Category: State
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Texas Education Agency takes over state’s largest school district
A yearslong struggle between the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Houston Independent School District (HISD) came to an end on March 15, 2023. Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced in a letter he was appointing a Board of Managers to replace the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) elected Board of Trustees. Morath cited a…
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Indiana voters to decide in 2024 on removing the state superintendent from the gubernatorial line of succession
The Indiana State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the Nov. 2024 ballot that would remove the superintendent of public instruction from the gubernatorial line of succession. The elected position was abolished in 2021 and replaced by the secretary of education, a position appointed by the governor. Currently, in Indiana, if the governor becomes incapacitated,…
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North Dakota enacts a plain language requirement for ballot measure summaries
The North Dakota State Legislature passed a bill, Senate Bill 2163 (SB 2163), to require the language that voters see on a ballot for a statewide measure to be written in “plain, clear, understandable language using words with common, everyday meaning.” Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed SB 2163 on March 23. In North Dakota, the…
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North Dakota voters to decide an amendment changing the constitutional language used to describe certain state institutions in 2024
The North Dakota State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the Nov. 2024 ballot that would change the language used in the state constitution to describe certain state institutions. Under the amendment, the following institutions would be renamed: the State School for the Deaf and Dumb in Devils Lake would become the state School for…
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Utah governor signs bill for new state flag, veto referendum filed to stop it
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed Senate Bill 31, a bill to establish a new state flag, on March 21, 2023. The new flag will go into effect on March 9, 2024. The current state flag, which was adopted on March 9, 1911, will be referred to as the historic state flag. Cox said, “As…
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Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues two executive orders from March 13-19
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) issued two executive orders from March 13-19. As of March 19, Hochul has issued nine executive orders in 2023 — five fewer than she did at this point a year ago. Executive Order 27, where the governor declared a state disaster emergency for 37 counties affected by a winter…
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Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues nine executive orders from March 13-19
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued nine executive orders from March 13-19. As of March 19, DeSantis has issued 58 executive orders in 2023 — 16 fewer than he did at this point a year ago. Three of nine executive orders are below: Executive Order Number 23-54, where the governor assigned Brian Kramer as state…
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Governor Roy Cooper (D) issues two executive orders from March 13-19
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued two executive orders from March 13-19. As of March 19, Cooper has issued five executive orders in 2023 — seven fewer than he did at this point a year ago. Executive Order No. 278, where the governor directed and authorized the director of the Office of State Human…
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from March 13-19
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issued one executive order from March 13-19. As of March 19, Grisham has issued 38 executive orders in 2023 — 24 more than she did at this point a year ago. Executive Order 2023-038, where the governor ordered flags to half-staff in memorial of former Navajo Nation President…
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Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues four executive orders from March 13-19
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued four executive orders from March 13-19. As of March 19, Murphy has issued 10 executive orders in 2023 — six fewer than he did at this point a year ago. Three of four executive orders are below: Executive Order No. 320, where the governor declared a state of…