Good morning, it’s Tuesday, December 10, 2024. In today’s edition, previewing the 2025 legislative sessions; California could require warning labels on social media; GOP governors prepare to help Trump on immigration:
Top Stories
Did you miss our wrap-up of the Council of State Governments’ annual meeting? Catch a replay here.
LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: State lawmakers preparing for legislative sessions next year will be focused on shrinking revenues, growing workforce needs and the challenge of regulating and promoting artificial intelligence next year, the National Conference of State Legislatures said in a press briefing.
Most states have cut taxes in the boom years following the pandemic. But now the focus will turn to belt-tightening as those revenues run out. At the same time, there are 1.7 open jobs for every person looking for a position, as states compete for workers as much as businesses. Read more about the big themes NCSL expects next year at Pluribus News.
BUDGETS: State spending on schools, health care and other public services rose 6% over the last year, according to new estimates from the National Association of State Budget Officers. Most of that money came from states themselves, while the increase in federal dollars mostly came in the form of transportation money. States spent an estimated $246 billion on transportation last year. (Pluribus News)
SOCIAL MEDIA: California Assemb. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D) has introduced legislation that would require “black box” warning labels to pop up on social media user accounts on a weekly basis. The bill, which would require social media sites to warn users of potential harm to mental health, has support from Attorney General Rob Bonta (D). (Sacramento Bee)
We wrote about Bonta’s interest in social media warning labels back in November.
IMMIGRATION: Republican governors are preparing to aid the incoming Trump administration in its efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. Missouri Republicans are considering legislation to allow local law enforcement to arrest someone for being in the country illegally, mirroring laws in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and Oklahoma. (Associated Press)
MORE: Florida Sen. Randy Fine (R) has introduced legislation that would eliminate in-state tuition benefits for undocumented immigrants. Fine’s bill would overturn parts of legislation written by now-Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez (R) that allowed undocumented high school graduates to receive in-state tuition. (Florida Politics)
EDUCATION: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has signed legislation barring library boards from banning or censoring books and library material based on personal views. The measure also protects library staffers from civil and criminal suits related to book bans. (NJ Advance Media)
HOUSING: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) is proposing $700 million to shelter homeless residents and keep them from falling into homelessness, and $1.4 billion in bonds and infrastructure funding to increase housing supplies. The funding is included in Kotek’s proposed $39.3 billion budget. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
In Politics & Business
NEW YORK: Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has proposed sending “inflation refund” checks to state residents. Taxpayers making up to $150,000 a year would receive a one-time payment of $300, and couples making up to $300,000 a year would receive $500. The rebates would add up to about $3 billion in direct payments. (State of Politics)
Hochul faces a potential Democratic primary in 2026, and a certain challenge from Republicans after she won her first full term in 2022 by a margin of just 6 points.
FLORIDA: State Rep. Susan Valdés, re-elected last month as a Democrat, will caucus with Republicans this year. Valdés had run to chair the Hillsborough County Democratic Party earlier this month. (Tampa Bay Times)
LEADERSHIP: West Virginia Senate Republicans have chosen Sen. Randy Smith (R) as their next Senate president. Smith succeeds Sen. Craig Blair (R), who lost his Republican primary this year. (WVNews) Vermont House Democrats have re-elected Speaker Jill Krowinski (D) over an independent challenger. (VT Digger)
By The Numbers
2.2%: The decline in carbon emissions caused by human activity in Rhode Island between 2021 and 2022, making Rhode Island the only state in New England to see its emissions decline that year. (Rhode Island Current)
$2.1 billion: The expected income New Mexico will receive from permanent fund investments this fiscal year. It’s the first time investment income has surpassed the amount the state collects from personal income taxes. (Associated Press)
Off The Wall
Tinton Falls, N.J., Mayor Vito Perillo will step down after two terms, about three months after his 100th birthday. Perillo, first elected in 2017, was born 43 days before Calvin Coolidge was elected president. (New Jersey Globe)
Something in the water: New Jersey is home to America’s oldest living ex-U.S. senator, Nicholas Brady (R), 94, and oldest living ex-U.S. representative, Frank Guarini (D), 100.
Residents in Newtown, Penn., attempted to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people performing the Macarena during their annual holiday parade. The town shot video of the attempt using drones; they have to prove more than 2,219 people showed up, the current record held by Eggbuckland Community College in the U.K. in 2011. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“I think it’ll draw some attention, which so far it has.”
— Missouri Rep. Michael Davis (R), on his Donald J. Trump Election Qualification Act, which would repeal the state ban on felons seeking office. (Missouri Independent)