Category: State
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Florida governor issues stay-at-home order
On April 1, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. DeSantis’ order is effective from April 2 through April 30. It does not impact schools in the state, which were already closed through May 1. Thirty-five states have…
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Idaho to conduct May 19, 2020, primary election by mail
On March 30, 2020, Governor Brad Little (R) and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney (R) announced that Idaho’s May 19, 2020, primary election would be conducted entirely by mail. According to the press release announcing the change, “The Governor and Secretary of State will work with the Attorney General and the clerks of Idaho’s 44…
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California considering inmates for early release to slow coronavirus
On March 31, 2020, California announced that inmates will be granted early release to reduce the prison population in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus within California’s prison system. The inmates being considered for release are currently serving terms for nonviolent crimes and were due to be released within 60 days, and releases will…
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States have issued 758 executive orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic
As of March 31, governors and state agencies have issued 758 executive orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Executive orders are orders issued by a state’s executive branch that do not require legislative approval and are typically based on constitutional or statutory authority. The three states with the most executive orders so far are…
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Three measures are set to appear on South Dakota’s 2020 ballot
Two citizen initiatives and one legislatively referred constitutional amendment will appear on the November ballot in South Dakota. The signature deadline for ballot measures targeting the 2020 ballot in South Dakota passed on November 3, 2019. The South Dakota State Legislature, which can refer measures to the ballot, adjourned on March 30, 2020. The two citizen…
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Thirty states have issued stay-at-home orders so far
As of March 31, 30 of the 50 states have issued stay-at-home orders to residents. Although the names of the orders—shelter-in-place, stay-at-home, stay home, stay safe—vary from state to state, they include at least two common elements: the closure of nonessential businesses and requesting all residents to stay home except for essential trips. California was…
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North Carolina Representative Black dies
North Carolina State Representative MaryAnn Black (D) died on March 26. She represented District 29, which includes parts of Durham, in the state House. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) first appointed Black in February 2017 to replace former Rep. Larry Hall, who left the legislature to take a cabinet position in state government. Black defeated Charles…
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March 2020 breakdown of state legislative party membership: 52.3% Republicans, 46.9% Democrats
March’s partisan count of the 7,383 state legislators across the United States shows 52.3% are Republicans and 46.9% are Democrats. There are 7,383 state legislative offices—1,972 state senate seats and 5,411 state representative seats. Republicans hold 3,864 state legislative seats—1,085 senate seats and 2,779 house seats. Democrats hold 3,457 state legislative seats—874 senate seats and…
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Campaign backed by Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and others files signatures for California ballot initiative to define app-based drivers as independent contractors and enact regulations
Californians could decide whether app-based drivers should be classified as independent contractors in November. On March 27, the campaign Protect App-Based Drivers & Services filed more than 1 million signatures with local election officials for the ballot measure. Counties have eight working days to count signatures followed by 30 working days to conduct a random…
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Michigan state Rep. Robinson dies
Michigan State Representative Isaac Robinson (D) died March 29 at age 44. He had represented District 4 in the Michigan House of Representatives since January 1, 2019. Robinson’s family stated that his suspected cause of death was coronavirus infection. At the time of his death, Robinson served on the tax policy, regulatory reform, and commerce…