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Good morning, it’s Friday, December 6, 2024. In today’s edition, ALEC lays out model bills; Texas to try to ban THC; Michigan Dems race to protect reproductive data:
Top Stories
REPUBLICANS: The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council unveiled more than 100 model bills and resolutions for lawmakers next year, including measures to study AI, limit government regulation and crack down on squatters.
ALEC will back legislation creating an AI advisory agency within a state attorney general’s office to provide recommendations on best uses. Another model bill will allow states to use AI technology to detect firearms at schools.
The group will also support bills defining nuclear and natural gas as clean energy; requiring renewable energy replacements to be operational before fossil fuel plants are shuttered; and bills to require students to receive instruction in American historical documents. Read more at Pluribus News.
MARIJUANA: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) will make legislation banning consumable forms of THC a priority in the coming session. Patrick said this week that a bill to ban the active ingredient in marijuana and cannabis products would seek to end sales of the substance allowed under the federal farm bill. (Texas Tribune)
ABORTION: Michigan Democrats are moving to approve legislation that would require businesses and organizations to use reproductive health data — like menstrual cycle tracking apps — only for services they provide. Companies would need explicit, signed consent from a consumer to sell that data. (Associated Press)
ENVIRONMENT: Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection has adopted regulations that would require producers of packaging waste to reimburse towns and cities for disposal. Maine was the first state in the nation to pass a producer responsibility law, in 2021. (Maine Public Radio)
TAXES: Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) has signed a $1.3 billion personal and corporate income tax cut into law. The measure, approved in special session last month, will increase the state sales tax to 5% for the next five years, cut the corporate income tax rate by two percentage points and triple the standard deduction for individuals. (Associated Press)
MORE: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has proposed ending taxes on Social Security payments as part of his FY 2026 budget. The $30.6 billion budget plan is the largest in state history. The tax cut would save about 150,000 state residents up to $1,000 a year. (Salt Lake Tribune)
In Politics & Business
COLORADO: Republicans have formally cracked the Democratic supermajority in the state House, after a recount confirmed Rep.-elect Rebecca Keltie (R) defeated Rep. Steph Vigil (D) by a whopping three votes. Democrats remained one seat short of a supermajority in the state Senate, too. (Denver Post)
NEW JERSEY: Pro-Trump podcaster Mike Crispi (R) has filed papers to explore a bid for governor in 2025. Crispi will face another radio host, Bill Spadea, and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the race for the Republican nomination. (New Jersey Globe)
MISSOURI: Certified election results show a voter-approved initiative to legalize sports betting passed by a margin of just 0.1%, or 2,961 votes out of 2,954,343 cast. Supporters spent $43 million backing the measure, while the $14 million spent against was funded entirely by Caesar’s Entertainment, which runs three of Missouri’s 13 existing casinos. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
LEADERSHIP: Idaho Senate Republicans have elected Sen. Kelly Anthon (R) as the new Senate president pro tem. Anthon will replace Sen. Chuck Winder (R), who lost his primary earlier this year. (Idaho Statesman) Texas House Democrats have selected Rep. Gene Wu (D) to serve as minority leader, ousting incumbent Trey Martinez Fischer (D). (Texas Tribune)
PEOPLE: Mississippi Rep. Andy Stepp (R) has died at 66. Stepp, a pharmacy owner and local activist, was serving his first term in the legislature. (Supertalk) Our condolences to the Mississippi legislative community.
By The Numbers
More than $30 million: The amount proponents and opponents of a constitutional amendment to repeal the Arkansas Racing Commission’s authority to issue a new casino license in Pope County. The campaign served as a proxy fight between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which has a nearby casino in Oklahoma, and the Cherokee Nation Businesses, which wanted to build the new casino. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
$5,300 per year: The average amount Hawaii residents spent on takeout food and beverages last year, according to an analysis of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s 27% higher than the national average and higher than any other state. New Hampshire and Maine residents were the only other two to spend more than $5,000 a year on takeout. (Civil Beat)
$1.75 billion: The amount a new stadium for the Athletics on the Las Vegas Strip will cost. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority said it was comfortable that owner John Fisher had a plan to finance the stadium, to which he has committed about $1.1 billion. (Nevada Independent)
Off The Wall
High winds have toppled West Virginia’s state Christmas tree in front of the capitol building in Charleston on Thursday. The Department of General Services said it would wait until today to stand up the 54-foot Norway Spruce, harvested from Watoga State Park in Pocahontas County. (WV Metro News)
The oldest-known wild bird, a 74-year old Laysan albatross named Wisdom, has laid an egg at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers estimate it is Wisdom’s 60th egg; she’s raised as many as 30 chicks. (Associated Press)
She’s going to be 92 before the new chick goes to college.
Quote of the Day
“I think I’m really excited to work with some nonprofits down the road, but I’m trying to make sure that the things [I do] can help me pay bills and whatnot.”
— Outgoing New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), on his plans once he leaves office. He refused to rule out running for president in 2028. (Boston Globe)