Category: State
-
Wisconsin Assembly passes unemployment insurance indexing bill
Wisconsin lawmakers on April 25 passed several bills related to unemployment insurance, including one that would index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state’s unemployment rate. Assembly Bill 153 would reduce the maximum number of benefit weeks to 14 during times when the unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%. The bill also…
-
North Carolina Supreme Court vacates state’s congressional, legislative maps
In a 5-2 decision on April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a 2022 decision that the state’s enacted congressional and legislative maps were unconstitutional due to partisan gerrymandering. The court vacated the maps the legislature enacted in 2021 and the remedial maps used for the 2022 elections. In its ruling, the court…
-
New York adopts revised State Assembly districts
New York enacted new State Assembly district boundaries on April 24, 2023, when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation establishing them for use starting with the 2024 elections. The State Assembly passed the bill earlier that day by a vote of 132-13, and it passed the state Senate by a vote of 59-1. The New…
-
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from April 17-23
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issued one executive order from April 17-23. Lujan Grisham has issued 40 executive orders—20 more than she did at this point a year ago. The order is here: Executive Order 2023-040, where the governor declared an emergency in Sandoval County due to severe flooding and authorized emergency financial…
-
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues 20 executive orders from April 17-23
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued 20 executive orders from April 17-23. As of April 23, DeSantis has issued 85 executive orders in 2023 — 15 fewer than he did at this point a year ago. Three of the orders are below: Executive Order Number 23-81, where the governor extended the assignment of Katherine Fernandez…
-
Texas voters to decide constitutional amendment related to conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County in November
The Texas State Legislature took the final vote to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. 2023 ballot on April 25. The measure would amend section 59 of Article XVI of the state constitution to authorize the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund parks and…
-
Texas Legislature proposes parental rights amendments
The Texas State Senate passed two constitutional amendments related to parental rights. They are now pending before the House. If approved by the House, they would appear on the ballot for Nov. 7, 2023. Senate Joint Resolution 29 would provide a state constitutional right for parents or legal guardians to direct their children’s education, including choosing…
-
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from April 17-23
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) issued one executive order from April 17-23. As of April 23, Hochul has issued 13 executive orders in 2023—six fewer than she did at this point a year ago. The order is below: EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 4.20, where the governor continues a statewide disaster emergency due to healthcare staffing…
-
Governor Tony Evers (D) issues two executive orders from April 17-23
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued two executive orders from April 17-23. As of April 23, Evers has issued 14 executive orders in 2023—three more than he did at this point a year ago. The orders are: EXECUTIVE ORDER #194, where the governor declared a state of emergency in response to widespread flooding across the…
-
Election legislation roundup: New York State Senate
As of April 23, Ballotpedia has tracked 137 election-related bills in the New York State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 137, Ballotpedia tracked two from April 17-23. Democrats sponsored both bills. The two bills are: NY S06397: Provides for the re-enfranchisement of voters with felony convictions by repealing certain provisions in…