Latest State legislature News
The Latest: Taiwan raises alert amid sharp rise in cases
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has raised the COVID-19 alert level for the capital Taipei and the surrounding area of New Taipei city following its worst outbreak since the pandemic began. The level 3 alert announced Saturday requires people to wear a mask outdoors and limits...
Missouri passes COVID-19 liability shield for businesses
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A legislative session that began amid a surge in coronavirus cases ended Friday with Missouri lawmakers passing a legal shield against pandemic-related liability lawsuits as their final action. The House vote, taken barely five minutes before...
Nevada progressives upset bills stall in Dem-led statehouse
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Downcast Democratic Party-aligned groups and activists rebuked leaders from their own party Friday after proposals they championed to repeal the death penalty and expand tenant protections failed to make it past a key legislative deadline. Bills...
Missouri lawmakers pass high-profile gun bill on last day
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature passed a high-profile measure to ban local enforcement of federal gun laws with just an hour to spare before lawmakers' 6 p.m. Friday deadline. The GOP-led House voted 111-42 along party lines to send the...
The Latest: New Mexico adopts CDC guidance on facemasks
SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico has adopted guidance on facemasks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors or outside in most cases. Under revisions Friday to the state’s emergency public...
A look at bills passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2021
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Legislature wrapped up its 2021 session Friday by passing a bill granting legal protections to businesses and health care providers from COVID-19 liability lawsuits. Here's a look at that and other bills that passed during the 2021 session. ...
California governor builds big budget plan on one-time cash
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget plan would have California pay to send every 4-year-old to kindergarten, give broke college students a place to live, put more homeless people in hotel rooms, provide health insurance for older adults living in the country illegally,...
Alaska lawmakers make masks at state Capitol optional
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska legislative leaders voted Friday to make mask-wearing optional at the state Capitol and then shed their own face coverings after the vote. The decision by the Legislative Council followed new guidelines the U.S. Centers for Disease Control...
Conservative group boasts of secret role in voting laws
The head of a national conservative group told supporters it secretly helped draft legislation in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country as part of a coordinated network of organizations pushing to tighten voting laws across the country. Jessica Anderson,...
Missouri lawmakers back lawsuits over police budget cuts
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers targeted the “defund the police” movement backed by racial justice advocates Friday, passing legislation that would allow people to sue cities that cut funding for police by more than a certain amount. The legislation,...
