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NCSL Updates
NCSL Member Briefing on Proposed School Nutrition Standards
Join us Wednesday, March 15, at 3:30 p.m. ET for a briefing with Cindy Long, administrator of the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, on the proposed child nutrition rule announced on Feb. 6. At the conclusion of the briefing at 4:30 p.m. ET, NCSL staff will solicit comments from NCSL members to inform the organization’s response to the proposed rule. This call is for NCSL members only. Register here.
Congressional Updates
House Votes to Overturn WOTUS Rulemaking
The House used the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Waters of the United States Rulemaking 227-198. The rule, the Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States,” aims to determine the scope of federal authority to regulate such water, and when states, local governments and others must seek federal permits to develop land because it contains such waters. The path in the Senate is unclear, but an identical resolution in the chamber is supported by all 49 Republicans. Should the disapproval pass the Senate, it is likely the president will veto it. For more information on the Congressional Review Act, visit NCSL’s overview and tracking webpage; for more on the WOTUS rulemaking, read NCSL’s Information Alert.
Bill to Make DST the New Standard Time Returns
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) along with a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, which was passed in the chamber with unanimous support in the 117th Congress but did not receive a vote in the House. A companion bill is being led this year in the House by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). The legislation would eliminate the practice many Americans fear forgetting—turning the clocks back in November and forward in March. If passed, the bill would mirror the policy changes enacted in 19 states through legislation or resolution over the last five years. NCSL has more information on daylight saving time and state actions here.
Administration Updates
President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
President Biden released his budget last week. The president’s budget is never fully enacted by Congress but serves as a platform to highlight the administration’s priorities for the federal fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2023. NCSL is analyzing the proposal and its potential impact on states and will release a detailed summary in next week’s edition of Capitol to Capitol. In the meantime, you can read the president’s unveiling remarks from last week here and view his budget here.