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Top State Stories 6/28
IL: Illinois governor wins Supreme Court victory in union case
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner notched a major victory in a battle with organized labor when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public workers don’t have to pay fees to a union they don’t want to join. That means government employees in Illinois and nearly two dozen other states can choose not to pay for union efforts.
NY: New Yorkers facing deportation lose their (physical) day in court
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency made an abrupt, unprecedented decision at its Lower Manhattan court: detained immigrants in area jails would no longer be brought to court for hearings, but would have their cases heard via a video conference.
RI: Rhode Island lawmakers hatch plan to give chickens more room
A Rhode Island bill about chickens that has ruffled lawmakers’ feathers in recent years is headed to the governor. The bill to give caged chickens more freedom to spread their wings is on its way. It would ban overly crowded conditions for egg-laying hens beginning in 2026.
AZ: Reports of maltreatment of migrant children at Arizona shelters
State lawmakers concerned about the welfare of immigrant children in Arizona shelters want to join first lady Melania Trump’s tour of a local facility. They are motivated by reports of child maltreatment and want to see for themselves how children are being treated in the state-licensed shelters.
WY: Wyoming lawmakers want to start banking water
Proposed legislation in Wyoming could allow the state to “bank” Green River water to meet obligations to downstream states, and in doing so keep the state’s water users from running dry in the event of a shortage.
DC: Should 16-year-olds be able to vote? A majority of the D.C. Council thinks so
The nation’s capital could become the first municipality in the country to allow minors to vote for president, and the biggest city to let them vote in local races.
WI: Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds medical malpractice caps
Wisconsin’s caps on medical malpractice awards are constitutional, meaning a Milwaukee woman who lost all four limbs to malpractice will receive only $750,000 for the pain and suffering she endures, the state Supreme Court ruled.
NC: North Carolina hog farmers win new protections
North Carolina will place new limits on how and when neighbors of hog farms can sue the agriculture businesses next door. The state Legislature gave final approval to a bill that restricts nuisance lawsuits against farms. The state House followed the Senate in voting to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
VA: Virginia attorney general sues maker of Oxycontin
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit accusing Purdue Pharma of creating the opioid crisis through an illegal profit-making scheme. The complaint alleges the company violated the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
KS: New Kansas law protects good Samaritans
Good Samaritans in Kansas soon won’t have to think about getting sued for busting out the window of a hot car to save a child or pet trapped inside. A new state law underscores that lives are more important than property when it comes to hot cars.
CA: Californians to vote on B plan for homeless housing
Californians will decide in November whether to borrow $2 billion to fund new housing for homeless residents. Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown authorized the ballot measure, which would draw funding from dollars generated by Proposition 63, a 1 percent income tax surcharge on millionaires passed in 2004 that funds mental health services.
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