Governor Shapiro aims to tax Pennsylvania skill games, with some opposition
WETM Elmira
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget hopes for $360 million from taxing skill gaming devices all across Pennsylvania. His goals are lofty, and there is some pushback. “There are 70,000 unregulated skill game terminals all across Pennsylvania,” said Governor Shapiro in his budget address this week. “We need to take some of the money going into those slots and put it in our state coffers.”
Texas Senate Passes Bill Creating School Voucher-Like Program
KERA News
A proposal creating a voucher-like program where public funds could be used towards private schools was passed by the Texas Senate Wednesday, just days after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott made it an emergency item for the current legislative session. The vote on SB 2 also comes less than a week since the Senate Education Committee quickly moved the bill forward. SB 2 now heads to the House for consideration.
Delaware governor tells Business Insider things may ‘need to change’ as companies threaten to leave the state
Business Insider
Some corporations, led in part by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, are threatening to abandon Delaware and incorporate elsewhere said Delaware’s newly inaugurated Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer, however, he says he intends to lure them back. “The fact is Delaware is the best location in the world for a company to incorporate, and that’s thanks to our legal expertise dating back to 1792. But let’s be clear: If any entity leaves Delaware, we’re going to work to win them back,” Governor Meyer told Business Insider.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and U.S. Congress are also in session.
The following states are expected to convene for the 2025 legislative session on the dates provided: West Virginia (February 12); Florida (March 4) and Louisiana (April 14).
Virginia is scheduled to adjourn its 2025 legislative session on February 22.
California adjourned its special session on February 3 after passing legislation to fund legal battles. According to the Associated Press, the legislature approved $50 million for legal cases against Trump administration policy; $25 million is set aside for court cases through the Department of Justice while the other $25 million is for legal groups to defend immigrants who face possible deportation.
Florida adjourned its special session on January 28 after passing an immigration bill over the objections of Republican Gov. Ron Desantis. According to WPTV, during the special session the legislature passed an immigration bill titled Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act despite strong opposition to the bill from Governor Desantis, who has promised to veto it. The bill would cede the governor’s oversight authority over immigration policy and grant it to the state’s agricultural commissioner. Desantis has called the bill “grotesque” and says its putting the “fox in charge of the hen house.”
Tennessee adjourned its special session on January 30 after passing several pieces of legislation. According to WSMV, the legislature passed all three pieces of legislation that were focal points of the session for Republican Gov. Bill Lee. The legislature approved the Education Freedom Act, which is a school choice voucher program bill that Governor Lee tried to get passed last year. During the session, legislators also voted to pass an immigration bill that removes officials that adopt sanctuary policies and approved funding for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. The bills now head to Governor Lee’s desk.
District of Columbia Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 days from presentment, weekends excepted, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has 14 days from presentment to act on legislation or it is pocket vetoed. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has 45 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Interim Committees/Prefiles
The following states are currently holding interim committee hearings: Louisiana and West Virginia.
Florida is currently posting bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies.
Special Elections
Delaware is scheduled to hold a special election for Senate districts 1 and 5 on February 15.
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