Happy belated MLK Day! This week, we’re back again with legislative roundups and an overview of several states we didn’t cover last week. Stay tuned in 2023 for more blogs and legislative roundups.
Colorado General Assembly
- Colorado legislators started the 2023 session on Jan. 9 in Denver. It’s the fifth session in a row Democrats have a trifecta. According to Axios Denver, the majority has a number of priorities, ranging from gun violence prevention to education and affordable housing reform.
- A couple bills to highlight include…
- SB 23-1: This bill aims to create affordable housing by allocating funding to the Public-Private Partnership Office.
- HB 23-1001: Colorado lawmakers propose expanding eligibility for loan forgiveness for educators, hoping to address the teacher shortage.
Illinois General Assembly
- In Illinois, Democrats continue to hold supermajorities in both chambers. Additionally, this legislature will be more diverse than years past with the first two Muslim American lawmakers elected in the state.
- A couple notable moments so far…
- Lawmakers banned sales or possession of assault weapons.
- State legislators also expanded reproductive rights.
Maryland General Assembly
- Maryland Democrats have both chambers of the legislature and a newly elected leader in Gov. Wes Moore.
- There are several issues the legislature is expected to act on.
- Lawmakers have already proposed a series of gun control bills.
- The legislators are expected to put abortion rights in the state constitution and facilitate the new recreational marijuana industry.
Nevada Legislature
- Nevadans elected Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in the midterm election, and Democrats increased their majorities in both chambers.
- Lombardo has billed himself as an “education governor” and is pushing more school funding according to Nevada Public Radio.
- The budget and how to utilize a surplus from COVID funding will be hot topics in the state as well.
Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Over 50 new lawmakers have been sworn in to the historically diverse 2023 Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Already, this legislature is an interesting one in Pennsylvania.
- Interestingly, House lawmakers selected a bipartisan choice for speaker in independent Mark Rozzi.
- Three upcoming special elections will determine the partisan control of the House.
- Newly elected Shapiro, in his first order of business, signed an executive order to eliminate college degree requirements for state jobs.
Ohio General Assembly
- In Ohio, Republicans hold a trifecta. The first hiccup of the session came when the Republican caucus struggled to decide on a House speaker.
- According to Axios Columbus, lawmakers are expected to focus on a number of issues.
- Lawmakers are anticipated to further restrict abortion, overhaul the education system, cut taxes, and reform the state’s medical cannabis program, and fund mental health programs.
