Capitol Ideas is a periodic listing of story ideas and background information from new NCSL research. For more information, contact NCSL's Press Team.

State Actions to Implement Health Exchanges

At least 10 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to establish state-based health insurance exchanges, while three states have established an exchange by executive order. Other states have not taken action. A 50-state interactive map is provided. More

FY 2013 Budgets

As of July 9, 2012, all states have enacted budgets for fiscal year (FY) 2013 (16 states enacted biennial budgets during 2011 legislative sessions). Massachusetts and South Carolina did not have an enacted budget by the beginning of the new fiscal year. Legislatures in both states passed continuation budgets to bridge the gap before the full budget was enacted. Lawmakers in at least six states have needed to extend their session or meet in special session to deliberate further on the budget. More

Preventing Identity Theft

During the 2012 legislative session, 32 states have introduced or have pending legislation regarding identity theft. Alabama, Utah, and Virginia have enacted legislation. The report includes up-to-date summaries on state action past and present. More

Security Breach Bills

In 2012, at least 11 states introduced legislation requiring notification of security breaches involving personal information, many expanding the scope of laws, setting additional requirements related to notification, or changing penalties for those responsible for breaches. Since 2002, forty-six states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have enacted security breach notice legislation. More