What We're Reading: Top State Stories 6/20
ME: Maine House votes to relax welfare restrictions on asylum seekers
The Maine House voted to relax Maine’s welfare policies to allow asylum seekers and other legally present noncitizens to qualify for food stamps and other assistance. The bill now faces a vote in the Senate.
NM: New Mexico requires co-prescription of opioid reversal drugs
New Mexico is requiring that many opioid prescriptions for pain relief come with a second prescription that can reverse possible overdoses. The new law requires co-prescriptions of medication such as naloxone to accompany any opioid prescription of five days or more.
NJ: New Jersey governor threatens to cut lawmakers’ pet projects unless he gets ‘millionaire’s tax’
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy issued his strongest threat yet to New Jersey’s Democratic-controlled legislature: Without a “millionaire’s tax,” he’s prepared to slash pet projects.
WI: Wisconsin lawmakers reluctant to force vaccinations
A bill that would make it more difficult to send children to school without vaccinations likely won't make it through Wisconsin's legislature. It's the second time such legislation hasn't gained enough support among state lawmakers.
NY: New York nears passage of aggressive law to fight climate change
New York state lawmakers could pass one of the nation’s most ambitious plans to slow climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. That would make it the second U.S. state to aim for a carbon-neutral economy, following California.
NC: Sheriffs walk out on North Carolina hearing
Two North Carolina sheriffs who have pledged to limit cooperation with immigration authorities walked out on a legislative committee meeting, saying they felt attacked by a Republican-sponsored bill that would remove them from office if they fail to cooperate fully.
NV: Nevada hepatitis A outbreak linked to drug use, homelessness
A jump in acute hepatitis A cases in Nevada’s Clark County this year has led local officials to declare an outbreak. About 86% of the patients so far this year used drugs and 65% of them were considered homeless.
KS: Political factors prompt freeze on Kansas tuition
The Kansas Board of Regents agreed to impose a one-year tuition freeze for undergraduate resident students at all six state universities in hopes of strengthening political support for a proposed $50 million higher education budget increase in 2020.
AZ: Proposal would ban Arizona power shutoffs during the summer
Arizona regulators could soon vote to bar utilities from disconnecting power to customers who are late on their bills in the summer, when temperatures routinely soar past a hundred degrees.
MI: Michigan activists start petition drive to restrict abortions
Petition language that would ban two types of abortions was approved by the Michigan Board of Canvassers. One petition would ban abortions once cardiac activity is detected in a fetus.
FL: Is parking bill making campus early voting in Florida impossible?
A Florida bill is awaiting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature that requires that early-voting sites “provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters.” But many campuses require permits for parking.
CT: Connecticut governor considered small tax cut as part of deal for tolls
In a potential compromise, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, has considered a small cut in the state income tax as part of a package deal if electronic highway tolls are approved.
