Author: Jerrick Adams

  • Virginia House of Delegates approves bill establishing collective bargaining rights for public-sector workers

    Posted on

    On Feb. 6, the Virginia House of Delegates approved HB582, a bill establishing collective bargaining rights for public-sector workers at both the state and local levels. Nationwide, three states – Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina – currently prohibit collective bargaining on the part of public-sector workers. What specifically does the bill propose? HB582 would…

  • Federal judge upholds Santa Fe donor disclosure law

    Posted on

    On Jan. 29, Judge Judith Herrera, of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, upheld a Santa Fe city ordinance requiring entities spending $250 or more to advocate for or against ballot propositions to disclose their donors. Who are the parties to the suit? The plaintiff is the Rio Grande Foundation (RGF),…

  • Florida lawmakers consider changes to public-sector union membership and dues processes

    Posted on

    Florida lawmakers are considering legislation (H0001) that would, if enacted, change how public-sector employees join, resign from, and pay membership dues to unions. What does the bill propose? The bill would make the following changes: Requires employees who wish to join a union to sign a membership authorization form. The form must include an acknowledgment…

  • Wisconsin governor establishes advisory redistricting commission

    Posted on

    On January 27, 2020, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed an executive order creating an advisory redistricting commission to prepare congressional and state legislative district plans for consideration by the state legislature in the coming redistricting cycle. The legislature, vested with the authority to adopt redistricting plans, will be under no obligation to accept the…

  • Three states consider bills barring public agencies from requiring donor information from 501(c)s

    Posted on

    Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee are considering legislation that would bar public agencies from requiring 501(c) nonprofit entities to provide them with personal information about their donors. The bills share identical definitions of “public agencies” and “personal information.” They also assign the same penalties for noncompliance. “Public agency” definition: any state or local governmental entity. “Personal…

  • Univ. of Washington employee sues SEIU over membership opt-out provisions

    Posted on

    On Jan. 20, an employee of the University of Washington filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court, alleging that her union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 925, had unconstitutionally barred her and other employees from opting out of union membership. Who are the parties to the suit? The lead plaintiff is Charlene Wagner, a…

  • Univ. of Washington employee sues SEIU over membership opt-out provisions

    Posted on

    On Jan. 20, an employee of the University of Washington filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court, alleging that her union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 925, had unconstitutionally barred her and other employees from opting out of union membership. Who are the parties to the suit? The lead plaintiff is Charlene Wagner, a…

  • A look at donor disclosure requirements for electioneering communications

    Posted on

    As the year gets underway, and lawmakers nationwide take up bills on donor disclosure, let’s take a closer look at a particular policy area: donor disclosure requirements for groups that sponsor electioneering communications. Broadly speaking, an electioneering communication is any broadcast, cable, or satellite transmission that refers to a clearly identified candidate within a specified…

  • Maine professor asks Supreme Court to strike down exclusive representation requirement

    Posted on

    On Jan. 2, 2020, a professor at the University of Maine filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting that it overturn a Maine law compelling public-sector employees to accept a union’s representation regardless of their membership status with that union (i.e., exclusive representation). Who are the parties to the suit? The plaintiff is…

  • Missouri Supreme Court strikes down law requiring voters without photo ID to sign affidavits

    Posted on

    On January 14, 2020, the Missouri Supreme Court, in a 5-2 ruling, upheld a lower court’s decision striking down a state law that required voters without photo ID to sign affidavits before voting. Consequently, voters in Missouri may present either photo or non-photo identification at the polls and cast regular ballots without signing affidavits. On…