Tagstate senate

Iowa Senate committee advances unemployment insurance bill

By James McAllister
In State
March 6, 2023 at 12:04 PM

The Iowa Senate’s Workforce Committee advanced a bill on February 28 that proposed reducing the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit amount families with three or more dependent children could claim. Currently, Iowa considers the number of dependents an individual or family cares for in determining benefit amounts. This proposed change would create a formula with three dependent benefit levels that would cap the maximum amount at three children.

The bill also proposed waiving requirements for certain seasonal workers (such as some school bus drivers, for example, who may get laid off every summer and rehired every fall or construction workers) to search for employment every week to remain eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

The legislation contains another provision that would tie the number of work search activities an unemployed worker needs to perform per week to remain eligible for benefits to the number of job openings in his or her area. When a lot of jobs openings are available, workers would need to perform six work search activities per week. When few job openings are available, workers would need to perform four work searches per week under the bill. Currently, Iowa law only requires workers to perform four job searches each week, depending on prevailing economic conditions.

The bill is now eligible for debate on the full Senate floor.

Unemployment insurance is a joint federal and state program that provides temporary monetary benefits to eligible laid-off workers who are actively seeking new employment. Qualifying individuals receive unemployment compensation as a percentage of their lost wages in the form of weekly cash benefits while they search for new employment.

The federal government oversees the general administration of state unemployment insurance programs. The states control the specific features of their unemployment insurance programs, such as eligibility requirements and length of benefits.

Additional reading:



Election legislation roundup: New York State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 1:11 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 107 election-related bills in the New York State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 107, Ballotpedia tracked five from Feb. 13-19. Democrats sponsored three, while Republicans sponsored two. The five bills are:   

  • NY S04673: Requires voters voting by affidavit ballot to produce an identification document to verify residency in the election district; requires absentee ballots to be received by election day, or be post-marked by the first day of early voting, Sen. George Borrello (R).
  • As introduced, this bill requires voters voting by affidavit to have a valid identification. This bill also requires absentee ballots be received by election day or postmarked by the first day of early voting to be canvassed. 
  • NY S04604: Exempts public school buildings from being designated as early polling locations, Sen. Andrew Lanza (R).
  • As introduced, this bill prohibits the designation of public school buildings as early voting locations.
  • NY S04496: Requires the boards of trustees of SUNY and CUNY to adopt policies requiring institutions thereof to grant course credit to students who serve as election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators, Andrew Gounardes (D).
  • As introduced, this bill requires state university trustees to adopt a policy requiring state universities to grant course credit to each student who serves as an election inspector, poll clerk, or election coordinator, and requires institutions to coordinate with the appropriate board of elections to verify work.
  • NY S04468: Allows voters age sixty-five or older to request an absentee ballot, Rachel May (D).
  • As introduced, this bill allows voters who are 65 or older to vote by absentee ballot.
  • NY S04469: Provides that if a school building is designated as a polling place, the board or body which controls such building shall provide a space that is not easily accessible to areas of the building where instructional activities are taking place, and if such a space cannot be provided that meets such criteria, the board or agency which controls such building shall cancel in-person instructional activities during the operating hours of such poll site, Monica Martinez (D).
  • As introduced, this bill requires a public school building being used for elections have a space that is not easily accessible to areas where instruction is taking place, and if this is not possible, in-person instruction must be canceled during the operation of the polling site.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16. 

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The New York Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 4 to June 8 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 190 Senate bills related to election administration. Ten of these bills passed both chambers and eight were enacted into law. New York is a Democratic trifecta. 

Additional reading: 



Election legislation roundup: Kentucky State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 12:44 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked six election-related bills in the Kentucky State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the six, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 13-19. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • KY SB125: An Act relating to elections, Sen. Denise Harper Angel (D).
  • Requires the state board of elections to create and make available a multilingual voter registration for, to be prominently displayed on the state website, that can be submitted by online transmission, provided to county clerks.
  • Requires the state board of election to create administrative regulations for creating, furnishing, and processing such voter registration forms.
  • Defines “multilingual ballot” languages as those, other than English, where at least 2,000 citizens, or 2.5% of citizens in the county, seventeen and older, speak the language and clarifies that the state board of elections specifies which languages may be included in the scope.
  • Requires the state board of elections to create a multilingual ballot hotline for use in regular election starting in November 2023 and requires specific notifications at least eight weeks before the election.
  • Outlines when the hotline must be made available to voters, what assistance will be given, and that the state board of elections should create related administrative regulations.
  • Directs that a sufficient number of multilingual instruction cards must be prepared and outlines how the state board should prepare cards, where they should be posted, how the state board should determine where they are needed, notify county officials, post information on the website, and provide a template for county election officials.
  • Makes optional the creation of multilingual instruction cards in counties where they are not required.
  • Provides that assistance with translation of an oath will be made available through the multilingual hotline.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16.

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The Kentucky Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 3 to March 30 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked nine Senate bills related to election administration. One of these bills passed both chambers and was enacted into law. Kentucky is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

Additional reading: 



Election legislation roundup: Wisconsin State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 12:40 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked four election-related bills in the Wisconsin State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the four, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 13-19. Republicans sponsored the bill. The bill is:

  • WI SB69: Restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE), Sen. Duey Stroebel (R) and Reps. Elijah Behnke (R), Ty Bodden (R), Cindi Duchow (R), James Edming (R), Rick Gundrum (R), Gae Magnafici (R), David Murphy (R), Jeffrey Mursau (R), William Penterman (R), Nik Rettinger (R), Donna Rozar (R), Shae Sortwell (R), John Spiros (R), and Ron Tusler (R).
  • As introduced, this bill specifies that previously incarcerated individuals’ right to vote is restored once they have paid all fines, costs, and fees, and completed any court-ordered community service in connection with the crime.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16. 

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The Wisconsin Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 3 to Dec. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and both were enacted into law. Wisconsin is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

Additional reading:



Election legislation roundup: North Carolina State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 12:34 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked two election-related bills in the North Carolina State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the two, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 13-19. Republicans sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • NC S88: Election Day Integrity Act, Sens. Ted Alexander (R), Lisa Barnes (R), Kevin Corbin (R), Warren Daniel (R), Carl Ford (R), Amy Galey (R), Bobby Hanig (R), Ralph Hise (R), Steve Jarvis (R), Matthew Johnson (R), Joyce Krawiec (R), Michael Lazzara (R), Michael Lee (R), Thomas McInnis (R), Tim Moffitt (R), Paul Newton (R), Eldon Newton (R), Bradley Overcash (R), Jim Perry (R), and Eddie Settle (R).
  • Requires each county to report certain information related to absentee ballots each day of one stop early voting.
  • Requires each county board of elections to report certain information related to counting absentee ballots starting on the day after the day of the election.
  • Requires the state board to publish the received reports on the website each day.
  • Requires each county to publish request form deadlines on its website and on materials sent to voters.
  • Changes the deadline for return of absentee ballots from 5pm three days after the election to 7:30pm on the day of the election.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16.


As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The North Carolina Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 11 to Aug. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked eight Senate bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and one was enacted into law. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

Additional reading: 



Election legislation roundup: New Jersey State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 12:31 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 46 election-related bills in the New Jersey State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 46, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 13-19. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • NJ S3593: Changes certain General Election deadlines, Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D).

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16.

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The New Jersey Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 10 to Dec. 31 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 57 Senate bills related to election administration. Zero of these bills passed both chambers. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta.

Additional reading: 



Election legislation roundup: Iowa State Senate

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
March 2, 2023 at 12:29 PM

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked one election-related bill in the Iowa State Senate since the beginning of the year. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is:   

  • IA SF271: A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, including the recounting of ballots, the mailing of absentee ballots, and in-person absentee voting, Sen. Pam Jochum (D).
  • Requires recount boards for counties with less than 25,000 people to have two designees for the requesting candidate, two designees for the current highest vote receiving candidate, and an individual chosen by the other four designees.
  • Requires recount boards for counties [with] less than 90,000 but more than 25,000 to have three designees for the requesting candidate, three designees for the current highest vote receiving candidate, and an individual chosen by the other six designees.
  • Requires recount boards for counties [with] more than 90,000 to have three designees for the requesting candidate, three designees for the current highest vote receiving candidate, and three individuals chosen by the other six designees.
  • Allows recount boards to either complete the recount or have the county commissioner complete the recount. If the county commissioner is charged with the recount, the recount board will still oversee it.
  • Allows the recount board to request a retabulation via automatic tabulating equipment per precinct, if they do, each undervote, overvote, or write-in ballot will be reviewed by the board.
  • Requires the report from the board be signed by at least 2/3 of the board’s members.
  • Changes the mailing of absentee ballots and absentee in person voting time frame from 20 days before the election or less to 45 days or less.

During the week of Feb. 13-19, Ballotpedia tracked 37 Senate election-related bills nationally. As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 551 Senate bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most Senate bills this year in the New York State Senate with 107, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest Senate bills in Delaware, Louisiana, and Massachusetts with zero. Republicans sponsored 246 of these bills, while Democrats sponsored 242. Third party sponsorship and bills with no sponsors accounted for 47 bills, while bipartisan legislators sponsored 16.

As of Feb. 19, Ballotpedia has tracked 301 Senate bills in Democratic trifectas and 189 Senate bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 61 Senate bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The Iowa Senate is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 9 to April 28 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked nine Senate bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and both were enacted into law. Iowa is a Republican trifecta.

Additional reading: 



Chambers Armstrong wins Kentucky State Senate District 19 special election

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
February 24, 2023 at 11:52 AM

A special general election took place for Kentucky State Senate District 19 on Feb. 21, 2023. Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D) won the special election with 77% of the vote to Misty Glin’s (R) 22.9%.

The special election was called after Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey (D) left office to represent Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District on Jan. 3, 2023. McGarvey served in the state Senate from 2012 to 2023. 

As of February 2023, 25 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2023 in 11 states. Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 74 special elections took place each year. Kentucky has held 27 state legislative special elections from 2010 to 2022. 

Additional reading:



Habush Sinykin and Knodl advance from Wisconsin State Senate District 8 special primary

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
February 24, 2023 at 11:49 AM

A special primary election was held for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on Feb. 21, 2023.

Representative Jodi Habush Sinykin ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, while Rep. Janel Brandtjen, Rep. Daniel Knodl, and Van Mobley competed in the Republican primary. Knodl advanced to the general election after receiving 57.4% of the vote to Brandtjen’s 31.8% and Mobley’s 10.8%.

The special general election is scheduled for April 4, 2023. The filing deadline passed on Jan. 3, 2023.

The special election was called after Sen. Alberta Darling (R) retired on Dec. 1, 2022. Darling served from 1993 to 2022. Darling’s retirement reduced Senate Republicans’ 22-member supermajority to a 21-member majority. The results of the special election will determine whether Republicans regain a supermajority. 

As of February 2023, 25 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2023 in 11 states. Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 74 special elections took place each year. Wisconsin has held 22 state legislative special elections from 2010 to 2022.  

Additional reading: 



How state Senates determine term lengths after redistricting

By Joel Williams
In State
February 15, 2023 at 7:44 PM

Most of the time, redistricting changes where a district is. But it can also change when incumbents must stand for re-election.

This is most commonly the case in state senates, where senators often serve varying term lengths or staggered terms, meaning only a certain number of districts are up for election each cycle.

Senators in 30 states serve four-year terms. In 12 states, senators serve two-year terms. But in eight states, senators serve two- or four-year terms depending on how close the elections are to redistricting. Howthese states change the timing and term lengths in their state Senates vary.

In Arkansas and Texas, senators draw random lots during the first legislative session after redistricting. Half of the senators serve a regular four-year term, while the other half starts with a two-year term and then four-year terms after that.

In Delaware, specific districts follow either a 4-4-2 or 2-4-4 schedule, referring to the term lengths in a given decade. This schedule has been in place since 1980.

In Florida, after redistricting, odd-numbered districts are up for election in even years that are multiples of four, and even-numbered districts are up in even years that are not multiples of four.

During Hawaii’s redistricting process, the redistricting commission selects 12 districts that will serve a two-year term to start the decade. The other 13 districts serve regular four-year terms.

In Illinois, at the beginning of the first legislative session after redistricting, the Legislature passes a bill dividing the districts into three groups: the first is elected to 4-4-2 year terms, the second is elected to 4-2-4 year terms, and the third is elected to 2-4-4 year terms.

Every Senate seat in Minnesota and New Jersey is up for election simultaneously, so no adjustments are needed. The entire chamber is up during the first cycle after redistricting and then every four years until the cycle repeats.