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, state lawmakers are taking significant steps to address the diverse needs of their constituents.
Alabama
A bill that would have made Juneteenth a state holiday in Alabama failed in the legislature. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Juandalynn Givan, accused Republicans of blocking the bill because they wanted to honor Jefferson Davis’s birthday instead. The bill would have allowed state employees to take Juneteenth off or Jefferson Davis’s birthday.
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Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs (D) signed legislation requiring political deep fakes to include disclaimers within 90 days of an election and vetoed a bill she found duplicative concerning deep fake regulations. These measures are part of several bills passed with bipartisan support as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming election season.
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California
The state legislature is advancing four bills to amend the state’s organics recycling law, based on a Little Hoover Commission report that found the state was lagging in meeting organics diversion targets. The bills aim to ease requirements, enhance technical assistance for local governments, and develop streamlined procedures to help jurisdictions meet organic waste reduction goals.
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Colorado
Governor Jared Polis (D) signed a series of bills aimed at protecting the state’s water resources, supporting rural economic development, and enhancing healthcare access. These laws include regulations for water conservation, incentives for using graywater, and measures to develop childcare facilities in rural areas.
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Connecticut
Governor Ned Lamont (D) has signed legislation to broaden the scope of the state’s paid sick days laws, now encompassing nearly all workers regardless of their sector. This expansion aims to enhance workforce well-being by allowing more employees to care for themselves or family members without financial penalty.
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Delaware
Governor John Carney (D) has signed legislation expanding medical cannabis access, which removes the requirement for specific qualifying conditions, allowing physicians to recommend cannabis to any patient who may benefit. HB 285 also permits out-of-state registered patients to access Delaware dispensaries and allows seniors over 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis without a doctor’s recommendation.
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Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed nine bills on Tuesday, covering topics from homeowners associations, financial exploitations and HVAC systems. DeSantis received 18 bills last week, and has until June 5th to act on the remaining 9.
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Hawaii
Governor Josh Green (D) has signed several bills aimed at addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis, including measures to allow more accessory dwelling units on residential properties and to streamline the development process for housing projects. These laws are part of a comprehensive effort to increase housing availability and affordability by reforming permitting processes and enhancing funding mechanisms for affordable housing projects.
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Illinois
The House has approved a $53.1 billion state budget, which is $400 million more than Governor J.B. Pritzker’s (D) initial proposal, following extended discussions that went into early Wednesday morning. This budget plan, which includes tax increases and changes to generate an additional $1.2 billion in funding, now awaits the governor’s signature.
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Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly (D) announced a special legislative session for June 18 to address tax reform, focusing on sustainable property, sales, and income tax cuts without jeopardizing the state’s financial health. This session follows her vetoes of three substantial tax reduction bills.
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Louisiana
Governor Jeff Landry (R) has signed a series of bills that address a range of issues from improvements to the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board to adjustments in public safety measures, educational advancements, and health reforms, reflecting a comprehensive approach to state governance.
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Maryland
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) has signed some bills into law following his second legislative session. Notably, he signed a juvenile justice bill that adds more state oversight to youth offenders. Another bill permits Prince George’s County to tax communications to fund the school system.
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Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced new programs and objectives aimed at lowering housing and energy costs. The programs increase statewide targets for housing construction by 50% and look to expand rebate programs for home energy. Energy initiatives involve strong federal funding, where Whitmer believed the programs can be heightened and implemented by the end of 2024.
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Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz (D) signed a bill increasing rideshare drivers’ pay, keeping Uber and Lyft in the state. The law sets new payment rates, offers insurance benefits, and replaces a Minneapolis ordinance intended to raise driver compensation. This resolution supports the drivers’ financial stability and responds to community calls for fair wages in ridesharing.
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New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Senate has voted to legalize recreational marijuana sales, but the bill’s fate is uncertain. The bill, HB 1633, would allow adults to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and establish a regulated system for the sale of recreational cannabis. However, the bill has a provision sought by Republican Governor Chris Sununu that would limit retail pot sales to 15 shops run by the state under a franchise model. Sununu has indicated that he would not sign the bill without this provision.
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New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy (D) announced the state has settled with Ørsted, the Danish wind energy producer, after the company pulled out of their $100 million project in the state. The settlement grants $125 million to New Jersey and will be reinvested in alternative wind energy projects.
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New York
The State Senate has passed a series of bills designed to support first responders. These include measures to simplify how ambulance services can receive Medicaid payments, enable more ambulances to perform blood transfusions, and increase income tax credits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.
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Ohio
The State Senate has passed a bill aimed at ensuring President Biden’s appearance on the state’s November ballot. The bill also includes measures to prohibit foreign contributions to ballot issue campaigns, responding to Republican concerns from previous elections.
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Oklahoma
On Wednesday the State Senate voted to override Governor Kevin Stitt’s (R) veto of Senate Bill 102, which proposes increased retirement benefits for police officers. The Senate’s override was passed with a vote of 35-9 against the veto.
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Pennsylvania
The State House has passed a bill that offers tax credits to companies that contribute to their employees’ child care expenses. This initiative aims to alleviate childcare costs for workers, helping to address staffing challenges and passed with bipartisan support.
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South Carolina
Governor Henry McMaster (R) has signed two child safety bills into law. The first bill prohibits healthcare providers from performing gender transition procedures on minors, while the second requires age verification on websites with content harmful to minors to protect them from inappropriate online exposure.
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Tennessee
Governor Bill Lee (R) has signed new legislation that prohibits adults from assisting minors in obtaining abortions or gender-affirming care without parental consent. The laws, which become effective on July 1, aim to enforce parental involvement in such significant medical decisions.
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Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has signed a two-year, $188 billion state budget. This budget significantly boosts funding for K-12 education, including raises for teachers, and expands behavioral health services.
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