Category: State

  • Illinois to stop debit card unemployment insurance payments

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    Photo of the Illinois State Capitol building

    The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced on Nov. 22, 2021, that unemployment insurance payments through state-issued debit cards would end starting Dec. 27, 2021. IDES said payments would continue through paper checks and direct deposit. Claimants will still be able to access the funds on their debit cards after December 27 until their…

  • Sixteen seats changed party control and 14 incumbents lost in state legislative general elections

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    Three of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers held regularly-scheduled elections on Nov. 2: the New Jersey State Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, and Virginia House of Delegates. Elections in these three chambers represented 220 of the country’s 7,383 state legislative seats (2.9%). Final results were recently certified in both states, though recounts recently began…

  • Belsito (D) defeats Snow (R) in Massachusetts House special election

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    A special general election was held for the Massachusetts House of Representatives 4th Essex District on Nov. 30. Jamie Zahlaway Belsito (D) won the special election with 2,504 votes, or 55.4% of the total, defeating Robert Snow (R). Belsito is the first Democrat to win election to the district since 1858. Special Democratic and Republican…

  • Redistricting timeline update: South Carolina legislature announces special sessions, Washington Supreme Court assumes redistricting authority

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    Here’s a summary of recent redistricting updates from South Carolina and Washington. South Carolina: On Nov. 18, 2021, Senate President Harvey Peeler (R) said senators will meet on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. in a special session to address redistricting. House Speaker Jay Lucas (R) also announced a special session for the South Carolina House…

  • Connecticut completes state legislative redistricting

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    Connecticut completed its state legislative redistricting process on Nov. 23, 2021, when the Connecticut Reapportionment Commission voted 8-0 in favor of new maps for the state’s 36 Senate districts. The commission enacted new House maps on Nov. 18. These maps will take effect for Connecticut’s 2022 state legislative elections. The commission, made up of four…

  • Three candidates file for Maine House special election

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    Political parties had until Nov. 29 to nominate candidates to run in the special election for District 27 of the Maine House of Representatives. The unaffiliated candidate filing deadline also passed on the same day. James Boyle (D) and Timothy Thorsen (R) were both nominated by their respective political parties to run in the Jan.…

  • Redistricting map updates: advancements, vetoes, and enactments between Nov. 17 and 24

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    Between Nov. 17 and Nov. 24, the Georgia State Legislature advanced its congressional map plan to the governor’s desk and Gov. Tony Evers (D) vetoed a set of Republican-backed maps in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, five states enacted new congressional and state legislative district maps. Advanced Georgia: On Nov. 22, the Georgia State Legislature approved maps redrawing…

  • What is your state’s unemployment tax rate?

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    State unemployment taxes are employment taxes employers must pay to support the joint federal-state unemployment insurance program. State unemployment taxes are also known as SUTA taxes, state unemployment insurance (SUI) taxes, or reemployment taxes. Employers usually pay a percentage of an employee’s salary in SUTA taxes up to the wage base (the maximum amount of…

  • Illinois enacts new congressional district maps

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    Photo of the Illinois State Capitol building

    Illinois enacted new congressional districts on Nov. 24, 2021, when Gov. J.B. Pritzer (D) signed a proposal approved by the legislature into law. Illinois was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one set less than it was apportioned after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for…

  • Massachusetts enacts new congressional district maps

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    Massachusetts enacted new congressional districts on Nov. 22 when Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed a proposal approved by the legislature into law. Massachusetts was apportioned nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, no change from after the 2010 census. The map will take effect for the state’s 2022 congressional elections.…