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Abortion opponents are trying to keep proposed initiatives protecting reproductive rights off state ballots in November. Plus, Maryland’s governor pardoned more than 175,000 marijuana convictions. Keep reading for more on the policies shaping the nation.
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Anti-abortion groups and state GOP lawmakers are pursuing numerous strategies to thwart proposed abortion rights initiatives in at least seven states. The tactics include efforts to get signatures removed from initiative petitions, attempts to get competing measures on the ballot, and filing lawsuits over initiative language.
- In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) in March signed a bill allowing residents to withdraw signatures on petitions. The move empowered anti-abortion groups to try to invalidate a proposed reproductive rights initiative by encouraging endorsers to withdraw their signatures. Meanwhile, abortion opponents in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Nebraska have tried to get their own measures codifying existing abortion restrictions on the November ballot. (Associated Press)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an executive order today that erases more than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple marijuana possession and 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. The move comes after the state legalized recreational marijuana last year.
- Moore said his move is aimed at addressing longstanding inequities in the criminal justice system. The order follows Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s (D) mass pardon of tens of thousands of marijuana convictions earlier this year. (Bloomberg Government)
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BUDGET & TAX
Arizona lawmakers gave final approval to a $16.1 billion budget negotiated by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) and Republican legislative leaders. The plan plugs a $1.4 billion shortfall, pulling back $333 million in funding for major water infrastructure projects, delaying tens of millions of dollars’ worth of planned road projects, and cutting funding for most state agencies. (Axios)
Kansas’ Republican-controlled legislature is set to vote this week on a compromise tax relief package hatched by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP legislative leaders. Kelly vetoed three previous tax-cutting plans earlier this year. (Bloomberg Government)
IVF
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday declined to take up an in vitro fertilization case that argues embryos should be treated as children under the state’s near total abortion ban. (Bloomberg Government)
FOOD BENEFITS
New Hampshire lawmakers gave final passage to legislation that would have the state join the federal Summer EBT program starting in 2025. The program provides food subsidies for low-income families with school-aged children during the summer. (WMUR)
ELECTIONS
Tennessee‘s court-ordered voting reforms allowing convicted felons to cast their ballots were put on hold Friday as Gov. Bill Lee (R) makes his case to a federal appeals panel to halt the mandate until at least after the 2024 election cycle. (Bloomberg Government)
SOCIAL POLICY
A federal appeals court on Friday blocked federal guidance documents aimed at protecting gay and transgender students’ access to bathrooms and sports teams from being enforced in 20 states. (Bloomberg Government)
A federal court preliminarily blocked Oklahoma from enforcing laws that ban colleges from teaching about race and sex stereotyping and public schools from teaching about specified “concepts” about race and sex discrimination. (Bloomberg Government)
GUN POLICY
The Delaware House approved legislation that would make it a felony to possess a firearm on university and college campuses. (Delaware Public Media)
HEALTH
A Louisiana appeals court upheld the state’s Covid-era emergency care law that shields medical providers from liability for negligence alleged to have occurred during the pandemic. (Bloomberg Government)