State Intelligence Digest 2/25

From the Membership and Engagement Team at ALEC, this week’s breakdown of top stories and policy action. While not an exhaustive list of current events, we hope this glimpse into developments across the country will be of interest to members of our organization and relevant as we seek to engage with the states.

While a myriad of proposals are naturally being debated across the country, one common theme is the ongoing push to legalize marijuana, argued as a necessity in order to compete with nearby states that have already done so. At both ends of the country, Governors in the Golden State and the Empire State continue to facing backlash over their handling of the Coronavirus outbreak, while many legislatures in are crafting bills to solidify their place at the table for future emergencies.

• Alabama
  • Lottery and casino bill delayed 2 weeks.
  • Everything you need to know about what went on in the Capitol on Tuesday.
  • Interesting read on criminal justice in Alabama.
• Alaska
  • State House has organized without a firm majority.
  • No new taxes until a state-wide vote on a constitutional amendment.
• Arizona
  • Senate President Fann has a proposal that would raise AZ low unemployment pay.
  • SB1687 has been introduced that would not allow government agencies to have social media pages in response to censorship.
  • ACCE: Arizona Senate votes to place more county supervisors in Maricopa and Pima Counties.
• Arkansas
  • State House acts to tax-exempt COVID relief.
  • The Senate has voted to send a job-less aid tax exemption to Governor Hutchinson.
• California
  • Newsome, with support of a supermajority in the legislator, extends all mail-in-voting through 2021 just as recall efforts against him gain momentum.
  • $7.6 billion passed in state coronavirus relief, targeting small businesses and some 5.7 million individuals eligible for a $600 check. More aide is still expected.
  • New strain of Coronavirus in California is being touted as more diabolical than anything we’ve yet seen.
• Colorado
  • Colorado Bill seeks to suspend state-wide school testing this year.
  • Colorado Springs Gazette: The teachers union leverages COVID.
  • $206 million in jobless contract worker claims paid in first 3 days.

• Connecticut
  • Lamont’s proposed agenda, with no new or increased taxes, is putting him at odds with progressives in the Democratic-controlled legislature.
  • Age-based rollout continued for the Coronavirus vaccine; teachers, child care providers and staff will be eligible in March.
  • ACCE: State Legislature aiming for $100 million in new aid to municipalities.
• Delaware
  • Carney eases restrictions on gathering.
• Florida
  • Education priorities in this legislative session.
  • ACCE: Palm Beach County won’t lower flags to honor Rush Limbaugh despite DeSantis order.
• Georgia
  • 45 states are doing a better job than Georgia when it comes to vaccine distribution.
  • US Supreme Court heard arguments on the water wars case between FL and GA today.
  • Georgia becomes a top-10 exporter state.
• Hawaii
  • $12 minimum wage and various affordable housing bills being considered in the Hawaii legislature. Meanwhile, SB 1321, to legalize gambling in the state, failed in the committee.
  • House Bill 103 being considered to reign in executive emergency authority.
  • ACCE: As Oahu looks to move into the less-restrictive Tier 3 this week, after case counts remain low on the island, the mayor plans to petition Gov. Ige to include recreational sports.
• Idaho
  • Legislation to limit scope of executive emergency authority continues to be refined.
  • ACCE: Senate Bill 1108 looks to reign in local property tax growth rates.
• Illinois
  • Illinois just became the first state to end cash bail after Gov. Pritzker signed bill this week.
  • ACCE: Tension remains in Chicago even after agreement between Mayor Lightfoot and teacher’s unions opens K-8 schools to in-person learning.
• Indiana
  • Holcomb signs law for business liability protections regarding COVID-19, even with retroactive effect.
  • Indiana legislature pushing forward with executive power reforms, the Senate specifically passing SB 407.
  • Humorous businessman declares Gov. Whitmer “Indiana’s Business Person of the Year”.
• Iowa
  • Iowa Senate files bill putting social media companies on watch regarding online censorship. Senate President and ALEC member, Jake Chapman, notes that Facebook and Google have data centers, so-called server farms, in Iowa. and those companies were awarded valuable tax credits and property tax exemptions.
  • Election reform bills looking to land on floor of both chambers, shortening window for early voting and more aggressively cleaning the voting rolls.
  • Legislature passes 4% increase in K-12 funding.

• Kansas
  • Kansas DOL paid nearly $300 million in fraudulent claims last year.
• Kentucky
  • Kentucky Senate votes to make to-go alcohol sales legal.
  • Judge hears arguments in case between legislators and Governor Beshear on emergency executive powers.
  • Legislature is voting on reopening closed school districts.
• Louisiana
  • Louisiana’s dependence on federal aid leaves budget picture unclear.
  • Sports betting in Louisiana: How will it work? When might it start? A look at key questions.
• Maine
  • Susan Collins wants $15B to increase rural broadband access.
  • In budget speech, Janet Mills proposes $111M in borrowing to aid pandemic recovery.
• Maryland
  • Restaurant Association of Maryland CEO: It’s time to start easing dining capacity restrictions.
  • Marijuana legalization proposed in Maryland legislature.
• Massachusetts
  • Legalization of all drugs and soda tax among recent proposals in 2021 session.
  • Sports betting still a goal of governor and some in legislature.
  • Baker facing questions and backlash from legislature over vaccine rollout.
• Michigan
  • ALEC State Chair, Matt Hall, sponsor of one of several election reform bills.
  • Whitmer comes around to need for in-person learning.
  • Proposed change to Michigan lame duck session, requiring two-thirds vote on bills in even (election) years, put forward by House Speaker.
• Minnesota
  • Minnesotans who got extra unemployment benefits could see big tax bills this year.
  • State revenue numbers are up.
• Mississippi
  • Speaker Gunn unpacks income tax phase out plan at Capitol press conference.
  • Mississippi Governor Reeves joins 16 other Governors to oppose Biden’s oil, gas lease ban.
• Missouri
  • Legislators in House looking to ban eminent domain use for expansion of wind-energy.
  • Missouri also facing energy consequences from recent cold freeze to hit the country, with natural gas demand high, supply shortages, and prices rising.
  • School choice seeing progress in House but Senate’s bill may not survive.
  • The “Missouri Ranked Choice Voting and Changes in Composition for State Legislature Initiative” is being considered for the ballot in 2022.

• Montana
  • Recreational marijuana implementation being debated in legislature after citizens passed the initiative in the fall.
  • Election reform, HB 406, is meant to reign in ballot drop-off allowances.
  • Coronavirus lawsuit protection passed for businesses and health care providers.
• Nebraska
  • Despite COVID-19, Nebraska banks had record profits.
  • Taxing candy and soft-drinks could raise $33 million.
• Nevada
  • Hearing on bill to restrict no-knock warrants cuts advocates short.
  • ACCE: Washoe County Commission to take up short-term rental ordinance.
• New Hampshire
  • American Legislative Exchange Council featured in article discussing HB 234, based on FORUM campus free speech. ALEC member, Senator Gary Daniels, among the Sponsors.
  • Right-to-Work legislation takes form with SB 61.
  • Marijuana legalization in the state still being considered by House but may not endure.
• New Jersey
  • Legislators react to Governor Murphy’s most recent budget proposal.
• New Mexico
  • New Mexico House OKs sweeping liquor license overhaul.
  • New Mexico 4332 million budget plan advances to House floor.
  • New Mexico Senate committee advances gas tax hike.
• New York
  • Governor Cuomo in hot water with his own party as information continues to come out over hidden nursing home Coronavirus data, with resolutions to censure and even impeachment.
  • Governor and legislature still jockeying on marijuana legalization.
  • New Coronavirus variant also spreading through New York.
  • ACCE: New technology allowing robotic “dog” to help clear crime scenes in NYC.
• North Carolina
  • NC House approves summer school program who were left behind by COVID-19.
  • Slow census data may delay elections.
• North Dakota
  • Plans move ahead to reshape spending, investing of North Dakota’s massive Legacy Fund.
  • North Dakota sports betting bill clears House moves to Senate.
  • North Dakota House advances bill banning mask mandates by government and schools.
• Ohio
  • ALEC State Chair, Sen. Rob McColley, saw his bill limiting executive powers, allowing the legislature to overturn emergency orders, pass overwhelmingly in the chamber this week.
  • DeWine to increase stadium attendance to 30% starting with spring sports.
  • ACCE: Cincinnati featured in BBC as discussion of model urban revitalization with ongoing debates over balance of all local interests.

• Oklahoma
  • State lawmakers will have $9.6 billion to spend next year, budget board says.
  • State leaders say most residents won’t see immediate, dramatic increases in utility bills.
• Oregon
  • State revenue and budget projections looking more optimistic in latest analysis.
  • Industry pushback on new alcohol tax proposal, HB 3296.
  • Legislators on both sides of the aisle looking for remedy on redistricting process as census data not expected to be released until September 30, well past many normal deadlines.
• Pennsylvania
  • Republicans say Gov. Wolf is trying to sabotage ballot question on emergency declarations.
  • State Senators introducing bipartisan bill legalizing adult-use marijuana in Pennsylvania.
• Rhode Island
  • Increase of top marginal income tax rate being pushed by some interest groups but new incoming Governor, Dan McKee, has yet to signal his position.
  • Milestones of outgoing Raimondo’s tenure in the state.
• South Carolina
  • State House panel has delayed approving teacher’s to immediately get vaccines.
• South Dakota
  • South Dakota House moves to impeach AG after fatal crash.
  • House passes legislation for additional civics instruction.
• Tennessee
  • Senate committee advances Right-to-Work constitutional amendment.
• Texas
  • Texas governor suspends regulations to expand emergency services during storm aftermath, energy failures.
  • ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas are resigning in the aftermath of the power outage, winter storm.
  • Texans used mutual aid to help their communities through a devastating winter storm.
• Utah
  • Update on where the Utah Senate stands on Emergency Executive Powers.
• Vermont
  • Legislature to work remote for the remainder of session.
• Virginia
  • Virginia lawmakers vote to tightly limit police use of facial-recognition technology.
  • Landlords in Virginia may soon face hefty fine if they unlawfully evict tenants.
  • Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act: a growing wave of comprehensive state privacy laws.

• Washington
  • In a state with no income tax, a capital gains tax moving out of committee in the form of SB 5096 triggers contentious debate as outlined in this opposition opinion piece.
  • Sugary drinks under attack in latest proposal to increase tax.
• West Virginia
  • West Virginia Gov. Justice announces approval of Corridor H paving project bid.
  • IWVP: Tax reform and West Virginia’s economy.
• Wisconsin
  • Election and voting reform legislation proposed in Senate.
  • With retirement crises looming, state looks for ways to better prepare future generations, including establishment of a savings account for every citizen.
  • Electric car production to increase in Wisconsin with recent startup partnership.
• Wyoming
  • Bill to increase fuel tax revenue will move to the house floor.
  • Lawmakers advance legislation facilitating new rental assistance programs.