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Top State Stories 8/16
GA: Georgia election officials warn of ‘chaos’ if judge orders paper ballots
The upcoming general election in Georgia will be “plunged into chaos” if a federal judge grants a request to immediately switch the state to paper ballots, according to attorneys for the secretary of state.
MO: Missouri group wants to bar lawmakers from fundraising in Capitol
Under a far-reaching ballot initiative known as Clean Missouri, the practice of spreading cash to the policymakers where they work would be banned. It is one piece of an ethics proposal that will be decided by voters in November.
TN: Tennessee governor’s probation system overhaul ruled unconstitutional
A Tennessee appeals court said a key prong of Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s overhaul of the state’s probation system was unconstitutional because it violates defendants’ rights and encroaches on judicial authority in criminal matters.
CA: How California became the most secretive state on police misconduct
Repeated efforts to open access to misconduct records have run into aggressive opposition from California’s police unions, which argue that confidentiality rules protect officer safety and privacy — and prevent cops’ names from being dragged through the mud.
NV: Nevada eases Medicaid mental health rule, but concerns remain
Nevada Medicaid officials have said they will ease restrictions on payments for mental health services in the face of widespread concerns about how a new rule aimed at curbing fraud would affect some vulnerable Nevada residents.
NH: New Hampshire’s method of validating ballots ruled unconstitutional
A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 40-year-old election law that allowed local moderators in New Hampshire to toss out the absentee ballot of someone whose signature on an affidavit failed to match their completed ballot.
KS: Kansas nurses sue to overturn midwife law
Two nurse midwives are trying to overturn a Kansas law prohibiting them from practicing without physician oversight after they lost the ability to deliver babies at a hospital.
CO: Colorado sued by bakery owner over transgender celebration cake
A bakery owner who won a U.S. Supreme Court decision after refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple has sued Colorado’s Democratic governor and Civil Rights Commission, claiming the state has renewed its religious persecution against him — this time, by indicating that state law requires he create a gender-transition cake.
DC: D.C. housing inspectors approved homes that poisoned children with lead
Between March 2013 and March 2018, at least 41 families in the District of Columbia discovered that their homes, subsidized by a housing voucher and approved by city inspectors, contained lead contaminants.
TX: Texas school districts receive first official A-F grades
Texas officials argue that the new grading system for school districts is more transparent than ever, especially when compared to the outgoing pass/fail rating system.
UT: Marijuana ballot measure in Utah would affect cannabis oil
Products containing the nonpsychoactive cannabis component CBD could be moved into more tightly regulated dispensaries if Utah voters approve a medical marijuana ballot measure in November, state officials say.
NJ: New Jersey governor signs law setting up science, innovation commission
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a measure establishing a state innovation commission. The Democratic governor says it will spur entrepreneurship in the state.
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