ID: Idaho governor signs ban on gender-affirming care for minors
Idaho physicians who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors could now face up to 10 years in prison. Republican Gov. Brad Little signed into law a measure that makes it a felony to provide puberty blockers, hormone therapies and gender-affirmation surgeries to minors.
WI: Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate wins in seismic shift for state
Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal, handily beat conservative former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly for a vacant seat on the court. Her win marks a massive change in Wisconsin’s political landscape that is likely to upend the state’s heavily gerrymandered political maps, as well as its recently reinstated 19th-century criminal ban on abortions.
WA: Washington state stockpiles abortion pills ahead of federal court ruling
Washington state has stockpiled a four-year supply of an abortion pill in anticipation of a court ruling that could limit its availability. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee ordered the Department of Corrections, which has a pharmacy license, to buy 30,000 doses of mifepristone. State lawmakers also have introduced legislation to authorize the department to sell or distribute the drug to licensed providers.
NC: North Carolina Democrat expected to change parties, giving GOP supermajority
North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Democrat, is expected to flip her party affiliation. The move would cement Republicans’ toehold in a fast-changing swing state, handing them a veto-proof majority in the middle of the legislative session and a clear runway to enact their agenda despite opposition from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
FL: Despite police outcry, Florida governor bans Chinese drones
Police departments across Florida are shelving millions of dollars in aerial drones because of a rule issued by the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The new rule prohibits government agencies — including police, firefighters and mosquito control districts — from using drones manufactured by China-based Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI, by far the most popular drones in the world.
IL: Chicago’s progressive mayor-elect vows to represent all residents
Progressive Brandon Johnson defeated fellow Democrat Paul Vallas to become the next mayor of Chicago, a stunning rebuke of the political establishment by the unapologetically progressive Cook County commissioner whose campaign themes of racial justice and uplifting the working class caught fire.
TN: Tennessee GOP begins expulsion process for 3 Democrats; House session devolves into chaos
Yells rang out through the state Capitol as Tennessee House Republicans introduced resolutions to expel three Democrats for “disorderly behavior” after the trio led protest chants for gun restrictions on the floor of the chamber. As the first resolution was introduced, the House chamber fell into chaos, and protesters screamed from the galleries above.
TX: Texas Senate advances bill intended to force prosecutors to pursue abortion, election cases
Some district and county attorneys in Texas have said they will not prosecute people accused of violating the state’s near-total abortion bans. There’s also conflict over whether prosecutors will pursue allegations of election fraud, as well as cases involving first-time drug offenders or low-level theft.
OR: The showdown over ‘parents rights’ gains steam in Oregon
The contentious national showdown over how much say parents should have in their children’s schooling is looming over Oregon’s upcoming school board elections and the work of the legislature. Some parents, candidates and political groups want more transparency about what books are available in school libraries and what makes its way into the curriculum.
MI: Michigan governor directs state to preserve preventative health care access after court ruling
Following a recent federal court decision striking down part of the Affordable Care Act, Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has directed a state department to take steps she said will ensure Michiganders still have affordable access to preventative health care.
WY: Wyoming’s largest utility plans to accelerate shift from coal to renewable energy
Wyoming coal will play a shrinking role in PacifiCorp’s energy supply portfolio as the utility adds more wind and solar power and either retires or converts its coal-fired power units in the state to natural gas. Only two of the utility’s 11 coal-fired power units currently operating in the state will continue burning coal beyond 2030.
NJ: Governor’s order aims to make New Jersey a ‘safe haven’ for transgender people
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order that will protect a transgender person’s right to gender-affirming health care and direct state agencies to protect people who travel from out of state to New Jersey to receive transgender medical procedures.
KS: Kansas lawmakers send ‘born alive’ abortion bill to governor with veto-proof majority
The Kansas House passed a bill requiring physicians to provide care to infants “born alive” during an abortion and report data to the state when it happens — even as abortion providers and medical experts say it does not happen. The House and Senate both approved the legislation with more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
CA: California public school enrollment continues decline, still reeling from pandemic plunge
Enrollment at California public schools has continued to decline this academic year, without any recovery from the steep drops seen during the pandemic — although the pace of the decrease has slowed.
NV: Nevada governor signs state worker bonus bill
Nevada state workers will receive two bonuses this year under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. The law will give retention bonuses to executive branch employees, judicial department employees and full-time legislative staff.
MT: Montana GOP Senate passes election bill targeting Democratic US senator
The Montana Senate passed a bill that would eliminate party primaries in only the upcoming U.S. Senate race in 2024, targeting Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s race for reelection. It would establish a “jungle primary” system, where the top two vote getters advance to the general election, with a sunset date in 2025.
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