Category: State

  • Idaho governor signs bill locking a lower unemployment tax rate for two years

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    Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) signed House Bill 450 into law on Feb. 18, lowering Idaho’s unemployment insurance tax rate for the next two years. The state estimated the lower unemployment tax range would save Idaho employers $64 million for the duration of the tax cut. Employers pay state unemployment taxes to fund the unemployment…

  • Michigan announces unemployment insurance tax forms for 2021 are available online

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    The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency announced Feb. 22, 2022, that 1099-G forms are available for anyone who received unemployment insurance benefits in 2021. Residents who claimed unemployment benefits in 2021 have to have the form to file state and federal tax returns. The form includes information on the amounts of benefits claimants received and the…

  • Texas argues public transport mask mandate exceeds CDC authority

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    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and the Texas Public Policy Foundation on Feb. 16, 2022, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas aiming to block enforcement of the Biden administration’s federal mask mandate for public transport. The mandate, issued by the Center for Disease Control and…

  • Incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine (R) faces primary challengers in May 3 election

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    Four candidates are running in the Republican primary election for governor of Ohio on May 3, 2022. Two candidates—incumbent Mike DeWine (R) and Jim Renacci (R)—have led the field in fundraising and media coverage. Politico’s Zach Montellaro and Michael Kruse wrote that the “primary could show just how far [support for Donald Trump (R)], even…

  • Republican candidates fuel an increase in contested state legislative primaries in Indiana

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    The filing deadline for candidates running for state or federal office in Indiana this year was Feb. 4, 2022. Elections will take place in 25 of the state’s 50 Senate districts and all 100 state House districts. Two hundred and fifty-eight candidates filed for those 125 districts: 84 Democrats and 174 Republicans. Fifty-one primary elections…

  • West Virginia U.S. House delegation shrinking from three to two sets up primary between two representatives

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    The filing deadline for candidates running for state or federal office in West Virginia was Jan. 29, 2022. Thirteen candidates—three Democrats and 10 Republicans—are running for the state’s two U.S. House districts. That’s 6.5 candidates per district, more than the 4.7 candidates per district in 2020 and 6.3 in 2018. Here are some other highlights…

  • New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission enacts new legislative maps

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    The New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to enact new state legislative district maps on Feb. 18, 2022. The maps will take effect for New Jersey’s 2023 state legislative elections. The commission voted 9-2 to approve the maps. Thomas Kean Jr. (R) and Cosmo A. Cirillo (D) were the two dissenting votes. The New Jersey…

  • Rhode Island enacts new legislative districts

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    Rhode Island enacted new legislative district boundaries on Feb. 16, 2022, when Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed redistricting legislation approved by the General Assembly. The maps will take effect for Rhode Island’s 2022 state legislative elections. The state House of Representatives passed the new maps 57-6, and the state Senate approved them 29-9 on Feb.…

  • North Carolina state court approves new congressional, legislative maps

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    North Carolina enacted new congressional and legislative districts on Feb. 23, 2022, after the Wake County Superior Court approved legislative maps that the General Assembly approved on Feb. 16 and 17. The court also adopted a new congressional map proposed by a panel of court-appointed special masters. North Carolina was apportioned 14 seats in the…

  • Thirty-nine state legislative special elections scheduled for 2022

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    Thirty-nine state legislative special elections have been scheduled in 19 states in 2022. Fourteen special elections have taken place already. Heading into those races, Democrats had controlled 11 of the seats, and Republicans controlled three. No seats have changed party control as a result of special elections this year. Upcoming special elections include: Mar. 1…