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CA: California assisted-suicide bill shelved for the year
A bill that would have made California one of a handful of states to legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients has been set aside, after it failed to get enough votes to emerge from the Assembly committee in charge of health care legislation.
IL: In absence of a budget, Illinois judge denies full pay for state workers
A Cook County judge ruled that Illinois can only pay state employees the federal minimum wage until a state budget is approved, which leaves about 65,000 employees without a full paycheck as lawmakers continue to fight over a new spending plan.
KS: Kansas’ Brownback issues ‘religious freedom’ order in wake of gay marriage ruling
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback prohibited Kansas government from discriminating against clergy and religious organizations that do not respect same-sex marriages. The executive order would appear to shield religious and social organizations that oppose same-sex marriage from any potential loss of state aid or resources following the U.S. Supreme Court decision granting gay couples the right to marry.
NY: All New York colleges to adopt ‘yes means yes’ sexual assault policy
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that requires public and private colleges in New York state to adopt a uniform “yes means yes” sexual consent policy that defines consent between people as an affirmative, conscious and voluntary understanding to engage in sexual activity.
AR: Hindu group wants statue on Arkansas Capitol grounds
The president of the Universal Society of Hinduism said his organization would like to construct a privately funded statue of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu god, at no expense to the state on the Arkansas Capitol grounds. In April, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a law adding a privately funded Ten Commandments monument to the grounds.
WI: Wisconsin measure would let payday lenders provide insurance, financial advice
Payday lenders in Wisconsin would get broad new authority to sell more financial products and services, such as insurance and annuities, under language added to the budget by the legislature’s joint finance committee.
SC: Pressure building in final days of South Carolina Confederate flag debate
The South Carolina House begins debate Wednesday on a bill approved by the Senate to banish the Civil War icon that has flown at the capitol for more than five decades. The bill needs two more votes to reach Republican Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk. The flag could come down as early as Thursday.
OH: Many small Ohio businesses face a one-year tax hike
The state budget, which gives most Ohioans a tax break, triggers a one-year tax increase for small businesses and self-employed individuals who make up to about $270,000 a year because of the way changes in business taxes are phased in over two years.
PA: Pennsylvania governor, legislature deadlocked over overdue budget
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-led legislature remain at odds over whether the state should raise sales and personal income taxes. The state has been operating without a budget since the new fiscal year began July 1, but officials say payments to vendors and grant recipients will be delayed.
MI: Michigan lawmakers seek to regulate breast milk banks
Now that breast milk is going for as much as $4 an ounce, some Michigan lawmakers want to step in to regulate what’s become surprisingly cutthroat competition between nonprofit and for-profit banks that supply hospital neonatal units.
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