Since our last edition

What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.

• Colorado (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Jared Polis (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order and COVID-19 Dial Framework directives through Feb. 24.

• Delaware (Democratic trifecta): Gov. John Carney (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order through Feb. 22.

• Illinois (Democratic trifecta): On Jan. 25, regions 1 and 2 moved out of Tier 1 mitigation into regular Phase 4. 

• Kansas (divided government): Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed Senate Bill 14 to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration through March 31.

• Maryland (divided government): On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced COVID-19 relief funding for public and private schools. He announced $20.7 million to assist public schools in reopening and $35.8 million to assist private schools in reopening.  

• Massachusetts (divided government): On Monday, Jan. 25, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) announced that residents age 75 and older can begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine on Feb. 1. Baker also said the state aimed to have 103 vaccination sites open by the end of the week.

• New Hampshire (Republican trifecta): Phase 1B of vaccine distribution begins Jan. 26. People 65 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine, as well as medically vulnerable people, the caregivers of medically vulnerable children, and people in correctional facilities.

• Wyoming (Republican trifecta): Effective Jan. 26, the capacity limit for indoor gatherings increased to 25% or 250 people, while the limit for outdoor gatherings rose to 500. Previously, indoor gatherings were limited to 25% capacity or 100 people, while outdoor gatherings were limited to 50% capacity or 250 people.

Lawsuits about state actions and policies

Read more: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Overview:

• To date, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,383 lawsuits, in 50 states, dealing in some way with the COVID-19 outbreak. Court orders have been issued, or settlements have been reached, in 432 of those lawsuits. 
  • Since Jan. 19, we have added 15 lawsuits to our database. We have also tracked one additional court order and/or settlements. 

Details:

• Broward Teachers Union v. Broward County Public Schools: On Jan. 7, the teachers’ union for the Broward County Public Schools filed suit in the Broward County Circuit Court, challenging a mandate that staff return to physical classrooms. The Broward Teachers Union alleges the district’s “actions in the midst of a global pandemic put the lives of hundreds of educators at unnecessary and avoidable risk,” in violation of Article I, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution. The union says the mandate “has no rational basis and its implementation is completely unpredictable.” Union president Anna Fusco said, “The district must immediately stop playing this deadly bureaucratic game with our medically compromised educators.” Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said, “Schools are not sources of secondary transmission of the coronavirus.” The suit has been assigned to Judge Martin J. Bidwill.

State mask requirements

We last looked at face coverings in the Jan. 19 edition of the newsletter. Since then, no new states have adopted a statewide public mask mandate or let a face-covering requirement expire.

Diagnosed or quarantined politicians identified by Ballotpedia

Read more: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

• Federal
  • Two federal officials have died of COVID-19.
  • Fifty-six members of Congress have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Forty-one federal officials have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
• State
  • Eight state-level incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
  • One-hundred and eighty-five state-level incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Eighty-four state-level incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
• Local
  • At least five local incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
  • At least 37 local incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • At least 26 local incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.

Since Jan. 18, two U.S. representatives, four state senators, five state representatives, and one city council member have announced positive COVID-19 tests. One U.S. representative has self-quarantined.

Details:

• On Jan. 18, North Carolina state Rep. William Rabon (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 18, Arkansas state Rep. Keith Slape (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 19, Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) announced he would self-quarantine after a possible exposure to COVID-19.
  On Jan. 19, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 20, Arkansas state Rep. Lanny Fite (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 21, Rep. Ronald Wright (R-Texas) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 21, Pennsylvania state Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 21, Tampa City Council member Charlie Miranda announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 22, Missouri state Sen. Andrew Koenig (R) announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. 
• On Jan. 22, Texas state Rep. Carl Sherman Sr. (D) announced he tested positive for COVID-19. 
• On Jan. 24, Florida state Rep. Jason Shoaf (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19. 
• On Jan. 25, Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler (R)  announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
• On Jan. 25, Florida state Sen. Loranne Ausley (D) announced she tested positive for COVID-19.