Category: State
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Nevada and Utah hold special legislative sessions for redistricting
Here’s a summary of recent redistricting updates from Nevada and Utah. Nevada: On Nov. 11, 2021, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) announced a special session to address redistricting would begin on Nov. 12. Legislators are expected to debate the congressional and state legislative maps released on Nov. 9. Utah: The Utah legislature began its special session…
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Kentucky institutes ID verification for unemployment insurance claimants
The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance on Nov. 4 began requiring unemployment insurance claimants in the state to verify their identity with ID.me, a third-party verification provider, in order to receive benefits. The new verification requirements are aimed at limiting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the state. Fraudulent unemployment insurance claims have, according to Labor Cabinet…
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Colorado Supreme Court approves final state legislative maps
On Nov. 15, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court approved the state House and Senate maps finalized by the Colorado Independent Legislative Commission on Oct. 11 and 12, respectively. These maps, which redraw the state’s 35 Senate districts and 65 House districts, will take effect for the state’s 2022 state legislative elections. Colorado was the 16th…
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Utah enacts new congressional districts
Utah enacted new congressional districts on Nov. 12, 2021, after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a map approved by the House and the Senate. The enacted map was drafted by the legislature and differed from a proposal the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission released on Nov. 5. The congressional map passed the Utah House 50-22 on…
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South Dakota enacts new state legislative district maps
South Dakota enacted new state legislative and congressional districts after the legislature approved a compromise between two competing proposals. Both chambers voted to approve the final proposal, known as the Sparrow map, on Nov. 10, 2021. The House approved the new districts in a 37-31 vote and the Senate by a vote of 30-2. Gov.…
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On Saturday, Louisiana voters approved one constitutional amendment and defeated three
On Saturday, Louisiana voters approved one constitutional amendment and defeated three. Voters approved Amendment 2, which decreased the maximum allowable individual income tax rate from 6% to 4.75% for tax years beginning in 2022. Through House Bill 278, the legislature provided in statute that the tax bracket rates beginning in 2022 for an individual would…
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North Dakota enacts new state legislative maps
On Nov. 11, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed a new state legislative map following the 2020 redistricting cycle. The House approved the map in a 73-18 vote on Nov. 9, and the Senate approved the map in a 40-7 vote on Nov. 10. The map was drafted by the Legislative Redistricting Committee, which…
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Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission enacts new congressional map
On Nov. 12, the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission enacted a new congressional map following the 2020 redistricting cycle. The commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the map and to transmit it to the Montana Secretary of State. Both Republican commissioners and Maylinn Smith, the nonpartisan tiebreaker, voted in favor of the map, and the two…
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Alaska adopts final state legislative map
On Nov. 10, 2021, the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a new legislative map outlining the state’s 20 Senate districts and 40 House districts as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle. While the new map has been enacted, there will now be a 30-day period during which interested parties may file legal challenges against the new…
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Texas Gov. Abbott appoints state supreme court justice
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) appointed Evan Young to the Texas State Supreme court on Nov. 1, 2021. Young assumed office on Nov. 9. Young’s appointment fills the vacancy created by Eva Guzman, who resigned from the court in June 2021 to run for Texas attorney general. Under Texas law, the governor appoints a replacement…