This Week in FOCUS – July 25, 2024

Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker Secures $1 Billion Quantum Tech Win Before Convention

Bloomberg

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has scored an investment of more than $1 billion in quantum computing, a major coup before he welcomes fellow Democrats to the party’s convention in Chicago next month. PsiQuantum Corp. will become the anchor tenant at the state’s new quantum and microelectronics park that will be built at a former U.S. Steel plant on Chicago’s South Side. As part of the agreement, the Palo Alto-based company agreed to invest a minimum of $1.09 billion, creating at least 154 full-time jobs.

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Race for Hawaii’s North Shore senate seat heats up as Democrats try to reclaim seat from Republicans

Honolulu KHNL

After losing a North Shore state senate seat to a Republican candidate two years ago, Democrats are trying to figure out who would be the best person to take it back. A hot topic was how to fight government corruption and lawmakers influenced by donors. “I think there’s a feeling that being a lobbyist is a bad thing. I had a lobbyist that asked me to write a bill; it was a good bill. It provides for the safety of marine life conservation districts,” said Democratic Candidate Clayton Hee. Something Sen. Brenton Awa, R-Kāne‘ohe, who will be running against one of them, strongly disagreed with.

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Arkansas court orders state to count signatures collected by volunteers for abortion-rights measure

he Associated Press

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Tuesday night ordered the state to begin counting signatures submitted in favor of putting an abortion-rights measure on the ballot — but only ones collected by volunteers for the proposal’s campaign. The one-page order from the majority-conservative court left uncertainty about the future of the proposed ballot measure.

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This Week in FOCUS

Massachusetts is in regular session. The U.S. Congress is also in session.

The following states are in recess until the dates provided: Michigan (July 30), California (August 5), Pennsylvania Senate (September 16) and House (September 23), Ohio (November 13) and New Jersey (TBD). The District of Columbia Council is also in recess until September 16.

New Jersey is in recess for the summer, but the Senate could reconvene in August to consider a nomination to the state Supreme Court.

North Carolina passed an adjournment resolution that calls for the regular session to reconvene monthly through December. The legislature completed a one-day session on July 10. The next session is scheduled for July 29. 

Nebraska convened a special session on July 25 to address the state’s high property taxes. According to the Nebraska Examiner, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen decided to call legislators into a special session after they failed to address property taxes during the regular session. Some lawmakers have expressed concern over the special session and Governor Pillen’s plan to introduce “sin” tax increases to items such as cigarettes, candy and hemp to relieve property taxes. 

New Mexico adjourned its one-day special session on July 18 without passing any safety legislation. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the session to address safety concerns for residents and proposed several crime bills related to things such as gun violence and mental health standards. However, legislators failed to act on any of the crime bills and instead only passed one bill that would pay the legislators and provide disaster relief for local communities affected by a fire, reports KOB. Legislators expressed concern over the rushed legislation related to complex issues, but Governor Lujan Grisham responded in a statement, saying, “The legislature should be embarrassed at their inability to summon even an ounce of courage to adopt common-sense legislation to make New Mexicans safer.”

Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has 20 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Delaware Democratic Gov. John Carney has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Illinois Democratic Gov J.B. Pritzker has 60 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has five days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it is pocket vetoed. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee has six days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee 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: AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutGeorgiaIdaho,
Illinois House and SenateIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMinnesota
Missouri House and SenateMontanaNevadaNew Hampshire House and SenateNew MexicoNew York AssemblyNorth DakotaOklahoma House and SenateOregonRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexas HouseUtahVermontVirginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The following states are currently posting bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies: AlabamaNebraska, NevadaNorth DakotaOklahoma House and Senate and Utah.

Special Elections

Wisconsin Senate District 4 is scheduled to be filled by special election on July 30.


This Week in FOCUS

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