Category: State
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Georgians to vote in November on waiving state’s sovereign immunity
The Georgia State Legislature on Tuesday gave final approval to House Resolution 1023, sending it to the November 2020 ballot. The measure would allow residents to seek declaratory relief from state or local laws that are found to violate the U.S. Constitution, state Constitution, or state law. Under the amendment, a court could not award…
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New Mexico Supreme Court rules in cases involving police uniforms and vehicle markings
On June 11, 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court consolidated two cases and clarified requirements for marks of identification for police officers in aggravated fleeing cases. New Mexico law considers aggravated fleeing a fourth-degree felony. The law describes aggravated fleeing as “a person willfully and carelessly driving his vehicle in a manner that endangers the…
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Dexter appointed to Oregon House of Representatives
The county commissioners of Washington and Multnomah Counties appointed Maxine Dexter (D) to the Oregon House of Representatives on June 12. Dexter succeeds the late Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D), who died May 15. Dexter represents District 33 in the state House, a position for which she is already running. She won the Democratic primary on…
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Maine Republican Party files signatures for veto referendum to repeal ranked-choice voting for presidential elections
On June 15, signatures were filed for a veto referendum to repeal Maine LD 1803, which established ranked-choice voting for presidential elections. Under LD 1803, Maine is slated to use ranked-choice voting to elect the president for the first time on November 3, 2020. The Maine Republican Party led the signature-gathering efforts for the veto…
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Texas Democrats appeal absentee voting decision to U.S. Supreme Court
On June 16, the Democratic Party of Texas appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court an appellate court order staying a district court decision that had extended absentee voting eligibility in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On May 19, Judge Samuel Frederick Biery of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ordered that…
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Hudson becomes first African American commissioner on Virginia State Corporation Commission
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) appointed Jehmal Hudson to the Virginia State Corporation Commission on June 9, making Hudson the first African American commissioner to serve on that body. Hudson succeeds former commissioner Patricia West, who served on the commission from March 2019 until her term expired in January 2020. The Virginia State Corporation Commission consists…
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Two West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justices win reelection
Three West Virginia Supreme Court seats were up for nonpartisan election on June 9. The general election for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, along with West Virginia’s statewide primary election, was originally scheduled for May 12. Governor Jim Justice (R) postponed the election in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Two incumbent…
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New Hampshire’s stay-at-home order to expire on June 15
On June 11, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) announced that New Hampshire’s stay-at-home order will expire on June 15 at 11:59 p.m. When the order lifts, the following businesses are permitted to reopen: amateur sports, bowling, arcades, laser tag and billiard halls, charitable gaming, gyms and fitness centers (50% capacity), libraries, motorcycle rides, museums and art…
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Ballotpedia study examines statutes governing state-level judicial deference to agency interpretations
Two Ballotpedia surveys of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) analyzed the different ways states approach judicial deference to administrative agencies. Judicial deference — the principle of judicial review in which a court yields to an agency’s interpretation of a statute or regulation — is one of five pillars key to understanding…
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Special election to be held June 23 for Kentucky Senate seat
A special election is being held on June 23 for District 26 of the Kentucky State Senate. Karen Berg (D) and Bill Ferko (R) are running in the special election. Party county executive committees choose nominees for state legislative special elections in Kentucky. The seat became vacant when Ernie Harris (R) retired from the legislature…