The Washington State Legislature adjourned this year’s legislative session on March 7. Legislators passed three citizen-initiated measures into law—the most ever for a single year. From 1912, when the state’s initiative process was established, to 2023, just six Initiatives to the Legislature (ITLs) have received legislative approval. With three approved this year, the total increases…
So far this year, 12 state legislative incumbents — one Democrat and 11 Republicans — have lost to primary challengers. Across the four states that have held primaries, 2.6% of incumbents running for re-election have lost, which is less than at this point in 2022 (3.6%). These totals include data from elections in both legislative…
Voters in West Virginia will decide on a constitutional amendment to prohibit people from participating in “the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.” While several states have voted on ballot measures to allow for assisted death, also known as assisted suicide or aid-in-dying, West Virginia is the first state…
Californians for Financial Education announced on March 12 that the campaign had submitted nearly 900,000 signatures for an initiated state statute that would require a personal finance course as a requirement to graduate high school. The measure would require students graduating during the 2029-2030 academic year to complete a one-semester personal finance course. The measure…
In Alaska, a ballot initiative that would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour and require employers to provide paid sick leave has qualified for the ballot. The initiative will appear on the ballot for Nov. 5, 2024, unless the legislature adjourns on or before April 22, in which case the initiative could appear…
Gov. Brad Little (R) signed Idaho House Bill 428 into law on Mar. 6, 2024, reducing employer-paid unemployment insurance taxes by 20%. The bill retroactively took effect starting Jan. 1. The state estimates Idaho businesses will save about $44 million in 2024 taxes and $117 million over the next five years under the new law. …
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed SB606 on March 8, a bill that would have required the state to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). ERIC is a multi-state voter list maintenance compact. The legislation passed the Virginia State Senate 21-19 on Feb. 12, and the House of Delegates 51-49 on Feb. 21. Both…