Category: State
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Four states advance bills prohibiting union dues deductions
Four states have recently advanced Republican-sponsored bills prohibiting union dues deductions for certain public-sector employees. Here’s what those bills say and where they stand. Arkansas Arkansas lawmakers delivered Senate Bill 473 to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on April 7 after the House passed the bill on April 6. SB 473 states: “A school district board of directors…
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Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: Texas roundup
Texas is holding elections, including for school boards and city council, on May 6, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. Below is a selection of responses from the candidates…
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North Dakota voters to decide on constitutional initiative procedures in 2024
The North Dakota State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the 2024 ballot asking voters to make changes to the state’s initiative process, including changes that would make it more challenging for constitutional initiatives to qualify for the ballot and be adopted. The amendment, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4013, was passed by the Senate in a…
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Wisconsin introduces unemployment insurance indexing bill
Wisconsin lawmakers on April 7 introduced several bills related to unemployment insurance, including one that would index the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state’s unemployment rate. Assembly Bill 153 would reduce the maximum number of benefit weeks to 14 during times when the unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%. The bill also…
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Texas State Legislature proposed 295 constitutional amendments in 2023
The Texas State Legislature proposed 295 constitutional amendments during the 2023 legislative session, an increase over previous odd-year regular sessions where legislators proposed 218 amendments in 2021 and 216 amendments in 2019. Texas is one of a handful of states that frequently vote on constitutional amendments in odd-numbered years. Fourteen of the 295 proposed amendments…
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Kansas bill opposing ESG passes legislature
Kansas lawmakers approved a bill on April 6 prohibiting ESG considerations in public pension investments. Some measures that were proposed, like certain restrictions on private ESG investing and on public investments in foreign companies, did not make it into the final bill. The bill was sent to the governor for consideration. According to Fox News:…
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Nine candidates running in Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia
Nine candidates are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia on May 16, 2023. The winner will face David Oh—the only candidate who ran for the Republican nomination—in the general election on Nov. 7. Incumbent Jim Kenney (D), who was first elected mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, is term-limited. Asha Prihar,…
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Governor Tony Evers (D) issues one executive order from April 3-9
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued one executive order from April 3-9. As of April 9, Evers has issued nine executive orders in 2023 — one fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is: Executive Order #190, where the governor updated the structure of the Telecommunications Relay Service Council. Governors…
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Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues three executive orders from April 3-9
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued three executive orders from April 3-9. As of April 9, Murphy has issued 13 executive orders in 2023 — four fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The orders are: Executive Order No. 324, where the governor ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in…
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Governor Eric Holcomb (R) issues one executive order from April 3-9
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) issued one executive order from April 3-9. As of April 9, Holcomb has issued three executive orders in 2023 — eight fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is: Executive Order 23-03, where the governor declared a disaster emergency in five counties due to severe…