for violations, mandates foreign landowners report more information to the state, and authorizes the attorney general to conduct investigations related to foreign land ownership.
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Kentucky
The State House has advanced a bill to make it easier for ex-convicts to find employment following their release from prison. If passed, the bill would limit an ex-convict’s barring from a state government job or occupational license to cases where the individual’s conviction is related to the job.
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Louisiana
The Louisiana Legislature has passed a package of bills seeking to crack down on crime in the state. The package includes reducing opportunities for parol, expanding methods of capital punishment, and allowing 17-year-olds to be criminally charged as adults.
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Maine
State lawmakers have approved a bill to allow local businesses to adopt reusable carryout containers that can later be returned to be sanitized.
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Mississippi
A state lawmaker has introduced a bill to extend Mississippi’s deer hunting season by one month.
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New Hampshire
A state lawmaker has introduced a bill to establish a statewide animal abuse registry for use by law enforcement.
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New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy (D) delivered his annual budget address this week, proposing a $56 billion spending package. In his address, the governor proposed property tax reliefs, a corporate tax on New Jersey’s largest companies, and investments in public education, children’s healthcare, and the state’s power grid.
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New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a package of three bills this week to increase investments in housing and infrastructure. The bills provide increased funding and loan opportunities for new housing development projects and infrastructure planning.
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Ohio
The State Senate has passed a bill to ban foreign citizens from donating money to ballot campaigns in Ohio. The bill also mandates that anyone working on a ballot campaign must register with the state as a political action committee.
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Oklahoma
Governor Kevin Stitt (R) has signed a bill to eliminate Oklahoma’s 4.5% state grocery tax.
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Pennsylvania
A state lawmaker has introduced a bill to require all content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to be marked with a disclaimer identifying it as such. The bill would also impose a fine of up to $1,000 for a violation of the law or $3,000 if a victim tricked by AI-generated content that is not labeled, is over 60 years old.
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South Carolina
State lawmakers have introduced a bill to expand South Carolina’s school voucher program to make all students eligible by the 2026-27 school year.
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Virginia
State lawmakers have passed legislation to create a legal recreational marijuana market in Virginia. The framework includes a statewide sales tax of 11.625%.
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Washington
State lawmakers have passed a bill to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 years old. Governor Jay Inslee (D) is expected to sign the bill into law.
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West Virginia
The State Senate has approved a bill to remove marriage as an exemption for certain instances of sexual assault. If passed, the bill would allow for individuals to be charged with committing first- and third-degree sexual assault against their spouses.
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