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In the News | January 2022

January 26, 2022

Jan. 31

Why Florida's Legislature only works part-time

The Palm Beach Post
The National Conference of State Legislatures classifies Florida as a hybrid legislature. That means legislators work more than two-thirds of a full-time job, but they will likely still need another source of income to make a living.

House approves permanent mail, early voting

Gloucester Times
At least 20 states — including Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — allow same-day voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Civics Project: Why Florida's Legislature only works part-time

Palm Beach Post
Many legislators are working on bills or in committee long before the session begins. Indeed, the idea that the job is part-time seems an increasingly difficult argument to make. The National Conference of State Legislatures classifies Florida as a hybrid legislature. That means legislators work more than two-thirds of a full-time job, but they will likely still need another source of income to make a living.

Effort underway to recruit, retain Assembly aides

The Herald Independent
Speaker Robin Vos has brought in the National Conference of State Legislatures to survey Wisconsin State Assembly staffers about their job duties and pay amid bipartisan concerns over recruiting and retaining aides to state representatives.

Why Democrats might need Susan Collins’ vote to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer

Maine Public
Thirteen other states have adopted constitutional rights to privacy, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But each of those enshrined rights contains significant differences.

Ready and Willing

NJBIZ
Employers need to “demonstrate an employee’s disability impairs their productivity when compared to employees without a disability,” according to the National Conference for State Legislatures.
 

Jan. 28

Oklahoma executes man for slayings of hotel workers during robbery

The Hill
Capital punishment is authorized in 27 states and by the federal government and U.S. military, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lawmaker sets stage for discussion on ‘modernizing’ tax revenue structure

Nevada Current Press
Jackson Brainerd of the National Conference of State Legislatures, who gave a presentation about national tax trends, added that adjusting revenue structures only when necessary because of a crisis is a historical trend for most states.

Connecticut's youngest House Speaker in modern history reflects on 1st year in charge

WTNH.com
A Democrat from Hartford, Ritter was first sworn into office as a freshman legislator at 28 years old, at the time joining a unique club. The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates only 5% of state lawmakers are under the age of 30.

Wisconsin Republicans propose bill to legalize medical marijuana

The Badger Herald
The state of Wisconsin is one of only 14 states yet to legalize medical marijuana in the United States, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. With both parties on the same side, Canon said it is likely that the bill will be voted into law.

House approves permanent mail, early voting

The Eagle-Tribune
At least 20 states — including Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — allow same-day voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

'A counterfeit promise': Brenda Lafferty's sister urges Utah to finally ditch the death penalty

Kake
Utah is one of 27 states that authorize capital punishment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Neighboring Colorado did away with the death penalty in 2020, and Virginia followed suit in 2021.

Did President Biden exempt Congress from vaccine mandate?

Austin American – Statesman
National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers--An Overview," May 1, 2021

Jan. 27

Medical marijuana bill passes, heads to Mississippi governor

The Washington Post
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 36 states and four territories allow the medical use of cannabis.

Amazon endorses legislation to end federal prohibition on marijuana

The Hill
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, medical use of marijuana was allowed in three dozen states and four U.S. territories as of May 18, 2021. Eighteen states, Washington, D.C. and two territories had enacted legislation regulating the nonmedical use of marijuana as of Nov. 29, 2021.

New Mexico to consider letting 16-year-olds vote in local elections

FOX 4 News
The 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote to citizens 18 years of age and older. However, several states allow 17-year-olds to participate in primary elections provided they will turn 18 before the general election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Online option now available for declining mail-in Nevada ballot

KSNV
Nevada joins seven other states in conducting all elections by mail, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

New Mexico to consider letting 16-year-olds vote in local elections

WFXR
The 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote to citizens 18 years of age and older. However, several states allow 17-year-olds to participate in primary elections provided they will turn 18 before the general election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. And in 2020, the City of Oakland, California, held a public referendum to allow 16-year-olds to vote in school board directors elections. Voters approved the referendum.

Jan. 26

Claim that Americans need 'papers to eat in a restaurant' is missing context

USA Today
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show ID at the polls. Each state has its own rules, with some more stringent than others.

Elections & Redistricting — What to Watch in 2022

Governing Magazine
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), more than 3,500 election bills have been introduced during the past year, over a thousand more than the average over the past decade. Only 285 were enacted, consistent with the 300 or so seen in earlier years. But tensions can’t be expected to ease.
 
While the legislation passed to date may not reframe the 2022 voter experience in most states as drastically as feared, attempts to shift authority over certification of vote counts are a different matter. These can give officials with limited understanding of the processes involved in ballot collection and counting the authority to override results, and the will of voters. “Do you want your legislature looking over the shoulder of your election officials?” asks Wendy Underhill of NCSL. “Maybe that’s the job of the secretary of state.”

Republican Lawmakers Seek New Powers Over Elections

Stateline
Additionally, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa and Texas added criminal penalties for election officials who do not adhere to state laws, sparking fears that officials may be jailed or feel intimidated for performing their jobs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eleven states enacted laws that prevent local officials from using philanthropic, private money to help fund election administration. And in Texas, lawmakers gave partisan poll watchers unprecedented new access.

Hands-free cellphone policy sorely needed for Kansas drivers, bill backers say

U.S. News & World Report
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 36 states and four territories allow the medical use of cannabis.

Georgia Senate Bill Would Eliminate All Government Requirements for Vaccination

The Epoch Times
If the bill passes the Republican-majority state legislature and is signed into law by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, it would make Georgia the first state to eliminate vaccination requirements for entering schools. All 50 states currently maintain at least some school entry requirements for vaccinations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Effort underway to recruit and retain Assembly

The Chronotype
Speaker Robin Vos has brought in the National Conference of State Legislatures to survey Wisconsin State Assembly staffers about their job duties and pay amid bipartisan concerns over recruiting and retaining aides to state representatives.

Hands-free cellphone policy sorely needed for Kansas drivers, bill backers say

Kansas Reflector
The National Conference of State Legislatures estimated that at any given time during daylight hours, more than 800,000 people are driving a vehicle while using a handheld device. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distractions led to more than 3,100 fatal accidents in 2017.

Jan. 25

Legislatures move to limit governor powers after pandemic

The Hill
Across the nation, legislators are moving to limit the authority of governors who have issued unprecedented orders in the face of a deadly pandemic. Legislators in at least 28 states have introduced bills this year to alter a governor’s authority, or to give themselves more oversight of declared emergencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Fact check: Claim that Americans need 'papers to eat in a restaurant' is missing context

USA Today
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show ID at the polls. Each state has its own rules, with some more stringent than others.

Minnesota groups unite to oppose marijuana legalization

AP News
Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have already legalized recreational marijuana for adults to varying degrees, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. Minnesota is one of many states that allow medical marijuana, but its restrictions are some of the country’s strictest.

Economy & Taxes—What to Watch in 2022

Governing Magazine
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that the principal concerns over inflation next year for legislative fiscal officers are that everyone will be trying to recruit teachers, police and health-care workers. In addition to competing with the private sector for workers, states and localities will also be crafting bills to entice people into the workforce and prepare them for available jobs.

Jan. 24

A bill would pave the way for nuclear power in Indiana -- at a cost to consumers

Indianapolis Star
Much of the world has been turning away from nuclear energy, with its large and aging plants and a legacy of some severe meltdowns. But now there is renewed support, Christopher McMichael with the National Conference of State Legislatures testified during the meeting.

Polito forecasts $31 million increase in unrestricted aid to cities and towns

State News Service
Local governments also got injections of federal funding over the course of the pandemic via ARPA and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER. Massachusetts received more than $2.8 billion in ESSER funds across three rounds, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Paper voter registration system is 'absurd.' But Texas does it anyway

Austin American Statesman
A decade ago, the National Conference of State Legislatures declared, “Online voter registration is a nonpartisan trend with a capital ‘T.’”

Speed cameras may come to highway workzones in Indiana under proposed bills

Indy Star
With each passing year, more states have enacted such pilot programs, producing more data. Today, 16 states have speed camera programs in school zones or highway work zones, or both, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Debate Over Certificate of Need Gaining Traction in West Virginia Legislature

The Intelligencer
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states and Washington, D.C., offer a variation of a certificate of need program. As of 2021, 12 states have repealed their certificate of need laws, with New Hampshire being the most recent state to do so in 2016.

Senator Alvarado appointed to leadership roles on National Conference of State Legislatures

The Winchester Sun
The National Conference of State Legislatures has approved the nominations of Sen. Ralph Alvarado (R-Winchester), Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton), and Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) to leadership positions on NSCL Standing Committees.

Jan. 21

Cards, Chiefs, Blues, other pro teams have game plan to bring sports betting to Missouri

St. Louis Post Dispatch
The tax rate in other states ranges from 6.25% to 51%, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The coalition in Missouri has zeroed in on a 10% tax rate as a starting point.

Senator Alvarado appointed to leadership roles on National Conference of State Legislatures

The Winchester Sun
The National Conference of State Legislatures has approved the nominations of Sen. Ralph Alvarado (R-Winchester), Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton), and Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) to leadership positions on NSCL Standing Committees.

NC agrees to phase out support for programs that pay people with disabilities below minimum wage

The Pulse
Other states, including Maryland and Alaska, have abandoned the practice, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

House leaders propose hiking minimum wage to $18 over several years

Hawaii Public Radio
The highest state minimum wage is currently $15 in California, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. House Speaker Scott Saiki, a Democrat, said a minimum wage increase would be phased in over several years. The existing minimum is $10.10.

Energy Panel Advances House Version of Bill Lifting WV Restrictions

Charleston Gazette–Mail
West Virginia was 1 of 13 states with restrictions to nuclear power plants.

Jan. 20

Alaska Supreme Court upholds election changes ending party primaries

The Hill
While other cities and jurisdictions use ranked-choice voting, including New York City, Alaska becomes the second state to institute the voting system for all congressional and state elections, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Maine has also implemented ranked-choice voting for many of its state and federal elections.

Hawaii House leaders propose hiking minimum wage to $18

The Garden Island
The highest state minimum wage is currently $15 in California, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Same-day voter registration is on the Democrats' wishlist. Why do some Republicans oppose it?

PolitiFact
There is evidence that same-day registration increases turnout, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, but it isn’t clear how much.

How Democratic 'voting rights' bills go beyond voting

The Denver Gazette
Sixteen states currently require a voter to provide a reason for voting by mail, such as having an illness or being physically away from their country during the voting period, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Legislatures across country back off pandemic protocols

Colorado Newsline
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 36 legislatures enacted emergency changes in 2020, including limiting access to the capitol and allowing for remote voting and remote participation by the public in hearings. In 2021, at least 30 legislatures continued those measures.

Sen. Westerfield reappointed to leadership role in National Conference of State Legislatures

WHOP
Senator Whitney Westerfield of Crofton has been reappointed to a leadership position in the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Alaska senators oppose voting rights bill, signal support for narrower move

Anchorage Daily News
Alaska law allows for 15 days of early in-person voting. The state is one of 44 and Washington D.C., to offer early in-person voting, with the average number of early in-person voting days clocking in at 23, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lawmakers consider lifting ban on nuclear power

Weirton Daily Times
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, West Virginia is among 13 states with restrictions on construction of new nuclear power plants. Only Minnesota has an outright ban. New York prohibits construction in a certain region of the state. Other states, such as West Virginia, have limited bans. Montana is the most recent state to lift a nuclear power prohibition earlier this year. Kentucky ended a similar ban in 2017.

‘As prevalent as a pack of Marlboro’: About 150% more people jailed for marijuana charges in 2021 than five years ago

The Daily Independent
Many states are looking to the legalization of marijuana, whether that be for recreational or medicinal usage. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of May 2021, there are 36 states that have legalized marijuana usage in some way.

Legislatures across country back off COVID pandemic protocols

TucsonSentinel.com
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 36 legislatures enacted emergency changes in 2020, including limiting access to the capitol and allowing for remote voting and remote participation by the public in hearings. In 2021, at least 30 legislatures continued those measures. In both years, Arizona had strict COVID-mitigation protocols in place, and the state Senate was shut down for public access.

Jan. 19

U.S. Senate candidate from Louisiana smokes marijuana in campaign ad

The Washington Post
Eighteen states, two territories and the District of Columbia had enacted legislation as of Nov. 29 to allow the regulation of marijuana for nonmedical use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Here's what the federal voting proposals would do

CNN
Allow people to register to vote and cast ballots at the same time. Twenty states and Washington, DC, already do so, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. States also would have to make it easier to register to vote online.

Maine Data Privacy Concerns Push for Constitutional Amendment

Governing Magazine
Thirteen other states have adopted constitutional rights to privacy, including New Hampshire, Missouri and Michigan, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. There is no explicit right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution.

Gov. should add drug oversight board to agenda

Albuquerque Journal
Creating a PDAB is among the top recommendations to determine the true cost of prescription drugs and help make medications more affordable for consumers, according to a bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures report.

Kids who lost parents to COVID deserve help, advocates say

Pennsylvania Capital – Star
Last year, 14 states passed 36 bills to beef up children’s mental health services and expand mental health training opportunities for school resource officers and teachers, according to a database compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks state policy.

New law allows donation of unused medication in Illinois. But it could take some time to get started.

Chicago Tribune
Each year, hospitals and long-term care facilities discard billions of dollars’ worth of medications, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Often medication is left over when a patient recovers and no longer needs it, dies or is given more medication than necessary.

Jan. 18

The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2022

Governing Magazine
Still, as lawmakers craft budgets this year, it’s clearly a good moment. “States are in as good fiscal shape as they’ve been, certainly since before the Great Recession,” says Tim Storey, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures. “Their revenues are bursting through their estimates.”

‘Inevitable digital intrusion’ into Mainers’ privacy drives new push for constitutional amendment

Press Herald
Thirteen other states have adopted constitutional rights to privacy, including New Hampshire, Missouri and Michigan, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. There is no explicit right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution.

California’s Limits on Bill Introductions

California Globe
According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), over 100,000 bills are introduced annually in state legislatures in the United States. California accounts for about 2,500 of those bills.

Ducey pitches Arizona earned income tax credit

Washington Examiner
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, approximately two dozen states have some form of earned income tax credit but not all are refundable, meaning that you can't get more back than you pay in taxes.

Asheville plastic bag fee talk could pit city against General Assembly

The Citizen-Times
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, approximately two dozen states have some form of earned income tax credit but not all are refundable, meaning that you can't get more back than you pay in taxes.

Benton County Sheriff's Office getting body cameras for deputies

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Seven states -- Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Carolina -- mandate the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers statewide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Delegate continues fight against seasonal clock changes

Virginia Mercury
Daylight savings time has been a hot topic in statehouses across the country. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, since 2015 there have been at least 350 bills or resolutions that would change a state’s observance of the annual clock switching.

How to get involved in the Utah Legislature, whether you have 5 minutes or all day

USA Journal
Your state legislators could one day be U.S. senators or representatives. As of 2020, 45 of the current 100 senators, 193 representatives and close to half of all U.S. presidents previously served as state legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Jan. 11

States carve out billions in budgets for electric vehicle surge

The Hill
“Right now, most people who have electric vehicles charge their vehicles at home, which works great if you have a garage or a dedicated parking space. But if you live in an apartment or don’t have a garage, it’s often harder to find a charging space,” said Austin Igleheart, a policy associate who tracks electric vehicle legislation for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Senate battle over whether election laws signify a new ‘Jim Crow’

Washington Post
The nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) says “an astounding 3,676 election bills were introduced” in 2021, with 285 bills across 42 states and two territories becoming law. “Absentee/mail voting was a popular topic, due in large part to the historic expansion of absentee and vote-by-mail options precipitated by the pandemic in 2020,” NCSL says. “Even so, only a handful of states drastically expanded or limited absentee/mail voting, a larger chunk made changes to ballot collection rules, and addressed a feature of the process that, until 2021, wasn’t much of a legislative issue: ballot drop boxes.”

Kids Who Lost Parents to COVID Deserve Help, Advocates Say

Stateline
Last year, 14 states passed 36 bills to beef up children’s mental health services and expand mental health training opportunities for school resource officers and teachers, according to a database compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks state policy.

‘Moon shot’ on eliminating income taxes may be just the start for Iowa legislative Republicans

Gazette
In addition to dealing with tax cuts and budget decisions, and issues ranging from broadband and child care to workforce housing and confronting coronavirus issues, many lawmakers “will be trying to figure out how's my district changed? How do I campaign in this in this new district?” said Tim Storey, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Stay home sick or get paid? Workers face Omicron dilemma

Jazeera
Workers have received some relief from a growing number of states. In the last decade, 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or ballot measures requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures

Jan. 10

Stay home or work sick? Omicron poses a conundrum

Los Angeles Times
Workers have received some relief from a growing number of states. In the last decade, 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or ballot measures requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

‘Moon shot’ on eliminating income taxes may be just the start for Iowa legislative Republicans

Iowa Gazette
In addition to dealing with tax cuts and budget decisions, and issues ranging from broadband and child care to workforce housing and confronting coronavirus issues, many lawmakers “will be trying to figure out how's my district changed? How do I campaign in this in this new district?” said Tim Storey, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
 
“There's potential for a great deal of change,” Storey said, because in the election after redistricting, turnover spikes from around 18 to about 25 percent.

Is the 'people's house' a safe place for the people?

Idaho Capital Sun
In 2016, a working group from the Vermont Legislature used a list that identified 27 state capitol buildings that have metal detectors installed at public entrances. The list was based on a 2008 survey (with partial updates from 2011 and 2012) from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Revenue, education, Medicaid among topics for Arkansas budget hearings starting Tuesday ahead of Feb. 14 fiscal session

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
According to National Conference of State Legislatures spokesman Lisa Ryckman, "As legislatures gear up for the next session, the usual issues top their to-do lists: budget, health care and education. "But [this] year promises some new twists on those perennials, along with other hot topics and policy trends that NCSL experts predict will grab the attention of lawmakers across the nation," Ryckman wrote on the organization's website. For example, "states are awash in federal stimulus funds, and policymakers will need to think about spending the money on one-time expenditures, rather than creating ongoing costs with expanded programming," she said.

Road to Recovery: Nevada leads in 'economic momentum' amid rapid labor turnover

The Nevada Independent
A report released late last month by the Federal Funds Information for States ranked Nevada first in the nation in terms of “economic momentum,” a metric based on year-over-year growth in personal income, employment and population. Federal Funds Information for States is a service created by the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures that provides reports on financial policy.

Jan. 7

Statehouses inundated with surge of social-media bills

National Journal
But an analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures found that in 2021, at least 40 states introduced more than 140 bills meant to change how tech platforms decide whether, when, and how to either take down, leave up, or otherwise alter controversial posts from their users. The NCSL found that as of Jan. 4, bills targeting social-media platforms remain pending in at least 23 states, including California and New York.

NY mobile sports betting begins Saturday

Auburn Citizen
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, New York will join at least 16 other states that allow mobile sports betting. Until now, the state only allowed sports wagers to be placed at four commercial casinos, including del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County. Tribal casinos operating in the state also accepted sports bets.

A year later, how does Jan. 6 'big lie' color Minnesota politics?

Echo Press
Chief among them are a push to require voters to provide a photo ID — or at least some form of identification beyond what’s currently used to verify a voter when obtaining a ballot. Minnesota is among 15 states with no such requirement, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The question of voter photo ID was rejected by Minnesota voters in the form of a constitutional amendment ballot question in 2012.

Jan. 6 one year later: Fact-checking three claims about the insurrection

ABC
QUESTION #3 Can convicted felons from the insurrection still vote? Yes, some people convicted of felonies from the Jan. 6 insurrection can still vote, but it depends on what state they live in. Maine, Vermont and the District of Columbia do not take away the voting rights of felons, even while they are incarcerated, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Each jurisdiction confirms felons can vote even while incarcerated (Maine here, Vermont here and District of Columbia here). But the disqualification to vote doesn’t necessarily extend to when a person is released from prison. The NCSL says 37 states restore the voting rights of people convicted of felonies once they are released from prison or after they served their full sentences, including parole and probation. In the other 11 states, there are more requirements that need to be met before people convicted of felonies can vote again, according to the NCSL. Some states have an additional waiting period after sentence completion and others require additional action, such as a governor’s pardon.

New bills: Constitutional amendment would allow for recall of governor, state senators

Lincoln Journal Star
Currently, Nebraska is among 30 states that allow local elected officials to be recalled, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

GOP bill would add more voting restrictions on those with felony convictions in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Public Radio
According to the National Council of State Legislatures, 21 states restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies immediately upon their release and Maine, Vermont and the District of Columbia allow them to vote while serving their sentence. In 11 states, some convicted felons lose their voting rights indefinitely.

New York has spent only a quarter of federal pandemic aid

Times Union
The non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures found that other states are spending their Recovery Fund dollars on broadband expansion, premium pay for hazard workers, revenue replacement, water and sewer infrastructure, replenishing Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds, supporting food banks and housing security, and funding state operations.

A title fight pits physician assistants against doctors in Minnesota

Minnesota Reformer
Just this year, the National Conference of State Legislatures catalogued 280 bills introduced in statehouses to modify so-called scope-of-practice laws that set the practice boundaries of nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, paramedics, dental hygienists, optometrists and addiction counselors.

Many States Hit Hard by COVID-19 Limit Telehealth Practice, Report Finds

mHealthIntelligence
Released by policy research organizations Reason Foundation, Cicero Institute, and Pioneer Institute, the report examines laws in all 50 states along with evaluations by the Center for Connected Health Policy and the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the report, the term "telehealth" encompasses a wide array of care delivery services, including teledentistry and telepsychiatry. But the report does not include an examination of state Medicaid telehealth policies.

State Lawmakers Aim to Eliminate Distracted Driving

Automotive Fleet
At any given moment during daylight hours, more than 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Employers Should Review Their Pay Practices for the New Year

SHRM
Although the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 for years, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have higher rates, and some localities require employers to pay more than the respective state.
Many state and local wage rates have been increasing in phases each year to ultimately reach $15 an hour, and some have already reached or surpassed that rate. Twenty-five states have scheduled a minimum wage increase for some time during 2022, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Jan. 6

Recreational marijuana use in Iowa might not be too far away

WQAD
If the amendment passes, Iowa would join 18 states, two U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Kentucky GOP's redistricting proposal silences women

Opinion - Courier-Journal
While the National Council of State Legislatures reported that 2019 increased the number of women being elected to 31 in the House, what was even more impressive was the unprecedented number of new women who ran for office. The 2019 ballot for the House had over 50 women running for the one 100 House seats.

Jan. 5

Arkansas general revenue of $719.6 million handily beats last year's total, state's prediction for December

Arkansas Democrat
Erica MacKellar, the fiscal affairs program principal for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said most states seem to be meeting or exceeding their tax collection forecasts. "The economy has rebounded quicker than a lot of people expected and a lot of federal funds helped with that recovery as well," she said in a telephone interview from her Denver office.
There is cautious optimism among the states that their tax collections will continue to meet or exceed their forecasts, but there also is quite a bit of uncertainty about the future, MacKellar said.

Texas and other state audits should restore voter confidence in our elections — but will they?

The Hill – Opinion
An “election audit” can refer to several types of actions. According to NCSL, “Most states, use a traditional fixed percentage audit, in which a small percentage of precincts or machines are selected for a comparison of the official count to a hand tally.” Texas has just announced the Phase 1 results of its election audit. And the findings should calm some people’s fears.

New Hampshire lawmakers to revisit Sununu vetoes

Washington Examiner
At least 31 other states – including New York, Maryland, and Colorado – hold their primaries in June, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Bobby Rush's exit plan kicks off scramble

Politico

State Sen. Elgie Sims, the Senate’s top budgeteer who’s spent a lifetime building relationships in Springfield, is seen as a solid candidate in the nascent contest. He worked with Barack Obama when he was state senator and has connections across the country through his work with the Council of State Governments and National Conference of State Legislatures. He’s also seen as someone who can raise cash, which will be necessary to play in the Chicago media market.

Assembly staffers surveyed as part of bipartisan effort to boost retention, recruitment

Wisconsin Politics
Speaker Robin Vos has brought in the National Conference of State Legislatures to survey Assembly staffers about their job duties and pay amid bipartisan concerns over recruiting and retaining aides to state reps.

Capitol’s revolving door still revolving

Daily World – Opinion
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, legislative salaries across the country are going up, at least for the 41 states that pay their legislators. The average base salary last year, excluding per-diem and expense payments, was $39,216, up from 2020's average of $38,370.

Jan. 4

New Hampshire lawmakers to revisit Sununu vetoes

Chicago Star
At least 31 other states – including New York, Maryland, and Colorado – hold their primaries in June, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

How to Get Car Insurance as an Immigrant

Bankrate.com
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has a map you can use to see if your state issues driver’s licenses to immigrants who have entered the country without legal permission.

Three WA Republican legislators used taxpayer money to attend Mike Lindell’s election conspiracy conference

Seattle Times
Generally, Dean said, the House administration does not judge the appropriateness of lawmaker travel decisions, so long as they can make a case for the “nexus” to their official duties. In some cases, the nexus is obvious — such as when lawmakers attend events by the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, Dean said. In other cases, lawmakers are asked to provide a justification.

Jan. 3

It's All Uphill From Here for Corporate America

The Washington Post
Minimum-wage workers will get pay increases reflecting higher living costs in states including Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Washington and South Dakota, according to an analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Almost 70% of Americans now approve of labor unions, according to an August survey by Gallup, the highest in 50 years.

Minimum Wage Levels Will Rise in Half of American States in 2022

Bloomberg
In total, 25 states will see boosts to their minimum hourly pay requirement in 2022, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute and the National Conference of State Legislatures. Four states—Oregon, Florida, Nevada, and Connecticut—will phase in their increases later in the year.

What impact the 2021 legislature had, and what’s on the docket for 2022

Yahoo News
House Bill 1078 removes barriers to voting for those who are no longer in total confinement, meaning those on probation or parole can have their rights restored once they are released. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, two other states also passed similar legislation in 2021; Washington is one of 16 states that now restores the right to vote for people with felonies upon their release from the Department of Corrections.

3 critical ways state lawmakers changed voting access this year that will affect the 2022 midterms

Business Insider
In all, 44 states have enacted at least 285 bills affecting voting and elections in 2021, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, changes that will impact hundreds of millions of voters.

Joe Manchin Doomed the Child Tax Credit. Can States Save Kids Instead?

The Daily Beast
Seven states already have their own CTCs: California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Oklahoma, per the National Conference of State Legislatures. Another nine states have proposed child tax credits over the past two years: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Manchin’s beloved West Virginia.

‘There is a gap there’: Alabama playing catchup in race for more tourists

AL.COM
The National Conference of State Legislatures is tracking how ARPA money is being allocated by states nationwide. Highlights for tourism expenditures include: Louisiana is allocating $77.5 million to market the state’s tourism, and $10 million to attract “major events” like the Super Bowl and college sports championships to the state.

Warner: Ranked-choice voting not good fit for West Virginia

WV News
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only Maine and Alaska have ranked-choice voting for congressional and state races. Put in place by voter referendums, Maine used ranked-choice voting during the 2018 and 2020 elections, while Alaska will use ranked-choice voting for the first time for the 2022 election. Ranked-choice voting is primarily used by city governments.


NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

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