Statehouse Rock edition

Reading is fundamental! Let's see what we learn this week.

• Better than a scholarship: Connecticut lawmakers have just approved raising the state's hourly minimum wage to $10.10 by 2017, the highest of any state. Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy is excited to sign the bill into law. 

• So maybe we can take a hint that guns and schools don't mix. Or not: In Indiana, it just became legal to have guns in school parking lots. 

• Dropping science: Just take another study hall, maybe.

• Lawmakers in the heavily Republican Wyoming legislature have blocked a new set of national science standards because of the associated expectation that students understand that climate change is totally real and is the result of human activity. 

• A Republican state Senator is trying to squelch an eight-year-old girl's dream of establishing the woolly mammoth as South Carolina's state fossil by appending a passage of the Genesis creation story to the proposal. 

• In Missouri, a bill requiring parental notification of intent to teach evolution is advancing through the House. 

• Poor attendance at polling places is almost a certainty if (who are we kidding? when) a new restrictive voting measure in Wisconsin becomes law. The bill, passed on a party-line vote (well, except for this guy) in both chambers, eliminates early voting on weekends and limits early voting hours on weekdays to between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• This isn't the first time the GOP-controlled legislature has made voting more difficult for Wisconsinites; right after they swept into power in 2011, Republicans cut early voting drastically, from three weeks (including three weekends) to two weeks (including one weekend).

• Dropping out: GOP state Senator and notorious moderate Dale Schultz can't take it any more. He's retiring this year, but he's not going quietly. "I'm not willing to defend them any more," he said about his colleagues when asked about the new voting restrictions, accusing Republicans of "trying to suppress the vote."

• But you can still buy birthday cupcakes for your class, probably: Backers of an Oregon ballot measure that would allow businesses to refuse to serve gay weddings are super mad that the the approved ballot language makes their discriminatory proposal seem... discriminatory. They've gone to court to try to change the "politically charged" language ("Religious belief" exemptions to anti-discriminatory laws for refusing services, other, for same-sex ceremonies, "arrangements"). 
• After the ballot language is finalized, proponents of the measure have until July 3 to gather 87,213 signatures.

• Better than iodine and a band-aid: New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan is about to sign the Medicaid expansion bill that just passed the legislature into law. About 50,000 Granite Staters are poised to get covered.

• More fun than programming Pong on your TI-84: The guys who brought us .gop (who also happen to be in charge of electing Republican state legislators, secretaries of state, and lieutenant governors) are spending money on building websites, which is maybe a way to pass the time when they're not working with the RSLC's "affiliate" 501(c)(4) group, the State Government Leadership Foundation (bonus: they're Article V-ers!).

• Cartography 101: Nebraska state senators are considering a measure that would take legislative and congressional redistricting out of their own hands and give it to an independent, bipartisan commission. 

• Law school. Ugh. My favorite former law school classmate who's now a state legislator (just because he's my only former law school classmate who's now a state legislator) is pushing an measure in Florida that would impede the media's ability to access (and scrutinize) the application of the state's terrifying "stand your ground" law.

But wait! There's more...

For the Week of March 26, 2014 The following 32 state legislatures are meeting actively this week: ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, COLORADO, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, VERMONT and WISCONSIN. Also meeting:  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO GROUPS    The State Legislative Leaders Foundation will hold its Annual Leadership Summit-From the White House to the State House: Lessons in Presidential Leadership March 27-29 in Little Rock, Arkansas.       CALIFORNIA The Assembly Committee on Human Services met March 25 to discuss A.B. 1819, which prohibits the smoking of tobacco in a private residence that is licensed as a family day care home.     The Senate Governmental Organization Committee held a hearing March 25 to discuss S.B. 912, which relates to nutrition standards for vending machines in state facilities.      The Senate Health Committee will hold a hearing March 26 to discuss S.B. 1381, which requires the labeling of genetically modified foods.  Voter Registration bill SB 1105 is set to be heard by the Senate Education Committee on April 2, 2014. This bill would require the standardized student financial aid application, if the application is submitted online, to permit the applicant to apply to register to vote online by submitting an affidavit of registration electronically on the secretary of state's website. FLORIDA  The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee met March 24 to consider S.B. 1524, which provides additional consumer protections, timely notifications of potential security breaches and creates a barrier for consumers from identity theft and fraud.  The Senate Community Affairs Committee met March 25 to consider S.B. 900, which provides for partnerships between state universities and private entities for construction or improvement by private entities of facilities or projects used predominantly for public purposes.  Omnibus election bill SB 1660 was scheduled to be heard today by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections on March 17 at 4:30 p.m. This bill makes various changes to the election law. Among other things, this bill would establish online registration; with certain exceptions including voters aged 65 and older and military voters, first-time voters who are online registrants would not be permitted to vote by mail. Absentee ballot requests by online registrants would be required to give the reason meeting the exception. The bill also limits the sites at which supervisors can accept or receive completed absentee ballots. Amendments filed would add potential early voting sites under certain circumstances. Early Voting bill SB 1566 was introduced. The bill would delete the enumerated list of locations allowed to be designated as early voting sites and would allow the Supervisor of Elections to designate any location as an early voting site. Early Voting bill HB 1307 was referred to Ethics and Elections Subcommittee; Local and Federal Affairs Committee; State Affairs Committee. The bill would delete the enumerated list of locations allowed to be designated as early voting sites and would allow the Supervisor of Elections to designate any location as an early voting site. Felon Voting Rights bill HJR 1339 was referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Ethics and Elections Subcommittee; Judiciary Committee The bill would amend the Florida constitution to restore eligibility to vote and to run for office to persons convicted of most felonies upon completion of sentence. Individuals convicted of a felony involving homicide or of a felony of a sexual nature would still require the restoration of civil rights. The bill would also restore rights to those adjudicated mentally incompetent upon removal of disability. Felon Voting Rights bill SJR 1612 was introduced. The bill would amend the Florida constitution to restore eligibility to vote and to run for office to persons convicted of most felonies upon completion of sentence. Individuals convicted of a felony involving homicide or of a felony of a sexual nature would still require the restoration of civil rights. The bill would also restore rights to those adjudicated mentally incompetent upon removal of disability. ILLINOIS     The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee will meet March 26 to discuss S.B. 2789, which requires employers to provide paid sick time to their employees; S.B. 2943, which provides that bullying is prohibited in the workplace and S.B. 3105, which provides that an employer must provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid family medical leave to an employee to care for a grandparent or a grandchild.     LOUISIANA    The House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met March 24 to discuss H.B. 896, which prohibits the use of photo speed enforcement devices on state maintained roads.      MARYLAND     The Senate Finance Committee will meet March 26 to discuss H.B. 229, which prohibits importation, selling or offering for sale any child care product containing TDCPP flame-retardant chemicals.     MICHIGAN The House Energy and Technology Committee met March 25 to discuss H.B. 5184, which addresses renewable portfolio standards.   MINNESOTA The House Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Committee met March 25 to discuss H.F. 605, which addresses protecting children from harmful chemicals. NEW HAMPSHIRE The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing March 25 to discuss H.B. 1407, which prohibits an employer from requiring an employee or prospective employee to disclose his or her social media or e-mail passwords.  The Office of Energy and Planning will hold a meeting March 28 to discuss the development of a state energy strategy.  NEW JERSEY The Senate Environment and Energy Committee will meet March 27 to hear S.B. 151, which addresses the states required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  The Senate Environment and Energy Committee will meetMarch 27 to hear S.B. 1376, which would establish a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of natural gas exploration or production until certain federal laws are changed. OKLAHOMA Voter ID bill SB 1284 is scheduled to be heard by the House Rules Committee on March 26 at 10:30 a.m. This bill provides that an expired driver license and expired passport cannot be used for identification purposes when voting.  TENNESSEE The Higher Education Commission will accept comments through March 27 regarding proposed rule amendments related to the authorization and regulation of postsecondary institutions.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote. 

Beware The Ides edition

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March!

March madness: I totally understand your urge to dismiss the apparently terrible human being in New Hampshire who posted a sexually explicit joke about domestic abuse victims as just another goober state legislator. But somewhere north of 260 former state-level lawmakers serve in the United States Congress right now. Like, today. Oh, and one of them is our president. Seventeen more used to be.

• Forced March: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker plans on wasting taxpayer money to re-trample all over voting rights if the state Supreme Court decides to overturn the state's voter ID law. Walker signed the law in 2011, but it was swiftly blocked by state courts. Now Walker says he'll call a special legislative session to re-pass the law if he doesn't get his way judicially. He definitely wants photo ID requirements at polling places "in effect before the next election." 
• Fun fact! The next election happens to be his election! How crazy! 
• Oh, and to keep their voter-suppression skills nice and sharp, Wisconsin lawmakers are keeping busy by passing other restrictive measures, like the one that eliminates early voting on weekends.

• Victory March:...Iowa Democrats hope, anyway. Longtime Democratic state Sen. Dennis Black announced his retirement this week, creating a competitive open seat as both parties vie for majority control of the Senate (26 D/24 R) this fall. Obama won Black's SD-15 with 51.7% in 2012; Romney took 46.8%. 
• If Republicans flip two Democratic seats in November and if the House and governorship remain in GOP hands, Republicans will finally have "trifecta" control of state government, and you can count on some of the extreme measures passed in surrounding states in recent years becoming law here.

• Sherman's March: (Too soon?) The Georgia legislature has become the first to officially pass a resolution calling for a U.S. Constitution-altering Convention of States (as provided for by Article V). Because term limits! Balanced federal budget! Limiting the power and jurisdiction of evil federal government! One state down, just 33 to go.    
• The Georgia House is pulling some sneaky business with what some have affectionately dubbed the "guns everywhere" bill. The measure, which would allow guns in bars, churches, and any government building that doesn't already have security, has already passed the House. Fearing for its fate in the Senate. the bill's sponsors pulled a parliamentary move that allows the measure to bypass a potentially bill-killing committee and head straight to the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote. Unless it gets sent to conference committee. Whatever.
• Also, Georgia lawmakers have managed to muck up their big chance to codify restrictions on abortion coverage by state health insurance plans. But they still have time to fix it, thought relieved women across the state who apparently can't be trusted to make decisions about their own health and bodies. 

• Forward March: Echoing a similar sequence of events in 2011, activists in Ohio are taking on the new law eradicating the "golden week" -- the period during which voters can register and cast ballots at the same time -- and other attacks on voting rights at the ballot box itself. On Monday, Attorney General Mike DeWine certified petition language to add a Voters Bill of Rights to the state Constitution. On Thursday, the ballot measure faces another hurdle before supporters can begin to collect the roughly 385,000 signatures required to present the amendment to voters in November. 

• Rogue's March: Utah is sick and tired of Jon Huntsman being the only reason they ever got any presidential campaign's attention, and they're not going to take it any more. The House just passed a measure that would allow the state to conduct its presidential primary a week before any other state -- online! If HB410 becomes law, retribution from the national parties will likely be swift and severe. Oh, and don't forget that New Hampshire has that tank.

• Imperial (Stout) March: In a fine show of bipartisan spirit in Michigan, state lawmakers have passed a measure that would make life easier for microbreweries (and more delicious for those of us who enjoy them) by doubling production limits, streamlining licensing, and helping startups get off the ground. 

• The March West: Montana voters may get the chance to approve a ballot measure this fall that would require the state's legislature "be comprised of exactly one-half men and one-half women." The proposal has been approved for signature gathering, and supporters need to collect and submit 48,349 valid signatures by June 20. 

• Et tu, Brute? West Virginia has recently become the first state with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to pass a 20-week abortion ban. We'll see if Gov. Tomblin plans to waste taxpayer dollars on the inevitable constitutional challenge that will follow if he signs the measure. 

For the Week of March 12, 2014   The following 39 state legislatures are actively meeting this week: ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, COLORADO, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, WASHINGTON and WISCONSIN. Also meeting:  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

CALIFORNIA    The Air Resources Board held a public workshop March 11 to discuss amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and updates to the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator.       COLORADO    The House Transportation and Energy Committee will meet March 13 to discuss S.B. 103, which prohibits the sale of lavatory faucets, shower heads, flushing urinals, tank-type toilets and tank-type water closets after September 1, 2016 unless they are a Water Sense program listed plumbing fixture.      INDIANA     The State Board of Education will meet March 12 to discuss proposed amendments to rules related to teacher certification and teacher preparations.     The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn sine die March 14. KANSAS The Senate Utilities Committee will hold a hearing March 13 on H.B. 2636, which relates to standards for carbon dioxide emissions for coal-fired generating units.     LOUISIANA The Legislature convened its 2014 Legislative Session March 10.  Governor Bobby Jindal (R) delivered his State of the State address March 10.  MARYLAND    The House Health and Government Operations Committee met March 11 to discuss H.B. 1276, which would put restrictions on beverages served by a child care center.

MASSACHUSETTS The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing March 11 to discuss S.B. 2019, which establishes a study commission on net metering.  MINNESOTA A conference committee met March 10 to discuss H.F. 92 and S.F. 3, which would increase the minimum wage to $9.50. NEW HAMPSHIRE The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing March 11 to discuss H.B. 350, which prohibits employment discrimination against the unemployed.  NEW JERSEY The Assembly Women and Children Committee met March 10 to discuss A.B. 679 relating to school breakfast programs. OHIO The Shared Services and Government Efficiency subcommittee met March 11 to discuss possible recommendations to the full committee regarding the establishment of DataOhio, a website that functions as a catalog where public records and data sets can be located and accessed by the public.  RHODE ISLAND The House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare will meet March 12 to discuss H.B. 7254, which would require food establishments to list the calories of their menu items.  TENNESSEE The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will meet March 12 to discuss H.B. 2096, which imposes an additional tax on cigarettes.  The Senate Education Committee will meet March 12 to discuss S.B. 1902, which addresses student data privacy.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote. 

In Like A Lion edition

As March savagely pounces on our fledgling year, statehouse battles are only just beginning in some legislatures (Florida) even as they wind down in others (Oregon). 

March also means candidate filing season is well under way. In 11 states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia -- the candidate filing deadlines have come and gone. By the end of the month, 17 more states -- California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia -- will have their primary or general election slates set, and state election season begins in earnest. Not such a lamb-ish way to go out. 

So, what beastly events are transpiring in statehouses this week?

• Taking the state House (razor)back? Since the candidate filing deadline in Arkansas was just a couple of days ago, political prognosticators in the Natural State are taking a look at the down-ballot landscape. Michael Cook thinks majority control of the state House (48 D/51 R/1 G) is a tossup in 2014. 
• At the very least, popular Democrats at the top of the ballot all but ensure that 2014 will be a tougher year for GOPers than 2012 (Obama received less than 40% of the vote here).
• Oh, and the state House finally followed the Senate's (13 D/22 R) lead and voted to not deprive nearly 94,000 Arkansans of healthcare. So good on them.

• Abuzz about getting buzzed: Current Utah law requires that restaurants shield diners' sensitive eyes from the sinful practice of mixing drinks by ducking out of sight behind "Zion curtains" to concoct cocktails. A bill to do away with that practice has eked its way out of a House committee and will be voted on by the full House soon. 
• Just ask the Allosaurus how that worked out: Rep. Jerry Anderson, the Utah lawmaker who "said he taught science for five decades" and thinks the planet needs carbon dioxide levels closer to those during the time of the dinosaurs, was disappointed to see his bill declassifying carbon dioxide as a pollutant get shelved on Tuesday. 
• Anderson tried to save his legislation by arguing that even if carbon dioxide levels increase and the climate warms enough to melt the ice caps, it's totally not a thing, since everyone knows that the ice caps are like giant ice cubes in a glass, and when your ice cubes melt, your glass overfloweth not.
• Fun fact! Much of the ice cap covers Antarctica, which is, like, land. According to actual scientists, melting the ice caps could raise the oceans by over 200 feet. 

• Online voter registration not such a loony idea, after all: Even though state law didn't expressly permit it, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie began accepting online voter registrations back in September. Now a measure to codify the practice is sailing through the state legislature. 
• A similar bill was just approved by a 48-0 vote in the Iowa Senate (26 D/24 R).

• Alligator nesting: Florida state legislators will no longer be able to get away with the not-terribly-uncommon practice of not actually living in the districts they represent. 

• A whale of a raise: Hawaii's House and Senate are at that magical time of session known as crossover; accordingly, each chamber's respective bill raising the minimum wage is heading to the other for approval. The Senate wants to raise the hourly minimum wage to $10, while the House wants to boost it to $10.10.

• Anti-choice snakes in the grass: Lest last week's veto of SB 1062 lull you into thinking Arizona isn't some wacky hotbed of bills aimed at curtailing certain folks' rights, GOP lawmakers are working hard to set you straight. On Tuesday, the state House voted on party lines to approve surprise inspections of abortion clinics, a practice that places women's privacy rights at risk. If passed and signed into law, the measure will certainly cost the state immense amounts of money to defend in court.
• Speaking of Arizona's SB 1062, on Wednesday morning, Democratic state Senator Steve Gallardo cited furor over the measure as he came out at a press conference, saying, "I am gay, I'm a Latino, I'm a state senator and it's OK." Pretty solid Daily Affirmation if I've ever heard one.

For the Week of March 5, 2014   The following 43 state legislatures are meeting actively this week: ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, COLORADO, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN and WYOMING. Also meeting:  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO.

GROUPS           The National League of Cities will hold its Annual Congressional City Conference March 8-12 at The Marriott Wardman Park, in Washington, DC.  The Association of Clean Water Administrators will hold its Annual Mid-Year Meeting March 9-11 at The Washington Marriott, in Washington, DC.  The National Emergency Management Association will hold its Annual Mid-Year Policy & Leadership Forum March 9-14, in Alexandria, Virginia.    ALABAMA Same Day Registration bill SB 347 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections Committee on March 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. This bill would allow a person to register to vote on any day a board of registrars maintains office hours including the day of any election. CONNECTICUT The Joint Committee on Children will meet March 6 to discuss H.B. 5305, H.B. 5035, H.B. 5036 and H.B. 5354, which relate to various chemicals of concern in children's products.  FLORIDA The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session March 4.  Governor Rick Scott (R) delivered his State of the State address on March 4.  Conduct of Elections bill HB 1079 was filed and SB 1246 was referred to the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. These bills would enact the Florida Voting Rights Act. Among other things, the bill would declare that the policy of the state is to protect electors against discrimination based on gender, race, age, income level, sexual orientation, language, religion, or disability; would also create a private right of action; and would require the Florida Attorney General or attorney of a political subdivision to petition the state Supreme Court for review of any change in voting qualifications, prerequisites, standards, practices, or procedures. Conduct of Elections bill SB 1132 was referred to Ethics and Elections; Judiciary; Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Appropriations. The bill would establish an explicit, fundamental right to vote in state statute. The bill requires that the right to vote may not be denied or abridged by the state or its political subdivisions or by any private or public entity or person. Any restriction on voting rights, or any change in voting practices or procedures which would diminish access to the ballot must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest. It requires that Florida residents who are U.S. citizens at least 18 years old shall have equal protection of their right to vote, and provides for a private right of action. Voter Registration bill SB 1356 was filed. This bill extends the close of voter registration from 10 days to 17 days. Early Voting bill SB 1566 was filed. The bill would delete the enumerated list of locations allowed to be designated as early voting sites and would allow the Supervisor of Elections to designate any location as an early voting site. Felon Voting Rights bill SJR 1612 was filed. The bill would amend the Florida constitution to restore eligibility to vote and to run for office to persons convicted of most felonies upon completion of sentence. Individuals convicted of a felony involving homicide or of a felony of a sexual nature would still require the restoration of civil rights.  The bill would also restore rights to those adjudicated mentally incompetent upon removal of disability. MAINE The Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology will hold a hearing March 5 to discuss L.D. 1791, which encourages the development of wind energy projects.

MARYLAND The House Judiciary Committee will meet March 5 to discuss H.B. 996, which makes records and writings of health care providers, including ambulatory surgical facilities, admissible in health care malpractice trials.  The House Ways and Means Committee will meet March 6 to discuss whether the State should submit a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to discontinue the implementation of the Common Core State Standard or consider another mechanism to slow the standards implementation and assessment throughout the state.  The House Economic Matters Committee will meet March 7 to discuss H.B. 1255, which will require a food service facility to charge an additional fee for soda and other non-alcoholic beverages when the beverage is included with children's meals. The bill does allow water and low-fat milk to be exempt from the additional fee.  MASSACHUSETTS The Joint Committee on Transportation will hold a public hearing March 5 to discuss S.B. 1685, which relates to propane-powered vehicles.  MISSOURI Voter ID bill HB 1073 was first read in the Senate. This bill would require all voters to show government-issued photo ID to vote. It would become effective upon voter approval of a constitutional amendment that authorizes the General Assembly to enact photo voter ID requirements.  Voter ID bill HJR 47 was first read in the Senate. This bill submits to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment to article VIII of the Constitution of Missouri to require photo ID to vote. NEW HAMPSHIRE The House Education Committee met March 4 for an executive session to discuss H.B. 1239, which requires the State Board of Education to report on the fiscal impact of implementing the college and career readiness standards, also known as the Common Core Standards, before implementation.  OREGON The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn sine die March 9. RHODE ISLAND Voter ID bill HB 7767 was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. This act would repeal the voter identification law.  SOUTH CAROLINA The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will meet March 5 to discuss H.B. 3592, which will implement green building standards for state facilities.  TENNESSEE The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing March 4 to discuss H.B. 1952, which prohibits the use of a drone with the intent to conduct video surveillance of private citizens who are lawfully hunting or fishing.  TEXAS The primary election for all statewide elected offices, 150 House seats and 15 Senate seats occurred March 4.  WISCONSIN The Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations held a hearing March 4 to discuss A.B. 752, which exempts electronic smoking devices from state laws prohibiting smoking in indoor locations.  The Senate Education Committee will meet March 6 to discuss S.B. 619, which creates the Model Academic Standards Board within the Department of Public Instruction for the purpose of developing model academic standards in the following subject areas: (1) English, reading and language arts; (2) mathematics; (3) science; and (4) social studies.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.