Good morning, it’s Monday, May 15, 2023. In today’s edition, N.C. set for abortion fight; Texas moves gender-affirming care ban; N.H. Gov opens door to legal pot:
Top Stories
ABORTION: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed legislation barring most abortions after 12 weeks, setting up a showdown with legislative Republicans. Cooper is trying to peel off one of four Republicans to sustain his veto. Senate President Phil Berger (R) pledged a quick override vote. (Pluribus News) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is calling lawmakers back to special session to pass an abortion ban. (The State)
LGBTQ RIGHTS: Republican governors have written to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona opposing the Biden administration’s proposal to expand protections against sex discrimination to include gender identity. The letter says the new rule would supersede state laws barring transgender girls from school sports. (Yellowhammer News) The Texas House has approved a bill banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors. (Texas Tribune)
GUN POLITICS: The Minnesota Senate on Friday approved a bill expanding background checks on firearms sales and allowing for extreme risk protection orders. The bill must still pass the state House. (MPR News)
MARIJUANA: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) opened the door to narrow marijuana legalization, a big shift for a longtime opponent of legal pot. Sununu said he would sign a bill giving the state control of pot sales — similar to the way liquor is treated — if lawmakers can finalize work on a bill this year. (WMUR)
PUBLIC SAFETY: The Missouri legislature has given final approval to a bill banning texting while driving. The bill now heads to Gov. Mike Parson’s (R) desk. (KCUR) The Hawaii legislature has approved a bill legalizing fentanyl test strips. Drug overdoses have hit record highs in recent years. (Honolulu Civil Beat) Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has signed a bill creating “orange alerts,” text messages that would alert residents near a prison if an inmate escapes. (McCarville Report)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The Connecticut Senate has approved legislation barring police investigators from lying to or misinforming juvenile suspects. (CT Post) The Alabama Senate has approved a bill raising the penalties for organized retail theft. Some crimes could carry sentences of up to 20 years in jail. (AL.com)
ENVIRONMENT: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) is pushing bills to allow investors to lease tracts of forested lands for the purposes of preservation, to combat climate change. (Alaska Beacon) Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has signed a bill banning state agencies from considering the impacts of climate change when analyzing proposed coal mines and power plants. (Montana Free Press)
EDUCATION: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said he will veto school voucher legislation if lawmakers do not expand the number of students who would be eligible. A version up for a vote today would apply only to students who are disabled or who attend the worst-rated schools. (Texas Tribune) Vermont lawmakers have given final approval to a universal school meals program. (VT Digger)
MEDIA: Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) is considering whether to sign legislation preventing government officials from legally requiring a journalist to disclose confidential sources and unpublished notes. An earlier shield law expired in 2013. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
In Politics & Business
KENTUCKY: Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) holds a significant lead in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, according to a new Emerson College poll. The survey shows Cameron at 33%, ahead of former Ambassador Kelly Craft (R) at 18%, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles (R) at 13% and attorney Eric Deters (R) at 10%. The primary is tomorrow.
MISSOURI: A bill increasing the threshold a constitutional amendment must achieve to win passage died in the final hours of session Friday when the Senate failed to act. (Center Square) Expect a pro-abortion rights amendment to appear on the ballot soon.
OHIO: Opponents of a proposal to raise the threshold by which a constitutional amendment must pass have sued to block an August special election. They say holding an election in August is illegal under state law. (Columbus Dispatch)
OREGON: The Secretary of State’s office has fined the Oregon Democratic Party $15,000 for misreporting the source of a $500,000 campaign contribution. The state had originally recommended a $35,000 fine, but the two sides settled before the case went to court. The contribution came from an executive at FTX, the failed crypto exchange. (Willamette Week)
MAINE: Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) has sent a cease-and-desist order to No Labels, the national group seeking third party status, alleging the party duped voters into registering as members. Bellows said No Labels supporters asked voters to sign a “petition” that would actually change their party enrollment. (Portland Press Herald, Maine Public Radio)
PEOPLE: Kentucky state Rep. Lamin Swann (D) died suddenly over the weekend, following a “significant medical emergency.” Swann, 45, had only been sworn into the legislature a few months ago. (Lexington Herald Leader) Our condolences to the Kentucky legislative family.
By The Numbers
$32 billion: The budget shortfall California faces in the coming fiscal year, up from an estimated $22.5 billion in January. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the state would fill the gap by delaying funding some projects and borrowing to cover others. He ruled out tax hikes. (Pluribus News)
$41 million: The amount the Utah Department of Transportation spent plowing snowy roads this winter, 70% over budget. Snowplow crews drove more than six million miles clearing roads, compared to 2.2 million miles last winter. (Deseret News)
1,700: The number of licensed child care centers in California where water samples show lead levels exceeding allowable limits. That’s about a quarter of the number of centers tested so far. (Sacramento Bee)
Off The Wall
The Illinois House has approved legislation barring anyone convicted of a felony, bribery, perjury or misuse of public funds while serving in office from holding state or local office again. The bill comes just after allies of former Speaker Mike Madigan (D) were convicted on bribery charges. (Capitol News Illinois)
Lawmakers seeking to slow down or delay legislative business often ask for a full reading of a bill’s text. But in Mississippi, the House clerk has set a computer application to read bills at such a rapid pace that the device has earned a new nickname: The demon chipmunk. (Mississippi Today)
Quote of the Day
“There is a geographical bigotry that exists.”
— North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), considering a presidential campaign, on the challenges of coming from a small state. (Fargo Forum) Hey, if Delaware can do it…