Democrats Look to Replicate State Legislative Election Success
FOCUS, A Leonine Business
With the 2024 election fast approaching, Democrats are looking to replicate the success they had in 2022 at the state legislative level. In the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats made significant strides at the state level, picking up seats in 21 states and taking control of five legislative chambers from Republicans. The Republican gains were predominantly in deeply conservative states like Florida and West Virginia, underscoring a more localized success rather than a broad-based shift.
Kari Lake loses Arizona appeals court challenge of 2022 loss in governor race
The Associated Press
Republican Kari Lake has lost an Arizona appeals court challenge arguing that thousands of Phoenix-area mail ballot signatures were not properly verified when she lost the 2022 governor’s election to Democrat Katie Hobbs. The state Court of Appeals upheld on Tuesday a judge’s finding last year that Lake failed to prove inconsistencies in signatures were neglected by election verification staffers in Maricopa County.
Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects state education board’s authority over public school libraries
The Associated Press
Local school boards in Oklahoma will retain the right to determine what books are available in public school libraries after the state Supreme Court shut down efforts to shift that discretion to the state Board of Education. “The state Board of Education is attempting to exercise unauthorized quasi-judicial authority in enforcement proceedings before the board,” Justice James E. Edmondson wrote in the unanimous ruling Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by Edmond Public Schools.
Arizona, California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and the U.S. Congress are also in session.
New York adjourned its legislative session on June 8.
Vermont is scheduled to hold a veto session on June 17.
Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a special session on June 17 to cut taxes. According to the Arkansas Advocate, Governor Sanders plans to cut income taxes by $500 million and property taxes by $50 million, with Sanders having previously stated her intentions to eventually phase out the income tax altogether. The session will also address funding for the Game and Fish Commission after it failed to pass during the regular session.
Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has called for a special session set to start on June 18. According to the Kansas Reflector, the session will aim to reduce property, sales and income tax in the state. This follows Governor Kelly’s veto of the legislature’s tax bill, which she thought was too aggressive in cutting taxes and would create fiscal issues for the state. Kelly says the session “provides the opportunity for bipartisan collaboration on comprehensive tax relief that does not threaten Kansas’ solid fiscal foundation.”
Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox announced his intention to call a special session sometime between June 18-20 during interim hearings. According to Fox 13 News, the special session would be used to address concerns over a powerplant in central Utah that plans to shift away from fossil fuels despite the objections of many lawmakers. It would also clean up several other bills, though Governor Cox has yet to announce an official agenda for the session.
Connecticut is planning to hold a special session on June 26 to address car taxes. CT Insider reports, legislators and Democratic Gov. Ted Lamont are close to agreeing on the session’s full agenda, but it will mainly focus on improving the rising taxes for commercial vehicles and possibly eliminate local car taxes. Some legislators have also argued for the special session to vote on a climate change resiliency bill, but it seems more likely that bill would be voted on in a future session considering its potential size.
Virginia is planning to reconvene its special session later this month. As WAVY-TV reports, last month’s special session was never officially adjourned and House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, confirmed his intention to call lawmakers back by the end of June. During this session, lawmakers will address changes made to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program that will force some families not enrolled by May 15 to get financial aid or pay before using tuition waivers provided by the program.
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for a special session starting July 18. According to her press release, the special session will take up additional public safety protections. Some issues that will likely be addressed include pedestrian safety on roads and in public spaces, laws allowing courts to intervene for those who need substance abuse or mental health help and enhanced penalties for felons in possession of guns, according to KRQE. The session is expected to last several days.
Oklahoma held a special session on June 12 to vote on a nominee for the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Board of Regents, but lawmakers quickly adjourned the session without acting. The special session was called by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt after the legislature failed to confirm Mike Holder for a position on board, but the legislature rejected the governor’s requests to use the session to approve his nomination and instead quickly gaveled the session closed, according to KOCO. The Senate does plan to eventually schedule Mike Holder for a hearing with their education committee, but it has not set a date yet and the current board member will remain in place for now.
Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis had until June 8 to act on legislation, or it became law without signature.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has until June 14 to act on legislation or it is pocket vetoed.
Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson has until July 1 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Hawaii Democratic Gov. Josh Green has until July 10 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has 20 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont has 15 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has 15 days from presentment 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.
Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has 20 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.
Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott has five 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: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, the Texas House, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The following states are currently posting 2024 bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies: Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah.
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