Hot topics in other states this week

Now that we're in recess, many legislators (and organizations/industries) will be paying closer attention to legislation being proposed and considered in other states. Like Arkansas, many legislatures are in recess or are otherwise projected to adjourn.

Business
Maryland: The Senate passed legislation that would give higher compensation packages, including relocation expenses, to property owners who lose their home or business through eminent domain;

Oregon: The House passed legislation that would cap payday and car title loan interest rates at 36 percent per year for all loans less than $50,000. The bill also restricts the maximum charge to no more than $10 for every $100 loaned or $30, whichever comes first;

Alabama: The House rejected a proposal to raise the state’s maximum allowable alcohol content for beer from the current 6 percent to 14.9 percent;

Crime & Punishment
Montana: The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would expunge the police records of people who are arrested but not charged with a crime;

New Mexico: Gov. Bill Richardson signed legislation that requires convicted drunk drivers who move to that state to install an ignition interlock device in their car. The bill is retroactive to anyone convicted of drunk driving on or before June 17, 2005. Gov. Richardson also signed legislation this week that provides immunity from prosecution for people who come forward to help drug users suffering from a drug overdose. The bill also gives immunity to the drug user;

Virginia: The legislature overrode (I guess this is the past tense of override?) Gov. Tim Kaine’s veto of a bill that makes someone convicted of killing a judge or witness eligible for the death penalty. I can assure that Betsey Wright is keeping a close eye on this situation;

Education
Oregon: The Senate approved legislation that requires schools in that state to replace metal halide light bulbs that can’t extinguish themselves with lamps that self-extinguish when their outer shell is broken;

Environment
Alaska: The Senate approved SR6, a resolution that opposes federal authorities listing polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The measure encourages all other states to also oppose the listing -- I've received numerous e-mails from Alaskan legislative leaders on this issue this week;

Maryland: The Senate approved legislation that would ban hydraulic clam dredging in the Atlantic coastal bays of that state;

Health & Science
Indiana: The House approved legislation that would require most schools to give parents information about the link between HPV and cervical cancer along with information about the HPV vaccine;

New Mexico: Gov. Bill Richardson (D) vetoed a bill that would have required girls entering 6th grade to be vaccinated against HPV. He signed another measure that requires health insurance policies to provide coverage for the HPV vaccine. On another health issue, he signed legislation that allows state health officials to dispense marijuana to seriously ill patients;

Florida: A House committee approved a measure that requires schools to send home information about the HPV vaccine without mandating that 6th grade girls be inoculated;

Washington: The House approved a proposal to require state health officials to determine the quantity of marijuana that could reasonably be considered a 60-day supply. The Evergreen State is one of 12 that allow the use of marijuana under a doctor’s recommendation;

Virginia: Lawmakers rejected an amendment to a measure that requires all restaurants to be smoke-free unless they post a sign indicating they allow people to smoke there. Gov. Time Kaine (D) added the amendment removing the sign requirement, an act that in effect would have prohibited smoking in all restaurants and bars;

Immigration
Oklahoma: A Senate committee approved a bill that would require employers to verify the legal status of employees and make it “a discriminatory practice” for an employer to fire a U.S. citizen while retaining a person the employer knows or reasonably should have known is an undocumented worker;

Social Policy
Colorado: A Senate committee approved a measure that would allow cohabitating couples, including same sex partners, to adopt children;

Indiana: A House committee rejected a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage;

Oklahoma: The House approved legislation that would bar the use of public funds to pay for abortions unless the procedure is needed to save the mother’s life. The measure would also prohibit the use of any state-funded hospital or equipment to perform the procedure;