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Pluribus AM: Red states get an AI blueprint

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, October 30, 2024. In today’s edition, Texas Republican introduces groundbreaking AI bill; Biden admin shells out port funds; Ohio considers paid family leave incentives:

Top Stories

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Texas state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R) released draft legislation regulating AI. The measure would require AI developers to take “reasonable care” to guard against discrimination, including regular testing.

The bill would require consumers to be notified if they interact with high-risk AI systems and informed of the chance that the system could make a consequential decision. It also bars the use of AI to manipulate human behavior, collect biometric data or classify people based on “social scoring.”

Just as legislation from Colorado Sen. Robert Rodriguez (R) and Connecticut Sen. James Maroney (D) have become the blue state blueprints for AI legislation, Capriglione’s bill could set the tone for red state lawmakers. We’re keeping a close eye on how this one fares in Austin. Read more at Pluribus News.

INFRASTRUCTURE: The Biden administration will award about $3 billion to 55 port facilities across the country to promote climate-friendly equipment and infrastructure. In a visit to Baltimore’s port, Biden said the plan would support 40,000 union jobs. (Associated Press)

LABOR: The New Jersey Assembly has approved legislation barring employers from mandating “captive audience meetings” meant to discourage union activity. The bill bans retaliation against workers who refuse to participate in those meetings. The measure won support from most Assembly Republicans. (New Jersey Globe)

WORKFORCE: Ohio House Republicans have introduced bipartisan legislation to offer employers up to $54,000 per year in tax credits if they provide at least eight weeks of parental leave to employees. The bill would provide up to $300 per day to private businesses that offer paid leave. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

MARIJUANA: Kansas lawmakers held a special committee hearing this week to consider legislation to legalize medical marijuana. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation opposes legalizing medical marijuana, though veterans groups testified in favor of legalization. (KSNT)

In Politics & Business

KENNEDY: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal to boot Robert Kennedy Jr. from the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan. Kennedy had sought to remove his own name from the ballot after he endorsed former President Donald Trump. (Associated Press)

NEVADA: The state Supreme Court ruled that mail ballots arriving up to three days after Election Day without a postmark may be counted. The court rejected an appeal from the Republican National Committee and former President Trump’s campaign challenging state law that allows the three-day grace period. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

MONTANA: State Sen. Barry Usher (R) has requested a bill to be drafted exempting the state attorney general from discipline by the judicial branch while in office. The request came a day after the Commission on Practice panel recommended a penalty against Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) for violating attorney conduct rules. (Daily Montanan)

RHODE ISLAND: The Attorney General’s office found Gov. Dan McKee (D) directly intervened in awarding a multimillion-dollar state contract. The investigation found McKee did not violate bribery or campaign finance laws. McKee refused to be interviewed in the investigation. (Providence Journal, Associated Press)

By The Numbers

21: The number of states that ban voters from wearing campaign apparel — hats, t-shirts, buttons, things like that — in the polling place. So leave those Harris-Walz camo hats and MAGA hats in the car. (Pluribus News)

Almost 5,000: The number of proposed designs the Illinois Flag Commission received for a new state flag. Illinois has had its current flag, depicting an eagle with a shield in its talon, has been in place since 1915. (WTTW)

About 475: The number of ballots damaged in a burned drop box in Vancouver, Wash. Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said his employees are looking for identifying information on the ballots to let affected voters know they have to cast new votes. (Seattle Times)

Off The Wall

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has been awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest order of merit awarded by the French Republic. Mills, fluent in French, won the award for her work promoting Maine’s Franco-American heritage. (Spectrum)

Children in Des Moines, Iowa, will trick-or-treat on Halloween for the first time since 1938. The city typically has kids go door to door on Beggars’ Night, typically the night before Halloween, in an effort to combat hooliganism. But heavy rains are expected today in the area, so officials moved trick-or-treating back to Halloween. (Associated Press)

Quote of the Day

“To keep it simple for the state of Florida: It’s the First Amendment, stupid.”

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, extending a temporary restraining order that bars state agencies from threatening television stations airing commercials for Amendment 4, the abortion rights measure on Tuesday’s ballot. (Associated Press)