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The Wisconsin Supreme Court is mulling arguments made in a closely-watched case where the panel is being asked to overturn Republican-drawn legislative maps. A decision is expected soon, with election officials saying new maps for next year’s elections would have to be in place by March. Meanwhile, state legislatures paused their action as the Thanksgiving holiday neared, but legislation was signed into law in Michigan to ease some—but not all—restrictions on abortion.
Editor’s Note: BGOV’s States of Play will not publish for the rest of this week in observance of the Thanksgiving federal holiday. Publication resumes Monday, Nov. 27.
REDISTRICTING
A ruling on a bid to overturn Wisconsin‘s legislative maps, which heavily tilted in favor of Republicans, now rests with the state Supreme Court and its newly constituted liberal majority after it heard three hours of arguments Tuesday. The court’s three conservative justices opposed the four liberal justices’ decision to take up the challenge to the state’s legislative maps, and were quick to press attorneys during arguments on why the court should revisit the issue just two years after a previous case. A ruling upending the plan would put every member of the legislature up for reelection next year. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
ABORTION
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed legislation repealing regulations aimed at abortion providers, ensuring public university students can access reproductive health options, and eliminating requirements that forced patients to buy separate insurance riders for abortion. But proposals to repeal a 24-hour wait period and use state Medicaid dollars for abortions were left out of the package. (Detroit News)
Abortion rights supporters are already deeply entrenched in efforts in at least nine states to put the issue on the ballot in 2024. Groups in states ranging from Nebraska to Florida have begun collecting signatures to let voters decide on similar initiatives. (NBC News)
The Missouri Supreme Court dealt a blow to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s (R) abortion ballot measure language, declining to hear his argument in an appeal of a lower court’s decision that the wording was politically partisan. Ashcroft wants to ask voters whether they favor allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth.” (Kansas City Star)
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) administration said it is appealing a court ruling that blocked a state regulation to make Pennsylvania’s power plant owners pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. (Bloomberg Government)
Supporters of an effort to repeal Washington state’s carbon market announced they have enough signatures to put it before lawmakers and possibly voters next year. Backers said they turned in more than 400,000 signatures for Initiative 2117, which would repeal the climate law. (Seattle Times)
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation providing protections for freelance workers experiencing non-payment for their services. (Bloomberg Government)
EDUCATION
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) also announced new steps to beef up security amid threats of violence from online channels. Besides funding to ensure every college campus has a threat assessment and management team on site, the plan supports new media literacy tools for public school students to make them smarter about identifying misinformation online. (WCBS)
California students at all grade levels also will soon have formal instruction in media literacy incorporated into their math, science, and social studies classes as part of an effort to push back against online misinformation. The legislation, signed into law in October, will take effect in January. (The Messenger)
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