Pluribus AM: Daylight saving time gets new look; W.V. approves trans youth care ban; No Labels makes Ore. ballot

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Good morning, it’s Monday, March 13, 2023. In today’s edition, daylight saving time gets a new look; W.V. approves trans youth care ban; No Labels makes ballot in Ore.:

Top Stories

DAYLIGHT SAVING: Lawmakers in New York and Texas have introduced legislation to make permanent daylight saving time. The New York bill would take effect only if its five neighbors — Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — do the same. The Texas bill would put the question to voters in November. (State of Politics, Dallas Morning News)

Welcome news to those of us who are dragging a bit today.

ABORTION: U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk has scheduled a first hearing for Wednesday in a case challenging the FDA’s approval of an abortion-inducing medication. Kacsmaryk did not make the order public, he said, to minimize disruptions or potential protests. (Washington Post) The New Mexico Senate approved a bill to shield medical providers or patients receiving reproductive or gender-affirming care from liability in civil or criminal prosecution. (SourceNM)

LGBTQ RIGHTS: The West Virginia legislature has approved a measure barring gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Gov. Jim Justice (R) has not said whether he will sign it. (Associated Press) Missouri Senate Republican hardliners plan to force a vote on a gender-affirming care ban that Democrats have filibustered. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) 

MORE: A Florida bill to bar gender-affirming care for transgender youth would allow the state to take temporary emergency authority over children who might be in line for care. Health care providers would be required to affirm they do not provide gender-affirming treatment to minors or risk losing their licenses. (Florida Politics)

CHILD WELFARE: At least three states — Vermont, Washington and Delaware — are considering measures to overturn clergy-penitent privilege, compelling priests to report information heard during confession about endangered minors. (Boston Globe) Maryland’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee approved a bill retroactively repealing the statute of limitations on lawsuits by those alleging they suffered child sexual abuse. (Maryland Matters)

EDUCATION: Legislation filed Friday in the Texas Senate would prohibit public colleges and universities from awarding tenure to professors hired after September and bar consideration of diversity in hiring. The bills, introduced by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R), are among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s (R) top priorities this year. (Texas Tribune) A Florida bill to expand voucher programs to all students passed the House Education Quality Subcommittee with several Democrats voting in favor. (Florida Politics) 

OREGON: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means has approved Gov. Tina Kotek’s (D) $155 million homelessness spending package. The bill aims to move 1,200 unsheltered people off the streets, add 600 new shelter beds and keep 9,000 families in their homes. Another bill would expand eviction protections and fund housing production. (KATU, OPB)

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The state Senate unanimously approved a permanent renewal of Medicaid expansion. Legislators approved expansion on a temporary basis in 2014. Senate President Jeb Bradley (R) said he was optimistic the measure could pass the House. (WMUR)

MINNESOTA: A state Senate committee has advanced a $1.9 billion infrastructure deal funding local road and bridge repairs, sewer and water systems and upgrading college facilities, state parks and flood-control measures. Democrats do not yet have enough support from Republicans to win final approval. (St. Paul Pioneer Press) Democratic leaders are promising tax cuts this year, though they have not said who will qualify or which taxes will be cut. (MPR News)

NEW MEXICO: The House of Representatives unanimously approved a measure to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students. The nonprofit group Feeding America estimates one in five New Mexico children face hunger problems. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

In Politics & Business

COLORADO: State Republicans elected ex-state Rep. Dave Williams as their new chairman. Williams, who denies the results of the 2020 elections, challenged U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R) in last year’s GOP primary. (Associated Press, Colorado Sun)

ARKANSAS: The League of Women Voters and state Sen. Bryan King (D) have filed suit to challenge a new law increasing the number of counties from which initiative supporters must collect signatures to qualify for the ballot. Plaintiffs say the law runs afoul of the state constitution. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

OREGON: The No Labels Party has qualified for ballot status in Oregon, the third state — after Colorado and Arizona — where it has reached ballot status. (Oregon Capital Chroncile)

MARYLAND: The state House on Friday approved a measure to ask voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution The state Senate’s version of the bill received preliminary approval Friday. If passed, voters would decide on the proposed amendment in 2024. (Maryland Matters)

SOUTH CAROLINA: The state House has approved a $1.3 billion incentive package to woo a Volkswagen-backed electric vehicle plant to a site new Columbia. The $2 billion plant hopes to hire 4,000 workers. (Associated Press)

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles teachers plan to join a strike led by 30,000 cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians over new contract negotiations, potentially closing schools for three days in the coming weeks. The city’s teacher’s union is also seeking a new contract. (Los Angeles Times)

By The Numbers

14 million: The number of people who stand to lose Medicaid eligibility when the federal government’s Covid-19 emergency order ends next month. Nine states — mostly Republican-run — will begin checking eligibility in April. Medicaid rolls grew by about 20 million during the pandemic. (Associated Press)

7.25%: The pay hike in store for Minnesota lawmakers this summer, under a proposal by the Minnesota Legislative Salary Council. Legislator salaries will rise from $48,250 to $51,750 by July 1. (MPR News)

$35 billion: The new estimated cost of an initial 171-mile segment of California’s high-speed rail project, up from an estimated $22.8 billion cost unveiled by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) four years ago. The estimated cost is now higher than the amount voters approved in 2008 for bonds covering the entire 500-mile stretch between Los Angeles and San Francisco. (Los Angeles Times)

Off The Wall

New Hampshire state Rep. Jeffrey Greeson (R) was arrested Friday by state police, almost a week after he was caught on video yelling at and obstructing the path of a snow plow driver. Greeson has been charged with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and simple assault. (MassLive)

New Mexico lawmakers have amended a bill giving statewide elected officials hefty raises to exclude Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) — over fears that she would be committing a felony if she signed the bill. State law bars a governor from signing legislation that would impact his or her financial interest. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

Quote of the Day

“Financially speaking, there is no upside for the state to this case.”

— Chris Hilton, a lawyer in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) office, on a potential $3.3 million settlement between Paxton and four whistleblowers who accused him of misconduct. The legislature has little appetite to approve the settlement. (Texas Tribune)