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States Mind Their Own Businesses

Over the last year, the pandemic has left small businesses and the economies they support, vulnerable. Lawmakers at all levels of government took action to prioritize business relief to keep main street and state economies from irrevocable damage. This brief reviews state grant, loan and tax relief actions for small businesses.

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FY 2022 State Budget Status

NCSL tracks states' enactment of their FY 2022 budgets. As of April 5, 7 states have enacted a budget for FY 2022. Virginia and Wyoming enacted a biennial budget during the 2020 legislative session.

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Understanding the Quad Caucus

The Quad Caucus is a coalition of the four national caucuses of color representing Asian-Pacific American, Black, Native American and Hispanic legislators. On this podcast we talk with Washington Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D) and Kansas Rep. Barbara Ballard (D). Both are veteran legislators and longtime members of the Quad Caucus.

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LegisBrief

Occupational Licensing Mobility

The state-led approach to regulating occupational licensure can lead to challenges for workers practicing in certain professions, including limiting their mobility from one state or territory to another. To reduce the adverse effects licensing can have on workers’ mobility, policymakers and regulators have developed various solutions.

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Latest in Marijuana Legislation

NCSL provides an overview of the current and pending state legislation regarding marijuana legalization, for adult and recreational use, and decriminalization.

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The Canvass

The April 2021 issue considers election cybersecurity, addresses how states can bolster their defenses and reviews relevant legislation from 2020 and 2021. This month's newsletter also features an interview with New Hampshire Representative Barbara Griffin (R), a legislative action bulletin and other things worth noting.

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Our American States

The “Our American States” podcast is where you hear compelling conversations that tell the story of America’s state legislatures, the people in them, the politics that compel them, and the important work of democracy.

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Magazine

Read the Latest in State Legislatures News

Find the latest news on state policy, politics and personalities as well as stories from the print edition of State Legislatures magazine.

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Blog

Debt collection in a pandemic

According to state court data, approximately 20 million civil lawsuits are filed each year. Debt collection represents 1 in 4 of these cases and 70% of debt collection hearings result in default judgments in favor of the plaintiffs filing these lawsuits.