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NM: New Mexico cannabis bill derailed
The push to add New Mexico to the ranks of states that have legalized recreational cannabis for adult use will have to wait another year. Bipartisan opposition led to tabling the bill in the state Senate, but Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she will “keep working to get it done” next year.
FL: Florida county’s election data may have been hacked in 2016
A ransomware attack may have hit the Supervisor of Elections Office in Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2016, corrupting some of the agency’s data. Whatever happened apparently wasn’t reported to the state or federal officials at the time and is only now becoming public — more than three years later.
OK: Oklahoma to resume lethal injection executions
Oklahoma officials pledged to resume executions — by lethal injection — to get justice for the families of murder victims and said checks and balances will be in place to prevent the mistakes of the past. Executions have been on hold in Oklahoma since 2015 because of drug mix-ups that brought national ridicule to the state.
VT: Vermont Senate overrides minimum wage veto
The Vermont Senate overrode Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage from $10.78 an hour to $12.55, sending the measure to the House, where Democratic leaders will have a much harder time reviving the legislation.
PA: Millions of dollars in Pennsylvania tax credits may not be paying off for taxpayers
In the most recent fiscal year, Pennsylvania gave away more than $500 million in tax credits through dozens of programs. But an independent office tasked with reviewing them is questioning whether some are really paying dividends for taxpayers.
NJ: Governor pledges changes amid harassment allegations in New Jersey politics
As the focus tightens on allegations of harassment against women in New Jersey politics — including in his own campaign — Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said the state government will re-evaluate its current workplace standards and training.
WI: Wisconsin Republicans try to advance ‘personhood amendment’
A group of Republicans is seeking to change the Wisconsin constitution to prevent courts from keeping abortion legal, but Democrats contend the measure could outlaw some forms of birth control.
MD: Grant from Maryland opioid office referred for criminal investigation
A $750,000 grant approved ― but never funded ― by Maryland’s opioid command center to open an Eastern Shore drug rehabilitation facility on an abandoned golf course has been referred by legislative auditors to Maryland’s attorney general for a criminal investigation.
AL: Alabama House votes to make it a hate crime to target police
Alabama could join states that make it a hate crime to attack police officers because of their profession, under legislation approved 92-0 in the House. Current law allows heightened penalties if crimes are motivated by the victim’s race, religion, national origin, ethnicity or disability.
NY: Trump, New York governor fail to reach deal on secure traveler programs
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump met but failed to reach a deal on a federal ban that prohibits New Yorkers from enrolling in federal secure-traveler programs.
IN: 2 Indiana online schools misspent nearly $86 million, audit finds
Two Indiana online charter schools accused of inflating their enrollments paid nearly $86 million to companies linked to the schools’ founder or his associates, according to a new state audit report.
CT: Bipartisan bill would cap insulin costs in Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers expressed bipartisan support for legislation that would limit out-of-pocket costs for insulin and insulin-related supplies. The cost of the life-saving drug has skyrocketed in recent years.
WV: West Virginia House passes bill cracking down on educators who ‘groom’ students
The West Virginia House approved a bill mandating that educators who “groom” students for sexual abuse automatically lose their licenses for at least five years.
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