As we approach the end of October, lawmakers around the country remained busy on varying issues. Michigan lawmakers are advancing legislation that sets more ambitious targets for clean and renewable energy standards, while the Lt. Governor of Georgia is proposing giving $10,000 to teachers who arm themselves in the classroom. Additional issues covered below include special sessions, funding for border barriers along the Texas-Mexico border, higher education, marijuana, and more.

Not only that, but we at DMGS posted our special Halloween podcast episode! Learn more below.

Halloween Podcast Episode: Haunted State Capitols!

Did you know we started a new podcast?

In this week’s episode of Back in Session, the Ryans venture into the Capitol of Shadows, a special Halloween episode to cover spooky and haunted state Capitol buildings. Do you like ghost stories? Then this haunted state Capitol episode is for you! The Ryans discuss the hauntings of Capitols in Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Maryland, and stories including assassinations, murders, untimely deaths, and more.

Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts:

Alabama

This week, Governor Kay Ivey (R) awarded $2.5 million in grants from the Emergency Solutions Grants program to go to local governments and nonprofits to help fight homelessness across the state. 

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California

This week, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) traveled to China and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss Climate Change ahead of the APEC summit and COP28 climate meeting next month.

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Florida

Late last week, legislative leaders issued a proclamation calling for a special session next month on various issues, such as bolstering sanctions against Iran and giving extra assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Idalia. 

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Georgia

In an attempt to address school safety and security, Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R) proposed a plan for Georgia to pay teachers an additional $10,000 per year if they voluntarily undergo firearms training and arm themselves in the classroom. 

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Indiana

Earlier this week, the Interim Study Committee for Commerce and Economic Development heard testimony on artificial intelligence to determine how AI is changing the state’s economic outlook and how lawmakers should regulate it.

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Kansas

The Kansas Legislative Compensation Committee released its report last week detailing how lawmakers should be paid. 

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Michigan

Michigan’s state Senate passed legislation this week that sets more ambitious targets for clean and renewable energy standards in the state. 

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Minnesota

Governor Tim Walz (D) predicted this week that the legislature will consider a $1 billion infrastructure package next session to help fund public works projects across the state.

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Montana

The legislature began a special session this week to fix the budget bill that was voided by the state Supreme Court.

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New Hampshire

Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed an executive order this week that established a task force to study the strategic alignment of public higher education in the state.

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New York

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) again extended a state of emergency over the influx of migrants into New York. The goal of the extension is to give the state more flexibility to get resources to localities to support those seeking asylum in the state. 

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North Carolina

The GOP-controlled state Senate advanced a redistricting proposal earlier this week that could give the GOP the opportunity to pick up at least three states in Congress next year. 

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North Dakota

The state House, with two-thirds approval, this week called into a special session to address Governor Doug Burgum’s (R) tax relief proposal. Under the proposal, the first $60,000 in income by a single filer would not be subjected to state income taxes for next year.  

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Ohio

Voters are set to vote on Issue 2 (marijuana legalization) in the next few weeks, but they may not have the final say as lawmakers could change or repeal the law as GOP members of the General Assembly have shown little interest in cannabis legalization. 

Learn more here

Pennsylvania

This week, Governor Josh Shapiro indicated he would be open to speaking with lawmakers who want to change the laws regarding non-disclosure agreements, in response to a sexual harassment settlement involving a former staffer in the governor’s office. 

Learn more here

South Carolina

More than half of South Carolina’s elected prosecutors want to change how the legislature selects judges. Specifically, they are calling for legislators who are lawyers to be removed from a judicial screening committee. 

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Texas

This week, the state House Appropriations Committee approved HB 6, legislation that contains $1.5 billion in funding to build border barriers along the Texas-Mexico border. 

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Vermont

State lawmakers in Vermont are expected to debate new ways to help minimize the economic damage that natural disasters inflict in the state. 

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Wisconsin

Citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling against race-conscious admissions practices in colleges, state lawmakers this week introduced legislation to ban the consideration of race in state financial aid and scholarships for college students. 

Learn more here 

Capital and Capitol Happenings: New Positions, Promotions, and More

  • Renée Gibson: new Director of Government Affairs, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association
  • Katie Dotto: new Government Relations Manager, Modivcare
  • Joshua Spagnola: new Director, State Government Affairs & Regulatory Strategy, AstraZeneca
  • John Horton: new Head of U.S. Public Policy, DoorDash
  • Kaitlyn Floyd: new Constituent Affairs Manager, Office of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
  • Lily Moll: new Grassroots Programming Director, American Conservation Coalition
  • Tara Taggart Chilton: new Government Relations Manager, Publix Super Markets
  • Zachary McKeown: new Advocacy Manager, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

Happy Birthdays This Week

  • Tyler Laughlin: Director of Corporate and Government Relations, Allegheny County Airport Authority
  • Tyler Diers: Executive Director, Midwest, TechNet 
  • Benjamin Williams: Executive Director, Government Relations/Advocacy, Global Policy & External Relations, The College Board
  • Rian English Barnhill: Vice President of Government & Community Affairs, Olympia Development of Michigan

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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