Policy Milestones

Opioid Epidemic in Oregon at Fever Pitch

February 2016 - U.S. Senate passes Addiction and Recovery Act, votes 94-1 in favor.

AZ Congressman Reintroduces Bill to Ban Exotic Animals in Circuses

March 2017 - Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation that ends the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses. Grijalva previously introduced the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) in November of 2016. Thirty-four diverse countries around the world and 63 cities and counties in the United States already prohibit use of animals in circuses.

FDA Implements New Rules On Use Of Antibiotics

January 2017 - The FDA announced the full implementation of new policies redefining how antibiotics are used to treat food-producing animals. Beginning January 1, antibiotics similar to those used in human medicine that are medically important will no longer be used to promote growth in animals. All remaining uses of these antibiotics in farm animals will be for the purpose of fighting disease under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

World's First Whale Sanctuary Announced

May 2016 - A group of marine mammal experts today announced new plans for a coastal North American cetacean sanctuary to give captive and rescued whales and dolphins a more suitable, safe habitat than tanks.

Fast-Food Chains Join Demand for Antibiotic-Free Meat

March 2016 - After 70 percent of its customers rated it a top issue in surveys, Chik-fil-A joined the ranks of food chains nationwide, such as Panera and Chipotle, that have made the demand for antibiotic-free meat.

Kroger Goes Cage Free

March 2016 - Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the U.S. just announced it will also go cage-free by 2025.

Ringling Brothers to Give Elephants Early Retirement

January 2016 - Ringling Bros. now says it will retire all elephants from the circus by May of this year. The initial plan was to retire them by 2018.

Fast-Food Chain Pledges cage-free eggs by 2020

January 2016 - Fast-food giant Wendy's pledged to switch its U.S. and Canadian supply to chain to 100 percent cage-free eggs by the year 2020.

Wendy's To Switch To Cage-Free Eggs

January 2016 - One of the largest restaurant chains in North America, Wendy's, announced its commitment to improving animal welfare in its U.S. and Canadian supply chains by switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2020.

NIH Ends Use of Research Chimps

November 2015 - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced an end to the federal government's long and controversial history of bio-medical research on chimpanzees.

NIH To Retire Research Chimps

November 2015 - The National Institutes of Health is retiring all of its research chimpanzees. NIH retired most of its chimps two years ago, but kept 50 on hand in case they were needed for important research, as in the case of a public health emergency.

Sea World To Phase Out Killer Whale Show

November 2015 - Sea World San Diego announced today it will be phasing out the killer whale show, a controversial element of Sea World presentations and the target of years of investigation by animal rights organizations.

March 2015 - McDonald's announced a new policy to curb the overuse of antibiotics in raising the chickens that ultimately become McNuggets or other McDonald's products.

Court Rules Canada Lynx Protection Needed

May 2014 - A federal court in Montana has found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 14-year delay in preparing a recovery plan for this threatened species was 'unreasonable'.

Court Rules Canada Lynx Protection Needed

May 2014 - A federal court in Montana has found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had a 14-year delay in preparing a recovery plan for this threatened species.

Slaughterhouse Shuts Down After Animal Abuse Complaints

April 2014 - Southern Quality Meats, Inc. (SQM), a slaughterhouse in Mississippi, was caught last year jabbing and electro-shocking helpless mother pigs.

Denny's Requires Pork Producers to Reduce Gestation Crates

March 2014 - Denny's announced that it will require reports from its pork suppliers regarding their progress in producing pork without the use of gestation crates.

Elephant Trophy Imports Banned

March 2014 - The United States has suspended imports of sport-hunted elephant trophies from Zimbabwe citing questionable management practices and a lack of effective law enforcement.

Big Drug Company Stops Testing on Chimps

January 2014 - Merck & Co, announced they will stop testing on chimpanzees.

Big Names Cancel Sea World Concerts to Protest Orca Treatment

December 2013 - Three headliners canceled their performances at a SeaWorld music series, citing the recent documentary "Blackfish" that raises questions about the effects of captivity on whales.

Tyson Expands Animal Welfare Requirements

December 2013 - Tyson will expand its animal welfare requirements to its beef and chicken suppliers.

Cracker Barrel Bans Gestation Crates from Supply Chain

November 2013 - Cracker Barrel restaurants will remove gestation crates from its pork supply chain.

General Mills Eliminates Gestation Crates for Pigs

January 2013 - General Mills has announced to eliminate gestation crates - small cages used to confine breeding pigs - from its pork supply chains.

General Mills Eliminates Gestation Crates for Pigs

January 2013 - General Mills has announced to eliminate gestation crates - small cages used to confine breeding pigs - from its pork supply chains. The company stated on its website that \General Mills supports the development of pregnant sow housing alternatives" to gestation crates" while acknowledging "that the development and implementation of alternative systems may be a long-term process that could take up to 10 years."

Ag-Gag Struck Down

December 2009 - A federal judge struck down Idaho's controversial ag-gag law as unconstitutional. In response to a legal challenge brought by a coalition of animal protection, food safety, and civil liberties groups, Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the U.S. District Court for the district of Idaho held that the law violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Based on today's ruling, Idaho's ag-gag law is no longer in effect.

SeaWorld Changes Orca Environments

November -0001 - After more than a year of public criticism of its treatment of killer whales, SeaWorld said that it will build new, larger environments at its theme parks and will fund additional research on the animals along with programs to protect ocean health and whales in the wild.

Nestle Announces Animal Welfare Program

November -0001 - Nestle has announced a new animal welfare program. The program addresses pig gestation crates, veal crates, egg-laying hen cages, forced rapid growth of chickens used for meat products, cutting of the horns, tails and genitals of farm animals without painkillers, promotion of Meatless Monday via on-package messaging.

Congress Approves $1 Billion Emergency Funds for LIHEAP

October 2022 - Congressional passage of a federal appropriations package containing $1 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will provide an additional estimated funds to help ensure that people are able to safely heat their homes this winter.

Poverty rates drop sharply for children of color

October 2022 - The child tax cred­it expan­sion led to sig­nif­i­cant reduc­tions in child pover­ty rates for mul­ti­ple racial and eth­nic groups, with par­tic­u­lar­ly large drops for Black and Lati­no chil­dren. While this is mean­ing­ful progress, 2021 pover­ty rates remain dis­pro­por­tion­ate­ly high for Black (8%), Lati­no (8%) and Amer­i­can Indi­an and Alas­ka Native chil­dren (7%), com­pared to white (3%) and Asian and Pacif­ic Islanders (6%) kids.

Senate Rejects Billions in Trump Spending Cuts

July 2018 - The U.S. Senate rejected billions in spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration as two Republicans joined all Democrats in voting "no." The cuts in the rescissions package included $7 billion from the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Senate Rejects McCain OCO Amendment

June 2016 - Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment put forth by Senate Committee on Armed Services Chair John McCain that would have added an extra $18 billion to the Pentagon's already hefty budget.

Pres. Trump Reverses Course on Census Citizenship Question

July 2019 - Dropping a controversial plan to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census after the Supreme Court blocked it, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Commerce Department to obtain citizenship data through means other than the US census. Trump repeatedly said in Rose Garden remarks that he's not backing away from attempting a count of US citizens, but acknowledged legal setbacks in inserting a citizenship question on the nationwide population survey.

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Revive North Carolina Voter-ID Law

May 2017 - The U.S. Supreme Court dealt an unexpected blow to the voter-identification movement, refusing to reinstate North Carolina ballot restrictions that a lower court said target blacks "with almost surgical precision." Turning away the appeal by state Republican leaders, the justices left intact a ruling that said the provisions were racially discriminatory in violation of federal voting-rights law. In addition to requiring people to show a photo ID, the North Carolina law reduced the number of early-voting days and eliminated same-day registration and out-of-precinct voting. The rebuff was a surprise because four conservative justices previously tried to revive the measure before the 2016 election. That effort failed because it was an emergency request that required five votes, but the court could have accepted the latest appeal with only four votes.

Hours before the Vote: Bay State Voters Rights Restored

November 2016 - On the Eve of Election 2106, a Massachusetts judge ordered the secretary of state allow three Bay Staters to cast provisional ballots. The judge ruled the state's 20-day voter cutoff law disenfranchised the voters. The court is expected to decide after the election whether to strike down the cut-off deadline.

Supreme Court Protects Right of Public Workers to Support Candidate of Their Choice

April 2016 - Just in time for the election season, The Supreme Court has strengthened the rights of the nation's 22 million public employees to protect them against being demoted or fired for supporting the wrong political candidate.

Supreme Court Rejects Radical Re-Write of Constitution in Evenwel Redistricting Case

April 2016 - The U.S. Supreme Court voted 8-0 in Evenwel v. Abbott to allow states to continue to count total population when drawing state legislative districts after each census.

Senate Hearing on Citizens United

May 2014 - The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing next month on a constitutional amendment in response to the Supreme Court's decisions regarding campaign finance and money in politics.

Young Voters Turn Out in Unexpectedly High Numbers

November 2012 - Nearly half of voters under age 30 cast a ballot and dispelled pundits expectation that the 2008 record turnout of young voters would return to lower levels.

Prison Phone Industry Caps Exhorbitant Prison Phone Costs

October 2015 - The FCC passed rules that cap rates at 11 cents per minute for state and federal facilities and 22 cents per minute from jails.

Report: Half of Nation’s Coal Power Units to Retire by 2026

April 2023 - The U.S. is projected to retire half of its coal-fired power units by 2026, just 15 years after coal use for electricity reached its peak in 2011, according to a new report.

Senate Passes Bill on Hydrofluorocarbons

September 2022 - The U-S Senate ratified a global treaty to limit climate super-pollutants, in a vote with broad bipartisan support. The treaty — known as the Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol — forces countries to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons. The planet-warming gases, which frequently leak from air conditioners, are hundreds of thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in speeding up climate change.

Federal Court Reinstates Moratorium on Coal Leasing on Public Lands

August 2022 - The ruling reinstates a moratorium on federal coal leasing established under the Obama administration, a pause intended to give agencies time to investigate the cumulative impacts of coal mining.

Feds Withdraw Trump Rule Against State Vehicle Emissions Regs

April 2021 - The Biden administration announced it will withdraw a Trump administration rule that sought to bar states from setting vehicle emissions rules or set zero emission vehicle mandates. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was proposing to revoking the September 2019 Trump rule. After formal publication, it will be open for public comment for 30 days and then revocation could be made final.

Congressional Resolution Aims to Reinstate Obama-Era Methane Rules

March 2021 - Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) introduced companion C.R.A. resolutions to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule from September 2020. The resolution would restore the Obama administration's methane standards that the EPA reversed during the Trump administration.

PA Joins 6 States in Plan for CO2 Transportation Infrastructure

October 2020 - Pennsylvania is joining with six other states – Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Oklahoma and Wyoming – in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) expressing a commitment to establish and implement a regional CO2 transport infrastructure plan by collaborating and leveraging resources across the participating states. The signatory states recognize that development of regional and national CO2 transport networks, together with proposed tax credits and other financial incentives for carbon capture from industrial facilities and power plants and from ambient air through direct air capture, can support long-term production and use of abundant and affordable natural resources, and create and preserve high-paying jobs in energy-producing, agricultural, and industrial states of the country, all while significantly reducing net carbon emissions.

Federal Court Rejects Trump Administration Cancellation of Methane Pollution Rule

July 2020 - A federal judge reinstated the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 methane waste rule, aimed at protecting people and the climate from methane waste and pollution from oil and gas extraction on public lands. The ruling, requested by a coalition of environmental and public health groups including California-based Los Padres ForestWatch, is the third defeat for the Trump administration's efforts to suspend, delay or repeal the rule. The rule requires oil and gas companies operating on public lands to take reasonable measures to prevent the waste of publicly owned fossil gas. It will go back into effect in 90 days. Such measures significantly reduce pollution from methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and are an important step to address the climate crisis.

Court Vacates Trump BLM’s Rollback of Methane Waste Prevention Rule

July 2020 - The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Trump administration’s reversal of the Methane Waste Prevention Rule was “wholly inadequate” and vacated the action.

Federal Judge Upholds 2015 EPA Smog Standards

August 2019 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) issued a ruling upholding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's revised air quality standards for ozone - more commonly known as smog - against challenges from corporate interests and other states. The standards, set in 2015, strengthened previous ozone standards that EPA had determined did not adequately protect human health or the environment. A coalition of seven states and state air agencies and the District of Columbia stepped up to defend the rule alongside the EPA in Murray Energy Corporation v. EPA.

U.S. House Passes "Climate Action Now" Act

May 2019 - The U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-190 to pass H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which would ensure that America honors its commitments made under the 2015 international Paris Climate Agreement. The Climate Action Now Act would require that the federal government develop a plan to meet the climate pollution reduction targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement and prohibit any federal funds from being used to advance the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Agreement. Despite President Trump's June 1, 2017 announcement that the U.S. would withdraw from the Agreement, Article 28 of the Paris Agreement states that the earliest possible effective withdrawal date by the U.S. cannot be before November 4, 2020, four years after the Agreement came into effect in the U.S. and one day after the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

EPA Reverses Decision, Will Now Regulate Polluting Glider Trucks

July 2018 - The Environmental Protection Agency reversed course and announced it would enforce stricter pollution controls on freight trucks known as "gliders," which emit dozens of times more soot and contaminants compared to those with new diesel engines. In a three-page memo to his deputies, acting administrator Andrew Wheeler said he would withdraw the "no action assurance" the agency had given the manufacturers of glider trucks on the last day that his predecessor, Scott Pruitt, headed the EPA. That letter assured firms that they would not have to limit their annual production to 300 vehicles through the end of 2019. The EPA initially proposed a rule last November to repeal tighter emissions standards for glider trucks, which had been set to take effect in January. An Obama-era regulation aimed at controlling soot and other pollutants, as well as greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, the rule had the support of public-health advocates and some major trucking groups and engine manufacturers.

Fossil Fuels, Esp Natural Gas, Falls in 2017

March 2018 - Federal figures for last year show a continued decline in the use of coal nationally. The figures also show a surprising 7.7% decline in the use of natural gas as well. Observers point to increasing levels of energy efficiency, causing a decline over-all energy demand in spite of a growing economy.

Court Forces Feds To Implement Methane Gas Waste Rule

October 2017 - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration late Wednesday to implement an Obama-era rule that forces oil and gas companies to capture excess natural gas rather than burn it or vent it into the air. The Feds had been stalling key provisions of the Methane Waste Rule, but the judge said it was illegal because they tried to do it without taking public comment.

Senators Pass Amendment to Restore UN Climate Change Funding

September 2017 - In the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senators Chris Murphy and Tammy Baldwin passed an amendment to restore funding to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Trump Attempts to Roll Back Clean Air Protections Blocked by Court

September 2017 - A D.C. appeals court told the EPA agency it had to enforce the Obama-era methane rule and said delays were adding substantial levels of hazardous air pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde into the air of communities near wells.

Praise As EPA Goes Ahead With Ozone Rule

August 2017 - The EPA has resisted industry pressure to stop planned limits on ozone. Clean air advocates say going ahead with the regulations will save thousands of lives in Virginia and other states.

EPA Reverses Decision to Delay Smog Rule After Lawsuits

August 2017 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed a decision to delay an Obama-era rule requiring states to curb smog-causing emissions, one day after 15 states sued the agency over the move. The EPA announced the decision to go ahead with the so-called "2015 Ozone Designations" late on Wednesday, August 2 saying it showed the agency's commitment to working with states.

Growing US Climate Alliance Launches Climate Change Website

July 2017 - Momentum is growing in response to the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, with more members and the launch of a new website. Launched by New York, California and Washington, today the members include Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, representing more than 33 percent of the U.S. population and $7.16 trillion in GDP. The new website includes information about the composition of the Alliance, member commitments, and guiding principles, while providing updates on the progress members are making to meet or exceed the emission reductions targets of the Paris Agreement.

Senate Rejects Repeal of Methane Waste Rule

May 2017 - Three Republicans joined Senate Democrats on Wednesday to reject an effort to overturn an Obama administration rule limiting methane emissions from oil and natural gas drilling. Only 49 senators voted to move forward with debate on legislation to undo the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule, short of the 51 votes needed. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined all 48 members of the Democratic caucus in rejecting the resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

Powder River Basin Resource Council Notches Another Win With National Impact

April 2017 - Peabody Energy Corp., the largest private-sector coal company in the world, is replacing its reclamation self-bonds across the country, worth a total of $1.27 billion dollars.

Senators Introduce Bill to Rescind President's Anti-Climate Executive Order

March 2017 - More than 30 U.S. Senators introduced legislation to rescind President Trump's Executive Order to reverse several landmark U.S. initiatives to combat climate change. The Clean Air Healthy Kids Act would block federal agencies from implementing the actions outlined in President Trump's Energy Independence Executive Order. These actions include reevaluating the Clean Power Plan, which is currently on track to provide $54 billion in climate and health benefits each year, prevent thousands of premature deaths and asthma attacks in children, reduce electricity bills for homes and businesses, and create thousands of good-paying jobs.

BLM Finalizes Rules to Limit Gas Waste on Public Lands

November 2016 - A recent Colorado College poll found 80 percent of westerners, across party lines, support efforts to curb methane waste (venting and flaring) on public lands. Meanwhile, as the clock ticks down on the Obama administration's final days, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management finalizes rules to reduce natural gas waste on publicly owned lands. Some Congressional Republicans have promised to overturn the rules, which would otherwise go into effect days before Obama leaves office. The Interior Department's announcement quickly was followed by an oil and gas industry lawsuit. Industry groups argue operators already are cutting emissions and say new regulations would increase costs.

Wind Energy Costs Could Fall by 40 Percent by 2050

November 2016 - Researchers found advances in technology should continue to drive down wind energy costs by as much as 30 percent by the year 2030, and more than 40 percent by 2050. Ryan Wiser, the report's lead author, says reductions in up-front costs and increased performance output will be the biggest drivers.

Decision on the Clean Power Plan is a Victory for the Environment and Public Health

February 2016 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied requests by industry and allied states to temporarily stay the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan.

BLM to Limit Methane Emissions

February 2016 - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed rules to limit methane waste on public and tribal lands.

USDI Announces Moratorium of Coal Leases on Public Lands

February 2016 - U.S. Department of the Interior's announcement to stop new coal-mining leases on public lands.

Mercury Emissions "Loophole"? Closed

April 2014 - A loophole that allowed cement plants to not be subject to fines over toxic emissions if they were labeled the result of a malfunction or "upset" has been closed by a federal court ruling.

Coal Plants Agree to Install Cleaning Equipment

February 2014 - In a settlement with conservationists, PPL agreed to install pollution monitors to assure that the Colstrip and Corette coal-fired power plants are continuously complying with the law for particulate pollution.

Senate Rejects Congressional Review Act to Block New EPA Standards

June 2012 - The U.S. Senate voted to reject Sen. James Inhofe's Congressional Review Act (CRA), which sought to block the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxic Standards.

Nationwide Standards Set In Place for Mercury and Toxic Air Pollution From Power Plants

December 2011 - More than 20-years in the making, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the first-ever nationwide standards for mercury and toxic air pollution from power plants.

Dept. of Ed. to Stop Using Private Debt Collectors

May 2018 - The Department of Education filed a motion this week announcing a plan to phase out the use of private debt collectors contracted to pursue defaulted student loan borrowers, and instead rely on current loan servicers. Private debt collectors aggressively pursue defaulted student loan borrowers while profiting from taxpayer dollars.

Court Ruling Favors CFPB Over Trump

January 2018 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regained a measure of independence when a U.S. appeals court said the president's power to remove the agency's head is limited to specific reasons such as neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The Washington-based appeals court concluded Wednesday that Congress meant to protect the agency from the ebb and flow of politics. Giving the president more latitude to fire the director "would put the historically established independence of financial regulators and numerous other independent agencies at risk," U.S. Circuit Judge Nina Pillard wrote for the majority. The decision is certain to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Issues New Rules for Payday Lending

October 2017 - Consumer advocates are praising a new rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It requires payday lenders to start verifying a borrower's ability to repay the loan before rolling it over into a new loan. The rule aims to prevent a situation where desperate people borrow more money just to repay prior loans, and get hit with fees that often exceed the amount of the original loan.

CFPB Releases New Rule to Regulate Pay Day Lenders

October 2017 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's finalized rules, the first nationwide regulation of the industry, which had largely been left to the states. Under the new rules, lenders will have to do a full-payment test before giving the loan, meaning the lender must determine whether the borrower can afford to repay the loan in full with interest within 30 days. Since payday lending customers are often in dire situations, this test will likely significantly curtail the industry.

Feds Issue New Rules on Prepaid Cards

October 2016 - Consumer groups are praising the new rules on pre-paid credit cards just released by the feds. The regulation, issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, goes into effect next fall and will make pre-paid card issuers follow many of the same rules that apply to credit cards.

Google Is Banning Payday Loan Ads

July 2016 - Beginning July 13, 2016, consumers will still be able to find payday lenders on a Google search, but ads appearing on the top and right-hand side of results will not show marketing from the industry.

Feds Propose Rules on Mandatory Arbitration

May 2016 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new rules to block credit card companies, banks and other companies from forcing customers to waive their rights to join class action lawsuits.

AMA Stance on Excited Delirium

June 2021 - The American Medical Association adopted a policy this week opposing the diagnosis of "Excited Delirium." Skeptics of this condition say it is often used by law enforcement to justify excessive force.

Supreme Court Rules Local Government Excessive Fines Unconstitutional

February 2019 - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states cannot impose excessive fees, fines and forfeitures as criminal penalties. The decision, which united the court's conservatives and liberals, makes clear that the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "excessive fines" applies to states and localities as well as the federal government.

Bill To Reform Bail Introduced in Congress

July 2017 - Today, U.S. Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bipartisan bail reform bill, "The Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017" - to encourage states to reform or replace the practice of money bail, the requirement that individuals awaiting trial remain in jail unless they pay for their release. Across the country, state and local governments continue to have ineffective money bail systems that force individuals to pay amounts set arbitrarily, without consideration for the ability to pay, or an accurate assessment of the person's danger to the public or risk of not showing up to trial.

Justice Dept. to End Use of Private Prisons

August 2016 - The U.S. Justice Department has announced that it will end the use of private prisons for federal prisoners. The announcement follows a report that found private prisons are less safe and less effective than government run facilities. DOJ will not cancel current contracts but will review them as they come up for renewal. All federal private prison contracts expire within the next five years. There are currently 13 privately operated federal prisons holding close to 23,000 inmates.

Pfizer Cuts Off the Last Open-Market Source of Execution Drugs

May 2016 - Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that it has imposed sweeping controls on the distribution of its products to ensure that none are used in lethal injections.

Supreme Court: Life Sentences For Juveniles Must Be Reviewed

January 2016 - About 2000 people sentenced to life without parole for acts committed as children may not have to spend the rest of their lives in prison, thanks to a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.

Commonwealth Congressional Delegation Supports Obama Executive Action on Gun Sales

January 2016 - President Obama proposed executive actions that would tighten background checks and spend more federal dollars on mental health.

U.S. Releases Non-Violent Drug Offenders

November 2015 - In the largest one-time release of federal prisoners in U.S. history, more than 6,000 inmates have been freed early under a re-sentencing effort for people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.

Feds Release Nonviolent Drug Offenders

November 2015 - In the largest one-time release of federal prisoners in U.S. history, more than 6,000 inmates have been freed early under a re-sentencing effort for people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.

FCC Regulates Prison Phone Call Rates Nationally

October 2015 - After a decade of organizing, this morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on rules to rein in the predatory prison phone industry.

SCOTUS Rules: Student May Bring Service Dog to School

February 2017 - Disability rights advocates applaud the February 22nd Supreme Court decision in Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, which they say will provide students with better access to the court system to contest disability-related discrimination at schools.

Autism Funding Extended

November 2015 - The U.S. Senate acted to renew the nation's primary autism legislation.

Bill to Ensure Sex Abuse Allegations Get Reported To Police Passes U.S. House

January 2018 - The House passed legislation drafted by Senator Dianne Feinstein to require amateur athletics governing bodies like USA Gymnastics and other amateur sports organizations to report sex-abuse allegations immediately to local or federal law enforcement, or a child-welfare agency designated by the Justice Department. The bill further authorizes the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to ensure that aspiring Olympic athletes can report allegations of abuse to an independent and non-conflicted entity for investigation and resolution, and to make sure that all national governing bodies follow the strictest standards for child abuse prevention, detection and investigation.

President Signs Law Cracking Down on Truckers Involved in Human Trafficking

January 2018 - Today President Trump Signed Senate Bill 1532, the "No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act," which requires the Department of Transportation to disqualify an individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony involving human trafficking from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life.

Protecting At-Risk Kids from Sex Trafficking

September 2010 - Continuing a long tradition of bipartisan leadership on behalf of abused and neglected children, both the House and the Senate passed a law Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act.

Biden Cancels $10,000 in Fed Student Loan Debt for Most Borrowers

August 2022 - President Joe Biden announced the government will forgive $10,000 in federal student debt for most borrowers, fulfilling a campaign pledge and delivering financial relief to millions of Americans. Debt forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients can be up to $20,000.

Pause on US student Loan Payments Extended Through May 1

December 2021 - The Biden administration has extended a student loan moratorium that allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Under the action, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic, but were set to expire Jan. 31.

Court Reinstates Education Debt Rule in Defeat for DeVos

October 2018 - An Obama-era rule designed to help students cheated by for-profit colleges get relief on their education debt finally took effect after efforts by the Trump administration to block it. A federal judge ordered immediate implementation of the rule, delayed last year by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, while a challenge from the for-profit college industry proceeds. The Department of Education that it will not seek a new delay. Attorneys general from 18 states and the District of Columbia successfully sued DeVos last year over her decision to block the rule, known as Borrower Defense to Repayment, from taking effect.

Judge Rules DeVos Unlawfully Delayed Student Borrower Protections

September 2018 - A federal judge has ruled that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' delay of a key student borrower protection rule was improper and unlawful. U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss sided with consumer advocates, two former students seeking relief from their loans, and Democratic attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia, who challenged the Trump administration's postponement of Obama-era regulations-governing "borrower defense to repayment."

Fed Action Leads to Closure of ITT Tech Schools

September 2016 - I-T-T Technical Institute closed all 130 of its for-profit schools on Tuesday, including 15 locations in California, leaving 35-thousand students in limbo. The move came after the U-S Department of Education banned I-T-T from accepting new students with federal education loans - as did the state Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education,and the state Office of Veterans Affairs. ITT was accused of inflating graduation and job placement rates.

"No Child Left Behind" Scrapped

December 2015 - President Obama signed into law a bipartisan bill that finally does away with the failed "No Child Left Behind" legislation of the past.

Federal Court Restores Critical Endangered Species Act Protections

July 2022 - A federal district court restored comprehensive Endangered Species Act regulatory protections to hundreds of species and the places they call home. Conservation groups challenged the Trump administration rules for undermining protections for imperiled species and habitat necessary for their survival.

Western Monarch Butterfly Makes A Rebound

December 2021 - The western monarch butterfly appears to be pulling back from the edge of extinction - with more than 100,000 counted so far in the 25th annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count. Emma Pelton with the Xerces Society says it’s unclear if the rebound is due to natural variability or something else, saying "They move and migrate over such large areas that it’s hard to know exactly what weather conditions or environmental factors affected things in any one spot. But we think this is a good example of resiliency."

Biden Administration Expands Critical Habitat for Endangered NW Orcas

July 2021 - The Biden-Harris Administration's final rule expands critical habitat for endangered Southern Resident orcas along the outer coast of Washington, Oregon and as far south as Point Sur, California. The newly designated critical habitat areas span 15,910 square miles of Pacific oceans waters off the U.S. West Coast and recognize the vital importance of this area to Southern Resident orcas. "This decision to expand critical habitat is a major step forward toward recovering these iconic orcas,” said Ben Enticknap, a senior scientist with Oceana. “The critical habitat designation will help ensure Southern Resident orcas have an ocean abundant with large salmon that is free from blinding ship noise and toxic chemicals. It’s a huge relief knowing we now have a strong commitment to protect the orcas’ ocean home."

Judge Restores Sage Grouse Protections

February 2021 - A federal judge overturned a Trump administration decision to strip protections from 10 million acres, mostly in Nevada and Idaho, to allow mining in vital habitat for greater sage grouse, the latest in a series of court victories for sage grouse conservation.

Arctic Refuge Development Delayed Under Administration Order

January 2021 - Biden administration orders temporary moratorium on oil and gas development in the refuge, heeding the call of hunters and anglers, outdoor businesses, others.

House Passes Package of Conservation, Access Bills

October 2020 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote today legislation, America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act, S. 3051), which encompasses a range of programs beneficial to fish and wildlife, hunting and fishing, and public access in the United States. The legislative package passed the Senate, also by voice vote, in September.

Trump Administration Agrees To Study Ways to Protect Animals from Ship Strikes

April 2020 - The Trump administration has agreed to examine ways to better protect endangered whales and sea turtles from being struck by ships using California ports. Today’s decision by the U.S. Coast Guard to request consultation with wildlife officials was prompted by a letter from the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth notifying the administration that its shipping regulations violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act. That March 2 notice letter threatened a lawsuit if officials continue to ignore evidence that a growing number of whales are being harmed by ship strikes along California's coast. The Coast Guard is now asking the National Marine Fisheries Service to consult on new regulations that could include mandatory speed limits in shipping lanes.

Feds To Ban Mexican Seafood To Protect Porpoises

March 2020 - The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service announced today that it will ban imports of Mexican shrimp and other seafood caught in the habitat of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The action is being taken under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which requires the U.S. government to prohibit the import of seafood caught using fishing gear that kills marine mammals in excess of United States standards. The import ban places enormous pressure on the Mexican government to stop the use of deadly gillnets that are entangling, drowning, and killing the vaquita porpoise, whose population has likely dwindled to just 10 remaining animals. The northern Gulf of California is one of Mexico's most valuable fishing regions. "This is exactly how the law protecting marine mammals is supposed to work: if Mexico's fisheries kill vaquita at a rate that violates U.S. standards, the U.S. must ban imports," said Zak Smith, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Mexico has no choice but to eliminate the destructive fishing taking place in the northern Gulf of California that is driving the vaquita to extinction. It's the only hope the vaquita has for survival, and it is required if Mexico wants to resume exporting these products to the United States."

Court Protects Nearly 1 Million Acres of Sage Grouse Habitat

February 2020 - A federal judge overturned a 2018 Trump administration policy to sharply curtail public participation in oil and gas leasing decisions on public lands and voided nearly 1 million acres leased under the policy in Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Conservation Groups Sue to Force Federal Action on Endangered Species Listings

February 2020 - The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to decide whether 241 plants and animals across the country — from the Midwest's golden-winged warbler to Venus flytraps in the Carolinas — should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit, filed in district court in Washington, D.C., is one of the largest ever under the Act and seeks to undo years of illegal inaction by the Trump administration.

USFWS Reinstates Protections For Grizzly Bears Near Yellowstone

August 2019 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has reinstated Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears living near Yellowstone National Park. In the lower 48 there are six isolated regions of grizzly habitat, but the biggest population of bears live in Wyoming. That's why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service removed protections for those roughly 700 bears last year. A judge ruled against that decision saying it was based on bad science and that the federal government has to look at the bear population in the lower 48 as a whole and not just consider isolated pockets.

US District Court Rules in Favor of Sage Grouse Protections

May 2018 - A U.S. District Court found in favor of environmental groups who said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrongly denied protections to the sage grouse. Next, a hearing will decide if the agency must reconsider protections for the bird.

Court Affirms Dams Can Release Water to Help Northwest Salmon

April 2018 - A federal appeals court ruled that dams in the Northwest can release more water over their spillways in order to help young salmon traveling to the ocean this spring. The appeals court judges agreed with a district court judge that salmon populations remain in a "precarious" state.

Some Signs Of A Bee Rebound

August 2017 - After years of alarming spread, Colony Collapse Disorder losses are down by a quarter from 2016. Some of this may be related to restrictions on pesticides that impact bees. But whatever the cause, the U.S. Dept of Agriculture reports some signs that bees are doing better.

Two Big Retailers Phasing Out Neonicotinoids

May 2017 - Walmart and True Value decided to eliminate neonicotinoid pesticides. True Value will phase them out by Spring of 2018, Walmart says the bee killing pesticides aren't being sold in at least 80 percent of it's plants.

Fed Judge Moves Coastal Marten Closer to Endangered Species Status

March 2017 - In response to a lawsuit brought on by the Center of Biological Diversity and the Environmental Protection Information Center, a federal judge overturned an April 2014 decision by the U.S Fish and Wildlife service denying endangered species protection to coastal marten. It now must reconsider granting that protection. Coastal martens were believed extinct until 1996 because of historic fur trapping and loss of their old-growth forest habitats, but are now known to occur in three small, isolated populations in California and Oregon. The groups were represented by the public-interest law firm EarthJustice.

Retailers Selling More "Bee Friendly" Plants

August 2016 - New tests have found a drop in the number of garden plants pre-treated with pesticides that can hurt bees, and the groups that released them say people are more likely to shop at stores that carry "bee-friendly" products.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Confirms Critical Habitat for Marbled Murrelet

August 2016 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reaffirmed that nearly 3.7 million acres of forest from Washington to California is critical habitat for the Marbled Murrelet. The service reviewed the acreage after a change in the definition of critical habitat. Marled Murrelet need continuous old growth forest in order to nest.

Service Distributes Nearly $50 Million to Support State Wildlife Conservation Projects

April 2016 - Species across the nation will benefit from almost $50 million in funding allocated to state wildlife agencies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program.

Lifeline for Endangered Right Whale

January 2016 - The National Marine Fisheries Service provided a lifeline to the critically endangered right whale.

Spending Bill Leaves Sage Grouse Protections Intact

December 2015 - Conservation groups are celebrating a recent victory in the movement to protect the greater sage grouse, a small bird the size of a chicken - and then planning additional efforts in 2016.

CA Home Depot to phase out bee-killing pesticides

December 2015 - Home Depot has announced that it has removed neonicotinoid pesticides, a leading driver of global bee declines, from 80 percent of its flowering plants and that it will complete its phase-out in plants by 2018.

Navy Rethinks Training That Endangers Whales, Dolphins

November 2015 - The Navy is taking steps to protect whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine mammals from harmful sonar and may soon modify their training exercises accordingly, thanks to a lawsuit from conservationists.

SeaWorld Changes Orca Show

November 2015 - SeaWorld announces they will end the theatrical orca shows and put them on display in a more natural setting.

New Climate Bill to Tackle Texas Methane Emissions

August 2022 - The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed by President Joe Biden will help make a significant cut in U.S. emissions by levying a fee on oil and gas producers with wells that emit methane above a certain threshold.

Keystone Pipeline Canceled After Biden Blocked Permit

June 2021 - he sponsor of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline said Wednesday it is pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade President Joe Biden to reverse his cancellation of its permit on the day he took office. Calgary-based TC Energy said it would work with government agencies “to ensure a safe termination of and exit from” the partially built line, which was to transport crude from the oil sand fields of western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska.

Major Blow to Keystone XL Pipeline as Judge Revokes Key Permit

May 2020 - The controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline has been dealt a major setback, after a judge revoked a key permit issued by the US army corps of engineers without properly assessing the impact on endangered species. In a legal challenge brought by a coalition of environmental groups, a federal judge in Montana ordered the army corps to suspend all filling and dredging activities until it conducts formal consultations compliant with the Endangered Species Act. The ruling revokes the water-crossing permit needed to complete construction of the pipeline, and is expected to cause major delays to the divisive project. Keystone XL is a 1,179-mile pipeline which would transport around 830,000 barrels of oil a day from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska, eventually heading to refineries on the Gulf coast.

Judge Voids Oil Leases in Sage Grouse Territory

February 2020 - A federal judge today rejected a Trump administration policy to sharply curtail public participation in oil and gas leasing decisions on public lands and voided nearly 1 million acres leased under the policy. The ruling applies to lease sales in greater sage-grouse habitat across 67 million acres in 11 Western states. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush vacated five oil and gas leases in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming because the Bureau of Land Management failed to allow public participation required by law. Future leases in greater sage-grouse habitat must allow a 30-day public comment and administrative protest period.

Federal Judge Blocks Keystone Pipeline

November 2018 - In Montana, United States District Court Judge Brian Morris blocked construction of the controversial pipeline, saying that the administration failed to present a ?reasoned explanation? for the move and ?simply discarded? the effect the project would have on climate change. The pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels a day of petroleum from the Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast.

Court Orders EPA to Strengthen Coal Ash Rules

August 2018 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision 8/21/2018 holding that the first-ever federal safeguards set by the Obama Administration for coal ash dumps do not sufficiently protect communities and the environment from pollution from that toxic waste. The court's decision today sided with public interest groups by concluding that the Obama-era rule failed to adequately protect against pollution from unlined and inadequately lined ash pits, many of which are already leaking dangerous pollution into rivers and streams. The Court ordered EPA to revise the rule to properly address the health and environmental threats from these dump sites. The Court also agreed with public interest groups that EPA did not go far enough in regulating coal ash dumps, holding that EPA improperly exempted coal ash ponds at closed coal-fired power plants from regulation. Rejecting industry challenges to the rule, the Court further held that EPA acted within its authority to regulate coal ash ponds no longer actively receiving waste and located at operating plants.

Federal Judge Orders Environmental Review of Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline

August 2018 - A federal judge mandated 8/15/2-18 that the U.S. State Department go back and conduct a more thorough Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL pipeline alternative route, which was approved by the Nebraska Public Service Commission in November 2017.

Judge Restores Penalties for Automakers that Violate Fuel Standards

April 2018 - The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of NRDC, Center for Biological Diversity, and Sierra Club, and overturned a Department of Transportation attempt to indefinitely delay penalties on automakers for violating fuel standards. The Court's ruling restores the proper penalty, trued up to account for decades of inflation. The updated penalty impels automakers to clean up their fleets, rather than offering them a cheap license to burn more gas if they fail to keep pace with fuel economy targets. The fuel economy standards for model years 2012 to 2025 will reduce oil consumption by 3.1 million barrels of oil per day in 2030. This in turn reduces climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding production of 570 million metric tons of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of taking 85 million cars off the roads, or 140 coal-fired power plants offline.

Zinke Says He May Back Off on Offshore Drilling

April 2018 - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke assured the House Appropriations Committee that he plans to scale back his plan to expand offshore leasing in nearly all federal waters, after massive local and state opposition. "States matter, local voices matter, you matter, and governors matter," Zinke said, during testimony before the committee on the Department of Interior's fiscal 2019 budget. Members of both parties on the committee had criticized Zinke for his draft plan, and nearly all coastal governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, oppose it.

Court Rejects Delay of EPA's Methane Pollution Rule

July 2017 - The Trump administration cannot delay an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting methane pollution from oil and natural gas drilling, a federal court ruled. The decision means the EPA must immediately start enforcing the rule.

Methane Waste Rule Survives GOP Assault

May 2017 - The U.S. Senate failed on Wednesday to repeal a new rule that reduces waste of taxpayer-owned natural gas. The failed repeal of the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule marks the first victory over Trump's "anti-environment" agenda, and is a rare win against the American Petroleum Institute on one of its top priorities.

Boom for Electric Vehicles

April 2017 - Tesla says it will nearly double its global network of Superchargers this year from 5,400 to 10,000, including 1,000 new charging units in California

Conservation and Public Health Groups to Defend BLM Methane Rules in Court

December 2016 - More than a dozen conservation and public-health groups are making plans to defend the Bureau of Land Management's new methane waste rules in court, which are being challenged by two oil and gas industry groups and the states of North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. The groups recently petitioned a federal judge seeking to join the case on behalf of the B-L-M.

Feds Ramp Up Solar, Wind Energy on Public Lands

November 2016 - The Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules that encourage increased solar- and wind-energy production on public lands. The policies create a competitive process similar to how oil and gas leases are granted. The new rules also offer financial incentives to steer production away from key environmental, cultural and recreational resources.

B-L-M Pushes Renewable Energy on Public Lands

November 2016 - The Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules that encourage increased solar and wind energy production on public lands. The policies create a competitive process similar to how oil and gas leases are granted.

New Federal Initiative Aims to Help More Homeowners Afford Solar

July 2016 - The Obama Administration announced Tuesday plans to make solar an option for all homeowners by extending more zero-down loans.

Pause in Coal Program on Federal Land

January 2016 - The Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell recently announced a pause in coal leases on federal land and a review of the coal leasing program.

Obama Administration Rejects Keystone Pipeline

November 2015 - Progressive organizations say the project was designed to accommodate foreign and oil priorities at the expense of American consumers and the environment.

February 2015 - In his first presidential rejection of major legislation, President Barack Obama vetoed a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Solar Panels Finally on Top of the White House

May 2014 - The White House is finally on the solar grid in response to prodding by environmentalists.

The Wind Production Tax Credit is Extended One Year

January 2013 - Congress passed legislation that will extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for wind energy for one year.

Fuel Economy Reaches All-Time High

November -0001 - New vehicles achieved an all-time-high fuel economy in 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency announced in October, 2014. Model year 2013 vehicles achieved an average of 24.1 miles per gallon (mpg) -- a 0.5 mpg increase over the previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. Fuel economy has now increased in eight of the last nine years. The average carbon dioxide emissions are also at a record low of 369 grams per mile in model year 2013.

Biden Administration to Restore Climate Criteria to Landmark Environmental Law

October 2021 - The Biden administration announced it will restore climate change protections to the nation’s bedrock environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act, which former President Donald J. Trump had weakened in an effort to speed the approval of projects like mines, pipelines, dams and highways. The proposed changes would require the federal government to evaluate the climate change impacts of major new projects as part of the permitting process. They come as Congress is weighing a plan to spend trillions of dollars on infrastructure improvements across the United States.

Chlorpyrifos Manufacturer Will Stop Making the Controversial Pesticide

February 2020 - The main manufacturer of a pesticide used for decades on a wide array of crops, including strawberries, corn and citrus, said Thursday it will stop making the product, which some scientists have said is linked to neurological problems in children. Corteva Agriscience, the nation’s largest producer of chlorpyrifos, said the decision was driven by financial considerations, not safety concerns. "It’s a tough decision for us to make, but we don’t feel like it’s viable going forward," Susanne Wasson, Corteva’s president of crop protection, said in an interview. "It was a business decision." The announcement came the same day that California, a leading agricultural state, made it illegal to sell chlorphyrifos. It is one of a growing number of states that have moved to block the pesticide from the market.

Funding to Fight Wildfires Gets Overhaul in 2018 Budget

April 2018 - Starting in 2020, funding for wildfires will be stabilized without further eroding the U.S. Forest Service and other agency budgets. More than $20 billion will be set aside over 10 years to allow the Forest Service and other federal agencies to end a practice of raiding non-fire-related accounts to pay for wildfire costs, which approached $3 billion last year alone.

More GOP Lawmakers Bucking Party Line on Climate Change

August 2017 - The House Climate Solutions Caucus, which is a bipartisan panel, has more than tripled in size since January, driven in part by Trump's decision in June to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord.

EPA Reverses Decision to Delay Smog Rule After Lawsuits

August 2017 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed a decision to delay an Obama-era rule requiring states to curb smog-causing emissions, one day after 15 states sued the agency over the move. The EPA announced the decision to go ahead with the so-called "2015 Ozone Designations" late on Wednesday, August 2 saying it showed the agency's commitment to working with states.

Conservation Groups Glad Methane-Waste Rule is Safe, for Now

May 2017 - Three Republicans siding with Democrats in the U.S. Senate narrowly halted a bid to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's natural-gas waste rule.

True Value and Walmart to Phase Out Bee-Killing Pesticides

May 2017 - Walmart and True Value have announced they will phase out pesticides that kill bees and have led to a decline in bees' numbers. The retailers said that will stop selling neonicotinoids and plans treated with the hazardous chemical.

Northern Access Natural Gas Pipeline Halted

April 2017 - The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has denied a water-quality permit for construction of the Northern Access Pipeline, a 99-mile, 24-inch pipeline proposed to carry natural gas through western New York State from Pennsylvania to Canada. Last year the DEC used denial of the same water quality permit to stop construction of the Constitution Pipeline in eastern New York.

Mine Land Restoration Groups Laud Introduction of Federal RECLAIM Act

March 2017 - The RECLAIM Act was introduced in both the House and Senate yesterday with bi-partisan support in both chambers. It would speed $1 billion in funding already available in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund over the next five years to communities struggling with the impacts of the downturn of the coal industry and the scars of historic coal mining. If enacted, RECLAIM will speed as much as $300 million in funding from the Abandoned Mine Land Fund for projects that restore mine-scarred land and enhance local economic development in coal field communities.

Report Confirms Impact of Federal Coal Emissions

January 2017 - A new report from the federal Bureau of Land Management acknowledges that coal mined on public land accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In early 2016 the Obama administration halted new leases for coal mining on public land as it conducted a review of the leasing program. Federal coal leases account for about 40 percent of all coal mined in the United States. Environmentalists say the report underscores the imperative to stop burning coal and transition to clean, renewable energies.

EPA Says Fracking Can Contaminate Drinking Water

December 2016 - The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that hydraulic fracturing, the oil and gas extraction technique also known as fracking, has contaminated drinking water in some circumstances, according to the final version of a comprehensive study first issued in 2015. The original version said the agency had found "no evidence that fracking systemically contaminates water" supplies. That sentence has been deleted from the final study.

Study: National Retail Outlets Give Bees Some Relief

August 2016 - A campaign to protect declining bee populations is making progress. A new study conducted at garden centers across the U.S. found plants containing neonicotinoid pesticides dropped by more than half in just two years.

Supreme Court Rejects New Challenge to Obama Air Pollution Rule

June 2016 - The Supreme Court has declined conservative states' third request to overturn a sweeping Obama administration air pollution rule.

EPA Completes Analysis of Mercury Rule

April 2016 - The federal Environmental Protection Agency completed its analysis showing that reducing emissions of mercury and other toxic substances would have enormous health benefits.

EPA Finds Costs of Mercury Rule Reasonable

April 2016 - The Environmental Protection Agency has decided that its standards for mercury and other toxic substance emissions from coal and oil power plants reasonably considers costs for the power sector.

BLM Draft Rule Promotes Clean Air

January 2016 - Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced of rules to limit methane waste on public and tribal lands.

Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Throw Out Air Toxics Standards

January 2016 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

U.S. Bans Micro-beads

January 2016 - President Obama signed a law amending the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which bans the use of synthetic plastic micro-beads in cosmetics.

Good News for Bees

January 2016 - Home Depot has announced that it has removed neonicotinoid pesticides, a leading driver of global bee declines, from 80 percent of its flowering plants and that it will complete its phase-out in plants by 2018.

Congress Extends Conservation Funding

January 2016 - Congress has included a three-year reauthorization of the expired Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has been one of the country's most important tools for conserving fish and wildlife habitat for the past 50 years.

EPA Says 9th Circ. Has Power To Nix Dow Herbicide Approval

December 2015 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency refused to back down from asking the Ninth Circuit to vacate registration for Dow's Enlist Duo weed killer.

Clean Air Standards Upheld

December 2015 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected a bid by the coal mining industry and its allies to throw out the first-ever national limits on mercury and other toxic air pollution spewed by power plants.

Bill Filed to Create Grand Canyon National Monument

October 2015 - One point seven million acres adjoining the Grand Canyon's north and south rim would become part of a new national monument if a bill announced Monday becomes law.

Environmentalists Praise New EPA Power Plant Rules

October 2015 - Environmentalists are calling the Environmental Protection Agency's new rules for wastewater from power plants a victory.

March 2015 - McDonald's announced a new policy to curb the overuse of antibiotics in raising the chickens that ultimately become McNuggets or other McDonald's products. Within two years, farming operations supplying McDonald's USA restaurants will not be allowed to routinely administer medically important antibiotics to chickens, a practice that is commonplace, even when animals are healthy.

February 2015 - President Obama has promised (since 2013) that he would reject the Keystone pipeline if it would lead to a significant increase in carbon pollution.

Conservation for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

January 2015 - Conservationists applauded President Obama for adopting a conservation plan that for the first time proposes to designate a large portion of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness to protect it from development, though Congress has to decide whether to take action. ANWR is compared to Yellowstone and Yosemite as a place of "incalculable beauty."

Grants Will Help Clean Up Contaminated Sites

May 2014 - The EPA is investing $1.4 million in three Montana organizations working to clean up and re-develop contaminated sites across the state.

FEMA Assistance on the Way

April 2014 - FEMA granted Governor Mike Pence's appeal for federal assistance for the severe winter storms that impacted much of the state from January 5-9 this year.

Coal Train Traffic Impacts to be Considered

February 2014 - The Washington Department of Ecology announced it will include the impacts of coal train traffic in Montana as part of its review for a proposed coal export terminal at Longview, Washington.

Universal Family Leave Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

February 2017 - 27 Senators reintroduced the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act, to create a universal, gender-neutral paid family and medical leave program that provides all Americans with the paid leave they need to take care of their families without worrying about losing their jobs or a paycheck. Only 14 percent of American workers have access to paid family leave through their employer, and the United States is the only industrialized nation without a national paid leave program. Without a national paid family leave program, the U.S. economy loses almost $21 billion a year, women lose $324,000 and men lose $284,000 in wages and retirement benefits over a lifetime, and American businesses incur an additional 20 percent cost to recruit and retrain new workers to replace those who left in need of paid leave.

Assault Weapons Ban, Background Check Bills Introduced in U.S. Senate

January 2019 - Democrats in the U-S Senate are trying again to tighten up gun laws by bringing back the federal assault-weapons ban and expanding federal background checks to include private and unlicensed sales. The new assault-weapons ban would allow owners to keep existing weapons and contains exemptions for 22-00 specific guns used for hunting, recreation and household defense. It also requires existing weapons to be stored in a safe or with a trigger lock.

Court Allows Nevada to Join ACA Appeal

February 2019 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an order granting Nevada's motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The motion, filed in early February, asked the Court to allow the State of Nevada to participate in this suit that seeks to defend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In their motion, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and Michigan sought to join 17 other states and territories in their appeal of a Texas judge's December ruling declaring the ACA unconstitutional. With their lawsuit, the states seek to defend the ACA to protect the infrastructure of their existing healthcare and the orderly operation of their healthcare systems, which would be thrown in disarray if the ACA were ruled unconstitutional.

Senator Cosponsors Bipartisan Alzheimer's Bill

November 2017 - Bipartisan legislation to create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health was introduced by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Called the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (S. 2076/H.R. 4256), it would create centers of excellence, and assist state and local governments in their efforts to promote awareness through education and dissemination of best practices. A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

House Votes for 2-Year Extension of Funds for CHIP, Community Health Centers

November 2017 - Today House lawmakers voted for legislation that extends funding to Community Health Centers and the Children's Health Insurance program (CHIP). The bill, which passed by a vote of 242-174, extends funding to health centers for two years, marking an important step forward toward resolution of the crisis facing millions of vulnerable patients due to the expiration of the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) nearly a month ago.

Senator Cortez Masto Co-sponsors Medicaid For All Bill

October 2017 - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) cosponsored a bicameral legislation led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) to create a Medicaid-based public health care option on the insurance marketplace, which will provide Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance.The State Public Option Act will allow states to create a Medicaid buy-in program for all their residents regardless of income, giving everyone the option to buy into a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan.

Latest Obamacare Repeal and Replace Effort Stalls

September 2017 - U.S. Senate Republican leadership decided not to vote on the Graham-Cassidy replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ending the bill's chances of becoming law.

Anti-Food Labeling Efforts Defeated

August 2017 - The Federal Drug and Food Administration will not be changing the May 2018 deadline for supermarkets, convenience stores, pizza chains, and other retailers that sell restaurant-type foods to display calorie information on their menus. Due to industry pressure, the deadline had been pushed back several times. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also additional, practical guidance on the menu-labeling requirements would be available by the end of the year.

Help for Vets in Granite State, Elsewhere, Proposed

August 2017 - New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster authored a bill in the U.S. House to address a medical staff shortage for veterans. The bill would establish a pilot program that awards educational assistance to veterans with medical military training who will be placed as physician assistants in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

Trumpcare Dies In The Senate

July 2017 - Despite the best efforts of Republican leadership, the push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has failed to get enough votes to move forward in the U.S. Senate. The last version of the legislation to be considered would have cost about 21 million Americans their health insurance coverage over ten years.

Senate Attempts to Repeal and Replace ACA Pushed Back

June 2017 - Under intense public pressure the U.S. Senate GOP has taken the "Better Care Reconciliation Act" (BCRA) - the senate version of the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare - off the floor. Efforts with the same or similar legislation is likely to continue, but the task is proving very difficult. Critics note that under the bill more than twenty million Americans would lose health coverage, and the Medicaid funding would be cut by a quarter.

Texas Grand Jury Indicts Film-makers, Not Planned Parenthood

January 2016 - The Harris County Texas District Attorney's office has announced that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast had been cleared in a two-month-long investigation.

March 2015 - McDonald's announced a new policy to curb the overuse of antibiotics in raising the chickens that ultimately become McNuggets or other McDonald's products. Within two years, farming operations supplying McDonald's USA restaurants will not be allowed to routinely administer medically important antibiotics to chickens, a practice that is commonplace, even when animals are healthy.

FDA Takes Aim at Farm Antibiotics

December 2013 - The FDA has issued two major proposals in an effort to cut back on antibiotics used on farms that can spur drug-resistant superbugs.

Organ Donation Laws Changed

November 2013 - Advocates in Illinois are applauding legislation that could change the lives of thousands of people living with HIV.

FCC to Review Cell Phone Exposure Safety Standards

June 2012 - The Federal Communications Commission says it's planning on reviewing its safety standards on cell phone exposure.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

June 2012 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld almost all the provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

National Park Service Looks for Under-represented Historic Sites

February 2023 - The National Park Service is funding efforts, including the Black Wyoming Project, to uncover histories of communities disproportionately missing from the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks.

Charlottesville Folks See Outpouring of Support at Nearly 1,000 Events Nationally

September 2017 - After a march by white-supremacists led to violence, thousands of people across the country came out to demonstrate their solidarity with Charlottesville.

Predatory Prison Phone Rates Reined In

October 2015 - The FCC voted 3-2 on rules to stop predatory phone pricing in prisons, an important victory for the tens of thousands of families who have struggled to have contact with loved ones who are in prison.

Congress Set to Extend WIC Benefit Bump through September

March 2022 - Congress announced a bipartisan $1.5 trillion omnibus agreement to fund the federal government through September 30, 2022, its fiscal year, including $6 billion for WIC, which extends the benefit bump for fruits and vegetables as well.

Economic Hardship Declined in Households With Children as Child Tax Credit Payments Arrived

August 2021 - A drop in the number of households with children that reported food insufficiency and trouble paying household expenses is linked to the child tax credit checks issued last month, according to new Household Pulse Survey (HPS) results.

USDA Extends School Meals

March 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the nationwide extension of several waivers that allow all children to receive nutritious meals this summer when schools are not in session. Up to 12 million children across the nation are living in food insecure households – where they may not always have enough to eat. These critically needed summer meals will provide relief for many children in families who have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and are fighting daily to put food on the table.

Ohio Kids Have Access to Free Summer Meals

March 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the nationwide extension of several waivers that allow all children to receive nutritious meals this summer when schools are not in session. Up to 12 million children across the nation are living in food insecure households – where they may not always have enough to eat. These critically needed summer meals will provide relief for many children in families who have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and are fighting daily to put food on the table.

U.S. Senate Rejects Anti-GMO Labeling Bill

March 2016 - The US Senate has turned aside a bill that would have prohibited states from requiring the labeling of GMO foods.

Sign of Bipartisanship When It Comes to School Nutrition

February 2016 - The U.S. Senate released a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize child nutrition programs for the next five years.

New "No Paperwork" Option for Free School Lunch

May 2014 - Schools in high-poverty areas of Idaho have a new option for their lunch and breakfast programs.

Advisory Could Mean More School Breakfast

December 2009 - The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education issued an advisory that says instruction provided during the breakfast period can count towards learning time.

SNAP for Storm Victims

December 2009 - Replacement SNAP benefits for Household Misfortunne were extended for low-income families in Provincetown and Nantucket to replace food that spoiled or was lost during Winter Storm Juno in late January.

Temporary Protected Status Extended to 2020 For Four Countries

February 2019 - DHS filed a notice that it was automatically extending TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti & Sudan due to the ongoing litigation, Ramos v Nielsen, spearheaded by TPS holders. The Federal Register Notice automatically extends TPS status and work authorization for TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan through January 2020. There is no need to pay a fee or file any application; the extension is automatic. Similar extensions will be announced every nine months as long as the Ramos appeal continues.

Trump Asylum Rules Blocked Again

December 2018 - A federal court has again blocked the Trump administration's new asylum ban, that would have required people applying for asylum to do so only at ports of entry. The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights successfully sought the preliminary injunction in this case, East Bay Sanctuary v. Trump. The groups previously obtained a temporary restraining order that expired.

Federal Court in NY Rules for Sanctuary Cities

November 2018 - A federal judge ruled against the Trump administration's move to withhold grant funding from law enforcement agencies of so-called sanctuary cities, saying it was illegal and unconstitutional. Judge Edgardo Ramos, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, said the government "did not have lawful authority" to make states alert federal agents when an undocumented immigrant is going to be released from state or local custody and allow federal agents to question immigrants in custody about their legal status in order for states and cities to receive funding. Ramos blocked the government from enforcing those conditions on New York, New York City and the six states that also challenged the requirements: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington.

Court Upholds Case Protecting DACA

November 2018 - A federal appeals court upheld a ruling blocking the Trump administration from ending the Obama-era program that protects young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children from being deported. The ruling from a panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals means a nationwide injunction allowing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to continue will remain in effect. Challengers are likely to succeed in their argument that the planned phase-out is illegal, the court ruled.

Trump Signs Order to End Separations Condemned by Pediatricians

June 2018 - Following widespread outrage over the forced separation of children from their parents arrested on suspicion of entering the country illegally along the southern U.S. border, President Donald Trump on June 20th signed an executive order to end the practice.

Judge Issues Nationwide Injunction on Tying Local Police Funding to Immigration Enforcement

April 2018 - The Justice Department cannot require that local police departments help immigration agents in order to receive federal funding, a federal judge has ruled. The ruling is a significant victory for local governments that have opposed the Trump administration's stance on immigration and vowed to stay out of enforcement efforts. United States District Judge Manuel Real in Los Angeles issued a permanent, national injunction against the federal funding rules, giving the city an important win in a long-running legal battle with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the White House. A Justice Department spokesman, Devin M. O'Malley, suggested an appeal was likely.

Possible Trump DACA Deal

September 2017 - In a surprise to many President, Donald Trump announced that he had reached a possible deal with Congressional Democrats to forestall the deportation of the "dreamers" - undocumented people brought to the country as children. The deal has not been entirely fleshed out, but if as described it would represent a significant shift by an anti-immigration president in favor of a popular group of immigrants.

Federal Court Order Blocking Immediate Deportation of Iraqi Nationals in Michigan Extended Nationwide

June 2017 - The federal court that blocked the immediate deportation of Iraqi nationals in Michigan last week has extended its order nationwide. The move helps ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not deport individuals who face persecution, torture, and death in Iraq without having a chance to prove their lives would be in danger if returned to Iraq.

Federal Appeals Court in S.F. Blocks Immigration Order

February 2017 - The Ninth Circuit U-S Court of Appeals in San Francisco announced its verdict on whether to reinstate the travel ban on some refugees from conflict zones - and voted unanimously to keep the status quo in place and allow those travelers to enter the U-S.

Report Offers Legal Guidance on Sanctuary

January 2017 - About 400 counties, cities and states around the country, as well as churches, schools and hospitals, have taken steps to create sanctuary for immigrants in their communities. A new report from the public policy organization Demos and LatinoJustice PRLDEF offers guidance to state and local jurisdictions and institutions that want to protect immigrants threatened with deportation. The authors say U.S. Constitution and civil rights law supports a wide range of local pro-immigrants' rights policies, including policies that protect undocumented community members from draconian federal immigration enforcement.

Obama to Appeal Immigration Decision to Supreme Court

November 2015 - Immigration activists are praising President Obama's decision to appeal a case to the Supreme Court that could shield five million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program Unveiled

August 2012 - The Obama administration has unveiled a new program that will allow children brought to the country illegally a way to gain a work permit and avoid deportation.

U.S. Will Stop Deporting Young Illegal Immigrants Born in U.S.

June 2012 - President Obama said the U.S. will stop deporting young illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children if they meet certain requirements.

Amazon Raises Minimum Wage

October 2018 - Amazon announced that it was raising the minimum wage it pays U.S. workers to $15 effective Nov. 1. Researchers and activists across the country had criticized the company for inadequately paying workers. Policy Matters Ohio reported early last year that an estimated one in 10 of the company's Ohio workers was receiving food aid from the government.

Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate to Protect Farmworkers

June 2018 - A group of Senate Democrats introduced a bill to strengthen critical protections for farm workers as they face long hours and exposure to heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 100 farm workers suffer injury each day and face the risk of missing work. Average farm workers are paid a salary at or near the federal poverty line with most not getting paid any overtime pay at all. The Fairness for Farm Workers Act amends the FLSA to grant overtime protections to farm workers who work more than 40 hours a week, and eliminates most remaining exemptions to the minimum wage for farm workers. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) will introduce companion legislation in the House later today.

Trump Admin Retreats On Tip Taking Plan

March 2018 - The Trump Administration had proposed a change under which restaurant owners would have been able to take the tips of their waitstaff, under the guise of dividing the tips equitably between all employees. But after intense public opposition arose, the White House backed down.

WV Teachers Strike Ends In Victory

March 2018 - After closing classrooms for nearly two weeks, West Virginia teachers won a 5% raise and a process to address health insurance costs. The defeat of conservative opponents - notably a GOP controlled Senate led by a probable candidate for governor - marks a clear victory for state unions and public employees. With teachers unions in other states considering their own work actions, the strike has been an unusual win for unions nationally and could inspire numerous imitations.

USDA Denies Poultry Industry's Request to Speed Up Lines

January 2018 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has denied a petition by the National Chicken Council to remove the line speed limit on work at some slaughterhouses, a move that food safety advocates are calling a victory for workers and consumers.

U.S.D.A. Rejects Move to Speed Up Chicken Processing Production Lines

January 2018 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rejected the National Chicken Council's petition for exemptions from rules stating that line speeds in poultry plants should not go beyond the already-fast rate of 140 birds per minute. Line speed regulations protect working people from employers who want to increase profits at the expense of workers' health and safety. The poultry industry's own data show that their workers are injured at twice the rate of the national average, and increasing line speeds would only make things worse.

Protests By Low-Wage Workers Derail Pudzer

February 2017 - Controversial labor secretary nominee Andre Puzder withdrew his name for confirmation following protests at fast-food restaurants and also media report about an incident of alleged spousal abuse.

New Overtime Protections for Salaried Workers

November 2016 - An updated rule established by the U.S. Department of Labor will bring overtime protection to 12.5 million American workers, including 351,000 Ohioans. The rule, slated to take effect December 1, requires that salaried employees who are paid less than $47,476 a year be paid time and a half for hours that they work beyond 40 in any given week.

Unions Strike Against Verizon for Increased Wages

June 2016 - The IBEW and CWA have declared victory for workers after ratifying a new contract with Verizon that includes pay raises and a halt to the outsourcing of jobs in the company's call center. Verizon will add 1,300 new call center jobs in the United States. The two unions, which represented nearly 40,000 workers, ended their strike after 45 days.

Supreme Court Tie Vote a Victory for Labor Unions

March 2016 - A 4 to 4 vote in the US Supreme Court ended a lawsuit seeking to prevent public employee unions from collecting dues from individuals who choose not to join the union but benefit from collective bargaining agreements.

Northeastern University Inspires Million Student March

December 2015 - Students from 120 college campuses took part in a "Million Student" march in November to call attention to three basic demands.

U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Restore Net Neutrality

May 2018 - The U.S. Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to block the FCC's overwhelmingly unpopular repeal of net neutrality. The measure passed 52 to 47 with Republicans Susan Collins (R-ME), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voting yes. The last minute Republican support for the measure bodes well for its chances in the House, where net neutrality supporters plan to wage a fierce battle to force a vote

Charges Dismissed Against WV Journalist

September 2017 - Charges against PNS reporter Dan Heyman were dropped, when the Kanawha County prosecutor determined what Heyman had done was not a crime. Heyman had been arrested while asking federal Health Secretary Tom Price a question, but the prosecutor decided that did not match the charge of "disrupting a governmental process."

NM's Udall Defends, Celebrates Free Press in U.S. Senate

March 2017 - Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, blasted President Donald Trump on Wednesday on the U.S. Senate floor, for his administration's testy dealings with the news media. Udall's comments come during Sunshine Week (March 12-18), an annual observance of the importance of open government and a free press.

Net Neutrality Upheld

June 2016 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of the FCC's Net Neutrality rules, agreeing that the agency can protect peoples' rights to connect and communicate. Former FCC Michael Copps commissioner called the move a victory for free speech and said the judges' unambiguous holding that the FCC has clear authority to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service should end legal challenges to the open internet.

Net Neutrality Guaranteed Place on Next Year's Ballot

April 2012 - AT&T shareholders voted on a proposal calling on the telecom giant to publicly commit to Net Neutrality on its wireless networks.

Duopoly Avoided In Wireless Marketplace

December 2011 - Consumer groups hailed the collapse of a plan by AT&T to take over T-Mobile and create what was criticized as a duopoly that would have reduced competition in the wireless marketplace and harmed consumers.

FCC Votes to Expand Broadband Internet Service to Rural Areas

October 2011 - The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to take $4.3 billion from an $8 billion subsidy for telephone connections in hard-to-reach rural areas.

AT&T Takeover of T-Mobile Blocked

September 2011 - The Justice Department has filed suit to stop the takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T, saying it would "substantially lessen competition" in the wireless phone market.

AT&T Takeover of T-Mobile Blocked

August 2011 - The Justice Department filed suit to stop the takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T, saying it would "substantially lessen competition" in the wireless phone market.

FCC Votes for Net Neutrality

December 2009 - The Federal Communications Commission rules in favor of so-called "net neutrality", insuring that the Internet remains equally available to all users/customers, small and large.

President Signs into Law Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act

December 2020 - The Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act, legislation that will identify and recommend policies that promote public lands and waters as health and wellness care for military veterans, was signed by the president on Saturday.

US House Passes Mental Health Reform Legislation

August 2016 - In July, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass (422-2) HR 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016. The law would support the mental health workforce so more trained professionals are available to help and support integration of health and mental health care. The measure is now making its way to the Senate.

Senate Next to Take Up Mental Health Legislation

July 2016 - The House approved legislation that provides help for millions of Americans living with a mental health condition.

Congress Moves Mental Health Bill (HR 2646) Forward

November 2015 - Congress has taken the first crucial step in moving forward comprehensive, bipartisan mental health legislation.

Feds Release Nonviolent Drug Offenders

November 2015 - In the largest one-time release of federal prisoners in U.S. history, more than 6,000 inmates have been freed early under a re-sentencing effort for people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.

Senate Passes Bill Addressing Veteran Suicide

February 2015 - The U.S. Senate passed legislation aimed at reducing America's soaring suicide rate for military veterans. It includes third-party evaluations of mental health and suicide prevention efforts in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department.

Funding for the Suicide Prevention Hotline

December 2009 - Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-TALK), the state's only nationally accredited suicide prevention hotline will receive a $60,000 grant from United Way. This will ensure 24/7 operation.

Senate Passes Bill to Help Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

December 2018 - The U.S. Senate passed Savanna's Act. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 80 percent of native women have experienced violence, almost half within the last year. Savanna's Act would require the U.S. Department of Justice to better collect and report crime data and increase access to federal crime databases that track missing persons across Indian Country. It would also create standard guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murdered indigenous women, laying out a clear framework for cooperation between tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

EPA Announces $2 Million to Assist Tribes' Brownfields Efforts

January 2017 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected Kansas State University (KSU) to receive approximately $2 million in funding over the course of five years to provide technical support to tribes addressing environmentally contaminated land across the country. The university will help tribes with technical support around cleaning up these lands, known as brownfields.

Obama Administration Halts Dakota Access Pipeline

September 2016 - The Obama administration says it will halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in the Midwest. The Standing Rock Sioux Nation has been protesting construction of the pipeline for the last few months because they say it puts their sacred lands and drinking water at risk. Tribes and people across the nation have offered their support for the Standing Rock Nation.

Driftnet Ban Passes As Part of Omnibus Bill

December 2022 - Congress passed the bipartisan Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act to phase out the use of deadly large-mesh drift gillnets for swordfish fishing in federal waters (3 to 200 miles from shore) and promote the adoption of more selective ways of fishing as part of the omnibus federal spending package. Oceana hails the legislation as long overdue protections for whales, dolphins, and sea turtles and commends Congressional leaders for protecting our ocean wildlife.

Feds Designate New Whale Habitat in Pacific

October 2019 - The federal government proposed a new rule today to designate 302,961 square nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean as critical habitat for three populations of endangered humpback whales. The move could help protect migrating whales from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and oil spills. The announcement by the National Marine Fisheries Service follows a court-approved agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Wishtoyo Foundation to issue new protections. The groups had sued the Trump administration for failing to protect two Pacific Ocean humpback populations listed as endangered and a third as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. House Votes To Ban Offshore More Drilling in Pacific Atlantic and Eastern Gulf

June 2019 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed three amendments to the FY20 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill (H.R. 3052) that block the expansion of offshore oil drilling activities in the Atlantic, Pacific and eastern Gulf of Mexico for fiscal year 2020. The House also voted for an amendment that would block funding for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to issue permits for seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sardine Fishery Closed For Third Year to Protect Population

April 2017 - Today, federal fishery managers voted to keep the U.S. West Coast Pacific sardine fishery closed for the upcoming commercial season. With an estimated 86,586 metric tons (mt) of sardine remaining, and 150,000 mt necessary for fishing to occur, this will be the third year in a row there are not enough sardines to support a fishery. Had the decision gone the other way, the fishery would likely collapse to near extinction and greatly impact animals like sea lions that feed on sardines.

"Giving Tuesday" Gains Traction

November 2012 - Nonprofit organizations' efforts to create a new identity for the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving appeared to pay off.

Winter Heating Help

October 2015 - After a push from U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, the Obama Administration in October released funding for critical heating assistance for low-income families.

Big Wilderness Protection Bill Passes U.S. House, Heads to Senate

March 2021 - A massive public-lands bill, now headed to the U-S Senate, would better protect more than three-million acres of public land, including one-million acres in California. The Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act combines eight pieces of legislation, including four that cover the Golden State.

White House Withdraws Nomination of William Perry Pendley to Head Bureau of Land Management

August 2020 - The Trump administration will withdraw the controversial nomination of William Perry Pendley to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management. Pendley, who currently serves as the agency's acting director, has repeatedly denied the existence of climate change and once falsely claimed that there was no credible evidence of a hole in the ozone layer. A self-described "sagebrush rebel," he has also advocated for selling federal public lands to states. Pendley, a conservative activist, commentator and lawyer, was appointed by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt as BLM's acting director in July 2019.

President Trump Signs Great American Outdoors Act

August 2020 - President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill that will spend nearly $3 billion on conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public land. The Great American Outdoors Act was hailed as the most significant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century. "For more than 50 years Congress has struggled to fund land and water conservation, leading to a never ending backlog of maintenance and other critical needs in our parks and public lands that I've been hearing about for years," Trump said at the bill signing.

President Trump Signs Public-Lands Bill; Budget Fight Begins

March 2019 - Decades in the making, President Donald Trump signed a historic public-lands package adding one-point-three million acres of new wilderness and creating five new national monuments. The bill also reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has used fees from offshore drilling in federal waters to fund outdoor recreation amenities across the country since the 1960s - like parks, pools, boat ramps and public-lands access.

House Passes Reauthorization of Land and Water Conservation Fund

February 2019 - Following an overwhelming vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives voted 363-62 to pass the largest piece of public lands legislation in a decade. The package of bills includes permanent reauthorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund which has been expired for almost five months, costing America's national parks, forests, public lands, and cities more than $360 million. The legislation also protects millions of acres of public lands by establishing 1.3 million acres of new wilderness, new mining withdrawals, new national monuments, national park expansions, and the creation of multiple national park units.

House Sends Bipartisan Public Lands Package to President's Desk

February 2019 - A massive package of public lands bills awaits the president's signature following a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives, making reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other key measures supported by sportsmen and women and a host of other outdoors users suddenly within reach.

Senate Committee Approves Bill to Reauthorize Land and Water Conservation Fund

October 2018 - The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which funds National Parks, local playgrounds, and other public projects nationwide expired Sept. 30. Two days later (10/2) the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to move a bill forward to permanently reauthorize the fund.

National Park Service Backs Off Plan to Raise Fees

April 2018 - A proposed plan to increase entry fees at 17 national parks across the country has been scrapped after widespread public opposition.he National Park Service (NPS) announced in October 2017 it was considering the fare hike in order to generate revenue for desperately needed maintenance projects. The plan would entail increased rates at 17 of the 59 parks during peak visitation season, with prices at $70 per private vehicle, $50 per motorcycle and $30 per person on bike or foot. Following the announcement, NPS offered a month-long period for the public to comment on the proposal. But after receiving over 109,000 comments from people opposing the plan, NPS has decided not to move forward with it.

ANTIQUITIES Act Introduced to Protect Monuments

January 2018 - Legislators introduced the America's Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States Act (ANTIQUITIES Act) of 2018. This bill, co-sponsored by more than a dozen U.S. Senators, codifies into law the boundaries for over 50 national monuments established through the Antiquities Act since 1996, ensuring that that onggoing access for hunting, tourism, research, conservation, cultural uses, education, and other activities will continue. The legislation also validates that only Congress has the authority to reduce or diminish national monuments designated by presidents through the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Conservation Groups Sue to Protect Antiquities Act

December 2017 - Three days after President Donald Trump issued a proclamation taking an axe to Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah, conservation organizations filed a lawsuit attacking the order as an abuse of the president's power. Following in the footsteps of the Native American Tribes who have already sued the President, Earthjustice is representing nine conservation organizations in a suit charging that the president violated the 1906 Antiquities Act and the U.S. Constitution by eviscerating the monument.

Bill Author Backs Off Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands

February 2017 - After an outcry from outdoor enthusiasts and conservation groups across the country, Utah Senator Jason Chaffetz today decided to withdraw a bill he introduced last week, H.R. 621 that had the explicit aim to sell Federal lands.

Obama Expands Two National Monuments in California

January 2017 - California Coastal National Monument and Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument at the Oregon border have more space to recreate. The newly protected areas include the Orange County Rocks, the Cotoni-Coast Dairies in Santa Cruz County, and Trinidad Head. The new designations include some 6,200 acres on the California coast and another 47,000 at the border with Oregon, 5,000 of which are in California.

American Lands Council Sees Membership Drop by Almost Half

October 2016 - County memberships in the American Lands Council, a national group working to transfer publicly owned lands to states, have dropped by as much as 45 percent, according to an investigation by the Western Values Project.

Senate Makes Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent

April 2016 - The U.S. Senate passed an energy bill that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Senate Defeats Attack on Antiquities Act

February 2016 - A move to gut the Antiquities Act and effectively block a U-S president from declaring new national monuments died in the U-S Senate on Tuesday.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Revived in Omnibus Spending Bill

December 2015 - The Land and Water Conservation Fund is back from the dead because Congress included it in the omnibus spending bill that is supposed to get a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today.

Sagebrush Landscape Plans Unveiled

May 2015 - The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service unveiled a set of plans to manage sagebrush landscapes in Utah and across the West.

Central Coast Heritage Protection Act Introduced

May 2014 - The congresswoman representing the Central California coast has proposed legislation, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, to increase wilderness protection for a large area of the Los Padres National Forest.

Land and Water Conservation Funding Approved

January 2014 - Congress voted to restore funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Land Added to McDowell Sonoran Preserve

November 2012 - The City of Scottsdale completed a 20-year project to add 10 square miles of land to the city's McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

EIS Recommends Moratorium on Mining Claims Near Grand Canyon

October 2011 - An environmental impact study of uranium mining near the Grand Canyon recommends a 20-year moratorium on new mining claims.

Feds Announce Plan to Create More Competition in Food Production.

July 2021 - The Biden administration announced a series of actions to increase competition for meat producers. Farmer advocates have been raising concerns for decades about the monopolies within the meat processing industry, and how it affects the prices they see.

In Boon for ND Farmers, E15 Fuel Now Available Year Round

June 2019 - The Environmental Protection Agency announced its policy change to allow E15 fuel to be sold year-round across the country. E15 is a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol, and is sometimes marketed as Unleaded 88. Previously, E15 would disappear in the summer months which begins on June 1st.

NM Hemp Farmers Breathe Easier with Federal Legalization

December 2018 - After years of lobbying both nationally and locally for the legalization of hemp, the 2018 Farm Bill includes new provisions for growing hemp as an industrial crop. Hemp farmers no longer need fear the Drug Enforcement Administration, removing any suggestion that hemp is a Schedule I substance.

FDA Issues New Food Safety Rules

December 2015 - FDA issues new food safety rules, which for the first time include standards regarding the "growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables" meant for people to eat.

COOL Stands While Meatpackers Continue Fight

January 2014 - A Federal Appeals Court ruling denied a preliminary injunction against enforcing COOL and found that the meatpacking industry was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claims.

Infrastructure Bill Includes Investments for NW Salmon Passage

November 2021 - A provision in the infrastructure bill passed by Congress directs $1 billion toward repairing culverts, critical passages for salmon and other species that carry streams underneath roads in the Northwest.

Bypassing Congress to achieve Klamath Basin dam removal plans

February 2016 - The U.S. Interior and Commerce Depts., plus the states of Oregon and California and the utility PacifiCorp have signed an agreement to move forward with removing four Klamath River dams.

Medicare Cost Projects Decline

February 2013 - Projections for the cost of the Medicare program have fallen by a half-trillion dollars since the last estimate three years ago. The Congressional Budget Office now expects Medicare to spend $500 billion dollars less by 2020.

FDA Bans Sale of Juul E-cigarettes

July 2022 - The Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of Juul e-cigarettes, a major blow to the company and a major step in a broader effort to prevent youth vaping. While the ban was suspended in court, the FDA says that the stay temporarily suspends the marketing denial order while it conducts further review, but does not rescind it.

Smoking Prevention Policies

February 2015 - The CDC announced that the percentage of Americans exposed to secondhand smoke has fallen by more than half since 1999, demonstrating - they say - both the effectiveness of and continuing need for comprehensive smoke-free laws that apply to all workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars. To date, 24 states, Washington, DC, and hundreds of cities have enacted such laws, protecting about half the U.S. population.

Chauvin Conviction

April 2021 - Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the murder of George Floyd. The verdict was seen as a monumental step in seeking justice for Black residents who have been long mistreated by police.

Photojournalists Acquitted In Felony/Free Speech Trial

December 2017 - Photojournalist Alexei Wood was accused of participating in a riot while covering violent protests during the inauguration of Donald Trump. But he was acquitted along with five others facing felony charges in the first of a series of related trials. The jury seemed to accept defense arguments that Wood and the others had not actually destroyed property or attacked people.

Virginia Voters Rebuke Trumpism

November 2017 - In what could well be seen as a stinging rebuke for the right-wing stance of the president, in spite of a very ugly (and many would say racist) campaign, voters in Virginia chose Democrat Ralph Northam for governor, and returned all of the state-wide seats to Democrats. Many of the the losing candidates closely followed a Trump script.

The US Treasury Department is cracking down on corporate inversions.

April 2016 - In response to the proposed merger between pharmaceutical giants Allergan and Pfizer, the Treasury Department proposed new rules that would "wipe out" the massive tax benefits of the largest corporate inversion in our nation's history.

Prison Phone Calls

October 2015 - After a decade of organizing, this morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on rules to rein in the predatory prison phone industry.

FCC Regulates Prison Phone Call Rates

October 2015 - Nationally: After a decade of organizing, this morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on rules to rein in the predatory prison phone industry.

Vermont's GMO Law Changes Labels Nationally

June 2016 - A first-of-its-kind law in Vermont takes effect July first, requiring all G-M-O foods to say so on the label. The groundbreaking law may only be in Vermont but it has already changed labels on food sold across the country.

Chickens Cleared Legally

April 2014 - Goshen officials reversed an earlier decision and will allow residents to raise chickens at their homes, which supporters say are an easy, fresh food source and promote sustainability.

3-M To End Production of PFAS Chemicals

December 2022 - The major multinational manufacturer 3M announced it would end PFAs' manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to these chemicals, even in small amounts over time, has been linked to serious health effects.

E-P-A Bans Pesticide Linked to Brain Damage

August 2021 - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will ban a common pesticide from use on food crops. The pesticide, known as chlorpyrifos, has been linked to brain damage in children. However, chlorpyrifos will still be permitted for nonfood uses such as golf courses, turf and in pest treatments. The new rule will take effect in six months. The decision comes after a court ordered the EPA in April to revisit the agency's earlier decision to allow the use of chlorpyrifos and to reconsider its safety on food. The EPA’s decision is the latest move by the Biden administration to roll back Trump-era policies.

Court Forces E-P-A to Rule on Toxic Pesticide

April 2021 - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make a required safety finding for chlorpyrifos residues detected on food. Chlorpyrifos is a widely used agricultural pesticide approved for use on more than 80 food crops. For years, the EPA has possessed compelling evidence that exposure to chlorpyrifos harms brain development in infants and young children but, under the Trump Administration, abruptly ended the rulemaking process to revoke its approval for use on foods. The decision orders the EPA to either modify the existing chlorpyrifos tolerances for residue on foods and publish findings that such modified tolerances are safe for humans, including for infants and children, within 60 days or revoke all tolerances for the pesticide. The Court also ordered EPA to modify or cancel related food uses of chlorpyrifos under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Nearly 70 Percent of companies Have Improved Toxic Chemical Safety Programs

March 2021 - Mind the Store campaign, U.S. PIRG Education Fund and other partners released a report that finds significant chemical safety policy improvements among major retailers. Compared to their first evaluation in 2016, the report found nearly 70 percent of companies surveyed had improved their chemical safety programs.

U.S. House Passes PFAS Action Act

January 2020 - The U.S. House passed a bill to tackle a group of toxic chemicals — known as perfluoroalkyls (or PFAS for short) — used in clothing, firefighting foam, and more. PFAS are ending up in our drinking water. In fact, more than 95% of the U.S. population has PFAS in their bodies. These chemicals are especially dangerous to children and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and many other serious health problems.

U.S. House Passes Anti-PFAS Legislation

July 2019 - Along with the National Defense Authorization Act 220-197, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dingell-Kildee amendment to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous chemicals under the Superfund law, despite the Trump administration's threats to veto the entire defense policy package if it includes two specific provisions related to PFAS. The administration opposes military cleanup of agricultural water sources contaminated with PFAS and the phase-out of firefighting foam containing them.

FDA Bans Seven Cancer-causing Food Additives

October 2018 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration effectively banned seven cancer-causing chemicals including synthetically derived benzophenone, eugenyl methyl ether and pulegone. All legally listed under the catch-all "artificial flavorings" dded to a variety of food and beverages for artificial flavoring?from ice cream and baked goods, to gum and beer. The chemicals are added to give items cinnamon, floral, mint and other flavors. The decision comes in response to legal action brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and a coalition of health, consumer and environmental groups: Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

Court Orders E.P.A. to Ban Chlorpyrifos, Pesticide Tied to Children's Health Problems

August 2018 - A federal appeals court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to bar within 60 days a widely used pesticide associated with developmental disabilities and other health problems in children, dealing the industry a major blow after it had successfully lobbied the Trump administration to reject a ban. The order by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit came after a decade-long effort by environmental and public health groups to get the pesticide, chlorpyrifos, removed from the market.

EPA Reverses Itself, Will Now Enforce Pesticide Rules

June 2018 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signaled that it will implement critical safeguards for agricultural workers that protect against exposure to pesticides. This news comes just two weeks after New York, California and Maryland filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA's prior refusal to publish the rules, which were issued during the Obama administration. The rules require employers to educate farm workers on safe pesticide handling.

New Fed Rule Protects Consumers from Formaldehyde in Wood Products

June 2018 - Using excessive amounts of formaldehyde on manufactured and imported wood products became illegal this month, following a long battle at the Environmental Protection Agency. This issue came into focus in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when people became sick from the wood paneling in emergency trailers supplied by FEMA.

House Passes Overhaul of Toxic Substances Control Act

May 2016 - On May 24th, the House of Representatives passed a major overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act.

Walmart Promises to Offer Safer Products

February 2014 - Walmart has unveiled its sustainable chemicals policy "Implementation Guide".

Blood Mercury Levels Drop in Women

November 2013 - A new EPA study shows that blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent between a survey done in 1999-2000 and follow up surveys conducted in 2001-2010.

Procter & Gamble to Phase Out Phthalates and Tricolosan

September 2013 - Proctor & Gamble announced it would remove phthalates and triclosan from all the products it sells.

Walmart Will Phase-in Safer Chemicals

September 2013 - Walmart will begin disclosing chemicals in many product categories while phasing out approximately ten chemicals from products they sell in favor of safer alternatives.

Bill to Repair Pipes Nationwide Passes Senate

April 2021 - The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act passed the Senate on a bipartisan, 89-2 vote. This bipartisan legislation will deliver more than $35 billion nationwide to ensure all Americans have access to clean water by upgrading aging and degraded water infrastructure, including replacing lead pipes.

Conservation Groups Sue over Clean Water Act

February 2020 - Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for eliminating longstanding Clean Water Act protections for the nation’s waters, including approximately half of all wetlands and potentially millions of miles of streams. The Trump rule allows polluters to pave over wetlands and to dump pesticides, mining waste, and other pollutants directly into these now-unprotected waterways. The impacts of this rollback were revealed in part by a leaked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis that indicates arid states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada could lose protections for the vast majority of their waters. The loss of protections puts hundreds of endangered species at greater risk of extinction, including the Chiricahua leopard frog, Chinook salmon, and southwestern willow flycatcher.

Judge Reinstates Clean Water Rule in 26 States

August 2018 - A federal judge in South Carolina has issued a nationwide injunction on the Trump administration's delay of the Clean Water Rule. The decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina means the Clean Water Rule is now the law of the land in 26 states where district court judges have not stayed the regulation. The Trump administration finalized its delay of the Clean Water Rule, also known as Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule in February. The regulation redefined which wetlands and small waterways are covered by the Clean Water Act.

Equal Pay Act Reintroduced in U.S. House

January 2019 - The issue of equal pay for equal work is front and center in Congress as House Democrats reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act. It comes exactly ten years after President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which modernized and improved on the Equal Pay Act of 1963. It would prohibit employers from low-balling the salaries of job applicants based on what they made at their last job. The act would also protect against retaliation for discussing pay with colleagues. And it would also require the feds to collect and publicize wage data.

Bill Filed To Increase Hiring of Women in Foreign Military and Police Training Programs

September 2016 - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), both senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Enhancing Military and Police Operations through Women's Engagement and Recruitment Act (EMPOWER) of 2016, which would require the State Department to increase the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in its foreign military and police training programs.

ACLU Hails Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion

June 2016 - Pro-choice groups are celebrating after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of a Texas law regulating abortion clinics. In a 5-to-3 decision, the court ruled that the regulations in House Bill 2, passed in 2013, placed an "undue burden" on women seeking care at abortion clinics.

F.D.A. Eases Requirements on Abortion Pill Label

March 2016 - The Federal Food and Drug Administration has changed the labeling requirements for mifepristone, a medication that induces abortion.

Abortion Ban Overturned

April 2014 - A federal judge in April overturned a North Dakota law banning abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

Five New Femals in Senate

November 2012 - Five new women were elected to the Senate bringing the total of women in the chamber to 20.

AZ Lawmakers Legalize Needle-Exchange Programs to Fight HIV, Opioids

June 2021 - Health-care advocates say Arizona's new needle exchange law could not only save millions of dollars in health care but also slow the spread of HIV and opioid overdoses. The measure was passed by the Arizona Legislature and has been sent to Gov. Doug Ducey's desk. He is expected to sign the bill, which will for the first time in Arizona allow the exchange of used syringes for clean ones.

Animal Rights Laws Upheld

March 2015 - Arizona Governor Doug Ducey came out in support of animal rights by vetoing a bill that would have reduced, and in some cases eliminated, criminal penalties for acts of animal-cruelty involving livestock. The action follows approval of House Bill 2150 in the House and Senate. Martha German with Arizona Humane Voters, among the organizations that opposed the bill, says under the legislation, abandoning some animals would no longer have been a crime. German says the bill also would have ended current law requiring that sick or injured animals receive medical care, and that some acts of animal cruelty, now prosecuted as felonies, would be treated as misdemeanor crimes. The Humane Society at the state and national level, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund also oppose the bill.

Arizona Game and Fish Commission Permits Replacement of Mexican Gray Wolves

January 2012 - The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has reversed a policy adopted in December, and will now permit replacement of endangered Mexican gray wolves lost to illegal actions.

Arizona Makes Large Gains in Insured Children

September 2017 - 15-thousand kids in Arizona gained health insurance in 2016 - leaving 119-thousand still uninsured. That's an 11 percent drop from last year - the fourth largest drop in the nation, according to a new report. Researchers from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families say that the percentage of kids who now have health insurance in Arizona and in the U-S as a whole are at a historic high, and they largely credit the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Report: Arizona Insures 30% More Kids, Still 47th in Nation

October 2016 - Arizona cut the number of uninsured kids by 30 percent between 20-13 and 20-15, according to a new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The nation as a whole posted a record with less than five percent of all children remaining uninsured. Researchers credit the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act for insuring more adults, who then signed their kids up as well.

New Child Protection Focus for AZ

May 2014 - Following a three-day special session, Governor Jan Brewer has signed bills creating a new Arizona child welfare agency and providing tens of millions in additional funding.

New Promises to Investigate Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

January 2014 - Governor Brewer has abolished Child Protective Services and is creating a new, stand-alone office that reports directly to her.

More Children to be Covered by KidsCare Health Insurance

April 2012 - 22,000 low-income Arizona children will be added to the KidsCare health insurance program under a deal between the federal government and three large hospital groups.

State Task Force Recommends Ways to Improve Child-Welfare System

November 2011 - A state task force has recommended 10 changes to Arizona law to improve the child-welfare system.

Arizona Rep. McSally Faces Voters In First Town Hall Since Nov. Election

February 2017 - Southern Arizona Republican Rep. Martha McSally held a public town hall after weeks of pressure from citizens groups. We reported on their efforts which included rallies and petitions.

Bill Criminalizing Protest is Dead

February 2017 - SB 1142, the bill that would have allowed protest organizers to be prosecuted for racketeering if a demonstration turned violent, is effectively dead. House Speaker J.D. Mesnard has confirmed that he does not plan to consider the bill, which means that it won't move forward in the legislature.

Redistricting Maps Upheld

April 2014 - A federal court panel has upheld legislative redistricting maps created by Arizona's voter-created Independent Redistricting Commission.

Monitor to Oversee Arpaio's Actions

September 2013 - A federal judge has ruled that a court-appointed monitor will oversee the day-to-day operations of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office.

Voters will Decide on "Voter Laws"

September 2013 - Opponents of a new state elections law they describe as "voter suppression" have succeeded in collecting enough signatures to submit the issue to voters next year.

Voter Law Upended

June 2013 - The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down part of Arizona's law requiring all would-be voters to prove they are citizens.

Arizona Voters Reject State Control of Judges and Federal Land

November 2012 - Arizona voters rejected giving the governor more control over the commission that nominates judges in the state. They also turned down a proposition to have the state take over federal lands. But voters for the first time approved a mechanism to allow exchanges of state trust lands for federal lands.

Arizona Must Accept Federal Voter-Registration Forms

August 2012 - A federal judge has ordered the state to accept federal voter-registration forms, even though they don't comply with a 2004 Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship. The ruling says state law cannot be applied to the federal forms.

Arizona Recognized for Providing Online Information on Government Spending

March 2012 - Arizona is one of seven states to receive a top grade for providing online information about government spending.

Proposed Public Campaign Finance System Ballot Measure Challenged

May 2011 - A proposed ballot measure to end Arizona's public campaign finance system is being challenged by a citizen's advocacy group.

Redistricting Approved by Supreme Court

November -0001 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Arizona's voter-approved Independent Redistricting Commission. The high court's five-to-four ruling affirmed the commission as constitutional. The five-member Independent Redistricting Commission was created through a ballot initiative in 2000 to redraw Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts to reflect the results of the most recent census. It consists of two Democrats, two Republicans; a fifth member, usually an Independent, is selected by the other four members. Previously, redistricting was done by the Legislature. The Supreme Court ruled against the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature, which had filed a lawsuit claiming the redistricting commission violates the U.S. Constitution.

Maricopa County Complies with Racial Profiling Prevention Strategy

May 2014 - A federal judge says the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is in compliance with his April 17th order regarding racial profiling.

Prison Healthcare Lawsuit Settled

November -0001 - The Arizona Department of Corrections has chosen to settle rather than fight a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Arizona, and others, over the healthcare services provided to prison inmates. Under the settlement, the Department of Corrections has agreed to meet more than 100 health care performance measures – including providing prisoners with serious mental illnesses in solitary confinement more time outside their cells, and also more mental health treatment. The lawsuit alleged that the lack of medical treatment in the prison system has led to needless deaths.

Warrants Needed for Cell Phone Searches

November -0001 - The ACLU of Arizona is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will require police to obtain a warrant to search a cell phone or smart phone. The unanimous ruling is seen as a major victory for the privacy rights of all Americans, as protected under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Nine out of ten Americans own a cell phone or smart phone.

Medical Neglect Case Moves Forward

November -0001 - A U.S. Court of Appeals ruling allows a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC), alleging inadequate medical care, to move forward as a class-action lawsuit representing all 33,000 inmates in the state's ten prisons. The suit alleges that the lack of adequate medical treatment in the prison system has led to needless deaths.

Salt River Upgrades to Reduce Air Pollution

May 2014 - Salt River Project has finished a $470 million upgrade to reduce nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions at its Coronado Generating Station in northern Arizona.

New Law Will Protect AZ Consumers Against Identity Theft

August 2018 - A law taking effect August 3 will limit fees on credit reporting which had previously hindered consumers from being able to unfreeze accounts.

Consumer Benefits on Four-Year Anniversary

November -0001 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which celebrates its fourth birthday in 2015, has recovered billions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulates and investigates banks, credit unions, payday lenders and pawn shops, as well as credit bureaus and debt collectors. The bureau has recovered five billion dollars and received about 400-thousand consumer complaints.

Defense Lawyers Challenge Law Limiting Contact with Crime Victims

May 2017 - A coalition of individuals who provide criminal defense counsel to the accused in Arizona filed a federal lawsuit today to block the enforcement of a statute that restricts their constitutionally protected freedom of speech. The challenged law prohibits criminal defense lawyers and other people working on the defense team from speaking to the victim of a crime without using the prosecutor's office as a conduit for the communication. If the crime victim was killed or incapacitated, the communication ban extends to close relatives of the victim. No other state has a similar statute.

Governor Signs Reform of Forfeiture Laws

April 2017 - Gov. Doug Ducey today signed into law HB 2477, legislation that will meaningfully reform civil asset forfeiture practices. With the enactment of HB 2477, police and prosecutors will be required to report publicly what property they have seized. They will also have to go through an approval process before making any purchases with the proceeds of seized property. In addition, the forfeiture reforms in HB 2477 make it easier for Arizonans to challenge the seizure of their property, force the government to make a solid case if a seizure is contested, and eliminate loopholes that currently allow local law enforcement agencies to circumvent state law related to forfeiture.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Voted Out

November 2016 - The sheriff who gained notoriety for draconian immigration measures has lost his job. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Arizona's Maricopa County, was defeated Tuesday in his bid for a seventh consecutive term by his Democratic challenger, Paul Penzone, a 21-year veteran Phoenix police officer.

FCC Takes a Look at Prison Phone Contract Reform

December 2012 - After more than a decade of effort by media reform groups, the Federal Communications Commission finally took a step forward on reforming the prices families pay to stay in touch by phone with incarcerated loved ones.

Inmate Work Rates May be Recalculated

November -0001 - Inmates serving time in Arizona prisons could get a pay raise if state lawmakers approve a bill being considered in the 2015 legislative Session which starts in January. State Senator John Kavanagh introduced Senate Bill 1002, which would update how much inmates can be paid for jobs within the prison and with cities, towns and counties. Kavanagh says the current rate, which pays up to 50 cents per hour, was set in law in the 1970s.

Arizona Names Task Force to Identify Untested Rape Kits

January 2016 - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey names a task force to identify the number of untested Sexual Assault Evidence Kits, also known as rape kits, sitting in law enforcement evidence rooms across Arizona.

Judge Finds Ban on Mexican-American Studies Program Unconstitutional

August 2017 - A U.S. District Court judge ruled that an Arizona law passed to stop Mexican-American studies classes in Tucson schools was enacted for racial and political reasons and is therefore unconstitutional. The case stems from a long-ranging battle that started in 2010 when then-state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne objected to statements made by a speaker in a Tucson classroom.

Education Advocates Sue for More Funding

May 2017 - Four Arizona public school districts and education advocates filed a lawsuit Monday against the State of Arizona and the School Facilities Board for inadequate capital funding after lawmakers cut $2 billion since 2009 from the funds schools use to maintain buildings, buses, textbooks and technology to balance the state budget.

Education Lawsuit Settled; Schools To Get $625 Million

October 2015 - Gov. Doug Ducey signed a trio of bills settling a K-12 funding dispute, if the voters agree, that would clear the path for other education initiatives.

Bill to Increase Private School Tax Credits Vetoed

April 2011 - Gov. Brewer vetoed a bill to increase private school tax credits at the expense of the state's general fund.

Arizona's California Condor Population Continues to Grow

October 2018 - Four more captive-raised California condors were released in to the wild in northern Arizona in September. In the 1980s the birds were on the brink of extinction, but recovery efforts have helped populations rebound. At least 85 condors live along the Arizona-Utah border.

Court Says US Fish and Wildlife Must do More for Endangered Wolves

April 2018 - A federal judge ruled U.S. Fish and Wildlife management guidelines put a too-low cap on population numbers for Mexican Gray Wolves and too severely restricted their habitat. The department must propose revisions to its management plan.

Arizona Turtle Gets Endangered Species Protection

September 2017 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces protections for Arizona's Sonoyta mud turtle, a Hawaiian bird known as the 'i'iwi and a Southeast fish called the pearl darter under the Endangered Species Act. Today's action came in response to two 2011 settlement agreements with the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians under which the Fish and Wildlife Service made protection decisions for hundreds of vulnerable species over the past six years. With these three newly designated species, 188 species have been protected as threatened or endangered under the agreement. Eleven additional species have been proposed for protection and await decisions expected by the end of the year.

Judge Requires Feds To Study How to Protect Ocelots

June 2017 - In a victory for conservation groups, a federal judge in Tucson has approved a settlement that forces federal agencies to figure out how to avoid accidentally killing endangered ocelots. Wildlife Services, a program within the U-S Department of Agriculture, regularly lays metal traps that snap shut on an animal's leg to deter predators that feed on farm animals.

Conservation Advocates Sue Over Trump Border Wall

April 2017 - The Center for Biological Diversity and Congressman Raul Grijalva sued the Trump administration over its proposed border wall and other border security measures, calling on federal agencies to conduct an in-depth investigation of the proposal's environmental impacts. The lawsuit seeks to require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prepare a supplemental "programmatic environmental impact statement" for the U.S.-Mexico border enforcement program. The program includes Trump's proposed wall as well as road construction, off-road vehicle patrols, installation of high-intensity lighting, construction of base camps and checkpoints, and other activities. These actions significantly impact the borderlands environment stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, which is home to millions of people, endangered species like jaguars and Mexican gray wolves, and protected federal lands like Big Bend National Park and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Elusive Jaguar Spotted in Arizona

March 2017 - A jaguar caught on a wildlife camera in the Dos Cabezas mountains may bring new hope for the species. It's the third big cat caught on camera prowling the state since 2012 but researchers don't know if it is female, and could be part of a breeding pair. If so that would be a first in many years.

Feds Move to Protect Ocelot in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico

August 2016 - Federal officials have released a plan for restoring and protecting populations of the endangered ocelot that lives in portions of Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says loss of habitat and over-hunting have caused the number of ocelots in the United States to fall to critical levels.

Court Rules For AZ Conservation Groups in Lead Ammo Case

January 2016 - A federal appeals court rules that the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Wildlands Council can move forward with a lawsuit to ban hunters' use of lead ammunition in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest.

Butterfly to be Considered for Endangered Species Status

January 2016 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has selected three rare insects, including the Great Basin silverspot butterfly from New Mexico, to be evaluated for possible protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Habitat Designated for Jaguars

March 2014 - Nearly 1,200 square miles of southern Arizona and New Mexico have been designated as protected habitat for jaguars.

Mexican Gray Wolf Population Rises

January 2014 - The latest count of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico shows an increase from 75 to 83 over the past year.

Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Rise

February 2013 - The number of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest grew from 58 to 75 in the past year, to their highest population ever since the recovery program began in 1998.

Tribes Sign Solar Agreement

January 2018 - The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) and Salt River Project officials are scheduled to sign a long-term solar agreement for Kayenta II on Friday in Phoenix that will result in providing additional solar energy for residents of the Navajo Nation.The agreement also lays the foundation for future renewable energy development on the Navajo Nation.The announcement of Kayenta II, which will produce 27.3 megawatts, coincides with an agreement in which the parties commit to working together to pursue the development of additional renewable energy projects on the Navajo Nation, recognizing that the Kayenta Solar Projects are the platforms for such further ventures.The agreement targets the development of at least 500 megawatts of renewable energy projects over the next 5 to 10 years within the Navajo Nation to further support their goal of charting their own energy future.

Coal-Fired Power Plant to be Shuttered for Pollution Reasons

July 2013 - Operators of the West's largest coal-fired power plant are proposing to close one of its three 750-megawatt generators by 2020. The proposal is in response to an expected EPA mandate to cut emissions at the plant and clear haze over Grand Canyon and other national parks.

Two New Solar-Power Plants Planned

July 2012 - The Interior Department has designated two Arizona sites for solar-power plants to be quickly permitted and built.

Lawsuit Challenging Arizona's Clean Elections System Thrown Out

March 2012 - A judge has thrown out the latest lawsuit challenging Arizona's Clean Elections system of public campaign finance.

Pheonix Sky Harbor Airport Implements Solar Panels

February 2012 - A massive solar panel project just completed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport will provide up to 51-percent of the energy for two parking garages and the rental car center.

Salt River Project Purchasing From Local Wind Power Source

July 2011 - Salt River Project has agreed to purchase power from a Navajo Nation wind generation project planned west of Flagstaff.

Commercial Charging Station Open in Tempe

June 2011 - The first commercial charging station for electric vehicles is open for business in downtown Tempe.

Support for Solar Power Usage Increasing

June 2011 - Surveys by Arizona's two largest utilities have found widespread support for increasing the use of solar power.

Salt River Project Increases Goal for Renewable Energy Use

May 2011 - Arizona's second-largest utility, Salt River Project, has increased its goal for energy production from renewable sources and conservation to 20-percent by the year 2020.

Free Training and Certification in Renewable-Energy Industry

March 2011 - Another federal grant is providing free training and certification for 500 Arizonans to help them find jobs in the renewable-energy industry.

New Solar Generating Station Announced

February 2011 - The state's job outlook improved in February, with a new solar generating station announced for Gila Bend, and a solar equipment plant for Surprise.

Solar Panels to Cover 70% of Buckeye School District Energy Needs

January 2011 - Buckeye schools will soon have solar panels on every one of its six campuses and district office without having to spend any money.

AZ Tops for Renewables in Schools

November -0001 - Arizona ranks third in the nation in terms of solar energy being used in public schools. That's the finding of a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association titled "Brighter Future: A Study on Solar in U.S. Schools." Steven Church is the energy education coordinator with Tempe School District Number 3. He says using solar as an energy source is a valuable teaching tool for students, and saves some money. The report concludes that 226 public schools in Arizona have some type of solar unit. The research also shows that solar savings in the Grand Canyon State amount to more than nine-million dollars per year.

New Mexico Protests for Clean Energy

May 2012 - New Mexico organized a protest at Public Service Company of New Mexico's annual shareholder meeting in Albuquerque to deliver a message.

Ban on New Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon Extended

June 2011 - A ban on new uranium mining in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park has been extended until December, and may last much longer.

New Recycling Center Opened Near Phoenix

January 2011 - A new, state-of-the-art recycling center has been opened northwest of Phoenix by Waste Management.

Victory for Navajo and Uranium Cleanup

April 2014 - The Navajo nation will get $1-billion from a U.S. Justice Department settlement to clean up contamination from abandoned uranium mines on the reservation.

Phoenix Law Bans GLBTQ Discrimination

February 2013 - The Phoenix City Council has voted to outlaw discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents in housing, employment and public accommodations. Gay-rights advocates said the city is playing "catch-up" with at least 166 other U.S. cities and counties that have adopted similar laws.

Two Former AGs Support Marriage Equality

November -0001 - Two former Arizona Attorneys General are part of a recently formed organization supporting marriage equality in the Grand Canyon State. Former Attorneys General Terry Goddard and Grant Woods are among more than 150 attorneys who have come together to form "Arizona Lawyers for the Freedom to Marry." Goddard, who served as attorney general from 2003 to 2011, says his legal opinion is that marriage is a fundamental right for all Americans. There are multiple court cases in play which hope to overturn Arizona's voter-approved ballot initiative, Proposition 102, which amended the state constitution to define a marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Gun Law Vetoed - Again

April 2014 - Governor Jan Brewer has again vetoed a bill that would have allowed guns in public buildings and events.

Court Awards Planned Parenthood Legal Fees From the State

August 2017 - Planned Parenthood Arizona (PPAZ) and other providers were awarded nearly $613,000 for legal fees and costs from a case stemming from Arizona's 2015 "abortion reversal" law. Before the law was repealed last legislative session to avoid a continuing court battle, state law forced doctors to tell patients they could reverse their abortion. Planned Parenthood Arizona and the ACLU sued the state of Arizona to protect doctors from being forced to commit malpractice.

McCain Votes "No" on Healthcare Repeal; Measure Dies

July 2017 - The Senate rejected legislation to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, with Arizona Senator John McCain casting a decisive "no." Senate Republicans had unveiled a "skinny repeal," a narrow measure to roll back parts of the Affordable Care Act. It would leave 15 million more Americans without insurance next year, the Congressional Budget Office said.

Feds Reject Most of Governor Ducey's Medicaid Reforms

October 2016 - The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rejected key parts of Governor Doug Ducey's requests to change the medical system for low-income families in Arizona. The governor wanted the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, known as 'ACCESS,' to stop providing non-emergency rides to doctor appointments, require enrollees to be actively looking for work, place a lifetime limit of five years on benefits, and introduce a health-care premium for people with incomes below the poverty line.

Pro Choice Victory as Judge Ends Battle Over Abortion Medication

September 2016 - A federal district court has ended the legal challenge to an unconstitutional Arizona law which would have forced a woman who decided to end her pregnancy with medication abortion to use an outdated, inferior method. Women will now be able to use the most up-to-date methods.

AZ Meets ACA Sign-up Target

May 2014 - A surge of late enrollments has resulted in nearly a quarter million Arizonans signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, either private insurance through the federal exchange or expanded Medicaid coverage.

Medicaid Expansion Inked

June 2013 - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the largest expansion of Arizona's Medicaid program in history. The expansion will provide health coverage to an additional 350,000 people.

AZ Senate Okays Medicaid Expansion

May 2013 - The bill will allow the state to accept federal funding to extend health care coverage to about 350,000 Arizonans.

Gov. Brewer Continues to Champion Medicaid Expansion

March 2013 - Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer is broadening her efforts to expand Medicaid in the state, despite opposition from Republican legislative leaders and the state GOP.

One-Cent Sales Tax Permanently to Benefit Education, Health Care, and Transportation

August 2012 - The Arizona Supreme Court has put a measure on the ballot to make the state's temporary one-cent sales tax permanent.

Arizona Children Receiving Health Coverage Under Government-Funded Plan

June 2012 - 22,000 Arizona children will get health coverage under a temporary plan funded by the federal government and the state's hospitals.

Federal Officials Rejects Proposed Cuts to Arizona's Medicaid Program

October 2011 - Federal officials have rejected several proposed cuts to Arizona's Medicaid program, including a special fee on smokers and a cap on enrollment for low-income parents.

Federal Review Pending for Medicaid Cuts

June 2011 - A state plan to cut 135,000 people from AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid plan, has been put on hold pending further federal review.

Group Sues State of Medicaid Cuts

May 2011 - Three public-interest law groups are suing the state over its plans to cut up to 250,000 people from Arizona's Medicaid program.

ACA Enrollment Climbs

November -0001 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly 73,000 Arizonans selected plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace during the first month of Open Enrollment, which started November 15th. Urias says 53 percent re-enrolled in a Marketplace plan, while 47 percent signed up for the first time.

Bill to Criminalize Panhandling Fails State Senate

January 2017 - SB 1051 (Aggressive solicitation, approaching stopped vehicle) failed to pass through the Senate Judiciary committee this morning. If passed, this bill would have criminalized panhandling within ten feet of a car parked at an intersection. The bill did not receive a single vote.

New Approach Moves 35 Homeless into Phoenix Housing

December 2012 - Thirty-five chronically homeless Phoenix people are moving into homes through a local Housing First program being funded for the first time by federal housing vouchers.

Public Interest Firms Holding Mortgage Lenders Responsible

May 2012 - Public interest law firms are suing to prevent state lawmakers from putting more than half of a $98-million settlement paid by mortgage lenders into the state's general fund.

Arizona Banks Participate in Foreclosure-Prevention Program

March 2011 - Major Arizona banks have agreed to begin offering mortgage loan modifications for homeowners struggling to make their payments.

Grant to Help Housing and Homeless Programs

January 2011 - The federal government has renewed a $22.5 million grant for programs that provide housing and support services for homeless people and families in Maricopa County.

December 2010 - Some Arizona banks are teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to help the non-profit obtain foreclosure homes. Some banks are providing grants so Habitat can buy the homes. Others are donating the properties.

President Announces Home Ownership Plan

November -0001 - The President came to Arizona to announce plans to cut mortgage insurance premiums charged by the Federal Housing Administration. The Arizona Association of Realtors estimates the move should put hundreds of thousands of potential first-time homeowners into the market.

SNAP Benefits Increase for Hungry

October 2021 - The USDA increased SNAP benefits. An update to the Thrift Food Plane will result in an average increase of $12 to $16 per person, per month. It's the first SNAP benefit change in more than four decades.

Bill Passes Eliminating Fingerprint Requirements for Food Stamps

May 2017 - House Bill 2091, which waives the fingerprint requirement for food-stamp eligibility. The bill had faltered last week, when it was not included in the state budget, but was revived as supporters successfully argued it would save the state $3 million. "They've had six people caught in six years," said Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa. "It's a waste of money."

AZ Congressman Introduces Bill to Have Doctors Learn About Nutrition

March 2017 - Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today reintroduced legislation for the third consecutive Congress that would encourage a stronger focus on nutrition and disease prevention in continuing medical education. The Education and Training (EAT) for Health Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidelines that ensure federally employed primary care providers learn more about the role nutrition can play in preventing cancer, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. While physicians are already required to earn a set number of continuing medical education credit hours each year, Grijalva's bill would help ensure that federally employed providers spend a portion of those hours learning about nutrition.

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Revive Driver's License Ban for DACA Recipients

March 2018 - The United States Supreme Court decided today to let stand a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that barred Arizona from denying driver's licenses to people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. A coalition of civil rights organizations challenged the state after then-Gov. Jan Brewer signed an executive order in 2012 mandating that DACA recipients be denied driver's licenses.

Federal Lawsuit Over Arpaio Workplace Raids Settled

January 2018 - The parties in a federal lawsuit challenging former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's workplace raids have reached an agreement to end the case. The final settlement provides, among other things, that previous rulings by U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell finding the practices of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Maricopa County Attorney's Office unconstitutional will not be appealed. In addition, the county agreed to pay plaintiffs $995,157.46 in attorneys' fees and costs. The settlement brings to a close a three-year legal battle to put an end to the workplace raids that tore apart countless families in Maricopa County. In total, the Sheriff's Office conducted a total of over 80 workplace operations, leading to the arrest of at least 806 employees. Under the settlement, Judge Campbell's orders will remain in effect. Those include a March 2017 order enjoining the MCSO, now under the leadership of Sheriff Paul Penzone, from relying on information or documents submitted to an employer solely as part of the federal I-9 employment verification process and declaring it unconstitutional for any defendant, including MCAO, to use such information or documents in any investigation or prosecution for a violation of Arizona's identity theft or forgery law. In addition, the MCSO unit that had led the workplace raids was disbanded shortly after the lawsuit was filed in 2014, and remains disbanded today.

Civil Rights Group Sues Motel 6 for Discrimination

January 2018 - Motel 6 violated the civil rights of Latino immigrants and other guests by alerting federal authorities that they had rented rooms at two Phoenix locations, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the name of eight plaintiffs affected by the motel practice. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona by MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), says the hotel's practice of voluntarily giving Latino guests' personal information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant violates federal and state civil rights laws barring discrimination based on national origin, and protections against unreasonable searches. The lawsuit also alleges that the motel violated state consumer fraud protections.

Former Sheriff Arpaio Convicted Of Contempt of Court

July 2017 - Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio found guity of criminal contempt of court. In a verdict filed Monday morning, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton said evidence demonstrated Arpaio's "flagrant disregard" for another federal judge's order that halted his signature immigration round-ups. The sentencing phase will begin Oct. 5. Arpaio, 85, faces up to six months in confinement, a sentence equivalent to that of a misdemeanor.

Federal Court Slams Border Holding Facilities

November 2016 - A federal district court today found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is violating the constitutional rights of people detained in holding facilities in Arizona and ordered the government to take steps to improve conditions in these facilities, known as hieleras. This is the latest turn in a legal challenge filed in June 2015 by the National Immigration Law Center, the American Immigration Council, Morrison & Foerster, the ACLU of Arizona, and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.

Feds Charge Sheriff Arpaio with Criminal Contempt

October 2016 - Longtime sheriff of metropolitan Phoenix Arpaio has been charged with criminal contempt of court for ignoring a judge's order in a racial profiling case, leaving the 84-year-old lawman in a tough spot two weeks before election day as he seeks a seventh term.

Lawsuit Over "Show Me Your Papers" Law Ended

September 2016 - The Arizona Attorney General's Office today issued an opinion establishing guidelines for the implementation of two remaining provisions of the state's 2010 racial profiling law, SB 1070.

Groups Hail Court's Decision to Hear Obama Immigration Case

January 2016 - Arizona immigration activists rallied to praise the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear a case challenging President Obama's executive order easing some immigration rules.

Appeal to be Filed in "Show Me Your Papers" Lawsuit

October 2015 - The legal fight continues against Arizona's controversial immigration enforcement law Senate Bill 1070.

DA Looks at "Driving While Brown" Allegations

March 2014 - The Suffolk County D.A. is widening his probe into local police traffic stops.

Border Patrol Issues Guidelines to Save Lives

March 2014 - The U. S. Border Patrol has issued new guidelines for use-of-force that are designed to reduce deadly encounters between agents and people along the border.

Another Court Strike Against SB 1070

September 2013 - Yet another part of Arizona's controversial immigration law, SB 1070, has been struck down.

Courts Again Reject part of SB 1070

March 2013 - An injunction against part of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law has been upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court agreed that the section of the law targeting obstruction of traffic by day laborers is an unconstitutional infringement on commercial speech.

3 Sections of SB 1070 Struck Down

June 2012 - The U.S. Supreme Court struck down three sections of Arizona's controversial SB 1070 immigration law and left open the possibility of declaring a fourth section unconstitutional.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Accused of Racial Discrimintation

December 2011 - A report from the U.S. Justice Department accuses the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of rampant discrimination against Latinos in its police and jail operations.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Immigration Screening Priviledges Revoked

December 2011 - The Department of Homeland Security has revoked the authority of Maricopa County sheriff's detention officers to perform immigration screening of county jail inmates.

Arizona Residents Strongly Favor Path to Citizenship

November 2011 - A poll from Arizona State University found that Arizonans strongly favor allowing undocumented immigrants who have been living in the state for many years to earn citizenship.

SB 1070 Immigration Bill Defeated

November 2011 - The author of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration bill, Senate President Russell Pearce, was defeated in a recall election.

Justice Department Investigating Targeted Enforcement Against Latinos

August 2011 - Facing a federal lawsuit, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has agreed to release records being sought in a racial-profiling probe after refusing for nearly a year.

Arizona Governor Vetoes "Birther" Bill

April 2011 - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer issued a number of vetoes, including the so-called "birther" bill that would have required a candidate to submit a long-form birth certificate to get on the ballot.

Injunction Help Against SB 1070 Immigration Law

April 2011 - A federal appeals court upheld an injunction against key parts of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law. Supporters of the law say they'll ask the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.

Lawmakers Reject Bills That Crack Down on Undocumented Immigrants

March 2011 - State lawmakers have rejected five bills intended to further crack down on undocumented immigrants.

"Birthright-Citizenship" Bill

February 2011 - Opponents of a "birthright-citizenship" bill scored a temporary victory when the measure was held in a state senate committee when it became apparent it didn't have the votes to pass.

State to Offer Cash 'Bonus' to Unemployed Arizonans Who Find Jobs

May 2021 - Arizona is offering cash incentives to move thousands of unemployed people into jobs - but Arizonans who can't find work could lose out; Gov. Doug Ducey announced the state will use federal money to pay unemployment recipients who get a full-time job a $2,000 bonus, or $1,000 for those who snag a part-time job.

Arizona Teachers Head Back to School With Bigger Paychecks

August 2018 - After a teacher walkout last spring and last-minute action by the state legislature, the state's educators are set to see a 20 percent raise over three years. As the 2018 school year begins, teachers are bringing home slightly higher paychecks than last year, though many say there's still more work to be done for the state's education budget.

Minimum Wage Rises Again

January 2018 - Millions of Arizonans are getting a bump in pay starting today - when the minimum wage goes up from 10 dollars to 10.50 an hour. Beginning 2016, the minimum wage jumped from 8.05 to 10 dollars in the wake of the passage of Proposition 206.

Arizona Minimum Wage Initiative Passes

November 2016 - Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans will get a raise Jan. 1. Arizona voters have approved Proposition 206 to boost the state's minimum wage and to require employers to provide paid sick time. Prop. 206, also called the Healthy Working Families Initiative, proposed raising the state's current $8.05 per hour minimum wage during the next several years to: $10 per hour in January; $10.50 in 2018; $11 in 2019; and $12 in 2020. Starting in 2021, the minimum wage would be adjusted annually based on cost of living.

AZ Passes $12 Minimum Wage

November 2016 - Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans will get a raise Jan. 1. Arizona voters have approved Proposition 206 to boost the state's minimum wage and to require employers to provide paid sick time. Prop. 206, also called the Healthy Working Families Initiative, proposed raising the state's current $8.05 per hour minimum wage during the next several years to reach $12 per hour. Starting in 2021, the minimum wage would be adjusted annually based on cost of living.

Arizona Raises Minimum Wage

November 2012 - The state industrial commission says Arizona's minimum wage will rise to $7.85 an hour in January, well above the federal minimum of $7.25.

Funding for Mental Illnesses Increased

May 2012 - The new state budget restores $39-million dollars in funding for Arizonans with serious mental illnesses.

Judge Upholds Uranium Ban For Now

December 2017 - Environmental groups and tribes fighting uranium mining on the rim of the Grand Canyon are praising a federal court's decision to uphold a 20-year ban on new mines - while acknowledging that the area still is at great risk. A panel of judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Obama-era ban, which was designed to protect the air and watershed from mining waste pollution. The Trump administration has indicated a willingness to lift the ban, which covers more than a million acres on the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, but environmental groups have vowed to challenge any such move.

Salt River Project Gives 400K To Future Forests Program

November 2017 - Salt River Project's Board of Directors has approved a $400,000 contribution to The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, paid over four years, to support forest restoration on the Verde River watershed. Launched recently by The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service to transform the way forests are managed, the Future Forests Project will also create skilled jobs and attract new investment by creating a reliable flow of wood that supports rural economies.

Feds Decide to Leave Grand Canyon Parashant Alone

August 2017 - People who prize Arizona's public lands are breathing a sigh of relief that Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument is off the chopping block - after the feds announced Friday that no changes will be made. Twenty-six national monuments are under review and the fear was that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke would recommend Grand Canyon Parashant be downsized, like he did with Bear's Ears in Utah

Interior Secretary Bans New Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon

January 2012 - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has signed the order banning new uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon for the next 20 years.

Arizona State Parks Pertnering with Local Governments to Remain Open

March 2011 - Partnerships with local governments are keeping several Arizona State Parks from closing. Parks officials warn that the partnerships are not a permanent solution to funding shortfalls.

Grand Canyon Hopes to Reuce Aircraft Noise

February 2011 - The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a draft plan to reduce aircraft noise at the Grand Canyon.

Legislation Would Help Fund Firefighting

November -0001 - Treating major wildfires as natural disasters and spending more money on improving forest health are goals of proposed federal legislation. The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015 would update how the federal government funds suppression efforts. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is considering the legislation.

Slimmer Caregiver Tax Credit Passes AZ House

February 2018 - A bill to give caregivers an income tax credit passed the Arizona House with some changes and is now waiting to be heard in the Senate. According to AARP, caregivers spend roughly $7,000 a year on their loved one's care. The bill would give a $500 tax credit for an individual and up to a $1000 for a couple. House Bill 2087 had originally called for $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a couple.

Governor Signs Bill to Reduce Hospital Bills for Seniors

June 2017 - Governor Sandoval signed a bill to make sure seniors get the lower Medicare rates from the hospital if they're injured in an accident and someone else is at fault. Previously, some hospitals in Nevada were going after the patient for the full amount of the bill, not the lower Medicare rates - on the assumption that the victim would hire a lawyer to go after the responsible party's insurance company.

Retirees Attracted to Federal Lands

January 2010 - Older Americans are three times more likely to retire in areas of Utah and other Western states that have protected public lands such as Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.

Smoking with Kids in Car May be Banned

April 2015 - Tempe could become Arizona's first city to ban smoking with children in the car.

FBI Redefines Legal Definition of Rape

January 2012 - The Obama administration has announced that the FBI has redefined the definition of rape it uses in the Uniform Crime Report.

Remote Arizona Reservations Receiving High-Speed Internet Access

March 2011 - Four remote Arizona reservations will be getting cutting-edge Internet access, thanks to federal stimulus funds.

Long-Action Birth Control Effective for Teens

January 2010 - Young women in Arizona and elsewhere who use long-acting, reversible contraception also known as "LARC" have rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion that are much lower than the national rates for sexually active teens. That's the finding of a study, the "Contraceptive CHOICE Project," funded by the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. The five-year study involved 14-hundred girls ages 15 to 19, who had chosen to use an Intrauterine Device (I-U-D), contraceptive implant, or other form of birth control. Study participants experienced rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion that were all less than half the national rates.

AZ Ups Penalties for Wrong-way Drivers

August 2018 - Arizona has been show to have some of the most unsafe roadways in the country. New laws taking effect in August will increase fines and penalties for wrong-way drivers.

Arizona Initiates Texting While Driving Restriction

June 2018 - A new law is set to go into effect in Arizona which will restrict teen drivers from texting behind the wheel. Arizona is one of the last states not to ban texting while driving. It is also one of most dangerous states for pedestrian and traffic safety. This is the first time the state has introduced any restrictions on texting while driving.

Phoenix City Council to Address Pedestrian Safety

April 2018 - Phoenix City Council voted to speed up the review process for plans to address high rates of pedestrian deaths on city streets. The move will allow design plans to be approved in coming months. Arizona currently has the highest rate of pedestrian deaths in the nation.

New System To Track Wrong Way Drivers To Be Tested In Phoenix

November 2015 - This week the Department of Transportation announced that's where they're going to test a new prototype system to track wrong-way drivers.

Bridges in Prime Shape

January 2010 - Arizona's bridges are among the best in the nation when it comes to condition. Doug Nintzel with the state Department of Transportation says a report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association shows that just over three-percent of Arizona's approximately eight-thousand bridges are structurally deficient. He says that's the fourth lowest rate in the nation

Controlled Floods Planned in Grand Canyon to Increase Fish Habitat

May 2012 - The Interior Department has given the go-ahead for a series of controlled floods in the Grand Canyon.

Arizona Will Improve Access to Tampons for Incarcerated Women

February 2018 - After weeks of public pressure to improve access to feminine hygiene products for incarcerated women, the Arizona Department of Corrections announced a new policy late Wednesday afternoon. Now, ADC will provide at least 36 free pads or tampons to female prisoners every month. The department had previously insisted that 12 pads were enough, until formerly incarcerated women, their allies and a social media campaign (#LetItFlow) collectively shamed ADC into action.

State Restrictions on Medications that can End a Pregnancy Blocked

April 2014 - A federal appeals court has blocked new state restrictions on the use of medications that can end a pregnancy.

Medicaid Funding Stays at Clinics

August 2013 - An Arizona law stripping Medicaid funding from doctors and clinics that perform abortions has been struck down by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The law would have stopped reimbursements for contraceptives, cancer screenings, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and annual women's exams.

Abortion Law Struck Down

May 2013 - A U.S. Appeals Court struck down an Arizona law banning abortions after 20 weeks. It's an issue expected to be challenged, with state leaders vowing an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Medicaid Funding Restrictions Overturned

February 2013 - A federal judge has ruled that a 2012 Arizona law restricting funding to abortion providers is unconstitutional.

Study Finds Free Birth Control Dramatically Lowers Rates of Pregnancy

October 2012 - A large study has concluded that free birth control leads to dramatically lower rates of abortion and teen pregnancy.

FBI Redefines Legal Definition of Rape

January 2012 - The Obama administration has announced that the FBI has redefined the definition of rape it uses in the Uniform Crime Report.

Campaign Finance Reforms Approved by Voters

November -0001 - Voters approved a set of campaign finance and ethics reforms through a ballot initiative, “Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment, Issue 3.” It bans director corporation and union campaign contributions to candidates, forbids lobbyist gifts to lawmakers and imposes a two-year wait on lawmakers before they can become lobbyists.

FCC Takes a Look at Prison Phone Contract Reform

December 2012 - After more than a decade of effort by media reform groups, the Federal Communications Commission finally took a step forward on reforming the prices families pay to stay in touch by phone with incarcerated loved ones.

Private Option Means More Health Coverage

April 2013 - On Apr. 23, Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law bills to create a unique "private option" for the state that will make 250,000 more people eligible for health coverage. It allows Arkansas to use the federal money available for expanding Medicaid to purchase private insurance policies instead.

Arkansas Schools Boosts Participation in Federal School Breakfast Program

March 2017 - The annual School Breakfast Scorecard ranks Arkansas seventh in the nation for the number of low-income students who participate in both breakfast and lunch programs. The report from the Food Research and Action Center shows more than 155,000 kids regularly ate breakfast in Arkansas schools during the last school year, an increase of almost three percent over the previous year.

Money on Way to Fight Hunger and Obesity in Arkansas

June 2016 - Arkansas is on the receiving end of a big grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the goal of helping low-income residents eat more fruits and vegetables.

Arkansas School Breakfast Program has Made Strides By Making Sure Kids Get Something to Eat.

March 2016 - Arkansas has made a lot of progress in increasing the number of low-income students eating breakfast at school.

AR is Tops for Breakfast in Schools

March 2014 - According to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and their national partners Share Our Strength, the state has been one of the best for increasing the number of children getting breakfast in schools.

Census Bureau Reports Drop in Arkansas Poverty Rate, Increase in Median Income.

September 2017 - 2016 Census Bureau numbers show Arkansas' poverty rate of 17.2 percent moved the state from 47th in the nation to 44th. The state's median household income of $44,334 moved one spot -- from 50th to 49th nationally.

Voters Legalize Medical Marijuana

November 2012 - Voters voted again to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Call for Constitutional Convention Stalls in State Legislature

March 2017 - Montana will not join the calls from 28 other states to form a convention and add a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. The resolution stalled in the House.

"Corporations Are Not People"

November 2012 - Just like Colorado voters, Montanans voted to remove undue corporate influence from elections and declared that "corporations are not people."

Court Strikes Down Two Montana Laws That Restrict Native American Voting Rights

October 2022 - A Montana court has struck down as unconstitutional two state laws that hinder Native American participation in the state’s electoral process. One measure, HB 176, would have ended Election Day registration. The other, HB 530, aimed to prohibit paid third-party ballot assistance. Native American voters living on reservations disproportionately rely upon both Election Day registration and ballot assistance to cast votes in Montana.

MT Judge Rules 18-year-olds Must be Allowed to Access Their Ballots

July 2022 - Judge Moses of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court has ruled that House Bill 506, which restricts ballot access for voters who turn 18 in the month before Election Day, violates the Montana Constitution.

MT Court Blocks Provisions of New Voter Suppression Law

February 2022 - A Montana state court permanently blocked portions of a new election law for violating the Montana Constitution. The plaintiffs in Forward Montana v. Montana filed a lawsuit against two provisions of Senate Bill 319 that ban political committees from engaging in voter registration and education activities on public college campuses and require judges to recuse themselves from cases if a party or attorney before them donated to their campaign. The complaint alleges that this law violates the First Amendment and multiple provisions of the Montana Constitution, which require that a bill "shall contain only one subject" and prohibits drastic amendments during the legislative process that alter the original purpose of the bill.

Court Blocks Montana Law That Restricts Voting Rights of Native Americans

July 2020 - A Montana court has blocked a state law that severely restricts the right to vote for Native Americans. The Native American Rights Fund, American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU of Montana successfully sought the preliminary injunction halting the so-called Montana Ballot Interference Prevention ACT (BIPA), which imposed severe restrictions on ballot collection efforts that are critical to Native American voters, particularly those living on rural reservations. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck, Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Crow Tribe, and Fort Belknap Indian Community, as well as Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote, Native American-led organizations focused on getting out the vote and increasing civic participation in the Native American community. In a state where the majority of individuals vote by mail, rural tribal communities work with get-out-the-vote organizers who collect and transport ballots to election offices that would otherwise be inaccessible. These ballot collection efforts are often the only way Native Americans living on rural reservations can access the vote. BIPA would have effectively ended this practice, disenfranchising Native American voters en masse.

Court Temporarily Blocks Montana Law That Restricts Native American Voting Rights

May 2020 - A Montana court has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a state law that severely restricts Native Americans’ right to vote. The action means the law is blocked pending the outcome of a hearing scheduled for May 29. The primary is June 2. The Native American Rights Fund, American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU of Montana successfully sought the order halting the so-called Montana Ballot Interference Prevention ACT (BIPA), which imposed severe restrictions on ballot collection efforts that are critical to Native American voters, particularly those living on rural reservations. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck, Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Crow Tribe, and Fort Belknap Indian Community, as well as Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote, Native American-led organizations focused on getting out the vote and increasing civic participation in the Native American community. In a state where the majority of individuals vote by mail, rural tribal communities work with get-out-the-vote organizers who collect and transport ballots to election offices that would otherwise be inaccessible. These ballot collection efforts are often the only way Native Americans living on rural reservations can access the vote. BIPA would effectively end this practice, disenfranchising Native American voters en masse.

Primaries Remain Open in Montana, For Now

March 2016 - The state Republican party is suing to have a closed primary.

August 2012 - The people of Montana won the right to vote on I-166 this November when Montana's Supreme Court rejected an attempt by opponents to remove it from the ballot. The initiative would ban corporate spending on elections, in order to uphold a section of the state constitution struck down by a court ruling related to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on corporate election spending.

Settlement Announced to Clean Up Colstrip Coal Ash Ponds

July 2016 - The dirty coal ash ponds at Colstrip that have been polluting the aquifer for decades will be replaced with a safer system by 20-22 part of a settlement filed in court on Thursday.

Colstrip 1 and 2 to Shut Down within Six Years

July 2016 - The two companies that own Colstrip 1 and 2, two of the four generating units at the Colstrip Power Plant east of Billings, have agreed to shut them down by 2022 to settle a lawsuit brought by environmental groups.

July 2012 - More than 6,600 in 60 days. That's how many Montanans commented on the Environmental Protection Agency's Carbon Pollution Standard - which limits carbon pollution from new coal-fired power plants. About 2 million comments were submitted nationwide - the largest response ever for an EPA public-comment period. A vast majority of comments showed support for the rule.

December 2011 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled the final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, which is aimed at reducing emissions of mercury, acid gases and other toxics emitted from coal-burning power plants. Montana set limits on mercury in 2006.

November 2011 - A coalition of clear air advocates, including NPCA and Sierra Club Montana, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have filed a legal settlement that establishes firm, enforceable deadlines for action on plans to clean up regional haze pollution in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. If approved by the court, the consent decree will require states and the EPA to issue enforceable plans to curb haze-causing pollution from the nation's largest and oldest coal-fired power plants. Yellowstone National Park is listed as one of the sites affected by haze.

February 2012 - Senator Jon Tester is raising concerns about the rising levels of lead in lipstick, and wants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ramp up efforts to protect women and children from lead exposure. Testing recently revealed that the maximum level of lead found in lipstick more than doubled between 2009 and 2011.

Death Penalty Drug Ruled Unconstitutional

October 2015 - The death penalty is at a stalemate in Montana, after a judge blocked the use of a particular lethal injection drug on Tuesday.

December 2011 - A report by the Death Penalty Information Center shows a drop in new death sentences and executions nationwide. The report notes that it's part of a trend over the past 10 years. A bill to abolish the death penalty in Montana is planned for 2013, after the State Senate said 'yes' to a similar bill earlier this year.

Gov. Bullock Signs Public School Funding Bill

March 2019 - Gov. Steve Bullock signed a $77 million funding package for Montana public schools into law this week. The public school funding bill outlines an inflationary increase over the next two years to the K-12 public school system, in which more than 12,000 educators serve more than 150,000 students.

MT Court Strikes Down Tax-Credit Program for Private Schools

December 2018 - The Montana Supreme Court struck down a state-run program that gives tax credits to people who donate to private-school scholarships, saying the program violates a constitutional ban against giving state aid to religious organizations. The justices ruled 5-2 that the program giving tax credits of up to $150 for donations to organizations that give scholarships to private-school students amounts to indirect aid to schools controlled by churches. There is a ban in the Montana Constitution on any direct or indirect state aid to such schools, regardless of how large or small the amount is, the opinion by Justice Laurie McKinnon said.

Senator Tester Introduces Bill to Attract More Teachers to Montana

October 2015 - College students who agree to work in rural schools will be able to get money for college if a new bill proposed by Montana Senator Jon Tester becomes law.

Heavy Wolf Kill Triggers New Limits Near Yellowstone

January 2022 - The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission votes to close wolf trapping and hunting in southwestern Montana if or when six more wolves are killed by hunters or trappers in the region. The Associated Press reported that 20 wolves that roamed out of Yellowstone National Park have been killed this season, the most in any single hunting season since wolf reintroduction in 1995. Park employees have since deemed one pack, the Phantom Lake Pack, "eliminated," which re-ignited wildlife advocates' frustration about the state's approach to wolf management and inspired a coalition of western environmental organizations to petition Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to issue emergency federal protections for wolves.

Judge Orders Feds to Revisit Yellowstone Buffalo Endangered Species Status

January 2022 - A federal judge told the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit endangered species protections for Yellowstone National Park’s bison. The Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project groups have been fighting since 2014 to have Yellowstone’s bison declared endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

2020 Sees Record Number of Conflict Prevention Projects in Montana

February 2021 - This past year, an unlikely partnership greatly expanded the number of human-wildlife conflict reduction projects taking place across Montana. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services (USDA WS)–Montana, Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Montana Livestock Loss Board helped implement 68 projects in the state, while also demonstrating a successful model for collaborative conflict reduction programs. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic imposing restrictions across the country, the projects completed through this partnership more than doubled over the prior year-end total.

Judge Returns Yellowstone Grizzlies to Endangered Species List

October 2018 - The U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service must return grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park to the Endangered Species List, a federal judge in Missoula has ordered. The Yellowstone-area grizzly was removed from federal protections under the Endangered Species Act last year. Grizzlies in the lower 48 have been listed as threatened since 1975.

Yellowstone Grizzlies: Court Blocks ID, WY Trophy Hunts

August 2018 - Just two days before the start of the season, a U.S. District Court judge granted wildlife advocates' motion for a temporary restraining order to block planned grizzly bear trophy hunts in Idaho and Wyoming for at least 14 days. This came after a hearing regarding a high-profile case over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' 2017 decision to strip grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of vital Endangered Species Act protections, and provides the court time to deliberate on the merits of the case.

Montana Only State Without Grizzly Hunting Plan in 2018

March 2018 - While Idaho and Wyoming pursue plans to allow grizzly bear hunting outside Yellowstone National Park, Montana wildlife officials say they don't regret deciding against holding a hunt this year. Montana made the decision not to allow hunting of grizzlies in February.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reconsidering Grizzly Bear Delisting

December 2017 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening up public comment on its decision to take Yellowstone-area grizzly bear off the Endangered Species List earlier this year. The reconsideration of grizzly bear status comes in the wake a federal court ruling that retained protections for wolves in the Great Lakes. The court found the agency needed to study how a species' loss of historical habitat affects its recovery.

Petition Drive Launched to Stop Wolf Killings in Montana Near Yellowstone

January 2016 - The Endangered Species Coalition launched an online petition to encourage Montana and Idaho wildlife officials to stop the killing of gray wolves.

Northern Rockies Fisher One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection

January 2016 - The Northern Rockies Fisher, a cat-sized carnivorous weasel related to wolverines and otters found only in the border area of Idaho and Northern Montana, is one step closer to protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Large MT Coal-Burning Facility Shutting Down Two of Four Units

January 2020 - One of the largest coal-fired power plants in the western United States is inching toward an eventual shutdown amid crippling competition from cheap natural gas and renewable energy sources. The Associated Press reports the Colstrip Steam Electric Station in Colstrip, MT, will close two of its four units by the beginning of this week, or as soon as they run out of coal. The plant has been unable to compete with other cheaper forms of energy and operating costs have risen due to mandates for stricter pollution controls.

Colstrip Units to Shut Down at End of 2019

June 2019 - Two aging Montana coal plants, part-owned by Puget Sound Energy, will cease operations by the end of 2019, more than two years before the previously announced phaseout date. The plants, Colstrip 1 and 2, were built in the mid-1970's and cannot compete with natural gas and renewable energy.

'Save Colstrip' Plan Falls Through on Last Day of Montana Legislature

April 2019 - Lawmakers ended the 87-day session 4-25-2019 by voting against amendments drawn up to commit customers of NorthWestern Energy to covering debts associated with the utility's potential purchase of Colstrip Power Plant generation and transmission lines. The proposal was billed as a way to keep Colstrip Power Plant operating as the coal-fired generator's other utility owners left; the proposal failed to pass both chambers of the Legislature.

Colstrip Bailout Bill Dies in Montana

April 2019 - Montana lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would have enabled NorthWestern Corp. to pass on $75 million in costs to customers associated with acquiring an additional 150-MW share in the beleaguered Colstrip power plant without oversight from the state Public Service Commission. The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Tom Richmond, died in the House on a 60-37 vote April 16, and lawmakers failed to revive it before the session ended April 26. The failure of the bill, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in this year's legislative session, could seal the fate of the troubled coal plant as states in the region attempt to move away from coal-fired generation.

Colstrip Gets $10 Million to Transition Away from Coal

December 2017 - In a major settlement, Washington state's Puget Sound Energy will provide $10 million dollars to Colstrip to help the community transition away from coal energy. Colstrip is home to coal-fired plants that are currently being phased out.

Initiative to Increase Renewable Energy in Montana Approved to Get Signatures

November 2017 - An initiative to increase the the amount of renewable energy utility companies in Montana use has been approved to start getting signatures in order to get on the 2018 ballot. The initiative would require public utility companies to gradually increase their use of renewable energy from the current level of 15 percent to 80 percent by 2050.

Missoula to Pull City's Money from Wells Fargo Over Dakota Access Pipeline

April 2017 - The city of Missoula is pulling its money from Wells Fargo over the banking institution's investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. The resolution passed 12-0. In the past, Missoula has passed a resolution in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Wind and Solar Advocates Praise Governor's New Energy Plan

June 2016 - Governor Steve Bullock's new energy plan calls for a doubling of solar power by 20-25, and for the creation of a state energy infrastructure authority to facilitate more renewables. It also directs state agencies to look at putting solar on their own buildings and begin scouting public property suitable for solar arrays.

Montana Clean Air Advocates Laud Court Decision on Clean Power Plan

January 2016 - Clean air advocates are hailing a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. to leave President Obama's Clean Power Plan in place while the suit against it goes forward.

September 2012 - There's strong support in 11 western states for developing renewable energy on public lands - and ensuring at least some of the rents or royalties from developers are used locally for conservation and recreation purposes. That's according to a new bipartisan poll (commissioned by The Wilderness Society).

Montana's Renewable Energy Standard Leads by Example

December 2010 - Montana's renewable energy standard is an example of how states are taking a leadership role to keep the U.S. competitive in an expanding global market.

US to Place 20-Year Ban on Mining Near Yellowstone National Park

September 2017 - The U.S. government plans to speed up the approval of a 20-year ban on gold mining claims on forested public lands in Montana, near Yellowstone National Park. The prohibition could even extend to other metals and minerals.

Tongue River Railroad Plan Withdrawn

November 2015 - The Tongue River Railroad Company (TRR) today requested that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) temporarily suspend permitting efforts for the construction and operation of its proposed rail line along the Tongue River in southeast Montana.

Judge Orders State to Pay Legal Fees in Environmental Case

October 2015 - Montana must pay nearly $171,000 in legal fees and expenses to the attorney who represented three Butte residents in their effort to get a mostly dry, mine waste-contaminated channel.

Greenhouse Gas Pollution Rules for New Power Plants Issues

September 2013 - The White House and EPA issued long awaited rules restricting how much greenhouse gas pollution new power plants can emit.

Coal Railroad Impacts to be Studied

March 2013 - The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has agreed to study the impacts of the proposed Tongue River Railroad from the mine to the ports on the West Coast.

June 2012 - Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil has withdrawn its application to the state of Montana to haul more than 200 megaloads of oil sands equipment over Lolo Pass and through northwestern Montana into Canada. The company said it's already brought in all the loads it needs for the first phase of its oil sands project via other routes, despite initially saying the route on the small highways was the "only option."

June 2012 - The Surface Transportation Board announced that the controversial Tongue River Railroad (TRR) must reapply for a permit to haul coal from the isolated Otter Creek coal tracts in southeastern Montana. The coal is destined for markets in China and other Asian countries, through ports on the West Coast. The STB order says environmental analysis and data needs to be gathered before reapplying for a permit. The TRR was first proposed about 30 years ago to haul coal for different purposes than plans in existence today.

November 2011 - The U.S. State Department announced the environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline project will undergo a reevaluation - along with consideration of rerouting the pipeline to avoid environmentally sensitive areas.

July 2011 - Imperial Oil and Exxon Mobil announced they would seek additional alternate routes for shipping oversized loads along small highways in Idaho and Montana. Specifically, they'll plan to use four-lane highways, instead of rural two-lane roads, and find ways to reduce the size of the shipments. Originally, the companies claimed there were no other possible routes. Grassroots small business organizations and environmental groups had protested the use of small highways for the projects.

July 2011 - The Montana District Court issued an order granting a motion to halt mega-load shipments by Imperial Oil along Montana state highways. The court held that the Montana Department Transportation violated the Montana Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider alternative routes, failing to consider decommissioning the highway modifications needed for the project and failing to conduct an independent evaluation of the proposal.

April 2011 - Judge Dayton ruled that there is "sufficient likelihood of irreparable harm" to warrant a restraining order to halt all further permitting of Exxon's modules (known as megaloads), along with all road work and utility line modification to facilitate Exxon's project until the lawsuit is resolved. Unfortunately, test load will be allowed to proceed.

January 2011 - District Court Judge Joe Hegel has ruled that a lawsuit against the State of Montana and Arch Coal can go forward. The suit alleges the state should have taken environmental, economic and public health concerns into account before leasing the coal tract.

January 2011 - North America's largest nonprofit cycling organization formally wheeled into the ranks of big rig opponents. The board of Adventure Cycling voted overwhelmingly to oppose the use of rural highways for massive oil industry modules. They say those are bike-friendly mountain highways in Idaho and Montana - that would be far less bike-friendly if the roads become industrial shipping routes.

Feds Force Review of Coal Companies' Reclamation Funds

January 2016 - Feds act in response to bonding complaint by Powder River and WORC.

Homosexuality Removed From State Crime Law

April 2013 - Governor Steve Bullock signed Senate Bill 107 - which decriminalized homosexuality. The law had been on the books for decades, and while not enforced, it was seen as discriminatory.

Montana Supreme Court Says Legislature Can't Mandate Campus Carry

June 2022 - The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that state legislators infringed on authority granted to higher education officials by the state Constitution by passing a law in 2021 allowing individuals to carry open or concealed firearms on university and college campuses.

Judge Blocks Law that Would Allow More Guns on Campuses

December 2021 - Montana lawmakers overstepped their authority in passing legislation that would allow more people to carry guns on public college campuses, a state judge has ruled. District Court Judge Michael McMahon has granted the state Board of Regents' request for a permanent injunction against legislation that sought to block the regents from regulating the possession or storage of firearms on campuses.

Report Shows Medicaid Expansion Helping Montana's Economy

May 2018 - The report finds that Medicaid expansion brings in a lot of money from outside the state and stimulates economic activity the tune of roughly 5,000 jobs and $270 million of personal income. It also finds Medicaid expansion saves the state money in a variety of ways.

Some Rural Montana Hospitals Struggling, Solutions Discussed at Rural Health Summit

May 2016 - Senator Jon Tester is hosting a Rural Health Summit today in small town in central Montana called Ennis, about 60 miles southwest of Bozeman. The summit brings together officials from Washington and from the rural hospitals that dot the state.

Montana Enrolls 58,000 in Health Insurance

February 2016 - Montana is making a serious dent in its number of uninsured residents.

Montana Expands Medicaid

November 2015 - Starting today, tens of thousands of low-income Montanans will qualify for affordable health insurance on the state health care marketplace.

275 New Doctors and Health Professionals for MT Thanks to ACA

December 2013 - Montana saw nearly 275 more doctors and other health professionals on the job in rural areas over five years because of the National Health Service Corps.

Montana Lawmakers Reject "Right-To-Work" Bill For Private Unions

March 2021 - On the heels of voting down other labor-related bills, Montana lawmakers decisively rejected a so-called right-to-work bill for private unions. Opposition to House Bill 251 drew applause from union members packing the House gallery and passionate debate from lawmakers who repeatedly referenced Montana’s storied labor history.

MT Raises Minimum Wage in 2019

January 2019 - Montana's roughly 8,000 minimum wage workers saw a 20-cent-per-hour pay bump at the start of 2019. That means workers earning Montana's minimum wage of $8.30 cents per hour saw that rate increase to $8.50 an hour.

November 2011 - The Montana Board of Regents is expected to give its stamp of approval this month to contracts recently ratified by MEA-MFT members in the Associated Faculty of Montana State University. They're the first faculty contracts ever at the campus.

Montana Governor Signs Net Neutrality Into Law

January 2018 - Governor Steve Bullock made Montana the first state to implement net neutrality since the FCC rolled back net neutrality protections. Bullock says his executive order could serve as a blueprint for other states.

Saylish and Kootenai Water Compact Introduced in U.S. Senate

May 2016 - U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill Thursday to ratify the water compact between the State of Montana and the Confederated Saylish and Kootenai tribes, also known as the CSKT. If passed by both houses of Congress, it would resolve the tribes' water rights claims against the federal government, avoiding the threat of extended, costly litigation.

Wild Bison Free to Go Home

June 2013 - The Montana Supreme Court cleared the way for the return of wild bison to their historic prairie habitat on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, reversing a lower court ruling that had blocked state plans to transfer bison to the Fort Belknap tribes for more than a year.

MT Leg Increases Funds for State Parks

June 2019 - Montana's trails and outdoor recreation got a boost, legislators increased the voluntary motor vehicle registration donation from $6 to $9 which is estimated to generate an additional estimated $1.8 million for our trails, state parks and fishing access sites every year.

House Passes Lands Bill Including LWCF, Yellowstone Mineral Withdrawal

March 2019 - The massive public lands package is headed to the president's desk, meaning the renewal of the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund and a permanent ban on mining claims north of Yellowstone are close to reality.

Interior Secretary Zinke Approves Ban on New Mining Claims Near Yellowstone

October 2018 - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke approved a 20-year ban on new mining claims on public lands north of Yellowstone National Park, in the Paradise Valley, as two proposed gold mines raise concerns the area could be spoiled.

No Changes to Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

August 2017 - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has announced there will be no changes made to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. In April, President Donald Trump ordered a review of it, along with 26 other national monuments.

Governor Announces Push to Improve Access to MT Public Lands

June 2016 - Governor Steve Bullock announced a series of measures to improve access to Montana public lands. Bullock has created the position of Public Access Specialist, in the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Forest Jobs Act Headed to Senate Floor

December 2013 - The U.S. Senate floor is the next stop for the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act from Montana Senator Jon Tester.

Rocky Mtn. Front Heritage Act Heads to Senate Floor

November 2013 - The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act unanimously passed out of mark-up in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - with no changes.

Winter Travel Rules for Yellowstone Finalized - Tight Controls on Pollution

October 2013 - The National Park Service has finalized its winter travel plan for Yellowstone National Park, saying it's based on 15 years of research, experience and public input.

November 2012 - Conservation is just as important as gun rights, according to a new poll of sportsmen by the National Wildlife Federation. Nearly half said those two priorities have equal weight in their minds. And given a choice between prioritizing oil and gas production or protecting public lands, 35 percent chose the fuel and 49 percent chose the public lands.

November 2012 - Wide open spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities mean more jobs and fatter paychecks in Big Sky County. A new report, "West is Best," makes connections between protected federal lands and economic prosperity in Big Sky Country.

December 2011 - Ask first, and the job gets done. That's one of the successful components of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), according to a new report from the U.S. Forest Service - which finds the program's goals in Montana are being met. And the new U.S. House budget bill recommends fully funding it for another year.

June 2011 - Montana Senator Max Baucus has re-introduced a bill for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with a 1.5 percent provision added by Senator Jon Tester that will be dedicated to additional access to hunting and fishing opportunities on public lands.

June 2011 - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed the "check" - which means millions are on the way the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Restoration Project in Montana.

May 2011 - Montana Senator Jon Tester's (D) "Forest Jobs and Recreation Act" was examined by a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee yesterday. A hearing is seen as a positive step for the legislation, which would designate wilderness as well as working forest projects.

April 2011 - A new report from Headwaters Economics takes a look at oil, gas and coal development, and the role of those industries in state economies for Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The findings show that the economic benefits to states are limited - accounting for less than three percent of both total employment and total personal income.

February 2011 - The America's Great Outdoors initiative has been unveiled, after months of public listening sessions around the country. The first stop on that tour was in Montana, to learn more about local efforts to preserve landscapes, recreation access and water quality. Blackfoot River Valley rancher, and chair of the Blackfoot Challenge's Forestry Committee, was on hand when the plan was unveiled this week in Washington, D.C., and he says it's obvious that officials really did listen to what locals had to say.

January 2011 - A U.S. District Judge has upheld the Forest Service "travel plan" for the Badger-Two Medicine area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Motorized groups sued because ATV, dirt bike and snowmobile access was banned in most of the area. The Blackfeet Tribe lists it as a sacred site.

"Big Thaw" For Popular Conservation Program in Montana

April 2013 - The big freeze on the Conservation Stewardship Program is thawing, thanks to a move by Congress to restore program funding. It's a popular program for active agricultural lands in Montana - covering more than 600,000 acres.

Changes in Animal ID Rule Welcomed

December 2012 - The U.S.D.A unveiled its final rule for the program, acknowledging concerns highlighted over the years by family operations and sustainable agriculture-focused groups.

April 2012 - The Labor Department is dropping plans to unnecessarily restrict young people from working on farms and ranches. In September, the Labor Department announced proposed restrictions that would limit the work teens could do on farms and ranches owned by anyone other than their parents - and although the agreed upon goal is safety - it caused problems for family operations.

January 2012 - The biggest obstacle for many beginning farmers and ranchers in Montana is buying land. A new program through the Farm Service Agency can make it easier by offering loan guarantees when retiring farmers agree to carry the sale contract for a beginner.

March 2011 - The Montana House of Representatives by a 59 - 31 vote amended HB 2 to restore current state funding of the Montana Veterans' Home and keep it open as a public institution. There was a proposal to cut funding and turn it over to a private company, which would have resulted in layoffs, and many say, a lower quality of care.

Tester Amendment Protects Small Farms and Processors

December 2010 - Montana Senator Jon Tester's amendment to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act passed both the U.S. House and Senate. Senator Tester's amendment protects small farms and small processors from expensive federal regulations. These regulations are unnecessary in light of existing local public health laws and the direct relationship of local farmers to local consumers.

November 2011 - The percentage of Montana births to teens has dropped about a percentage point over a year. At the same time, more parents say they're having "the talk" with their children.

Public Outcry Forces Legislative Committee To Reverse Decision On Radioactive Oil Waste Forces

May 2020 - Members of a state interim legislative committee, the Environmental Quality Council, voted o withdraw their objection to nearly-final rules overseeing radioactive oil waste in Montana, thus allowing the rules to stand. The rules are the product of nearly seven years of work by members of the public, a stakeholders group, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. With the objection removed, the first-ever protections are expected to be finalized and become law this June. Committee members noted during yesterday’s meeting that they had heard criticism about their objection directly from the public over the past month. Those of us who live and ranch near this radioactive oil waste deserve strong protections," said Laurel Clawson, a member of Northern Plains Resource Council. "We are not just dots on a map. This means a great deal to us."

Montana's Senators Back Toxic Control Update

April 2013 - Legislation to update the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act is now on the congressional docket, introduced by Montana's Senators Baucus and Tester, along with 25 other senators.

Governor Signs Bill to Train More Mental Health Providers

September 2020 - Governor Newsom signed SB 803, legislation to certify and train peer support specialists as providers for mental health and substance use disorder services. Advocates say it is an important step toward expanding and diversifying the behavioral health workforce. The new law also allows counties to offer Peer Support Services as a Medi-Cal benefit and access federal funds to help pay for them. Peers are professionals who use their personal experience with recovery from mental illness or substance use disorders with specialized training to help others on their journey toward recovery.

Governor Signs Bill Requiring Drug Companies to Collect Old Prescriptions and Needles

September 2018 - Governor Jerry Brown signed groundbreaking legislation by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), along with Assemblymembers Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Adam Gray (D-Merced), to create the first statewide drug and medical needles take-back program funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Senate Bill 212 requires manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs and medical needles to establish, implement and fund take-back programs for safe and secure collection and disposal of their products. This is the first statewide measure in the nation to include both prescription medications and medical needles.

CA AG Files Suit Against Pharmaceutical Company for Price Fixing on Opioid Addiction Meds

September 2016 - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that California, along with 34 other states and the District of Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against Indivior, a British pharmaceutical company, and MonoSol, an Indiana film technology company, for antitrust violations.

Governor Signs Bill on Unused Prescription Drugs

August 2016 - Senate Bill 1229 has been signed by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill allows, but does not mandate, a pharmacy to host a "secure drug tack-back bin" in their store as a safe way to dispose of expired or unneeded pharmaceutical drugs.

Law to Fight Doctor-Shopping in CA Takes Effect Today

July 2016 - Starting today, all doctors in California must be registered for access to the state's prescription database.

New Law Bans Sale of Cosmetics Tested on Animals

January 2020 - The sale of cosmetic products that use ingredients tested on animals on or after Jan. 1. will be banned (SB 1249)

CA Law to Improve Conditions for Farm Animals Takes Effect

December 2019 - A new California law to improve living conditions for certain farm animals goes into effect - and it is expected to have ripple effects on the way animals are treated across the country. Proposition 12 increases the space a pig must have to 24 square feet by 2022.Starting Wednesday, veal calves must be given 43 square feet and hens must be given one square foot of space each. The law mandates a cage-free environment by the end of 2021 - and it affects other states because the measure bans the sale of animal products in California that don't meet these standards.

CA Lawmakers Move Multiple Animal-Welfare Bills Forward

April 2019 - A slew of animal protection bills have moved forward in the California Legislature including proposals to limit animal abuse, hunting, poisoning and trapping. Senate Bill 580 would force people convicted of such serious crimes as aggravated cruelty, bestiality and hoarding to undergo mental-health evaluation and get treatment if necessary. Assembly Bill 1788 would ban certain types of commercial rat poison that also harm wild animals that eat the carcasses. Other bills would ban trophy hunting of bobcats and commercial trapping of other animals for fur; forbid the use of certain endangered animals in circuses, and criminalize the sale of most fur products. Opponents of many of these bills say they represent government overreach.

Bill Introduced to Ban Animal Dissection in CA Schools

February 2019 - California could become the first state in the nation to ban the dissection of animals in K-12 schools, if a bill introduced in the state Legislature were to pass. Assembly Bill 1586, called the Replacing Animals in Science Education (or RAISE) Act would encourage schools to adopt newer teaching methods such as 3-D computer modelling programs to teach biology.

U.S. Supreme Court Allows CA Ban on Foie Gras to Stand

January 2019 - The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the latest challenge to California's ban on foie gras, a delicacy produced from the enlarged livers of ducks and geese that have been force-fed corn. The court declined to hear an appeal by producers of foie gras, including the Association des Eleveurs de Canards et d'Oies du Quebec, a Canadian nonprofit that represents duck and goose farmers. In doing so, the high court left intact a 2017 ruling by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the law. Animal rights groups contend that the force-feeding process is painful, gruesome and inhumane. California enacted the law in 2004 but it did not go into effect until 2012. The Supreme Court in 2014 rejected an earlier appeal brought by producers and restaurants.

Voters Increase Requirements for Farm Animal Confinement

November 2018 - California voters approved a measure that will ban sales of meat and eggs from animals kept in enclosures that fall below a minimum number of square feet. Proposition 12, which was backed by the Humane Society, will apply to California and out-of-state producers alike. The measure also requires producers to keep egg-laying hens in "cage-free" housing by 2022.

CA Bans Bullhooks

August 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to ban the use of bullhooks to control elephants in captivity. Across the U.S., lawmakers are banning fireplace poker-like weapons called bullhooks, recognizing that these weapons' only purpose is to beat elephants into submission.

CA Biotech Firm to Pay $3.5 Million, Accused of Animal Cruelty

May 2016 - A biotech firm with facilities in California will pay three point five million dollars in a settlement with the U-S-D-A for violating the federal animal welfare act.

CA Law for Better Treatment of Hens Stands

March 2014 - An attempt by six states to overturn a California law that requires more humane treatment of egg-laying hens and higher food safety standards will face legal opposition from The Humane Society of the United States.

Judge Upholds Shark Fin Sales Ban

January 2013 - A federal judge has upheld the state's ban on shark fin sales, rejecting the claim that the law discriminates against Chinese Americans.

April 2011 - A CANS story discouraging parents from giving kids live bunnies for Easter was aired nationally on America in the Morning. Animal shelter officials say the pets often end up back at the shelter.

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to California’s Foie Gras Ban

November -0001 - California’s landmark ban on force feeding ducks to produce foie gras will stay in effect. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request by a handful of foie gras proponents to review the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’s 2013 ruling upholding the law, and the right of the people of California to prohibit the sale of certain food items, solely because they are the product of animal cruelty.

President Biden Signs Omnibus Bill With CA Priorities

December 2022 - President Biden signed the fiscal year 2023 omnibus federal funding bill, a bill that includes many programs that will specifically benefit California. It includes robust funding for several issues important to our state such as fighting wildfires, mitigating drought, ending homelessness, and combating climate change.

Small Businesses to Get Windfall from New Budget

July 2021 - The California Comeback Plan, via the state budget, invests an additional $1.5 billion for a total of $4 billion in direct grants to California’s small businesses – on top of $6.2 billion in tax relief – putting more money directly into the pockets of hundreds of thousands of small business owners and helping them re-hire workers displaced by the pandemic. The Plan also creates a $120 million California Competes Tax Credit grant program to incentivize businesses to relocate to the state.

Governor Newsom Signs Budget With Progressive Priorities

June 2019 - California will increase its spending on public education, expand healthcare services and stash away more money than ever for an economic downturn under the state budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom - a plan that was stalled for two weeks over how it would address the state's growing housing crisis. The $214.8-billion budget is the largest in state history. The majority of its provisions take effect in July, though some new services won't be funded until next January in an effort to lower the short-term cost.

Governor's Budget Aims to Lower Premiums, Expand Medi-Cal

January 2019 - The State of California would invest hundreds of millions of dollars to improve access to healthcare and health insurance under Governor Gavin Newsom's first budget. It includes 200-million dollars to allow undocumented low-income adults ages 18 to 26 to access Medi-Cal. Previously, only undocumented children have been included. Newsom's budget proposal would also reinstate the individual mandate that requires people to have health insurance. It uses the fees from the mandate to increase subsidies on Covered California plans for middle-income families, those with incomes between 250- and 600-percent of the federal poverty level.

Voters Save The Gas Tax

November 2018 - Voters rejected Proposition 6, arguably the most contested ballot measure. If passed it would have repealed the gas tax increase approved last year by Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers.

New Ballot Measure Would Extend Prop 30 Income Taxes on Wealthy

February 2016 - Teams are hitting the streets today gathering signatures for a ballot measure this fall that would extend part of Proposition 30, which raised income taxes on the wealthy and raised the sales tax by a quarter of a percent.

Calif. Cuts Number of Uninsured Children by More than Half

October 2016 - California has made the biggest recent gains in the country in getting children signed up for health insurance, according to a new report. Researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found the Golden State cut its number of uninsured children by 55 percent between 2013 and 2015, just after the Affordable Care Act went into effect.

California Leads the Nation in Insuring Latino Children

January 2016 - California leads the nation in enrolling Latino children in health insurance, thanks in large part to massive outreach efforts and to the state's enthusiastic embrace of the Affordable Care Act.

Childhood Obesity Rates Drop

February 2013 - Childhood obesity rates are beginning to decline. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds there are fewer obese young children in Los Angeles County.

December 2010 - A new state law requires California insurers sell "child-only" policies if they want to continue selling in the larger individual market.

Governor Signs Bill to Mail A Ballot to All Registered Voters

June 2020 - Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 860—authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman with Senator Tom Umberg as a joint author—which codifies that county elections officials must mail a ballot to every registered, active voter ahead of the November 3, 2020 General Election. Requires county elections officials to mail every active registered voter a ballot. Requires every county elections officials to adopt a vote-by-mail ballot tracking system. Californians can sign up for the Secretary of State’s "Where's My Ballot?" tool to receive automatic updates about the status of their vote-by-mail ballot by text (SMS), voice call, or email. Californians can sign-up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov

Supreme Court Leave CA Voting Rights In Place

May 2020 - The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to consider a challenge to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The High Court’s denial of certiorari brings an end to a federal lawsuit filed by the Project on Fair Representation, an organization led by right-wing financier Ed Blum, on behalf of a former mayor who alleged that the CVRA is unlawful and results in racial gerrymandering.

Senator Harris Introduces "VoteSafe" Act

April 2020 - Voting rights groups are praising the 'VoteSafe Act of 2020,' introduced in Congress on Thursday by California Senator Kamala Harris. The bill would set aside five-billion dollars to expand voting by mail and early voting ahead of the November presidential election.

CA Voter Registration Soars

November 2019 - Record numbers of Californians are now registered to vote - more than 20-point-3 million people - which is 3 million more than at this point in 2016 - according to the latest statistics from Secretary of State Alex Padilla. More than 80 percent of voters in the Golden State have registered - which is the highest percentage in 67 years.

CA Lawmakers Approve Election Day Voter Registration

September 2019 - California Legislature approves SB 72, to allow all eligible Californians to register to vote and cast a ballot at polling sites on Election Day. Championed by legislation by State Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), SB 72 now heads to Governor Newsom. If signed by the governor, Election Day registration would be available at all polling sites in California in 2020, making California the 12th state, along with the District of Columbia, to allow Election Day registration.

Court Rules CA Must Improve Voter Registration

April 2019 - On April 3, 2019, civil rights groups prevailed against Secretary of State Alex Padilla in their lawsuit to expand voter registration at agencies in the state that serve people on public assistance and individuals with disabilities. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman ruled Padilla must require voter registration at additional agencies and contractors serving Californians throughout the state. More than 1.8 million Californians will benefit from the ruling.

CA Governor Creates Committee To Ensure Everyone is Counted for 2020 Census

April 2018 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the creation of the California Complete Count Committee, a statewide panel of community members from many different ethnic groups and walks of life that will guide California's outreach for the 2020 federal census. "It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census," said Governor Brown. The move comes as the Trump administration is looking to add a question on citizenship to the census, something many groups fear would drive down participation.

Settlement in Kern County Gerrymandering Case

March 2018 - MALDEF and attorneys for Kern County, California announced an agreement today on a new Board of Supervisors districting plan that will respect Latinos' right to elect candidates of their choice. The settlement follows a February federal court ruling that a redistricting plan adopted in 2011 by the Board of Supervisors violated Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act. After negotiations at a settlement conference, plaintiffs and their attorneys from MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) and Kern County agreed on a new district map that will create a second Latino majority district in compliance with the February order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd.

Court Side With Civil Libertarians on Redistricting in Kern County

February 2018 - A redistricting plan adopted in 2011 by the Kern County, California Board of Supervisors unlawfully denies Latinos the right to elect candidates of their choice, in violation of Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a federal judge ruled in a landmark lawsuit filed by MALDEF. The order was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd, who presided over an 11-day bench trial in December, holds that the current plan is unlawful, and orders that the litigation proceed to the remedial phase, where the court will hear the proposals of the parties and adopt new, lawful plans for election of Supervisors. Plaintiffs have requested that those plans be implemented in the 2018 elections.

CA City Redistricts To Create More Representation for Low-income Residents

February 2018 - In a major victory for voting rights, the Oxnard City Council unanimously voted to approve a city council district map adding two new representatives for South Oxnard. After the city received a letter that it was in violation of the California Voting Rights Act, the council agreed to transition to district elections, giving neighborhoods the ability to elect their own representatives to City Hall. The civil rights group CAUSE worked to engage a diverse group of residents from throughout the city to develop a district map, which was chosen over dozens of other maps submitted. The new map ensures that four of Oxnard's six districts would represent the working-class immigrant communities that make up the majority of the city's population, particularly neighborhoods like South Oxnard and La Colonia.

Governor Signs Bill on Vote Disclosure

September 2016 - Governor Brown signed AB 1494 authored by Assemblyman Marc Levine and co-authored by State Senator Joel Anderson, which allows California voters to voluntarily disclose the contents of their vote in any manner they see fit.

Law Allowing 16 Year Olds to Preregister to Vote Takes Effect

September 2016 - A law to encourage young people to vote by allowing voter pre-registration beginning at age 16 has just taken effect.

Governor Signs Motor Voter Law

October 2015 - Eligible voters will be automatically registered when they obtain or renew their drivers' licenses.

May 2011 - A study from PEW finds California's cash-strapped counties and local governments could save millions of dollars on their elections if they provided election materials online, instead of mailing to each individual voter. A new state laws allows for voter info guides and sample ballots to be delivered this way. The PEW study reveals California counties spent up to 46-percent of their total election costs mailing paper sample ballots in the 2008 general election.

Easier to Register to Vote

November -0001 - Lawmakers approved a bill to automatically register to vote all eligible residents who obtain a driver's license.

Santa Barbara USD Removes Police from High School

October 2021 - The Santa Barbara Unified School Board voted unanimously to remove the School Resource Officer from San Marcos High School. The very presence of a School Resource Officer blurs the line between youth and criminal behavior, often resulting in arrests for non-criminal behaviors like tardiness or cursing. Research shows that Black and Brown students are disciplined at higher rates than their white peers. Santa Barbara Unified School Board intends to funnel funds previously used for the SRO into mental health services for our teens.

Governor Signs Police, Juvenile Justice Reform Bills

September 2020 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills into law initiating critical criminal justice, juvenile justice and policing reforms in California. Delivering on his promise this summer to sign a bill ending the use of the carotid restraint, Governor Newsom signed AB 1196 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) which bans the practice statewide, and signed AB 1506 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) requiring the California Attorney General to conduct investigations into officer-involved shootings of unarmed individuals that result in death. Other bills the Governor signed today that support youth include AB 901 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), which will end the practice of referring youth who are having problems at school to probation programs. Additionally, SB 203 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) requires that children under age 17 have an opportunity to consult with legal counsel before interrogation, and SB 1290 by Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) will cancel certain fees assessed on juvenile offenders and their families.

Civil Rights Groups Sue CA To Force Improvements to Medi-Cal

July 2017 - Advocates filed a class-action civil rights complaint against the state of California on Wednesday, alleging that low reimbursement rates have led to a shortage of doctors who take Medi-Cal, a problem that disproportionately affects low-income communities of color. Lawyers for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center filed the suit in Alameda County Superior Court.

California to Stop Suspending Licenses for Traffic Fines

June 2017 - Californians will no longer face losing their driver's licenses because of unpaid traffic fines starting July. Gov. Jerry Brown said the punishment doesn't help the state collect unpaid fines and can send low-income people into a cycle of job losses and more poverty.

Privacy Law Signed to Require Police to Get Court Order to Search digital data

October 2015 - California will now require police to get a court order before they can search messages, photos and other digital data stored on phones or company servers.

EPA Approves California Rules Phasing Out Diesel Trucks

March 2023 - The Biden administration cleared the way for California's plan to phase out a wide range of diesel-powered trucks, part of the state's efforts to drastically cut planet-warming emissions and improve air quality in heavy-traffic areas like ports along the coast. The decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows California — which has some of the nation's worst air pollution — to require truck manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission trucks over the next couple of decades. The rule applies to a wide range of trucks including box trucks, semitrailers and even large passenger pick-ups.

CA First State to Ban New Gas Heaters

September 2022 - A new proposal passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cements the state as the first to ban natural gas heaters and furnaces. The decision, which was passed unanimously, aims to phase out sales of the space heater and water heater appliances by 2030. The commitment is part of a broader range of environmental efforts passed by the board this week to meet the federal 70 parts per billion, 8-hour ozone standard over the next 15 years.

Governor Signs Legislation to Combat Extreme Heat

September 2022 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to help protect Californians from more frequent and severe heat waves driven by climate change. The bills create an advisory committee to inform a study on the effects of extreme heat, create the nation's first extreme heat advance warning and ranking system, and more.

Judge Blocks Feds from Approving Fracking off CA Coast

June 2022 - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Department of Interior from authorizing fracking on offshore platforms off the coast of California. In the decision, the Ninth Circuit found that Interior's flawed final environmental analysis - which found that fracking poses "no significant impact" - violated the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act.

CA Sets Pollution Rules for Trucks

December 2021 - Lawmakers and clean air advocacy organizations celebrate the adoption of “Smog Check for Trucks” - a landmark clean air rules that will save thousands of California lives and avoid tens of billions of public health costs. The California Air Resources Board actions create a “smog check”-style program for heavy-duty trucks and also set zero-emission requirements for sales of new landscaping and other small off-road engines. “Smog Check for Trucks” is the single most health protective action the board has taken in over a dozen years.

Final Budget Addresses Climate Change

July 2021 - The California Comeback Plan, via the new budget, includes a $3.9 billion package to hit fast-forward on our zero-emissions vehicle goals, leading to cleaner air for future generations. In addition, the Administration continues work with the Legislature to allocate $3.7 billion over three years that will better prepare the state for extreme heat and sea level rise and address environmental justice priorities that support the low-income and disadvantaged communities bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.

G-M Abandons Trump Administration's Lawsuit on CA Vehicle Emissions Standards

November 2020 - General Motors abandoned President Trump's battle to nullify California's fuel economy rules meant to curb global warming, the strongest sign yet that corporate America is moving on from Mr. Trump and adapting to an incoming Democratic administration. The company also signaled that it was ready to work with President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr., who has promised swift action to reduce climate-warming emissions in the auto sector.

CA Air Resources Board Supports Limits on Gas

November 2020 - The California Air Resources Board just unanimously adopted a groundbreaking resolution committing to significant action to limit emissions from gas appliances in buildings. The newly adopted resolution includes very strong commitments to reduce pollution from gas appliances. The proposed resolution directs staff to work with other state agencies to update the building code "for stronger kitchen ventilation standards and electrification of appliances, including stoves, ovens, furnaces, and space and water heaters, in the 2022 code cycle for all new buildings in order to protect public health, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, reduce GHG emissions, and set California on track to achieve carbon neutrality." As Board Chair Mary Nichols indicated at the board meeting, this is the clearest commitment that CARB has made to-date to address the climate and health impacts from gas appliance emissions in the buildings sector. CARB is also explicitly calling on CEC to require all-electric construction in its current update to the 2022 building code. This public support from CARB could shift the conversation on these issues between the governor and other state leaders, and could help spur forward additional action.

CA Sets Rules for "Clean Trucks"

June 2020 - In a groundbreaking win, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously adopted the world’s first zero-emission commercial truck requirement, the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. The rule, which requires truck makers to sell an increasing number of clean, zero-emission trucks in California in place of dirty diesel and gasoline, will cut toxic fossil fuel emissions in polluted communities throughout the state. The final rule will dramatically shift California's medium- and heavy-duty truck market away from dirty fossil fuels to zero-emission technology. Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30-50% by 2030 and 40-75% by 2035.

CA Sues To Stop Feds From Gutting Clean Car Standards

May 2020 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, leading a multistate coalition, today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's final rule rolling back the nation's Clean Car Standards. The Clean Car Standards require appropriate and feasible improvements in fuel economy and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks. Since their introduction in 2010, these standards have saved consumers money, reduced harmful emissions, and helped protect the health of our communities. The Trump Administration's misguided Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles (SAFE) rule stops this progress in its tracks, hurting the economy and public health at a time when the country can least afford it. In the lawsuit, the coalition will argue that the final rule unlawfully violates the Clean Air Act, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

CA and Automakers Sign Agreement To Lower Emissions

July 2019 - As the Trump administration prepares to roll back emission standards for light-duty cars and trucks, a consortium of automakers and California have agreed on a voluntary framework to reduce emissions that can serve as an alternative path forward for clean vehicle standards nationwide. Automakers who agreed to the framework are Ford, Honda, BMW of North America and Volkswagen Group of America.The framework supports continued annual reductions of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions through the 2026 model year, encourages innovation to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and provides industry the certainty needed to make investments and create jobs. This important commitment means that the auto companies party to the voluntary agreement will only sell cars in the United States that meet these standards.

Judge Rules Against Oil Drilling in Carrizo Plain National Monument

July 2019 - The California Bureau of Land Management has agreed with conservation groups that plans for a new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument failed to comply with federal environmental laws. The decision said the local BLM office must consider potential harm to California condors, other imperiled wildlife and the climate. The decision sends the BLM's environmental review back to the agency's Bakersfield Field Office for a new analysis, including a consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

California Court Affirms Communities' Right to Fight Permits for Dirty Power Plants

April 2019 - A California state judge has affirmed the constitutional right of residents concerned about air and climate pollution to challenge power plant siting decisions in their local Superior Court. In 2013, Earthjustice, Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 2001 law limiting judicial review of the California Energy Commission's power-plant approvals to the California Supreme Court. The 4-3-19 decision in Alameda County Superior Court sides with the groups, agreeing that Superior Courts have jurisdiction to hear appeals of the Energy Commission's licensing decisions.

California Beats Self-Imposed Climate Change Goals

July 2018 - California has beaten its self-imposed goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving a milestone in the state's fight against climate change. The California Air Resources Board announced Wednesday that total statewide carbon emissions fell to 429 million metric tons in 2016, a drop of 12 million tons from the year before. The decline means California met the Legislature's goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels, and did so a full four years before the target year of 2020. Gov. Jerry Brown and other state officials said the results proved the state's portfolio of anti-carbon laws and regulations is succeeding - and showed California can fight climate change while still enjoying a significant economic boom. They pledged to continue to fight efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to roll back strict emission rules imposed by the Obama administration.

Chevron Fined For Air Quality Violations at Bay Area Refineries

April 2018 - The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced Chevron USA Inc. agreed to pay $170,000 to settle air quality violations at its refinery in Richmond. The settlement covers 25 Notices of Violation issued for air quality violations at the Richmond Oil Refinery during 2014 and 2015. The violations addressed in this settlement included flaring events during which hydrogen sulfide limits were exceeded, failure to take samples during flaring events, a public nuisance violation for odors and failure to properly monitor for hydrocarbon leaks at cooling towers.

Experts Predicts CA Can Reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050

January 2018 - California could reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 - that's the prediction by a panel of clean-energy experts gathered in Sacramento. The panel is part of the "Right to Zero" campaign by the environmental legal nonprofit Earthjustice. Transit agencies up and down the state are committing to convert to zero-emissions buses. The ports of L.A. and Long Beach are committing to convert all of their port equipment and trucks with zero-emissions technology. The campaign is also supporting a bill that would commit the state to achieving clean energy generation by 2045, and a bill that bans the sale of fossil fuel-burning vehicles. They also are fighting three natural gas-fired power plants proposed for the Golden State, because natural gas, although cleaner than coal, is still a polluting fossil fuel and puts residents at risk with methane leaks.

Southern California Ports Adopt Clean Air Plan

November 2017 - The nation's largest port complex approved a plan to slash air pollution by encouraging the phase-out of diesel trucks in favor of natural gas and, ultimately, zero-emissions trucks and cargo-handling equipment over the next two decades. A move in the right direction, though natural gas is a fossil fuel implicated in climate change.

Cap and Trade Extended by Governor

July 2017 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed AB 398 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), which extends and improves the state's world-leading cap-and-trade program to ensure California continues to meet its ambitious climate change goals. The move was criticized by some progressive groups as not going far enough, while Republicans called it a gas tax in disguise.

CA Supreme Court Upholds Cap and Trade Law

June 2017 - The California Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to consider a challenge by business groups of the state's cap-and-trade law, a ruling that environmentalists hailed as ending a legal fight that had cast a cloud over the program. The state supreme court did not issue a written opinion on the program itself but declined take up the case on appeal from a lower court.

CPUC Sets New Rules for Natural Gas Leaks

June 2017 - After over two years of development, the California Public Utilities Commission adopted a series of new standards today that require natural gas utilities to implement 26 separate best practices to find, fix and prevent natural gas pipeline leaks and venting. The groundbreaking rule covering gas utilities is the most comprehensive in the nation and a companion to a March 2017 rule adopted by the California Air Resources Board that requires reduction of leaks from oil and gas extraction.

Court Upholds CA Cap and Trade Program

April 2017 - A state appeals court on Thursday ruled California's high profile market system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not amount to an illegal tax, a decision that could lift a pall over the so-called cap-and-trade program's marketplace for buying and selling pollution allowances.

SCAQMD Adopts New Air Quality Plan

March 2017 - The South Coast Air Quality Management District today adopted a 21st century blueprint for clean air, calling for stringent regulations combined with incentives to provide healthful air for the region?s 17 million residents. It specifically targets nitrogen oxides.

Governor Signs Climate Solution Act

September 2016 - Climate-change groups are applauding a new bill, just signed by Governor Jerry Brown, that would make it state policy to promote the role of land and soil in scrubbing the air of excess carbon. The Natural and Working Lands Climate Solution Act (Senate Bill 13-86) writes into law that agencies must consider ways to promote good soil health on forests, farms, rangelands, wetlands, deserts, parks and other open spaces.

Governor Brown Signs Law Restricting "Super Pollutants"

September 2016 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed SB 1383 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which establishes the nation's toughest restrictions on destructive super pollutants including black carbon, fluoridated gases and methane. If followed worldwide, these acts would help cut the projected rate of global warming in half by 2050.

Two Major Climate Change Bills Pass

August 2016 - Two major climate change bills passed the Calilfornia Legislature, and are expected to be signed by the Governor. SB 32 by Senator Fran Pavley will help keep California a climate leader by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. AB 197 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia ensures that the policies we set to meet this target are driven by equity with legislative oversight, agency accountability, and data transparency at the California Air Resources Board.

California Air Resources Board Passes New Rules on Oil, Gas Well Safety

July 2016 - Regulators with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) at a hearing on Thursday removed a major loophole from proposed new rules on oil and natural gas facilities in an effort to prevent another disaster like the massive gas leak at Aliso Canyon last fall. The proposed rules require more inspections of all surface facilities, existing and new, including those offshore.

Expose Reveals Cell Phone Industry's Own Scientists Predicted Harm

April 2018 - An investigative report in The Nation lays out the history of industry-funded research into the question of whether radiation from cell phones is hazardous to human health. It shows that the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association's own scientists concluded in 1999 that a danger exists. The cover story interviewed many sources PNS has been talking with for years.

Bill Filed to Protect CA Renters

February 2018 - Following failure of a bill that would have expanded rent control, a trio of California lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at adding other protections for renters. Democratic Assemblymen David Chiu of San Francisco, Richard Bloom of Santa Monica and Rob Bonta of Alameda want to make it harder to evict tenants and extend timelines before evictions could occur.

Bill Introduced in State Assembly to Fight Predatory Lending

February 2018 - California Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) introduced AB 2500, the Safe Consumer Lending Act, a bill to protect California families from abusive high-cost installment loans. The legislation would extend California's current interest rate cap for consumer loans between $2.500 to $10,000. Under the proposed law, a $10,000 loan with a 12 month repayment plan would carry a maximum interest rate of 20%. Currently, California has no APR limit for installment loans of $2,500 to $10,000, which gives predatory lenders the opportunity to charge borrowers interest rates of 100% APR or more.

Consumers Win In Deal With CPUC

January 2018 - Consumers can finally say goodbye to paying for the San Onofre nuclear plant under the terms of a new agreement relieving customers of an additional $873 million in charges. The agreement adds to a previous settlement approved by the CPUC in 2014. The CPUC moved to reconsider the reasonableness of that agreement in light of evidence showing pervasive impermissible private contacts between SCE executives and former CPUC President Michael Peevey.

California Publishes Guidelines on Cell Phone Use

December 2017 - For those worried about exposure to non-ionizing radiation from cell phones, the State of California has issued guidelines to mitigate or reduce potential effects. While a definitive link is elusive, there is some evidence long-term heavy cell phone use can lead to brain tumors, reduced infertility or low sperm count, and other negative health impacts.

Governor Signs Bill on Transparency on Ingredients in Cleaning Products

October 2017 - Governor Brown signed into law yesterday the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 (SB 258). The new law requires cleaning products - for the first time - to disclose the bulk of their ingredients, particularly chemicals of concern, on their labels and online. In a first for any product category, chemical ingredients in fragrances - previously a black box to consumers - will also have to be disclosed.

Governor Signs Bill to Increase Transparency in Drug Pricing

October 2017 - Working to increase transparency in prescription drug pricing, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation - SB 17, requiring pharmaceutical companies to give notice before hiking prices. SB 17 requires drug manufacturers to provide a 60-day notice if prices are raised more than 16 percent in a two-year period. The bill applies to drugs that have a wholesale price of more than $40 for a 30-day supply. SB 17 also requires health plans and insurers to file annual reports outlining how drug costs impact health care premiums in California.

Bill to Make Doctors on Probation Inform Patients Passes State Senate

June 2017 - By a vote of 30-4, the California Senate passed SB 798, the Medical Board sunset review bill. The legislation includes a provision that requires doctors to notify their patients when they have been put on probation by the Medical Board for dangerous misconduct. SB 798 will now be taken up by the California Assembly. The bill must pass the state legislature this year in order to reauthorize the Medical Board of California.

Governor Signs Out of State Arbitration Bill

September 2016 - California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1241, placing limits on agreements requiring workers to waive their rights to challenge employers in the court system. The bill specifically bans arbitration clauses which force California residents out-of-state.

Governor Signs Smart TV Privacy Law

October 2015 - The first-in-the-nation bill to address privacy concerns as new smart TVs get equipped with voice recognition features.

Feds OK CA Plan to Pre-Enroll Incarcerated People in Medi-Cal

March 2023 - California will soon become the first state in the nation to offer health insurance to income-eligible individuals who are incarcerated – starting 90 days prior to their release. The feds just agreed to match funds spent on Medi-Cal or CHIP for people leaving jail, prison or juvenile correctional facilities.

Bills Filed to Shorten Criminal Sentences

February 2021 - Supporters of criminal-sentencing reform have filed nine proposals, all intended to make the system more just for people of all races. The bills would follow through on recommendations made in a new report from the California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code. Natasha Minsker, a consultant to the committee, supports Senate Bill 483, which would shorten sentences for thousands of people sitting behind bars for so-called "zombie enhancements" – longer sentences for reasons that have been repealed by the Legislature.

Number of Juveniles in Detention Drops In March

April 2020 - A new survey of local secure youth detention centers shows their population dropped by almost one-quarter in March, as the COVID-19 crisis gripped the nation. The survey from the Annie E. Casey Foundation says the drop is as large as a recent seven-year period from 2010 to 2017 – mostly because fewer young people are being detained.

CA Senate Passes Bill To Train Police To Avoid Deadly Use Of Force

May 2019 - The California Senate approved legislation requiring officers across the nation's most populous state to be trained in ways to avoid using deadly force, one of two measures intended to deter shootings by police. Senators unanimously passed the proposal requiring that policies on deadly force be standardized statewide, sending it to the Assembly. It also requires officers to learn ways to de-escalate confrontations, alternatives to shooting suspects and how to interact with those with mental illness or addictions.

Judge Lets Law on Access to Police Records Stand

March 2019 - The California Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a new law implemented at the start of the year unsealing and allowing public and media access to certain types of records related to police conduct. The law is intended to end years of secrecy that have made it impossible for the public to find out when a police officer had been found to engage in misconduct on the job. The secrecy was so strong that even prosecutors and defense attorneys struggled to find out about any past behavior by an officer that might compromise a criminal case.

Governor Signs Criminal Justice Reform Package

September 2018 - Gov. Brown signed two research-based criminal justice reforms to improve rehabilitation and reduce the odds of re-offending. Senate Bill 1391 prohibits 14- and 15-year-olds from being tried as adults in criminal court and subsequently sent to adult prison. The bill reverses laws passed in the 1990s that allowed for sentencing the youngest teens to the adult criminal justice system. Senate Bill 1050 extends services and support for exonerated people released from prison after their wrongful convictions are overturned. Since 1989, there have been a total of 192 exonerations in California. SB 1050 guarantees access to Medi-Cal, CalFresh and work training programs to assist exonerees to transition back to society. Today Governor Brown also signed SB 439, which excludes children age 11 and younger from juvenile court jurisdiction to promote the rights, health and well-being of the child by curbing premature exposure to incarceration, and SB 1393, which return judicial discretion on sentencing related to five-year enhancements for serious felony convictions.

Governor Signs Bill to Give Judges Discretion in Sentencing

September 2018 - Gov. Brown signed another major reform rooted in evidence-based policy and cost-effective approaches to criminal justice. Senate Bill 1393, the Fair and Just Sentencing Reform Act, will eliminate automatic penalties that have contributed to the state's mass incarceration crisis and failed 'tough on crime' policies by returning discretion in sentencing of serious felonies to judges.

Governor Signs Bill to Reform Cash Bail

August 2018 - Taking action to revamp California's bail system, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. 8/28/2018 signed Senate Bill 10, the California Money Bail Reform Act, which preserves the rights of the accused, while prioritizing public safety. The new law - which will take effect on October 1, 2019 - establishes a new system for determining a defendant's custody status while they await trial based on an assessment of risk to public safety and probability of missing a court date rather than their ability to pay cash bail.

California Attorney General Backs Changing Money Bail System

February 2018 - Judges must consider suspects' ability to pay when they set bail amounts, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra ruled, adding momentum to ongoing talks aimed at finding a better way to make sure suspects show up in court. Judges should only keep suspects in jail awaiting trial if they are dangerous or are likely to flee, Becerra said. He sided with a recent appeals court ruling that the state's bail system unconstitutionally discriminates against poor suspects who languish in jail. Bail is money or property that can be forfeited if suspects fail to appear for trial.

Governor Brown Signs Law To Ban Charging the Innocent for Cost of Counsel

July 2017 - Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 35, that would end the practice of requiring innocent defendants to reimburse the courts for the cost of appointed counsel. In the future only those who are convicted will be charged.

Orange County Jail Dumps Controversial Contractor

March 2017 - Orange County supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel a contract with a jail kiosk operator over concerns that family members and friends of inmates were being charged too much to use the company's services, including posting bail money and adding funds electronically to commissary accounts. In recent years, the Federal Communications Commission and attorneys general for six states have accused the contractor, Virigina-based Global Tel-Link Corp., of charging excessive rates on jailhouse phone calls. In Orange County's jail, the company charged for use of their kiosks and online payments system, including $8 to deposit $51 into an inmate's commissary and from 5 to 8 percent for most bail payments.

Proposition 57, Gov. Jerry Brown's push to loosen prison parole rules, is approved by voters

November 2016 - Proposition 57, the governor's plan to further shrink the state's prison population, was supported by almost two-thirds of voters in Tuesday night returns. The ballot measure changes the state's prison and legal systems in three significant ways. The least controversial element will reverse a law approved by voters in 2000 that sent more juvenile defendants to adult courtrooms. Those young defendants will now only be charged as adults with a judge's approval. The most controversial parts of Proposition 57 involve the prospect of parole for felons who have not been convicted of one of California's designated "violent" crimes, and the creation of new good-behavior credits that all state prisoners would be eligible to earn.

Governor Signs Asset Seizure Bill

September 2016 - Governor Brown signed SB 443, authored by Senator Holly Mitchell and co-authored by Anderson, which will require a conviction before law enforcement can seize one's property if that property is valued at less than $40,000.

Governor Signs Bill On Proof of Innocence

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1134, which ensures that when innocent people are convicted, there is a fair and reasonable path to clear their names if new evidence is later found to support their claims of innocence.

Governor Signs Bill Decriminalizing Prostitution for Minors

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed multiple bills which protect young child sex trafficking victims from further exploitation, including Senate Bill 1322, which decriminalizes prostitution for minors in the state of California.

CA Gets New Online Reporting for Police Use of Force

September 2016 - Following last year's launch of an unprecedented criminal justice open data initiative, OpenJustice, and the passage of Assembly Bill 71, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today launched a web-based tool that allows California law enforcement agencies to digitally report law enforcement or civilian uses of force.

Anti-Death Penalty Proposal Qualifies for the Ballot

July 2016 - The Justice That Works initiative is officially on November's ballot in California as Proposition 62. Prop 62 will replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole.

Supreme Court Rejects Case on Assault Weapons Ban California Gun Control Remains in Place

December 2015 - California's gun strict laws are safe, for now, after the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a case that could have overturned the Golden State's ban on assault weapons and high capacity ammunition.

Bill to Fight Sexual Harassment Introduced in State Senate

March 2018 - Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced wide-ranging legislation to close loopholes in law that discourage or prevent victims from speaking out, allow employers to avoid sexual harassment and discrimination laws, and leave employees vulnerable to sexual harassment at work. Senate Bill 1300 provides guidance to the courts on the "severe or pervasive" legal standard for sexual harassment litigation, so that it is fairly applied in court to protect victims. SB 1300 also prohibits non-disparagement clauses and "sneaky releases" that prevent victims from speaking out about abuse, strengthens sexual harassment training requirements, and holds employers accountable for preventing harassment in the workplace.

Governor Signs "Rape on the Night Shift" Bill

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1978 today, a landmark bill authored by Asm. Lorena Gonzalez to protect women whose jobs working the nightshift in empty buildings have made them particularly vulnerable to sexual assault.

Poll Shows Supporter for Kindergarten Readiness Act

April 2014 - A Field Poll found overwhelming support for making universal preschool in California available to all four-year old children.

CA Budget A Windfall for Education

January 2022 - K through 12 and higher ed would get 102 billion dollars next fiscal year as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal, released Monday – the most in state history – thanks to a projected 45-billion-dollar surplus.

K-12 Gets Big Boost in New Budget

July 2021 - California "Comeback Plan" in state budget include record investment in public schools. Public schools in low-income neighborhoods will be able to provide smaller class sizes, before- and after-school instruction, sports and arts, personalized tutoring, nurses and counselors and free school nutrition – paired with new preventative behavioral health services for every kid in California.

State to Audit Online Calbright College

February 2020 - Education groups are praising a unanimous decision by a legislative committee Wednesday to audit the state’s first online community college, called Calbright College. Lawmakers expressed concern about transparency and duplication of current offerings. Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, says the 140 million invested in Calbright would have been better spent bolstering online programs at existing community colleges.

CA Assembly Passes Child Savings Accounts

May 2019 - The California State Assembly has passed a ground breaking effort to reduce wealth inequality for all California children by a vote of 75-0. This effort complements Governor Newsom's effort to expand child savings accounts similar to the program he started in San Francisco as Mayor. AB 15 will create a statewide child savings account program by tasking the Scholar Share Investment Board to operate a master 529 account, owned by the state. Each child born in California will automatically be enrolled in the account at birth and receive an initial seed deposit of at least $25. Savings from the account could be used for a number of different higher educational purposes such as tuition at a college, university, trade school or graduate program; room and board; books; computers; and other related qualified expenses.

California Senators Vote to Replace No Child Left Behind Act

December 2016 - A bill to replace the No Child Left Behind Act passed in the Senate Wednesday in a landslide.

CA Voters Pass Props 55 and 58

November 2016 - Supporters of public education say they're thrilled that voters passed both Propositions 55 and 58 by overwhelming margins. Prop 55 extends a tax on the wealthy for 12 years in order to send about 8 billion dollars to public education annually, while lowering sales taxes. Proposition 58 also passed, making it much easier for schools to offer bilingual education, by repealing parts of a 1998 law that mandated all children be taught in English-only classes unless their parents requested a waiver each year.

Prop 51 On School Bonds Passes

November 2016 - Voters have passed Prop 51, which authorizes $9 billion in general obligation bonds: $3 billion for new construction and $3 billion for modernization of K-12 public school facilities; $1 billion for charter schools and vocational education facilities; and $2 billion for California Community Colleges facilities.

University of California to Make $5 Million in Loans to Undocumented Students

February 2016 - The University of California has just announced five-million dollars in loans to undocumented students.

Monarch Butterfly Recovery Underway

February 2023 - Volunteers counted more than 335-thousand Western monarch butterflies in the annual survey – a big improvement over the last few years, but still far short of historical numbers.

Feds Approve Removal of 4 Dams on Klamath River

November 2022 - In a milestone decision, federal regulators signed off on plans to demolish four aging dams along the Klamath River, paving the way for hundreds of miles of native fish habitat along the California-Oregon border to flow freely for the first time in more than a century. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision will see licenses of the four dams transferred from the PacifiCorp energy company — a subsidiary of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway — to the Klamath River Renewal Corp., a nonprofit entity created to oversee the dam removal, and to the states of California and Oregon.

California Assembly Passes Bill to Improve Wildlife Connectivity, Public Safety

May 2022 - The California Assembly passed the Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act, which would prioritize wildlife crossings and other infrastructure projects that improve wildlife connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collision risk. The bill, which still needs California Senate approval, would require Caltrans to identify barriers to wildlife movement before planning and designing transportation projects. Caltrans would also need to consider and incorporate wildlife movement needs when building or improving roads and highways.

Judge Lets Wildlife Corridor Ordinance Stand

May 2022 - Animals such as the mountain lion, gray fox and California red-legged frog may now have a better shot at thriving in Southern California after a court victory left wildlife corridor protections in place. A judge recently finalized two decisions that upheld two Ventura County ordinances regulating land use, lighting, and fencing in areas considered vital to the animals' passage.

Monarch Butterfly Population Improves

November 2021 - The number of Monarch butterflies wintering along California's central coast is bouncing back after the population, whose presence is often a good indicator of ecosystem health, reached an all-time low last year. Experts pin their decline on climate change, habitat destruction and lack of food due to drought. An annual winter count last year by the Xerces Society recorded fewer than 2,000 butterflies, a massive decline from the tens of thousands tallied in recent years and the millions that clustered in trees from Northern California's Mendocino County to Baja California, Mexico in the south in the 1980s. Now, their roosting sites are concentrated mostly on California's central coast. This year's official count started Saturday and will last three weeks but already an unofficial count by researchers and volunteers shows there are over 50,000 monarchs at overwintering sites.

New State Budget Funds Transition Awat from Drift Gillnets

June 2021 - California Governor Newsom has signed the 2021-2022 budget, which includes $1.3 million for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to complete the state's transition away from deadly drift gillnets toward cleaner fishing gears to catch swordfish. Drift gillnets — which are a mile long, nearly invisible and set out overnight near the ocean’s surface to capture swordfish — are responsible for entangling, injuring, and killing hundreds of whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, and important non-targeted fish species.

CA to Remove Dams on the Klamath River

November 2020 - The states of California and Oregon are stepping in to revive a Klamath River dam-removal project that has been in the works for ten years. The states announced a deal with the hydroelectric dam operator, Pacific Corp., and the nonprofit Klamath River Renewal Corporation to remove the Iron Gate, Copco 1 and Copco 2 dams in California and the J.C. Boyle Dam in Oregon.

Governor Signs Bill to Ban Certain Rodenticides

September 2020 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1788 by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) prohibiting the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides which are known to poison mountain lions and other wildlife. Recent studies have found that 96 percent of necropsied mountain lions and more than 80 percent of the raptors studied showed exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides, which can cause chronic growth and reproduction issues.

CA Proposes Rules To Protect Turtles From Fishing Gear

May 2020 - California state officials released a proposed rule today to reduce the number of endangered whales and sea turtles that get entangled in commercial Dungeness crab gear. The Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP) was prompted by steep annual increases in reported whale entanglements and a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity. RAMP was developed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group, which was formed in 2015 to address entanglements that were killing and injuring endangered whales. The program assesses the likely presence of whales and sea turtles, among other factors, to determine if management measures, such as shortening the season or closing an area to crab gear, are needed to reduce the risk of entanglements.

California Moves to Protect Imperiled Mountain Lion Populations

April 2020 - In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Mountain Lion Foundation, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 5-0 today to advance Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions to candidacy under the state's Endangered Species Act. The vote follows a February 2020 finding by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that increased protections may be warranted. The unanimous vote triggers a year-long review by the department to determine if these populations should be formally protected under the Act. The Act's protections apply during the candidacy period

California Court Approves Ban on Federal Wildlife Poisoning, Trapping

April 2020 - A federal animal-killing program must restrict its use of bird-killing poisons in Northern California and stop setting strangulation snares and other traps in places like the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The agreement, approved by a San Francisco federal court, also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services to analyze the environmental impacts of its killing of coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and other wildlife in California’s "Sacramento District." This 10-county region covers Colusa, El Dorado, Lake, Marin, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

Conservation Group Sues Feds to Protect Whales from Ship Strikes

March 2020 - The Center for Biological Diversity starts legal proceedings with a letter to the Trump administration threatening a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard if officials continue ignoring the requirements of the Endangered Species Act in agency consultations, studies and actions such as speed limits in shipping lanes or protecting critical habitat areas. Ship strikes are a leading cause of death and injuries to whales migrating along California's coast and are more lethal than previously understood. The Center is calling for the Fisheries Service to update biological surveys of endangered blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales and leatherback sea turtles and better protect them from harm.

Court Blocks Trump Administration Plans to Strip Sage-grouse Protections

October 2019 - A federal judge blocked Trump administration plans allowing expanded drilling, mining, livestock grazing and other destructive activities across 51 million acres of greater sage-grouse habitat in seven western states: Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California and Oregon. Conservation groups requested the injunction in April, saying the plans approved by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt would gut protections for the birds' dwindling populations and destroy their habitat.

Safer Fishing Gear to Replace West Coast Drift Gillnets

September 2019 - Dolphins, whales, sharks and sea lions on the West Coast may be less likely to die in fishing nets now that authorities have approved a new type of fishing gear. The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to approve deep-set buoy gear, to replace the huge drift gillnets made of mesh that are used by commercial fishing operations to catch swordfish.

California Bans Fur Trapping

September 2019 - California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill that makes it illegal to trap animals or sell their fur, making California the first state in the U.S. to impose a fur trapping ban. The Wildlife Protection Act of 2019 puts an end to a longstanding practice that was entwined with California's frontier roots but that has steadily declined in recent decades with the rise of conservationism.

Conservation Groups Sue To Protect Endangered Species in Northern California

July 2019 - Conservation groups are filing suit against the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service to force a long-delayed decision on whether to list the Siskiyou Mountain salamander as an endangered species. A coalition of environmental groups petitioned for protections early last year but the agency has missed multiple deadlines and has yet to make a finding.

Groups Ask State To Protect Mountain Lions

June 2019 - The Center for Biological Diversity and Mountain Lion Foundation formally petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission today to protect mountain lions under the California Endangered Species Act. The petition seeks protections for gravely imperiled cougar populations in Southern California and on the Central Coast, including the Eastern Peninsular Range, Santa Ana Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, and north along the coast to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some Southern California lion populations could disappear in little more than a decade, according to a March 2019 study. Researchers at UC Davis, UCLA, and with the National Park Service predicted that if inbreeding depression occurs, the Santa Ana population could go extinct within 12 years and the Santa Monica population within 15.

Recovery Plan Released For Endangered Frog

February 2019 - In response to legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a recovery plan for the endangered Southern California population of mountain yellow-legged frogs. The plan calls for a wide array of recovery actions and research efforts to deal with the multitude of threats to the survival of this highly endangered frog. Once the 1900s mountain yellow-legged frogs have disappeared from nearly all of their former range in Southern California. By the 1990s fewer than 100 were thought to remain in a handful of isolated headwater streams. Predation by introduced fish, primarily non-native rainbow trout, is one of the best-documented causes of the frogs' decline. Another primary threat is habitat damage from recreation and other factors.The recovery plan prioritizes the continuation of captive-breeding efforts and augmentation of existing populations, as well as reestablishing populations in areas historically occupied by the frogs.

Court: Gray Wolves Can Keep California Endangered Species Protection

January 2019 - A state court judge upheld protection for gray wolves under the California Endangered Species Act. The ruling rejected a challenge from the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of the California Cattlemen's Association and California Farm Bureau Federation. Ranching groups had challenged gray wolves' endangered status based on the erroneous claim that the wolves in California are the wrong subspecies. They also wrongly argued that the listing was improperly based on a single wolf's presence, and that wolves can't be endangered in the state as there are plenty elsewhere in the world.

California Protects Humboldt Martens as Endangered

August 2018 - In response to a petition from conservation groups, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 8/23/2018 to protect the Humboldt marten under the state Endangered Species Act. The Environmental Protection Information Center and Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for the secretive carnivore's protection in 2015. A relative of minks and otters that dwells in old-growth forests, fewer than 200 of the cat-like animals survive in California in Del Norte, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Humboldt martens have lost more than 95 percent of their historic habitat to logging.

Bill to Phase Out Driftnets Passes Key Committee

May 2018 - SB 1017, a bill that would transition California away from the use of large-scale driftnets successfully cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill will potentially be up for a full Senate floor vote next week. SB 1017, authored by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, would: Implement a driftnet permit buyback program; end the use of driftnets after the 2023 fishing season (new entrants into the swordfish fishery will be directed toward the use of lower impact fishing gears for a modernized fishery). This is the first time a bill of this type has passed out of the Appropriations Committee.

Court Rules in Favor of Bi-State Sage Grouse

May 2018 - A U.S. district court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2015 wrongly denied Endangered Species Act protection for the bi-state sage grouse, which lives in parts of California and Nevada. The next step will be a court hearing to determine when the agency must reconsider federal protection for the bird, a genetically unique and isolated sage grouse species that inhabits the Mono Basin on the California-Nevada border and faces multiple threats to its survival.

Sardine Fishery Closed For Third Year to Protect Population

April 2017 - Today, federal fishery managers voted to keep the U.S. West Coast Pacific sardine fishery closed for the upcoming commercial season. With an estimated 86,586 metric tons (mt) of sardine remaining, and 150,000 mt necessary for fishing to occur, this will be the third year in a row there are not enough sardines to support a fishery. Had the decision gone the other way, the fishery would likely collapse to near extinction and greatly impact animals like sea lions that feed on sardines.

Davis Co-Op Wins Award For Protecting Raptors

July 2016 - The advocacy group Raptors Are The Solution gave an award to the Davis co-op for switching from rat poison to traps in order to protect owls, hawks, and other wildlife. It was presented at the co-op in downtown Davis, where they also received an award State Senator Lois Wolk's office.

Sea World Ends Killer Whale Breeding

March 2016 - SeaWorld will end killer whale breeding, the company announced, after years of controversy over keeping its orcas in captivity.

Bill Introduced in CA Senate to Protect Bees from Toxic Pesticides

March 2016 - A new bill aims to slow the collapse of bee colonies by making certain pesticides available only to trained professionals.

Lead Ammo Banned

September 2013 - The state Legislature has passed a bill that would ban the use of lead ammunition for hunting.

Gray Wolf Gets Protections

December 2010 - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released a draft plan Wednesday to protect the gray wolf, which recently established the first pack in California in decades.

California Submits Application to U.S. Department of Energy for Federal Funding to Become a National Hydrogen Hub

April 2023 - The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) has submitted an application to the United States Department of Energy, as part of the Biden Administration's Hydrogen Earth Shot Challenge. ARCHES is the official applicant and organizer for California's proposal to bring a statewide Department of Energy H2 hub to the Golden State. ARCHES, announced as the organizer for California's DOE application last year, is a statewide public-private partnership designed to accelerate H2's contribution to decarbonizing the state's economy and will build on California's long-standing H2 and renewable energy leadership.

Governor Signs Bill to Fight Gas Price Gouging

March 2023 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to implement the strongest state-level oversight and accountability measures on Big Oil in the nation, bringing transparency to California’s oil and gas industry.

State Senate Approves Gas Price Gouging Bill

March 2023 - California lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would penalize oil companies for "price gouging" — a first-of-its-kind legislation pushed forward in recent months by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill would authorize the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to set a maximum gross gasoline refining margin — and then establish a penalty for any California-based refineries that exceed that margin.

Fed to Offer First Offshore Lease Sale in CA

October 2022 - The Department of the Interior today announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale on Dec. 6, 2022, for areas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off central and northern California. This will be the first-ever offshore wind lease sale on America’s west coast and the first-ever U.S. sale to support potential commercial-scale floating offshore wind energy development.

State Proposes Setbacks for Oil and Gas Drilling

October 2021 - The Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management Division has released a proposed regulation that would prohibit new wells and facilities within a 3,200-foot exclusion area - or setback - from homes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other sensitive locations. It would also require pollution controls for existing wells and facilities within the same 3,200-foot setback area.

Feds, State Agree to Allow More Offshore Windmills in CA

May 2021 - Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl, and California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an agreement to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California. This significant milestone is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to create thousands of jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030.

Bill Filed to Ban Fracking in CA

February 2021 - Groups that fight climate change are applauding a bill to halt new permits for fracking starting next year – and ban it altogether as of 2027. Senate Bill 467 also would apply to several other extraction methods that advocates say are harmful to human health and the environment.

CA Appeals Ruling In Suit Over Fed Rollback of Fracking Rules

June 2020 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today filed a notice of appeal in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to repeal regulations governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas wells drilled on federal and Native American tribal lands. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2015 Fracking Rule addressed growing concerns about fracking's impact on public health and the environment. In the filing, Attorney General Becerra argues that the Trump Administration's repeal of the 2015 Fracking Rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

CA Mandates Efficient Pool Pump Motors

April 2020 - The California Energy Commission has decided to adopt updated state standards for motors in pool pumps to require energy efficient models. The standards will ensure that every replacement swimming pool pump motor sold in California as of July 2021 is an efficient one, whether it’s for the pool in someone’s backyard, school or university, hotel, or town pool. The state is home to almost one-fifth of the pools in the United States.

Court Rules Against Kern County Oil Ordinance

February 2020 - In a monumental victory for both public advocacy groups and local farmers, a California court ruled that a Kern County oil and gas ordinance paid for and drafted by the oil industry violated the state's foundational environmental law. California's Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled that a key county analysis failed to disclose the full extent of drilling's environmental harm, in violation of state law. Kern County used the flawed study to pass an industry-friendly oil and gas ordinance in 2015 and has issued more than a thousand permits a year since it passed. The court ordered that the environmental impact report and the ordinance be set aside until the county can demonstrate it complies with the law. Kern County must stop issuing permits under the ordinance within 30 days. The ruling means environmental review of new drilling proposals in Kern County will revert back to state authorities.

LA to Retire Three Gas-Fired Power Plants, Go Renewable

February 2019 - California took a huge step toward the goal of running entirely on renewable energy, as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced that it's retiring three natural gas power plants. The L-A D-W-P, which is the largest municipal utility in the nation, says it will close the Haynes, Harbor and Scattergood gas-fired plants near the L-A International Airport.

Puente Power Plant Proposal Officially Dead

December 2018 - NRG withdrew its application to the California Energy Commission for approval of the Puente Power Plant, which had been proposed for construction on the Oxnard coast. On October 5, 2017, the Energy Commission Committee issued a Statement recommending denial of the project due to its significant environmental impacts and violations of local and state laws and regulations. The Statement supported the community's preference for clean energy sources and recommended an expedited study to analyze the feasibility of such alternatives.

Governor Brown Signs Bills to Block Offshore Oil Drilling

September 2018 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation - SB 834 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and AB 1775 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) - to block new federal offshore oil drilling along California's coast, and announced the state's opposition to the federal government's plan to expand oil drilling on public lands in California. SB 834 and AB 1775 block the Trump administration's plan to expand offshore oil drilling by prohibiting new leases for new construction of oil and gas-related infrastructure, such as pipelines, within state waters if the federal government authorizes any new offshore oil leases.

Oil Company Criminally Liable for 2015 Spill Near Santa Barbara

September 2018 - Plains All-American Pipeline was found guilty of several charges in connection with the 2015 rupture of its severely corroded coastal oil pipeline today after a four-month trial. The spill near Refugio State Beach leaked more than 120,000 gallons of oil, killed hundreds of birds and marine mammals and blackened Santa Barbara area beaches for miles. A jury found Houston-based Plains guilty of a felony for failing to properly maintain its pipeline, and several misdemeanors, including failing to timely call emergency response agencies. The spill shuttered seven offshore drilling platforms that were served by the pipeline, Line 901. Plains has applied to build a new pipeline in the same location. ExxonMobil is also seeking permits to transport oil by tanker trucks so it can restart its three offshore platforms.

Governor Signs Bill for 100% Clean Energy Goal

September 2018 - California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100 (SB100) into law, setting the fifth largest economy in the world on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. SB100 builds on California's clean energy leadership by establishing bold new clean energy targets for the state. California is now the largest global economy to commit to 100 percent renewable energy.

Alisa Canyon Blowout Settlement Announced

August 2018 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer (City Attorney), and the County of Los Angeles (County) announced a $119.5 million settlement with the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) over the unprecedented natural gas leak from a ruptured well at its Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in Porter Ranch, California.

LA Utility Invests $100 Million in Effiency

June 2018 - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power - the nation's largest municipal utility - voted to invest $100 million over five years to improve energy efficiency in lower-income rental housing, ensuring those who most need electricity bill savings will see some relief. This is the largest single allocation of energy efficiency funding aimed at affordable apartments in California as well as the biggest nationally for one metropolitan region served by a municipal utility. LADWP also allocated $10 million for new shared solar facilities, further ensuring benefits from California's clean energy economy can reach all residents, including renters.

California Moves to Require Solar on Most New Homes

May 2018 - California became the first U.S. state to require solar panels on almost all new homes, sending the clearest signal yet that rooftop power is moving beyond a niche market and becoming the norm. Most new homes built after Jan. 1, 2020, will be required to include solar systems as part of energy-efficiency standards adopted by the California Energy Commission. While that's a boost for the solar industry, critics warned that it will also drive up the cost of buying a house by almost $10,000. Solar shares surged upon the decision, while homebuilders fell.

Conservation Groups Sue Over Oil Rig Planned in National Monument

April 2018 - Los Padres ForestWatch and the Center for Biological Diversity appealed the Trump administration's approval of a new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument. It is the first well the Interior Department has approved in the monument since it was established in 2001. The appeals, filed with the Interior Board of Land Appeals in Virginia and the Bureau of Land Management's California director, show that the oil well and pipeline would harm threatened and endangered wildlife and mar scenic views. The fossil fuel development would violate several laws, including the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, as well as the monument's resource-management plan.

Groups Sue to Keep Methane Waste Rule

December 2017 - Two new lawsuits have been filed in federal court to stop the Trump administration from deep-sixing rules meant to reduce pollution, fight climate change and preserve public resources. A dozen conservation groups and the state attorneys general of California and New Mexico have sued to reinstate the methane waste rule, which would force oil and gas companies to install equipment to capture excess methane gas at their wells instead of venting it or burning it off. The BLM suspended the rule until January 2019, arguing that it is too big a burden on industry.

Environmental Groups Settle Lawsuit Over Panoche Valley Solar Project

July 2017 - The Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Panoche Valley Solar LLC have entered into a settlement agreement concerning the size and location of a solar project currently under development in California's Panoche Valley. The agreement will help advance renewable energy in the state, create local jobs, and protect the environment. Once final, the settlement will permanently conserve more than 26,000 acres for wildlife habitat. Initially, 247 MW of solar generation was planned for development in the Panoche Valley, but now approximately 100 MW is instead proposed for development at a site in Imperial County, California.

LADWP Puts Hold on Gas Plants

June 2017 - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the largest publicly owned utility in the country, announced that it will pause a $2.2 billion investment in gas plants until it can do a clean energy analysis. This is a clear signal that the DWP sees clean energy and energy efficiency as a strong competitor to gas. This hold comes after a year of the community advocating at the utility for greater investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.

CA Joins Lawsuit to Defend Energy Efficiency Regs

April 2017 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, with the California Energy Commission and six Attorneys General, filed a motion late yesterday to intervene in a lawsuit in order to defend energy saving light bulb regulations. In March, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) challenging energy efficiency regulations for lamps (light bulbs). California defends these laws to safeguard their massive energy savings.

Oil Company Abandons Last Offshore Rig in CA Waters

April 2017 - Local environmentalists and community members are celebrating the announcement that Venoco has quitclaimed its oil and gas leases offshore near Santa Barbara. The leases include those supporting operations from Platform Holly and the Ellwood Pier. Holly is the last offshore rig in CA waters. The California State Lands Commission will take over the process of plugging the wells and decommissioning the structures. The Ellwood Onshore Facility (EOF), which processes oil and gas from Platform Holly, will also likely be decommissioned. The environmental community has been united against Venoco's controversial projects for decades. At various times, the oil company has used Platform Holly for Acid Well Stimulation (acidizing) and in recent years has sought authorization to expand drilling from Holly using slant drilling techniques, reaching more than four miles into a Coastal Sanctuary.

Local Board Blocks Oil Train Proposal

March 2017 - The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors today voted to reject Phillips 66's proposed oil train offloading terminal. The project was denied with a 3-1 vote, with one supervisor recusing himself in a conflict of interest. Phillips 66 had appealed the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission decision to reject their controversial oil train project last October, which came after a nearly three-year review process. More than 25,000 Californians have opposed the project in comments and petitions, and more than 45 cities, counties, and school boards have sent letters urging the County to deny the crude-by-rail proposal. The Board of Supervisors' denial was the second community victory in less than a week, after a Superior Court judge ruled that Phillips? legal challenge to the earlier Planning Commission decision was premature.

Calif. Tops Nation for Energy-Efficiency Jobs

January 2017 - California is number one in a dynamic industry that has created almost 1.9 million jobs nationwide, according to a new report. The report, by the group Environmental Entrepreneurs, indicates that policies in California, like targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, are paying off.

Governor Signs Bill Promoting Green Energy

October 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1110 (Phil Ting, D-San Francisco) which sets a new standard for consumer protection in the green energy market, one that all retail suppliers will have to include in their marketing and advertising materials.

Governor Signs Bill to Rein in CPUC

September 2016 - Governor Brown signed a bill, SB 215, that limits meetings between utilities and regulators, establishes new disclosure requirements for contacts between Commissioners and self-interested Wall Street and industry representatives, and increases penalties for violations.

California Releases Proposed New Rule to Curb Leaks at Oil and Natural Gas Facilities

May 2016 - Oil and gas facilities, including storage wells like the one that created a disaster this winter at Aliso Canyon, will have to undergo rigorous new inspections, if a groundbreaking proposal released by the California Air Resources Board goes into effect.

Environmental Groups Praise Criminal Indictments on Santa Barbara Oil Spill

May 2016 - Environmental groups are applauding the criminal indictment of the company responsible for the massive oil spill last may in Refugio, about an hour north of Santa Barbara.

California Offshore Oil Fracking Permits Halted While Federal Government Performs Environmental Review

January 2016 - The U.S. federal government will stop approving offshore oil fracking operations off California's coast while it studies how damaging the practice is to the health of wildlife and the environment.

The California Public Utilities Commission Decided to Keep Net Metering

January 2016 - In a big win for rooftop solar in California, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected big fee increases and cuts to reimbursement rates on changes sought by the big three utility companies.

Water Rules Drafted in Response to Drought

November -0001 - The State Water Resources Control Board put out a framework on how the mandatory water cuts can be achieved. Also the California Energy Commission approved new standards for water appliances.

CA Sues EPA Over Environmental Impact Rules

August 2020 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful final rule curtailing requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that federal agencies review and assess the impact of their actions on the environment. The final rule also limits public participation in the review process, robbing vulnerable communities of the opportunity to make their voices heard on actions that are likely to have adverse environmental and health impacts. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that the final rule abandons informed decision making, public participation, and environmental and public health protections in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and NEPA.

Judge Rejects Oil Company's Request to Frack Off SoCal Coast

April 2019 - Environmental groups have won another round in the battle over fracking in federal waters off the coast of California. A judge has denied an oil company's request to frack in the Santa Barbara Channel. The company, called D-COR LLC, had asked for an exception to a moratorium put in place last December. That ruling forbids the Trump administration from approving permits for fracking or acidizing in the Pacific until proper environmental review is done.

New Bill To Defend Against Trump Environmental Rollbacks

December 2018 - California's first state Senate bill of the new session - S-B One - is an effort to combat the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks, by requiring state rules to be at least as strict as those in place before January 2017, when President Barack Obama left office. The current administration has already repealed dozens of environmental rules, from protections for wetlands and smaller streams, to regulating the release of greenhouse gasses from oil and gas wells on federal land.

Judge Orders CA Ag Officials to Stop Using Pesticides

February 2018 - A judge has ordered California agricultural officials to stop spraying pesticides on public and private property to control insects that threaten the state's $45-billion agriculture industry. Farmers and other property owners will still be able to use chemical insecticides, and the state can continue to use non-chemical means of pest control. But it will have to suspend spraying pesticides on vegetation in parks, school properties and even homeowners' backyards. The challenge remains for the state Department of Food and Agriculture to control dozens of crop-damaging pests such as the Asian citrus psyllid, which carries bacteria that have decimated the citrus industry in Brazil and Florida.

Governor Signs Bill to Plug Old Oil Wells

October 2017 - Governor Brown has just signed a bill to monitor and cap California's old, abandoned and leaking oil wells. Senate Bill 44, the Coastal Oil Well Clean Up and Remediation Act, will require the California State Lands Commission to monitor and plug old "orphaned" oil wells in California waters when the original oil company that operated the well no longer exists and cannot be held responsible. It also directs up to $2 million dollars annually, derived from state mineral leases, to a fund set aside for the remediation of improperly abandoned legacy wells. With this fund, the Commission will begin to identify leaking, abandoned wells and prioritize capping the highest risk wells first.

Lake Tahoe Restoration Act Passes U.S. Senate

September 2016 - The U.S. Senate passed the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015, which was included in the underlying text of the Water Resources Development Act. The legislation authorizes $415 million over 10 years for forest fuels management, environmental and watershed restoration, stormwater management and other projects. It now moves to the House of Representatives.

Bill to Help the Salton Sea Signed into Law

August 2016 - Senate Bill 1416, by Senator Jeff Stone (R-LaQuinta), which would establish a check-off box on State Income Tax forms to help restore the Salton Sea, passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor.

Feds Move to Clear the Way for Renewable Energy and Protect the California Desert

November 2015 - The future of more than 10 million acres of public land in the southern California Desert is laid out in a plan released by the Bureau of Land Management Tuesday.

Monterey Shale Oil Targets Drastically Reduced

May 2014 - Energy Information Administration say they are cutting their estimate of how much oil can be drawn out of California's massive Monterey Shale formation by a whopping 96 percent.

Victory for Lake Tahoe Ecosystem

January 2014 - Developers and environmentalists have settled a lawsuit that blocked a major redevelopment of Lake Tahoe's Homewood Mountain Resort.

Fracking Halt Won't be Halted in CA

April 2013 - Three bills that would halt fracking in California passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, despite intense pressure from the oil industry.

October 2012 - California Air Resources Board says more truckers are driving cleaner trucks. After inspecting more than 4,000 trucks at 40 locations statewide, the California Air Resources Board says truckers have gotten the message about obeying state air pollution laws.

September 2012 - A judge ruled the state may not include aerial spraying in eradication efforts against the Light Brown Apple Moth. While environmental groups are pleased with that part of the ruling, they say that restriction isn't enough. Health and environmental groups argue the rest of the approved plan involves applying harmful and untested pesticides in order to control a minor agricultural pest that has not been proven to damage California crops.

March 2012 - A victory for farm workers and those who live near strawberry fields. The manufacturer of a controversial strawberry pesticide is pulling its product out of California and other U.S. markets. Arysta LifeScience Inc. says it will no longer sell the fumigant Midas (methyl iodide.) The announcement comes as an Alameda County Superior Court judge was about to issue his decision in a lawsuit aimed at stopping the use of the chemical.

December 2011 - Environmental groups may have lost a regulatory battle to keep the controversial pesticide methyl iodide off the California market, but it now appears they may be winning the ground war against the chemical. Only six California growers have used methyl iodide to kill pests and weeds before planting crops like chili peppers, strawberries and walnut trees. That's compared to more than 8,500 soil fumigations that took place in California in 2009.

February 2011 - A newly-approved pesticide used in strawberry fields may be banned. Lawmakers are discussing alternatives to methyl iodide after hearing from critics who say the California Department of Pesticide Regulation ignored the recommendations of a science-review panel that found the chemical unsafe to farmworkers and the water supply.

Governor Signs Bill to Help Disadvantaged Communities Access Funds For Clean Energy

September 2018 - California Gov. Jerry Brown signed first-of-its-kind legislation designed to level the playing field for disadvantaged communities seeking funding for climate change and clean energy projects funded either by California Climate Investments or other sources. Signed along with a group of other climate bills during the Global Climate Action Summit, SB 1072 was authored by Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) and cosponsored by The Greenlining Institute and the Trust for Public Land.

Bill to Help Disadvantaged Communities Go Green Passes State Assembly

August 2018 - By a bipartisan 48-9 vote, on 8/29/2018 the California Assembly passed legislation designed to level the playing field for disadvantaged communities seeking funding for climate change and clean energy projects funded either by cap-and-trade dollars or other sources. SB 1072 previously passed the Senate in slightly different form and faced no organized opposition. The measure helps develop technical assistance guidelines covering areas like greenhouse gas quantification and grant-writing. It also provides further assistance by establishing regional climate cooperatives -- local hubs staffed by local experts that will answer questions, convene stakeholders, foster partnerships and help to develop project ideas. Taken together, these programs will provide a crucial boost to rural towns, high-poverty areas and other communities for whom the grant process may be daunting. The bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.

California Energy Commission Takes A Step Back on Puente Power Plant

June 2017 - The California Energy Commission has decided to allow the California Independent System Operator (CalISO) to study the feasibility of clean energy alternatives to the proposed Puente Power Project in Oxnard. The proposed natural gas plant is slated for construction on the coast in Oxnard, a community of color already disproportionately impacted by pollution and power plant construction.

Governor Signs Environmental Justice Bills

September 2016 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation that directs $900 million in cap-and-trade funds to greenhouse gas reducing programs that benefit disadvantaged communities, support clean transportation and protect natural ecosystems.

Coastal Commission Votes to Oppose Power Plant

September 2016 - The California Coastal Commission voted today to oppose the siting of a gas-fired power plant on the coast in Oxnard. Community groups had opposed the Puente Project on the basis that they already have three fossil fuel burning power plants polluting the air in this low-income city.

CA Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Suction Dredge Mining

August 2016 - A victory for environmental groups and tribes on Monday as the California Supreme Court upheld the 2009 ban on suction dredge gold mining in state rivers.

Parent Youth Helpline Funded in New Budget Proposal

January 2022 - A helpline that provides emergency emotional support for California parents and young people would get a three-year extension under Governor Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal released this week. The California Parent and Youth Helpline stands to get four-point-seven million dollars to continue its work helping people in distress.

July 2011 - Governor Jerry Brown signs bill to require all CA public schools include gay history education in their curriculum.

Bill Advances to Allow Civil Suits Against Illegal Guns

April 2022 - California's state legislature passed a bill that allows citizens to file civil lawsuits against those who traffic illegal firearms in the state. SB 1327, authored by state Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D) and co-sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), will allow private residents to sue any person who manufactures, distributes and transports imported illegal weapons in the state, such as .50 BMG rifles and ghost guns. Newsom advised his administration to model the new measure on the structure of Texas's abortion law. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) last year signed into law a measure that prohibits abortions once a fetal fetal heartbeat is detected, which typically occurs six weeks into a pregnancy.

New Red Flag Gun Law Takes Effect

January 2020 - Californians who pose a danger to themselves or others will have a harder time accessing guns. With AB 61, teachers, employers and co-workers can petition the courts to take guns from dangerous people, and gun restraining orders can can be extended to 5 years (AB 1076)

U.S. Top Court Rejects Challenge to California Gun Waiting Period

February 2018 - In a blow to gun rights activists, the U.S. Supreme Court turned away a challenge to California's 10-day waiting period for firearms purchases that is intended to guard against impulsive violence and suicides. The court's action underscored its continued reluctance to step into the national debate over gun control roiled by a series of mass shootings including the most recent at a Florida school. One of the court's most conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, dissented from the decision to reject the case and accused his colleagues of showing contempt toward constitutional protections for gun rights.

S.F. Sues Feds Over Faulty Gun Checks

December 2017 - The City of San Francisco has joined New York City and Philadelphia in a lawsuit to force the Defense Department to improve its system for reporting military service members with disqualifying convictions or dishonorable discharges to the FBI's firearms background-check system. The move comes after the revelation that the man who killed 26 people in a Texas church last month had been convicted of domestic violence while in the Air Force but since the DOD hadn't put that into the database, he was allowed to buy weapons.

CA Assembly Passes Bill Supporting Gun Violence Research

September 2017 - California State Assembly passed SB 536, a firearm violence research bill that will make information related to Gun Violence Restraining Orders available to researchers affiliated with the newly established University of California Firearm Violence Research Center or other nonprofit educational institutions or public agencies focused on the study and prevention of violence.

Bill to Restrict Guns from People Convicted of Hate Crimes Passes Assembly

May 2017 - With bipartisan support, the California Assembly passed The Disarm Hate Act, to keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of hate crimes. AB 785 by Assembly Member Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D, Los Angeles). Existing California law prohibits people convicted of violent crimes like assault or battery from owning guns for ten years, but that same statute does not apply to violent hate crime convictions. Those convicted of a violent hate crime get to keep their guns. This bill changes that.

L.A. City Council Targets "Bad Apple" Gun Dealers

June 2016 - The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to have L-A-P-D work with a nonprofit to identify "bad apple" gun dealers who sell the majority of guns used in crimes. Los Angeles will now become the only city in California to trace gun sales in this manner.

No Concealed Weapons on School Campuses

October 2015 - SB707 prohibits people with concealed weapons permits from carrying firearms on school and college campuses.

LA Considers Regulating 5G Towers

March 2019 - Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn asked the Department of Regional Planning to prepare the County's first-ever ordinance regulating the installation of cellular towers in communities. The cellular industry is rolling out 5G service and installing hundreds of thousands of new cell towers in neighborhoods nationwide. Since 2015, Los Angeles County's Department of Regional Planning has reported a 300% increase in the number of applications it has received for new cell towers. Currently, the County has no ordinance regulating cell tower installation and has instead relied on outdated regulations on television and radio towers.

Judge Kills Lawsuit Against CA Drug Price Transparency Law

September 2018 - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block a California law requiring pharmaceutical companies to give advance notice before big price increases. U.S. District Judge Morrison England Jr., ruled 9/6/2018y in Sacramento that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America failed to show that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case. He gave PhRMA 30 days to refile. The law requires 60 days' notice to raise national wholesale prices above a certain threshold. PhRMA says California's law illegally tries to dictate national health policy. The group also says the bill is unconstitutionally vague and violates the First Amendment by forcing drug companies to justify price increases.

Court Reinstates CA Aid-In-Dying Act, For Now

June 2018 - A California appeals court granted emergency motions by the two terminally ill adults and a physician for an "automatic stay" to immediately suspend a lower court's judgment invalidating the End of Life Option Act. The appeals court also granted a motion by Attorney General Xavier Becerra for a "discretionary stay" of the lower court ruling. The rulings reinstate the law, effective immediately. Similar to laws in Washington, D.C. and six states, the California law gives mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to request prescription medication they can decide to take to end unbearable suffering and die peacefully in their sleep.

Governor Vetoes 5G Cell Tower Expansion

October 2017 - Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed SB 649, a measure that would have gutted local control and put the interests of the wireless industry over those of California residents. A broad coalition of cities, counties, environmental, labor and consumer advocates opposed SB 649 by Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego). The bill would have given wireless providers unfettered ability to install bulky cellular equipment on any street light or traffic signal as well as public libraries and other public buildings without permission from local governments, input from the public or fair compensation for city and county residents.

Governor Brown Signs Health Bills

October 2017 - Governor Jerry Brown has signed two important health consumer protection bills, AB 156 and SB 133, aimed at protecting California consumers from the Trump Administration's attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act, inject uncertainty into the individual market, disrupt people's health care and make it more difficult for people to sign up for coverage. The bills signed into law ensure patients don't have to disrupt their care, even when forced to switch plans, and that California consumers have a full 12 week open enrollment period to sign up for coverage.

Single Payer Passes State Senate

June 2017 - The California Senate passed the single-payer bill June 1 by a vote of 23-14 with three members not present. The bill now heads to the state assembly. If it passes there, it will move to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. However, several hurdles remain. It is not clear if Brown supports the effort, and the governor has questioned how the state would pay for it. A recent legislative analysis found the bill would cost the state $400 billion per year, more than double the current state budget of $125 billion. Lawmakers want to add a 15 percent payroll tax to pay for it and hope to get about $200 billion from existing federal, state and local funding, according to the legislative analysis.

State Senate Passes Bill to Ban Drug Company Gifts to Doctors

May 2017 - The California Senate passed a bill Thursday that would ban drug companies from giving gifts to doctors. Sen. Mike McGuire said his bill prohibiting perks such as airline tickets and lavish meals would lower drug costs in part because doctors who receive such gifts are more likely to prescribe expensive drugs. The Senate voted 23-13 to send the bill to the Assembly. Drug companies spend more than $1.4 billion a year on gifts to California doctors, said McGuire, a Democrat who represents a district west of Sacramento.

Judge Says Berkeley Can Keep Cell Phone Warnings in Landmark Ruling

April 2017 - Berkeley won a major decision in a federal appeals court. The court denied a request by the CTIA-The Wireless Association to block Berkeley's landmark cell phone "right to know" ordinance. Berkeley's ordinance, which has been in effect since March 21 of last year requires cellphone retailers in the city to provide consumers with the following notification: To assure safety, the Federal Government requires that cell phones meet radiofrequency (RF) exposure guidelines. If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is ON and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation. Refer to the instructions in your phone or user manual for information about how to use your phone safely.

Some CA cities Making Strides in Tobacco Control

January 2017 - The American Lung Association's California chapter graded cities and counties on their tobacco-control initiatives, and noted a lot of progress. More than 20 received an overall "A" average, though the list doesn't include any of the 10 largest cities. San Francisco scored a "B," Los Angeles got a "C," and Anaheim got an "F."

California Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

November 2016 - At the stroke of midnight, recreational use of marijuana became legal in California. But there are a few important details about the new law. It is now legal for adults over 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana or eight grams of concentrated cannabis for personal use.

California Passes Proposition 56 Tobacco Tax

November 2016 - After voters twice turned back attempts to raise the state's tobacco tax over the last decade, California passed Proposition 56, which would increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack.

California passes Proposition 52 to Make Medi-Cal Funding Permanent

November 2016 - Californians have chosen to make permanent the hospital fee program that helps fund Medi-Cal, the state's subsidized healthcare program for low-income residents. Early election returns show the measure passing with more than 70% of the vote. Proposition 52 will hobble state lawmakers' ability to change or end the hospital fee program. Through the program, hospitals pay to generate a federal contribution to Medi-Cal that results in a net benefit to the hospitals. During the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, the program generated $4.4 billion in federal funding for Medi-Cal.

Governor Signs Bill to Protect Very Ill Children

September 2016 - Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 586 (Hernandez) which will help prevent potentially life-threatening disruptions in care during an upcoming restructure of state program California Children's Services (CCS), which currently coordinates healthcare for California's medically fragile kids.

Governor Signs Bill Banning Surprise Medical Bills

September 2016 - After over 40 years of legislative gridlock on the issue, Governor Brown signed AB 72 (Bonta, et. al.) shielding consumers from surprise out-of-network medical bills when they follow the rules of their plan and visit in-network facilities.

Bill On Consumer Notice of Unreasonable Premium Hikes Passes Assembly

August 2016 - SB 908 passed the State Assembly. It now takes two simple steps to make sure consumers know their rights.

CA Bills To Help Healthcare Consumers Pass Key Committees

June 2016 - In a big win for consumers, a bill passed the State Assembly Health Committee late Tuesday to force pharmaceutical companies to justify how much they charge for prescription drugs and disclose large price hikes ahead of time. The same committee also passed S-B 908, which requires health insurers to provide notice to consumers if a rate hike has been deemed unjustified by state regulators.

Medical Aid in Dying Becomes Legal in California

June 2016 - Starting June 9th, medical aid in dying, also known as assisted suicide, became legal in California. Mentally competent, terminally ill patients will be able to seek a prescription from their doctor that will allow them to die peacefully in their sleep.

35 CA Counties Expand Medical Programs for Undocumented Adults

May 2016 - Dozens of California counties are expanding their indigent care as of today to include the undocumented.

Undocumented Children Eligible for Full Medi-Cal

May 2016 - Starting today, about 170-thousand undocumented children in California are newly eligible for full scope Medi-Cal insurance. It?s part of the Health4All program that would extend coverage to children in low-income families who qualify.

Anthem Blue Cross Fined $415,000 for Lack of Responsiveness to California Consumers

May 2016 - The California Department of Managed Health Care fined Anthem Blue Cross $415,000 for failing to identify, process, and resolve consumers' complaints in a timely manner.

Medical Marijuana Law Takes Effect

January 2016 - California's medical marijuana industry is growing up fast, so to speak - because a new law professionalizing the growth, sale and taxation of the plant goes into effect on Friday, January first.

California Latino Advocates File Civil Rights Claim Over Medi-Cal

December 2015 - California is violating the civil rights of Latinos by under-funding Medi-Cal, the state's healthcare program for low-income families and the disabled- according to a federal civil rights complaint filed this week.

Anthem, Blue Shield Fined Over Misleading Provider Directories

November 2015 - California Department of Managed Health Care announced it issued fines against Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross for inaccurate provider directories.

Right to Die Approved in CA

October 2015 - Governor Brown signs ABx2 15: "Right to die" law.

Medical Marijuana Regulations Passed

October 2015 - The Governor signed a trio of bills aimed at bringing order and oversight to California's medical marijuana industry nearly 20 years after the state became the first to legalize pot for medical use.

Children's Dental Care Coverage Made Easier

January 2014 - The board of California's health exchange, Covered California, has voted to reinstate the requirement that insurers include children's dental coverage.

May 2012 - The City and County of San Francisco recently updated its website to include precautionary health warnings about cell phone radiation. Burlingame is the only other municipality in the U.S. that has adopted such warnings on their websites.

September 2011 - The San Francisco Department of the Environment has announced that the nation's first cell phone ordinance is now in effect. The Department will conduct extensive outreach in October to distribute materials and educate local cell phone retailers about the ordinance. Retailer compliance with the ordinance is required by the end of October.

August 2011 - Burlingame became the second city in California and the United States to adopt precautionary health warnings regarding cell phone use. The guidelines adopted by the Burlingame City Council on August 15, 2011, state that the World Health Organization lists cell phones as "possibly carcinogenic," and that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that all cell phone manuals caution users to hold the phone a short distance from the body. Although the ongoing research and debate within the scientific community about the health effects of cell phones is recognized, the Council makes six recommendations to minimize "exposure to cell phone emissions."

June 2011 - A state bill that would require most hospitals have a policy in place to provide education about breastfeeding to new moms, has passed its first hurdle. Proponents say breastfeeding has been shown to help prevent the onset of chronic health conditions and diseases and that for many women, especially low-income women, assistance in hospitals may be the only help that they receive.

June 2011 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched an initiative to support a program that helps reach the nation's underserved Hispanic/Latino communities and educate them about the availability of health services and insurance. A program launched in California four years ago by L.A. Care Health Plan, has already trained nearly 70 Health Promoters.

March 2011 - California regulators have asked Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to set up a process so its customers can opt out of smart meters if they have concerns about the devices' potential health effects. Dozens of people and advocacy groups have claimed the radio frequencies and radiation from the wireless electricity and gas meters was harming people's health.

Physician Shortage Plan Unveiled

November -0001 - Democrats in the CA State Senate introduced SB 22, which would address the dire shortage of primary care physicians in California. This bill would establish a nonprofit public benefit corporation, to be known as the California Medical Residency Training Foundation. The bill would also create the Graduate California Medical Education Trust Residency Training Fund in the state treasury. It would fund grants to create new graduate medical residency training programs.

Cell phone warning measure approved in Berkeley

November -0001 - Berkeley City Council moved forward with a consumer warning measure. It would highlight the possible risks of cellphones, including details about keeping phones away from the body when not in use.

CA Senate Extends Eviction Protections

March 2022 - The California Senate passed AB 2179 which extends portions of the COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act to provide court eviction protections until June 30 to tenants with a pending rental assistance application submitted by March 31 and provide eviction protections for anyone who has a pending application by March 31.

Governor Signs Budget Bills: Funds Huge Rental Assistance Program

July 2021 - Under the Governor’s Golden State Comeback Plan, California is offering the largest renter assistance package of any state in America. The Plan provides a total of $5.2 billion to help low-income renters and landlords, covering 100 percent of back-rent and all prospective rent for several months into the future. The Plan also includes $2 billion for past-due water and utility bills and more money than ever for tenant legal assistance.

New Budget Puts $12 Billion Toward Homelessness

July 2021 - The $12 billion over two years is the largest such investment in state history, creating 42,000 new homeless housing units, including housing options for people with severe mental health challenges. The breakdown: almost $6 billion to add 42,000 new housing units through Homekey – California's groundbreaking national model for homeless housing. $2.2 billion to housing for people with the most acute mental health needs and those needing conservatorships. In addition, the Plan includes targeted programs and grants to local governments to move people out of unsafe, unhealthy encampments and into safer, more stable housing.

CA Eviction Moratorium Extended, Gov. Signs Rent Relief Bill

June 2021 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to extend the state’s eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 and clear rent debt for low-income Californians that have suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic. Under AB 832, California will significantly increase cash assistance to low-income tenants and small landlords under the state’s $5.2 billion rent relief program, making it the largest and most comprehensive COVID rental protection and rent relief program of any state in the nation.

Bill to Encourage More Housing Passes State Senate

May 2021 - The California State Senate passed Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins’ SB 9, the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act, legislation that streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing property. The bill, which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 28-6 vote, would enable homeowners to create intergenerational wealth and widen access to more rental and home ownership opportunities for working families.

New Bill Would Incentivize Landlords To Keep Affordable Housing

February 2020 - California lawmakers are turning to landlords to help stem the state's housing crisis. Hoping to protect the state's paltry affordable housing stock, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel announced a $500 million tax credit that would reward landlords for keeping their properties in subsidized housing programs. Gabriel says the five-year program could prevent up to 25,000 currently subsidized units from being offered up in the state’s booming rental market at higher rates.

Governor Signs Slew Of Bills To Increase Housing Stock

October 2019 - Governor Gavin Newsom has signed multiple bills to address the housing crisis, in addition to providing $2.7 billion in the budget. Those include SB 329, which says landlords can no longer discriminate against people based on how they pay rent. AB 761 (Nazarian) will make state armories for homeless shelters available during the most dangerous hot times in summer. AB 1197 (Santiago) creates a CEQA exemption for supportive housing and navigation centers in Los Angeles. AB 1255 (R. Rivas and Ting) creates a surplus land database. AB 1482 (Chiu), a major victory for millions of renters trying to stay afloat, will make rent gouging and no-cause eviction illegal across the state. AB 1486 (Ting), the Public Lands for Public Good bill, will strengthen the state's surplus land act to transform unused public land into affordable housing. AB 1763 (Chiu) provides a density bonus to affordable housing developers when they build 100% affordable developments. Also, AB 1783 (Robert Rivas) Agricultural Employee Housing Development and SB 6 (Beall) Residential Development: Available Land.

California Assembly Passes Rent-Cap Bill

May 2019 - In a dramatic victory for tenant advocates, the California Assembly narrowly passed a statewide rent-cap proposal amid mounting pressure for lawmakers to protect renters from the steepest of increases in a hot rental market. If the bill clears the Senate, California could become the second state in the nation this year to limit annual rent hikes, covering millions of properties not covered by local rent control rules.

Bill Filed to Encourage More "Granny Flats"

December 2018 - State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) is renewing his effort to resolve part of the state's housing crisis by introducing SB 13, a bill that would reduce development impact fees and eliminate other barriers for homeowners who want to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property. In addition to impact fees, other remaining barriers to ADU construction include owner-occupancy requirements, ADU permit reviews, and setbacks.

Proposition 1 Passes: Affordable Housing And Home-Purchase Assistance For Veterans

November 2018 - Voters have approved a ballot measure to authorize the sale of $4 billion in bonds to fund housing programs, infrastructure work and matching contributions to a local housing trust fund.

Proposition 2 Passes: Using Mental Health Dollars For Low-Income Housing

November 2018 - Proposition 2 was approved by California voters. It allows the state to use $2 billion in bonds to build housing for homeless people that includes mental health care. The money for the bonds was originally approved to pay for mental health services, not housing.

Governor Signs Bill To Help Spur Creation of More "Granny Flats"

October 2017 - Following up on a major reform bill from last year that streamlined the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 229, legislation by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to clarify that limits on sewer and water connection fees and charges apply to special districts and water corporations, as well as cities and counties. Wieckowski says, "SB 229 furthers the important work of SB 1069 by making clarifications to carry out the intent of last year's bill and encourage the development of these units free of excessive fees."

Governor Signs Affordable Housing Bill

September 2017 - Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 2, which creates a new, reliable source of funding for affordable homes through a $75 fee on the recording of certain types of real-estate documents, excluding sales of residential and commercial property. For transactions that involve the recording of multiple documents, the fee is capped at $225. It's estimated that the bill will generate roughly $250 million each year and create 57,000 jobs over five years.

Governor Brown Signs Affordable Housing Package

September 2017 - Gov. Jerry Brown has finalized lawmakers most robust response to California?s housing affordability problems in recent memory. The "15 good bills" Brown signed into law include a new fee on real estate transactions and a $4-billion bond on the 2018 ballot that together could raise close to $1 billion a year in the near term to help subsidize new homes for low-income residents.

Governor Signs "Housing First" Bill

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1380, making California a "Housing First" state and establishing a Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council. Authored by Senator Holly Mitchell, SB 1380 requires all state programs targeted to end homelessness to incorporate the core components of Housing First.

Governor Signs Law To Encourage More Affordable Housing

September 2016 - Today, Governor Brown signed AB 2031 (Bonta, D-Oakland). AB 2031, sponsored by the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) and supported by Housing California, gives cities the authority to bond against their "boomerang funds" (former redevelopment funds) for affordable development without voter approval.

Governor Signs Two Bills To Help Homeless Students

September 2016 - On September 21, two bills meeting the needs of homeless higher education students became law. AB 801 (Bloom, D-Santa Monica), co-sponsored by Housing California, creates the Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act.

Bill to Require CA Renters to Pay Up During Evictions Pulled Before Vote

May 2016 - Assemblyman Mike Gatto killed his controversial bill on evictions ahead of a scheduled vote in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Bill to Fight Housing Discrimination Introduced in State Senate

February 2016 - A bill to make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against people with Section 8 housing vouchers was introduced in the California State Senate on Tuesday.

New CA Bill Would Allow Compensation for Victims of Police Violence

February 2023 - Criminal justice reform groups are rallying behind a new bill that would make it easier for people hurt in encounters with police to get support from the California Victim Compensation Board. Right now, most claims – aside from domestic violence or sexual assault – require that the person be identified as a victim in a police report.

Bill Filed to Extend Aid in Dying Law

February 2021 - A new bill would make California’s aid-in-dying law accessible to more people. Senate Bill 380 would remove the ten-year sunset clause from the 2015 End-of Life Option Act.

New Racial Profiling Board Meets For First Time

July 2016 - California is taking concrete steps to fight racial profiling with the first meeting of the new Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board today in Los Angeles.

November 2012 - Voters shot down a requirement to label all Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) after Monsanto & co. spent $46 million on advertising against the measure.

January 2011 - Wal-Mart has made a commitment to promote good nutrition by selling healthier foods in its stores and lowering the price of fresh fruits and vegetables. The retailer is also promising to provide more support to California groups that help low-income adults make healthy and affordable choices at the supermarket.

Judge Rules for CA in Sanctuary Cities Case

October 2018 - A U.S. judge in California struck down an immigration law that the Trump administration has used to go after cities and states that limit cooperation with immigration officials. The ruling, by Judge William Orrick, also directed the U.S. Department of Justice to give California $28 million that was withheld over the state's immigration policies. It was at least the third decision by a U.S. district court judge in recent months declaring the immigration law unconstitutional.

CA Supreme Court Rules for Immigrant Children in Visa Fight

August 2018 - 8/16/2018 made it easier for some immigrant children who are abused or abandoned by a parent to seek a U.S. visa to avoid deportation. It was not immediately clear how many children the ruling would affect. State judges cannot require that children drag an absentee parent living abroad into court in their visa application process, the justices said in a unanimous decision. Immigration rights advocates had warned that such a requirement would make it nearly impossible for the children to fight deportation. That's because courts in California cannot establish authority over a foreign citizen and the parent may want nothing to do with a child claiming abuse, and would refuse to participate in a court proceeding in the U.S., immigration groups said in court documents.

CA Sues Trump Administration Over Plans for Border Wall

September 2017 - The state of California filed a lawsuit in a federal district court challenging the Trump administration's plans to build a wall along the state's border with Mexico. The 53-page complaint was filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a former member of Congress, and the California Coastal Commission, which is a state agency that oversees the use of certain public lands, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

CA A-G Joins Legal Challenge to Trump Immigration Order

February 2017 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed court papers today joining the legal challenge to President Donald Trump's immigration orders, supporting Washington state's lawsuit that contends the travel restrictions targeting people from Muslim-majority countries are unconstitutional.

Covered CA Moves to Open Up To Undocumented Immigrants

September 2016 - Covered California submitted one of the first 1332 waiver requests under the Affordable Care Act, for the purpose of allowing all Californians, regardless of immigration status, to use the state health insurance marketplace to purchase a health plan with their own money.

Immigrant Rights Advocates Cheer Supreme Court Decision to Take Case

January 2016 - Immigrants rights groups in California are cheering the announcement Tuesday that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that could end the threat of deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants across the country.

Undocumented Children to Get Medi-Cal

November 2015 - Governor signed SB4: The plan extends California's health care program for the poor to cover immigrant children from low-income families, regardless of their legal status.

Fast Food Workers Council Bill Takes Effect

January 2023 - AB-257 will set up a 10-member council that would include worker and employer representatives and two state officials, and that would review pay and safety standards across the restaurant industry. However the council has been put on hold because a ballot measure challenging it has qualified for the ballot. The council could issue health, safety and anti-discrimination regulations and set an industry-wide minimum wage. The legislation caps the figure at $22 an hour in 2023, when the statewide minimum wage will be $15.50. The bill also requires annual cost-of-living adjustments for any new wage floor beginning in 2024.

Leave of Absence Law Revised

January 2023 - Two laws now amend the Leave of Absence Law by relaxing the definition of people an employee can take off time to care for. The new law adds a "designated person" to the category of existing permitted family members that include a spouse, registered domestic partner, child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild and sibling. The new law, taking effect Jan. 1, expands both the California Family Rights Act and California’s paid sick leave law, called the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act.

Minimum Wage Rises January 1st

January 2023 - The statewide California minimum wage rises to $15.50 per hour for all employer sizes. In 2022, the minimum wage in California was $14 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees and $15 an hour for employers with more than 25 employees. However, employers in at least 30 cities are already paying a higher local minimum wage, and new increases took effect in some cities lasts July – with at least six cities raising their minimum wage higher than $15.50. Cities with higher minimum wage than the state include Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica and West Hollywood.

Bill Proposes 4-Day Workweek

April 2022 - California Assembly Members Evan Low and Cristina Garcia proposed Assembly Bill 2932 to amend Section 510 of the California Labor Code to change the workweek from the standard 40-hour workweek to a 32-hour workweek for companies with more than 500 employees. Presently, California employees are entitled to overtime pay for any time worked after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the employee’s "regular rate of pay." California is one of only a few states with the 8-hour daily overtime threshold. The majority of states all comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which only requires overtime after 40 hours in a week. If passed, AB 2932 would make California the only state in the entire country to also lower its 40-hour weekly overtime threshold to 32 hours (although just for employers with at least 500 employees).

Governor Signs Bill to Extend Paid Leave During COVID

February 2022 - Governor Gavin Newsom today visited a small business in Oakland to sign legislation extending COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for workers, and early budget action to provide an additional $6.1 billion in tax relief, tax credits and direct grants for small businesses hit hard by the pandemic, bolstering the state’s historic COVID relief efforts and investing in California’s iconic entrepreneurial economy.

Judge Rules Gig Economy Ballot Measure Unconstitutional

August 2021 - California's giant ride-hailing and delivery companies suffered a setback Friday as a state Superior Court judge invalidated a 2020 ballot proposition that allowed Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and other app-based businesses to classify their workers as independent contractors. In a lawsuit brought by the Service Employees International Union and several drivers, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ruled that Proposition 22 is unconstitutional and unenforceable. That's in part because the law, Roesch wrote, infringes on the power of the Legislature explicitly granted by the state Constitution to regulate compensation for workers' injuries.

CA Waives Some Medi-Cal Premiums

August 2021 - California is waiving the monthly Medi-Cal premiums for recipients experiencing financial hardship - now the challenge is to make sure people know.

Governor Signs Budget, Funds Stimulus Checks

July 2021 - 2 out of every 3 Californians will get Golden State Stimulus checks: The California Comeback Plan creates the biggest state tax rebate in American history, expanding direct payments to middle class families for a total of $12 billion in stimulus payments that will go directly to middle class Californians and families. Nearly two thirds of Californians will now qualify for a stimulus check of $600. Qualified families with kids will receive an additional $500.

Bill to Create CA Public Banking Passes Assembly

June 2021 - California State Assembly approved landmark legislation that would guarantee all Californians access to basic banking services without fees or penalties. The California Public Banking Option Act, AB 1177 (BankCal), addresses the inequities in financial services acutely felt by communities that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and recession: discrimination, predatory lending, and vicious spirals of debt. Upon completion of the market analysis and approval by the Legislature, AB 1177 establishes the BankCal program. The BankCal program would allow Californians to create a BankCal account, use a BankCal debit card, deposit funds, automate bill pay, and set up direct deposit without fees or penalties.

Governor Newsom Signs Paid Sick Leave Bill

March 2021 - Building on the state's action to expand paid sick days protections for California’s workforce during the pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 95, legislation to ensure access to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for eligible employees, including those advised to quarantine or isolate and those caring for COVID-impacted family members.

Governor Signs Bill Expanding Earned Income Tax Credit

September 2020 - Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1876, further expanding access to the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) to ensure all California tax filers, specifically undocumented ITIN filers who are otherwise eligible, may qualify for the CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). In 2019, the Administration more than doubled the CalEITC and the YCTC from $400 million to $1 billion and in the 2020-21 State Budget, expanded eligibility to undocumented ITIN filers with children five and under. An estimated two in three of eligible workers under this new expansion are essential workers – including workers in restaurants, grocery stores and the farm industry.

Multistate Settlements to Block "No-Poach" Contract Provisions That Harm Fast Food Workers

March 2020 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that his office, as part of a multistate effort, secured a settlement with three major fast food companies that ends the use of "no-poach" policies. These anticompetitive provisions harm workers by contractually preventing franchise operators from hiring or recruiting the employees of another franchise operator. This artificially reduces competition for labor and makes it more difficult for employees, many of whom are low-wage workers, to seek better pay and benefits at competing franchises. Workers are often unaware of the existence of these provisions. As a result of the settlements, Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons will no longer include no-poach provisions in any of their franchise agreements in the United States.

State Supreme Court Hands Victory To Union In Community College Case

November 2019 - A victory in court for workers at Antelope Valley Community College could have major statewide implications. Workers challenged a district decision to change their work schedules without having them vote on it as outlined in their contract. The Public Employment Relations Board ruled against the district - and this week, the State Supreme Court let that decision stand.

Governor Signs Bill to Give Many Gig Workers Employee Status

September 2019 - California businesses will be limited in their use of independent contractors under a closely watched proposal signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a decision that is unlikely to quell a growing debate over the rules and nature of work in the 21st century economy. Legislators gave final approval to the sweeping employment rules in Assembly Bill 5 before adjourning for the year. The new law "will help reduce worker misclassification - workers being wrongly classified as independent contractors rather than employees, which erodes basic worker protections like the minimum wage, paid sick days and health insurance benefits," Newsom wrote in a signing message released by his office.

CA Supreme Court Rules Employers Must Pay for Off The Clock Tasks

July 2018 - California's Supreme Court ruled that employers must pay workers for the time they spend completing off-the-clock tasks, such as locking up after work. The decision, issued this week, marks a win for labor advocates who say requiring hourly workers to spend minutes doing unpaid tasks amounts to wage theft. Business groups say the ruling will embolden frivolous lawsuits and cost companies money. A federal law, called the Fair Labor Standards Act, generally allows companies to avoid compensating employees for time spent on duties the law describes as trivial or too difficult to track. In its majority opinion, the California Supreme Court said the federal rule does not apply in the state when it comes to certain off-the-clock tasks performed by employees.

CA Nurses Win Favorable Contract

February 2017 - The recent victory by National Nurses United/California Nurses Association at Kaiser Permanente after a 17 month struggle has secured a good contract for 1200 Los Angeles nurses. Another 550 nurses at 21 Kaiser hospitals across northern and central California just became NNU/CNA union members. The nurses haven't had a raise in six years.

Governor Signs Bill on Paid Parental Leave

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2393 (Campos), a bill that would provide classified school employees with up to twelve weeks of paid parental leave. AB 2393, which expands paid parental leave to school bus drivers, cafeteria staff and teaching assistants.

Governor Signs Bill Creating New Retirement Accounts

September 2016 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 1234 by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), that will create new retirement savings accounts for the nearly seven million workers who do not have one. Under the new law, workers who do not have a workplace retirement plan will automatically contribute 3 percent of wages to a new retirement account, the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Trust. This fund will invest in a diversified portfolio that focuses on long-term financial growth. Workers can change their contribution levels at any time, or choose not to participate. The legislation prohibits the state or employers from incurring any liabilities associated with the new program.

Governor Brown Signs Farmworker Overtime Bill

September 2016 - Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed historic legislation that would expand overtime pay for California farmworkers.

Farmworker Overtime Bill Passes Legislature

August 2016 - The California legislature voted to become the first state in the nation to end 80 years of excluding farmworkers from equal rights to overtime pay. The bill now goes to the Governor's desk.

California Governor Signs $15 Minimum Wage Bill

April 2016 - Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law giving California the nation's highest statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour by 2022.

Deal Struck to Raise CA Minimum Wage Statewide

March 2016 - Lawmakers and labor unions have struck a tentative deal to raise the statewide minimum wage to $10.50 an hour next year and then gradually to $15.

California's Minimum Wage Goes Up

January 2016 - Tens of thousands of minimum wage workers in California will be making an extra dollar an hour starting on Friday.

Ballot Measure to Raise Minimum Wage

December 2015 - The Fight for $15 movement is taking its case to the voters'filing on Tuesday to put a measure on the ballot to raise California's minimum wage from 9 dollars an hour to 15 by the year 2020.

Minimum Wage Pay Raise Approved in LA

November -0001 - Los Angeles City Council votes to move forward with a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2020

Governor Signs Bill on Children's Privacy

September 2022 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed bipartisan landmark legislation aimed at protecting the wellbeing, data, and privacy of children using online platforms. AB 2273 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), establishes the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which requires online platforms to consider the best interest of child users and to default to privacy and safety settings that protect children's mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Judge Rules CA Net Neutrality Law Can Be Enforced

February 2021 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra prevailed in securing net neutrality for 40 million Californians while litigation is ongoing. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California denied a motion for preliminary injunction brought by a group of internet service providers, which attempted to block enforcement of Senate Bill 822 (SB 822), California's net neutrality law, while litigation is ongoing. With today's ruling, California can soon begin enforcement of SB 822.

Governor Signs Net Neutrality Bill

September 2018 - California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 822, the strongest and most comprehensive state-level net neutrality bill in the country. The bill passed the state legislature with overwhelming and bipartisan support, and could unleash a wave of similar efforts in other states, with serious implications in the fight to restore net neutrality nationwide.

State Lawmakers Pass Bill to Restore Net Neutrality

August 2018 - State lawmakers voted to pass a bill restoring net neutrality protections 8/31/2018. If signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, it would ensure all California broadband customers have equal access to content on the internet. The law would be the strictest for internet providers in the United States, and put California at odds with the federal government.

CA Net Neutrality Bill Resurrected

July 2018 - Two weeks ago, the strongest state-level net neutrality bill was gutted in a committee hearing by Assembly member Miguel Santiago, which led many observers to believe the bill was dead thanks to the power of giant telecoms like Comcast and AT&T. But the move sparked an unprecedented public outcry from Californians, who made thousands of phone calls, flooded social media, and crowdfunded more than $14,000 in order to put up a billboard in Chairman Santiago's district. 7/5/2018, in a win for the open Internet, Santiago announced that all of SB 822's core protections are being restored and that he's now a co-author of the bill.

CA State Senate Approves Restoration of Net Neutrality

May 2018 - The California State Senate just voted 23-12 to pass SB 822, the strongest and most comprehensive state level net neutrality legislation in the country. The bill passed despite fierce lobbying from big ISPs like AT&T and Comcast, who laid siege to Sacramento with an army of contract lobbyists and flooded the Capitol with misinformation in an all out attempt to kill the bill. SB 822 passed in large part due to mass mobilization by California residents in support of net neutrality. The bill heads next to the State Assembly, where it will likely get a vote early this Fall. More than 53,000 California residents sent letters to the Senate Energy committee calling on them to advance SB 822.

California Joins Lawsuit to Fight for Net Neutrality

January 2018 - The legal fight against the Federal Communications Commission's recent repeal of so-called net neutrality regulations began with a flurry of lawsuits filed to block the agency's action. One suit, filed by 21 state attorneys general, including California, said the agency's actions broke federal law. The commission's rollback of net neutrality rules were "arbitrary and capricious," the attorneys general said, and a reversal of the agency's longstanding policy to prevent internet service providers from blocking or charging websites for faster delivery of content to consumers.

Gov. Proposes Bond Measure to Build Mental Health Residential Programs

March 2023 - Governor Newsom proposed a 2024 ballot initiative to improve how California treats mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness: A bond to build state-of-the-art mental health treatment residential settings in the community to house Californians with mental illness and substance use disorders and to create housing for homeless veterans, and modernize the Mental Health Services Act to require at least $1 billion every year for behavioral health housing and care.

Governor Signs Bill to Make Insurance Companies Improve Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coverage

September 2020 - The County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA) praised Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature on SB 855 (Wiener), legislation that will require health plans and disability insurers to cover medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in the same way other medical conditions receive coverage. Prior to SB 855, private health insurers could shift their consumers with mental health or substance use disorder needs into California’s public behavioral health system by making it incredibly difficult to access benefits.

CA Bans Redskins as School Names

October 2015 - California public schools will be barred from using the Redskins name for sports teams and mascots under the legislation.

CA Removes 50 miles of Drift Gillnets in Bid to Protect Whales, Dolphins

November 2022 - The state of California has successfully completed a multi-year program that will protect marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, and other important fish by removing roughly 50 miles of large-mesh drift gillnets from the ocean and transitioning the state’s swordfish fishery to more sustainable fishing gears. Oceana applauded the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for its thorough efforts in implementing this transition and called on Congress to pass federal legislation to permanently remove large-mesh drift gillnets from all U.S. waters.

State Fund To Replace Drift Gillnets Gets $1 Million Boost

September 2020 - Oceana delivered $1 million to California to help end the state's deadly drift gillnet fishery. The funds, which were made possible by generous donations match the state’s contribution to fund a transition for fishermen who hand in their nets and relinquish their drift gillnet permits. These drift gillnets — which are a mile long, nearly invisible and set out overnight near the ocean’s surface to capture swordfish — are responsible for entangling, injuring and killing whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks and other important non-targeted fish species. In 2018 California established a transition program that provides financial compensation to drift gillnet fishermen who voluntarily turn in their permits and nets for destruction. Now that Oceana has deposited an additional $1 million in funding into the state account, California law activates a four-year phaseout of all remaining state drift gillnet permits, which will end any remaining drift gillnet fishing by January 31, 2024.

Fishery Council Votes No on Permitting a West Coast Pelagic Longline Fishery

November 2019 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted overwhelmingly not to move forward with further consideration of permitting a West Coast-based pelagic longline fishery on the high seas (beyond 200 miles from shore) at this time. Pelagic longlines are a harmful fishing method that has been prohibited off the West Coast for decades due to excessive bycatch of unintended species including marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, marlins, and sharks. The federal agency NOAA Fisheries has been extensively pressuring the Council to expand the use of pelagic longlines inside and outside the West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone, and yesterday's vote was a solid rejection by the Council of this federal proposal.

Trump Administration Drops Appeal of Ruling To Protect Whales, Dolphins

April 2019 - The Trump Administration dismissed its appeal of a U.S. District Court ruling that found the administration's fishery agency illegally tried to block regulations designed to protect endangered and threatened marine species like whales, dolphins and sea turtles. In October a federal judge ruled in favor of Oceana in a lawsuit challenging the National Marine Fisheries Service's decision to withdraw a proposed rule that would have placed strict limits on the number of protected species that can be killed or injured in the California-based swordfish drift gillnet fishery. The National Marine Fisheries Service will now consult with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the entity which recommended the hard caps to the Fisheries Service. That consultation is tentatively scheduled for November.

Lawsuit Challenges Federal Secrecy on Pacific Bluefin Tuna Protection Denial

February 2019 - The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration for refusing to release public records on its denial of protection for imperiled Pacific bluefin tuna. After the National Marine Fisheries Service denied Endangered Species Act protection to the Pacific bluefin in 2017, the Center sought records about the decision. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, comes after the administration refused to fully comply with that Freedom of Information Act request. The Pacific bluefin, a powerful fish that commands top prices at auctions in Japan, has been overfished to less than 4 percent of its historic population. Most Pacific bluefin caught by commercial and sport fishers haven't reached reproductive age, further undermining their recovery.

Judge Orders Feds To Set Catch Limit for Anchovy

January 2019 - A district court judge directed the National Marine Fisheries Service to promulgate a new federal rule to establish a new catch limit for anchovy that complies with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The court has directed the Fisheries Service to do this within 90-days of the Court's instant Order, which is Thursday, April 18, 2019. The action by the court holds the feet of the National Marine Fisheries Service to the fire to require compliance with the nation's fisheries law (the Magnuson-Stevens Act), a responsibility the Fisheries Service has been avoiding since the judge's original court decision one year ago today. In response to a lawsuit filed by Oceana as represented by Earthjustice, the judge ruled in January 2018 that the Fisheries Service must use the best available science when establishing catch limits for the central sub-population of northern anchovy to prevent overfishing.

Judge Halts Offshore Fracking Pending Review

November 2018 - A federal judge issued an order declaring that the federal government violated environmental protection laws when it approved permits for fracking and acidizing (otherwise referred to as "well stimulation treatments," from platforms offshore California. The judge agreed with the Environmental Defense Center and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper that the government failed to conduct adequate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding potential impacts to threatened and endangered species. The judge also held that the federal government must provide the California Coastal Commission with an opportunity to review fracking and acidizing before allowing such practices. Accordingly, the court issued an injunction prohibiting the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement from approving any plans or permits for the use of well stimulation treatments offshore California.

Fishery Council Protects Seafloor from Bottom Trawling Fishing

April 2018 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously voted to protect more than 140,000 square miles of seafloor habitat, including corals, sponges, and rocky reefs, off the U.S. West Coast. Once implementing regulations are issued by NOAA Fisheries, the Council's action will more than double the spatial extent of seafloor protections off the U.S. West Coast. The decision means the areas will be protected from bottom trawling fishing vessels, which in the past have destroyed deep-sea coral gardens, sponge beds, underwater canyons, and high relief structures like rocky reefs that provide homes for commercially and recreationally important fish species including more than 90 species of rockfish off California, Oregon, and Washington. Corals and sponges also provide habitat for a myriad of other ocean creatures including octopus and sea stars. As heavy gear contacts the ocean floor it can topple, crush, and remove slow-growing, living seafloor structures which can take hundreds of years to recover, if ever.

Authorities To Close Pacific Sardine Fishery Again

March 2018 - The commercial sardine fishery will remain closed for the July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 fishing season. The decision is considered a victory by advocacy groups like Oceana. Despite a new draft assessment of the Pacific sardine population off the U.S. West Coast. The results of the scientific assessment showing the Pacific sardine population has continued to decline and is now at 2% of peak population levels observed in 2006 - a 98% population decline - conservationists were not confident the National Marine Fisheries Service and Pacific Fishery Management Council would follow the science. This will be the fourth consecutive commercial fishery closure for sardine. The Council first voted to close the sardine fishery in 2015.

Court Victory for Conservation Groups on Anchovy Catch Limits

January 2018 - A conservation group is declaring victory, as a U.S. District Court judge in Northern California has ruled that the federal government's allowable catch for northern anchovies, set in November, is far too high. The Pacific Fishery Management Council will now have to revise the catch limit downward, to protect other species that feed on anchovies. Geoff Shester, California campaign director and senior scientist with the nonprofit group Oceana, said the federal fishery managers opted to protect commercial fishing interests and have ignored current science that shows the anchovy population is collapsing.

Governor Signs Bills on Ocean Acidification

September 2016 - Governor Brown signed into law two bills designed to protect our oceans and marine environments: SB 1363 (Monning) and AB 2139 (Williams).

Marine Protected Areas Grow Bigger Fish

February 2013 - A study of the first five years of the state's first MPAs is encouraging. Scientists found bigger and better fish in the marine sanctuaries, which is evidence these underwater parks are working.

North Coast Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Complete Underwater Parks Network

December 2012 - The final region for the Marine Life Protection act was finalized.

May 2011 - Northern California's newest underwater state parks celebrated their one-year anniversary of having greater protections under the Marine Life Protection Act. Not only are the fish in the protected areas expected to increase in numbers, but a park ranger says the MPAs are just beginning to attract divers, beach-goers, kayakers, birders, and tide-poolers who know wildlife viewing is best in protected areas.

December 2010 - The California Fish and Game Commission voted in December to adopt a network of marine protected areas that stretch from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Conservationists have been working for many years to create the plan for the underwater parks.

CA Senators Introduce Bill to Create Wildlife Refuge in Riverside

July 2022 - today introduced the Western Riverside National Wildlife Refuge Act, a bill that would establish the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge. The creation of this wildlife refuge is a critical component of Riverside County's Habitat Conservation Plan to conserve habitat for 146 different species, including 33 that are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Mining Company Suspends Conglomerate Mesa Project

March 2022 - K2 Gold, a Canadian mining company, is "indefinitely suspending" its controversial gold drilling project on Conglomerate Mesa, public lands located on the doorstep of Death Valley National Park. Tribes and other local groups are celebrating the news given the project posed a serious threat to Conglomerate Mesa’s ecological, cultural, and recreational values.

Bill Reintroduced to Protect CA Central Coast

February 2021 - The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, a bill that would safeguard public lands and wild rivers in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument, and would designate a 400-mile National Recreation Trail, was reintroduced by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA).

Gov. Newsom Signs Executive Order Protecting CA Land and Coastal Waters

October 2020 - Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he will sign an executive order meant to protect California’s land and coastal waters. The order is to conserve 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030.

House Passes Bill to Protect CA Public Lands

July 2020 - U-S House of Representatives passes legislation to protect public lands and rivers throughout California. This bill, Protecting America's Wilderness Act, is championed in California by Reps. Carbajal, Chu, Huffman, and Schiff, and passed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The Protecting America’s Wilderness Act will safeguard more than a million acres of public lands and well over 500 miles of rivers in California, in the Northwest, Central Coast, and Los Angeles regions, in addition to public lands and rivers in Washington and Colorado. In California, it is a key step forward in ensuring equitable access to public lands for local communities, supports public health and economic recovery, and is critical to the state’s work to address climate change and build resilience.

New Bill in Congress Would Put Moratorium on Fracking Federal Lands on CA Coast

February 2020 - Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced legislation that would place a moratorium on fracking and new oil and gas drilling on federal lands on California’s central and southern coasts. The legislation comes in direct response to a recent decision by the Trump Administration opening more than one million acres of land and minerals in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo and five other central California counties to new oil and gas leasing and fracking.

House Passes CA Public Lands Bills

February 2020 - The House of Representatives passed the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which will protect forests, shrub and grasslands, and wild rivers on California's Central Coast. This bill was passed as part of a larger package of public lands conservation bills. Many of the public lands protected with this legislation provide access to green space near developed communities, and are more accessible than national parks in the region. It is the product of years of discussion and negotiation involving business leaders, conservationists, elected officials, ranchers, mountain bikers, and other stakeholders interested in the use and well-being of these iconic lands.

3 CA Public Lands Bills Approved For Full House Vote

November 2019 - Three bills that would protect a million acres of public land in California got the thumbs-up in Congress. The House Committee on Natural Resources approved all three, setting them up for a full House vote. They include the "Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act", the "Central Coast Heritage Protection Act," and a third bill to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in the foothills near Los Angeles.

Big California Public Lands Package Introduced in Congress

April 2019 - More than a million acres of public lands would be protected if three new bills just introduced in Congress become law. The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act would designate 245-thousand acres of wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. It would safeguard rivers and create the new Condor National Scenic Trail.

Sand To Snow National Monument Spared

August 2017 - The Sand to Snow National Monument in the southern California desert will not be reduced or rescinded - a decision announced by U-S Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday. Six other national monuments in California and others around the country remain in the crosshairs.

President Obama to Declare Three New Monuments in Southern Calif.

February 2016 - The southern California desert will soon have three new national monuments - Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains.

Point Arena Stornetter Public Land Protected

March 2014 - President Obama used Antiquities Act to protect Point Arena Stornetta Public Land on CA coast.

The New Year May Bring New Protections for Pinnacles National Monument

December 2012 - The U.S. Senate has approved legislation that would make it a national park, and now all that's left is for President Obama to sign the bill.

April 2012 - President Obama has named California's former military base, Fort Ord, as the country's newest National Monument. The designation will protect the 14-thousand acres of coastal land in Monterey County, while also recognizing the service of the generations of military personnel who trained on the base. Local groups and veterans groups have worked hard to get the designation.

February 2011 - There's a "silver lining" in the recession in CA and across the country. The poor economy is allowing public land trusts to buy more land for conservation. These public trusts have been snapping up large tracts of land or buying conservation easements - agreements in which landowners essentially promise not to allow development on their land in exchange for money - while developers have been sitting on the sidelines or going out of business.

January 2011 - Legislation to protect California's San Gabriel Mountains and Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia in San Diego County were introduced on the first day of the 112th Congress. CANS featured a story of how a local church supports protection for the San Gabriel Mountains because they consider the area sacred and a place where they go to retreat. A San Diego County businessman says the protection will also help the desert tourism economy.

Manufacturer Stops Production of Banned Pesticide

February 2020 - The largest manufacturer of pesticide linked to brain damage and cognitive impairment in children will stop making the harmful product. The decision by Corteva Agriscience to stop making chlorpyrifos was announced the same day that sales of the pesticide ended in California under an agreement the state reached with Corteva and a dozen other companies to withdraw their products in the state. Although the Trump administration reversed a decision to ban the chemical, the California Environmental Protection Agency announced last year that the Department of Pesticide Regulation was acting to prohibit the use of chlorpyrifos by canceling the pesticide’s product registrations.

California Ends Sale of Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

October 2019 - Farmworkers' groups are celebrating the end of at least a decade-long battle to ban a toxic pesticide in California after the state Environmental Protection Agency announced a new deal with manufacturers of chlorpyrifos. The pesticide no longer will be sold to growers in California after Feb. 6. Nayamin Martinez, director of the Central California Environmental Justice Network, said studies have linked chlorpyrifos to serious health effects in kids.

February 2011 - Salmon are returning to CA. For the first time in 3 years, there's been an increase in salmon in the Delta and there may actually be a full fishing season this year. While this is good news, conservationist point to the need to continue to fight for responsible water policies in California so that these fish will have sufficient reproductive success.

Water to be Released for Salmon

November -0001 - A judge ruled that water can be released into the Trinity River, to benefit the salmon run upstream in the Klamath River. Two central valley water districts were suing to block the water release.

Governor Sings California Survivors Bill of Rights

September 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1150, the California Survivors Bill of Rights, to allow banks and mortgage companies to talk with widows or widower's who may not be named on the loan.

CA Senate passes Several Anti-Smoking Laws

March 2016 - With final approval in the state Senate today, the California Legislature has taken historic action to combat tobacco use.

CA Legislature Votes to Raise Smoking Age, Clamp Down on E-Cigarettes

March 2016 - The California State Assembly took historic action to curb smoking in the Golden State.

Smoking Age Goes Up, E-Cigs Re-Classed

March 2016 - Lawmakers gave the first full-house approval to bills that would raise the state smoking age to 21.

First-ever Presidential Memorandum Calls for Hiring Diversity in Federal Agencies

January 2017 - In the Obama administration's last days, President Obama called for Department of the Interior, the Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as other agencies, to be more inclusive in hiring practices and community outreach.

New Calif. Law Helps Protect Child Victims of Sex Trafficking

January 2017 - Starting this week, a new state law is in effect aimed at protecting minors who are part of the sex trade. Law enforcement officers can no longer arrest them for prostitution, which shifts the focus onto getting help for these juveniles instead of locking them up.

Low-wage Workers Win Minimum-Wage Increase in Calif.

January 2017 - Low-wage workers won a victory with California's minimum-wage increase, in effect starting this week. California's minimum wage is now $10.50 an hour, up from $10, and will ultimately rise to $15 an hour by 2022.

Dark Money Targeted in New Law

May 2014 - The California state legislature passed SB 27, a bill to make dark money nonprofits reveal their secret funders by becoming campaign committees when they spend over $50,000 on California campaigns.

California Moves Toward Restricting Pesticide that Feds Refused to Ban

August 2017 - California regulators has moved one step closer to placing big restrictions on the use of a pesticide that President Donald Trump's EPA refused to ban earlier this year. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation just released an updated draft risk assessment for chlorpyrifos. It's one of the most widely-used pesticides in the state, applied to golf courses and about 50 crops, including almonds, grapes, walnuts, oranges and cotton. But Cheryl Watson with Cal EPA says chlorpyrifos is a dangerous neurotoxin that can float toward schools and homes in low-income farm communities.

Organic Victory in the New Farm Bill

January 2014 - The new Farm Bill includes reinstating the National Organic Certification Cost Share program.

Judge Orders Stop to Some State Pesticide Spraying

May 2022 - A California judge has ordered a halt to a state-run program of spraying pesticides on public lands and some private property, saying officials failed to assess the potential health effects as required.

Governor Signs Bill to Regulate Toxics

July 2021 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 158 into law, a bill decades in the making after the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) failed to adequately regulate toxics in CA leading to rampant environmental injustices disproportionately affecting the already marginalized in California. The bill is a testament to the power of frontline communities that have organized for accountability and transparency for the agency. Having a functional DTSC is crucial to protecting public health, especially in environmental justice communities where the public should not be forced with the burden of paying for cleanups that have been caused by hazardous waste generators in the state.

Disclosure Law for Cosmetics Takes Effect in CA

January 2021 - A landmark California law goes into effect Jan. 1 that mandates cosmetic companies disclose potentially hazardous fragrance ingredients to the public. The Flavor and Fragrance Right to Know act was signed into law in October. The first of its kind in the U.S., the law will provide helpful data to consumers not only in California, but around the country. Under current FDA guidelines, cosmetic companies don’t have to disclose any fragrance ingredients. Companies can simply list these ingredients as "fragrance," even if they cause cancer, reproductive problems or harm to the environment. This new disclosure law aims to change this problem.

Retailers Agree to Stop Selling Jewelry With Toxic Metal

November 2020 - Consumer advocate nonprofit Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced it has reached legally binding agreements with seven fast-fashion companies to remove the toxic metal cadmium from jewelry sold in stores and online across the country. Independent testing commissioned by CEH had found jewelry items sold at major national retailers, including at Ross Stores, contained high levels of cadmium; many had metal components that were over 90% cadmium . Cadmium is listed under Proposition 65 by California because it can cause reproductive harm and cancer. It is unnecessary to use cadmium to make jewelry and retailers had previously failed to warn consumers about this toxic threat. These latest legal agreements add to nearly 20 companies have agreed to reduce cadmium content of jewelry over the last two years.

EPA Puts $300 Million To Stem Sewage Flow From Mexico

May 2020 - This week, the Environmental Protection Agency submitted its expenditure plan to Congress dedicating the entire $300 million appropriated in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act to address the problem of toxic sewage flowing across the border into San Diego County. The funds will be used for the engineering, planning, design and construction of wastewater infrastructure at the border.

San Diego Schools Work to Remove Lead from Water

February 2020 - One of the largest school districts in the country has taken a major step toward getting the lead out of school drinking water. The San Diego Unified School District adopted an ambitious plan Tuesday to prevent lead contamination by replacing water fountains with 2,000 new water stations, installing filters, and setting a health-based standard of 1 part per billion (ppb), as recommended for schools by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Monsanto Ordered To Pay 80 Million For Man's Cancer

March 2019 - Eight days after a U.S. jury found that Roundup weed killer was a substantial factor in a California man's cancer, it has awarded him $80 million in damages. The six-person jury in San Francisco returned its verdict in favor of Edwin Hardeman, 70, who said he used Roundup products to treat poison oak, overgrowth and weeds on his property for years. Agribusiness giant Monsanto, which was purchased by German giant Bayer last June, is facing thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide. This case could help determine the fate of the lawsuits, Hardeman's attorneys say. Bayer said in a statement that it will appeal the verdict.

Landmark CA Bill Would Ban Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics

March 2019 - Lawmakers in California just introduced a first-in-the-nation bill to ban toxic chemicals in makeup and other cosmetics sold in drug stores and elsewhere in the state. Currently, it is legal for companies to sell cosmetics containing dangerous chemicals ? as long as they list them on the label and report them to the state. Assembly Bill 495 would make it illegal to sell these products if they contain mercury, lead, formaldehyde, asbestos, phthalates, even Teflon - any of about 20 items from California's list of Prop 65 toxics.

Judge Upholds Verdict in Roundup Weedkiller Cancer Case

October 2018 - A judge upheld the Roundup weedkiller verdict in a landmark cancer case. San Francisco superior court judge Suzanne Bolanos reduced the punitive damages by more than $200 million, but declined to overturn the jury's finding that Monsanto's glyphosate-based weedkiller caused the plaintiff's cancer.

CA Supreme Court Rules Against Monsanto, Allows Glyphosate To Be Listed As Carcinogen

August 2018 - The California Supreme Court 8/15/2018 refused to hear a challenge to a key provision of the state's landmark chemical consumer-disclosure law, Proposition 65, brought by Monsanto. The chemical maker was seeking to force California to remove glyphosate, found in the company's Roundup products, from the Proposition 65 list of carcinogens. This decision leaves in place lower court decisions upholding a provision of the voter-approved initiative that allows outside expert scientific findings to be considered when adding chemicals to the public list of carcinogens.

Roundup Lawsuit to Move Forward

July 2018 - A federal judge found sufficient evidence to move to trial hundreds of lawsuits alleging that Monsanto Co.'s glyphosate-containing weed-killer Roundup causes cancer. More than 400 farmers, landscapers, and consumers, whose lawsuits have been consolidated before the Northern California federal district court in San Francisco, allege that Monsanto?s weed-killer caused them to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cell cancer.

CA Sues EPA Over Dropped Ag Worker Protections

May 2018 - Joining the Attorneys General of New York and Maryland, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its decision to suspend critical safeguards for agricultural workers. The Agricultural Worker Protection Standard is a regulation first implemented by the EPA in 1992 to reduce the number of illnesses and injuries to agricultural workers nationwide from exposures to pesticides

New Limits on Pesticides

January 2014 - California farmers must restrict their use of a tear gas-like pesticide applied to strawberries and other crops under new rules designed to protect farmworkers and people who live, work and go to school near agricultural fields.

August 2012 - Johnson & Johnson plans to remove trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing and other dangerous chemicals from nearly all its adult toiletries and cosmetic products worldwide within 3 1/2 years. The health care giant late last year pledged to remove "chemicals of concern" from its baby products sold around the world. That change came after a large coalition of health and environmental groups began pressing J&J more than three years ago to make its personal care products safer.

Gov. Brown Directs Regulators to Find Alternatives to Harmful Flame Retardants

June 2012 - Governor Jerry Brown wants the state to reduce the amount of flame retardants in furniture because the chemicals can be toxic. Brown has issued a directive to state regulators to find a better way to meet fire safety standards. Flame retardants are found in everything from high chairs to couches. Brown says there's a growing body of evidence that suggests these chemicals harm human health and the environment.

Hair-Smoothing Treatment Makers Will Disclose Toxins

January 2012 - The maker of a popular hair-smoothing treatment has agreed to warn stylists and salon-goers that its products cause exposure to a cancer-causing chemical as part of a legal settlement announced by California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Health advocates are calling on the FDA to remove keratin hair straighteners from the national market.

California Safety Review Board Weighs in on Formaldehyde

March 2011 - The cosmetics industry's safety review board has weighed in on the popular Brazilian Blowout. They've concluded that cosmetic products containing formaldehyde should not exceed 0.2% because of health and safety reasons. Some of the hair-straightening products far exceed those levels, with some containing nearly 12-percent formaldehyde.

Governor Signs Landmark Plastics Bill

June 2022 - California approved the most sweeping restrictions on plastics in the nation, a move that will most likely reshape the way we shop and recycle over the next decade. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54, which provides another route for curbing carbon emissions and trying to sidestep the worst consequences of global warming.

Lawmakers Consider Bill to Require Beverage Distributors to Recycle

January 2020 - Lawmakers in California are considering a measure that would require beverage distributors to recycle their own bottles and containers. A state Senate committee will consider the proposal later today. The plan would also add liquor and wine bottles to the program in 2024. If passed, the bill would be part of a larger effort to help the struggling recycling industry which has faced mass closures. The state of Oregon has implemented a similar measure.

Judge Halts Federal Water Transfer Plan in CA

May 2020 - The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in the State’s lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful expansion of water export operations in the Central Valley. Attorney General Becerra, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the California Environmental Protection Agency, filed a lawsuit on February 20, 2020, challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to adopt scientifically deficient biological opinions that enable additional water exports from the San Joaquin Delta without providing adequate safeguards for endangered species.

Governor Signs Bill to Fund Drinking Water Improvements

July 2019 - Governor Gavin Newsom signs Senate Bill (SB) 200 establishing a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to close the funding gap and address a crisis that affects more than one million people in communities across the state. The fund will provide $130 million annually to enable the State Water Board to provide critical, ongoing operations and maintenance support for small community water systems that are unable to meet safe drinking water standards. Until now, no such funding source existed.

Lawsuit Forces Trump Administration to Protect Eight California Rivers

August 2018 - The Trump administration agreed to a settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity 8/17/2018 that requires two federal agencies to prepare long-overdue management plans to protect eight "wild and scenic" rivers in Southern California. Under the agreement the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management must complete plans by 2024 for 100 miles of waters in the Amargosa River, Owens Headwaters, Cottonwood Creek, Piru Creek, North Fork San Jacinto River, Fuller Mill Creek, Palm Canyon Creek and Bautista Creek. Designated by Congress in 2009 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the waters wind through three national forests and other public lands and provide essential habitat for imperiled fish, birds and other wildlife. In March the Center filed suit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to ensure protections for these California rivers.

Bill Introduced to Protect Desert Water

July 2017 - A bill introduced Wednesday in the California Legislature aims to protect water resources in the state's deserts. Assembly member Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) introduced Assembly Bill 1000, known as the California Desert Protection Act, to strengthen safeguards for desert groundwater so that water transfers don't negatively impact natural or cultural resources.

Deal to Remove Dams Moves Forward

April 2016 - Endangered salmon blocked for nearly a century from hundreds of miles of the Klamath River in Oregon and California are expected to return as dam deal moves forward.

Conservation Groups Praise Drought Measures in President's Budget Proposal

February 2016 - California conservation groups are cheering President Obama's new budget proposal for fiscal year 2017 - because it fully funds important anti-drought measures.

Drought Legislation to Penalize Wasters

November -0001 - Governor Brown announced he will propose legislation in response to the drought to give local water agencies new powers to enforce water restrictions and penalize those who waste water. It will also take any monies from fines on water wasters and put the funds toward conservation programs.

Birth Control Pill To Be Prescribed in CA Pharmacies

April 2016 - Women in California no longer need their ob-gyn to prescribe the pill, the patch or other popular forms of birth control.

HB 1311 & HB 1312 Major Tax Overhaul Wins Final Legislative Approval

June 2021 - In a major tax overhaul, HB21-1311 and HB21-1312 expands tax credits for working families and small businesses, and close some wasteful tax loopholes.

New Law Closing Tax Loopholes for Wealthy Passes

June 2020 - HB20-1420 will close or means-test tax deductions that benefit wealthy individuals and businesses, generating an estimated $180 million in revenue for the state. The law also expands the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Census Outreach To Help Local Governments Becomes Law

May 2019 - HB 1239 creates the 2020 census outreach grant program to help local governments and other agencies including school districts and nonprofits to support the accurate counting of Colorado's population for the 2020 census.

More Kids Gaining Health Coverage Under ACA

September 2017 - The number of Colorado kids without health insurance hit an all-time low of four percent last year, according to new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The center found that between 2013 and 2016, an estimated 51,000 more Colorado kids gained coverage.

Colorado Reports Significant Progress Reducing Childhood Poverty

September 2016 - Childhood poverty has decreased significantly in Colorado since its peak in 2011, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. After the 2008 financial crisis, the poverty rate in Colorado grew to 18 percent, or nearly one in five kids. Since then, however, the rate has come down to 15 percent, one of the biggest drops in the country.

February 2011 - Senator Keith King drafted an amendment which restored funding to the state Smart Start program for the rest of the school year.

Colorado Passes Landmark Police Reform Legislation

June 2020 - In part, SB20-217 bans the use of chokeholds and bars police from aiming tear gas or rubber bullets at protesters' heads, pelvises or backs. Police officers can be sued for misconduct by getting rid of the qualified immunity defense that generally protects government workers from lawsuits.

Redistricting Reform: CO Passes Amendments Y and Z

November 2018 - Colorado voters approved two constitutional amendments that will help prevent gerrymandering in districts.

Legislature Approves Open-records Modernization

May 2017 - An 18-month push to update Colorado's open-records law for the digital age culminated Wednesday in the final passage of a bill that clarifies the public's right to copies of electronic government records in useful file formats that permit analysis of information in those records. Senate Bill 17-040 heads to Gov. John Hickenlooper's desk after passing the House on a 39-26 vote and then repassing the Senate unanimously, all on the last day of the 2017 legislative session.

First Openly-Gay Speaker of the Colorado House

November 2012 - As the Democrats regained control of both chambers of the state legislature, Mark Ferrandino was selected to be the first openly-gay Speaker of the Colorado House.

First Trial in Nation Wins Suit Against Cops Use of Force During George Floyd Protests

April 2022 - A Colorado jury awarded $14 million in damages to 12 plaintiffs after concluding Denver police officers violated our plaintiffs' constitutional rights during the 2020 George Floyd protests.

Early Childhood Discipline Bill Signed by Governor Polis

May 2019 - After many years on working on ending the school to prison pipeline, advocates are celebrating protection against harsh discipline for children of color. HB19-1194 will dramatically limit the removal of children in pre-K through second grade.

Just Transition for Fossil Fuel Communities

June 2022 - This initial investment passed in HB22-1394 aims to develop quality jobs, new industries, and more sustainable tax revenues funding rural municipalities, police and fire departments, school districts, and other community needs in municipalities most effected by reductions in extraction industries.

Colorado Passes Measures to Improve Air Quality

May 2022 - Colorado lawmakers passed laws designed to improve air quality, including a $65 million earmark for electric school busses. Measures also call for decommissioning the oldest diesel vehicles operating in the state, and incentives to purchase electric bicycles.

Five Clean Energy Policies Become Law

June 2021 - Governor Jared Polis signed five landmark clean energy bills into law that will accelerate progress toward greenhouse gas reduction goals, work toward a regionally connected electricity grid, and set green building standards. The bills include SB21-072, SB21-264, HB21-1284, HB21-1238, and HB21-1286.

EPA Greenlights State Authority to Set Stricter Car Emission Standards

April 2021 - The EPA announced that the agency will restore states’ authority to set stricter emission standards on cars and SUVs. Governor Jared Polis said the move will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation sector, considered a main driver of climate change.

CO Air Commission Adopts Rule to Cut Methane from Oil and Gas Pneumatic Devices

February 2021 - The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) unanimously approved a landmark rule requiring oil and gas operators to install zero-bleed or zero-emission pneumatic devices for both new and existing operations.

Colorado Latinos Welcome Biden’s Climate Orders

January 2021 - President Joe Biden's sweeping executive orders include investments in communities affected by pollution and other measures aimed at building a net-zero-emission economy by 2050.

Colorado Forges Ahead on 'Just Transition' for Coal Workers, Communities

January 2021 - The Just Transition Action Plan calls for a coordinated national response as coal is replaced by cleaner renewable sources to generate electricity, and the plan's creators say Colorado's roadmap will be considered by the new Biden administration.

Colorado Ends Routine Oil and Gas Flaring

November 2020 - The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) adopted new rules to eliminate the practice of routine flaring at new and existing wells across the state. Routine flaring occurs when operators burn off natural gas produced from oil wells instead of capturing it and selling it or otherwise putting it to beneficial use.

Colorado Adopts New Zero-emission Vehicle Standard

August 2019 - The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted 8-1 to adopt a new standard for zero-emission vehicles in the state as Colorado pushes to try to improve poor ozone pollution conditions across the state. Colorado becomes the 10th state to adopt a ZEV standard.

Colorado Sets Climate Goals

April 2019 - The Colorado Legislature has passed the Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution, or House Bill 1261, and it now heads to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis for his anticipated signature. The bill calls for reducing greenhouse emissions by 90 percent from 2005 levels by 2050.

City of Denver Divests from Oil and Gas Companies

April 2019 - Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced that the City of Denver is divesting its $6bn General Funds' portfolio from fossil fuel investments. The city said it was able to move quickly through the process as fossil fuels were already a small percentage of the overall portfolio.

Polis Executive Order Supports Colorado?s Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles

January 2019 - Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order outlining a suite of initiatives and strategies aimed at supporting a transition to zero emission vehicles

PUC Approves Energy Plan That Could Reduce Health Risks

August 2018 - Xcel plans to replace the lost capacity from the early retirement of Comanche power stations 1 and 2 in Pueblo with a mixture of renewable resources and natural gas.

PUC Approves Energy Plan That Could Reduce Health Risks

August 2018 - Colorado's Public Utilities Commission has signed off on Xcel Energy's Colorado Energy Plan. And according to new analysis by the Colorado Fiscal Institute, the plan should bring significant health benefits. The plan calls for shuttering two coal-fired power plants in Pueblo County a decade ahead of schedule, and replacing their capacity largely with wind and solar. Report author Abby Pizel, natural resource policy analyst with the institute, said the plan could reduce air pollutants by as much as 55 percent of current levels.

Clean Air Whistleblower Wins Reprieve

March 2017 - Court of Appeals has dismissed a request by the city of Colorado Springs to impose a Contempt Citation on Monument resident Leslie Weise. Weise was required to appear last month in the Colorado Court of Appeals in Denver to determine if her efforts to seek truth and transparency regarding a damning air quality report that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has prevented the public from seeing would be met with sanctions and fines from the Court, and the single mother was threatened with up to six months in jail.

Work on Clean Power Plan to Continue

April 2016 - Colorado will continue to work on a plan to reduce carbon emissions.

Region's Improved Air Quality Cuts Cancer Risk

November 2015 - Garfield County has seen a steadily decreasing risk for cancer and other ailments associated with air pollutants.

Governor Hickenlooper Goes to Bat For Clean Power Plan

November 2015 - Governor Hickenlooper will ask the Colorado Supreme Court whether state Attorney General Cynthia Coffman overstepped her authority in challenging the federal Clean Power Plan.

April 2012 - The EPA issued first-ever air pollution rules for "fracking" wells, requiring that drillers burn or capture the gas and its smog-producing compounds released when the wells are first tapped. Going into effect in 60 days, the rules cover the period when a well is first drilled when natural gas is still venting but before it begins actual production.

Pollution Clean-Up on the Way

November -0001 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice and the State of Colorado announced a settlement with Houston-based Noble Energy, Inc. Noble will spend an estimated $60 million on system upgrades, monitoring and inspections to reduce emissions, in addition to $4.5 million to fund environmental mitigation projects, $4 million on supplemental environmental projects, and a $4.95 million civil penalty.

Law Limiting Payday Loan Interest Rates Goes Into Effect

March 2019 - The measure limits the interest rate on short-term loans, commonly known as payday loans, to a yearly rate of 36 percent and eliminated all other finance charges and fees associated with payday lending.

Bill Killed that Would Have Boosted Credit Fees

November -0001 - Governor Hickenlooper vetoed House Bill 1390 which would have allowed lenders to increase interest rates by over 50%. The law would have increased the cost of borrowing money for certain consumer credit transactions. The bill was introduced near the end of the session and sailed through. Groups that oppose it say they didn’t have time to make their case and want a veto in order to give the proposal more debate next year.

Colorado to Increase Behavioral Health Access and Divert Coloradans in Need Away from Criminal Justice System

May 2022 - SB22-196 implements recommendations from the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force by investing nearly $62 million in early intervention and diversion efforts to get individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders into needed treatment rather than getting involved in the criminal justice system.

HB-1025 Clears Hurdle for Workers with Criminal History

April 2019 - After Sept. 1, Colorado companies with more than 10 employees are prohibited from asking about workers' criminal history.

Colorado Lawmakers Pass Bill to Close Debtors Prison Loophole

June 2016 - The state legislature gave final approval to a bill that will close a loophole that critics contend gutted efforts to prevent the jailing of poor people who can't pay fines for low-level offenses.

Innocent Man Exonerated

January 2016 - Clarence Moses-El, who has been in prison for 28 years for a crime all evidence suggests he did not commit, has been exonerated.

Colorado ACLU Launches App to Record Police Activity

November 2015 - The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado unveiled a new smart phone app on that encourages people to record police interactions with the public.

"Corporations Are Not People"

November 2012 - Voters took mostly symbolic action, but nevertheless, stated clearly their belief that corporations are not people and should not have the rights of people when it comes to participating in elections.

Polis Signs Bill to Improve Higher Education For Students With A Disability

April 2022 - H-B 1255 would create an advisory committee to outline ways to improve outcomes for students with disabilities attending state institutions.

Colorado Strengthens Protections for People with Disabilities and LGBTQ Coloradans

April 2017 - The Colorado Senate voted 23-12 to pass House Bill 1188, a bill that adds physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, and transgender status to Colorado's existing law concerning bias-motivated harassme

Polis Signs Community College Nursing Bachelor Degree Eligibility Bill

April 2022 - Community colleges may now offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing as a completion degree to students who have or are pursuing an associate degree in nursing. The bill permits community colleges to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing to students who have or are pursuing a practical nursing certificate.

New Law Addresses Rural Colorado's Teacher Shortage

May 2017 - House Bill 1003 requires the Department of Higher Education to work with the Colorado Department of Education, school districts and other education associations to identify root causes of the teacher shortage and recommend strategies to recruit and retain more teachers.

Polis Signs Safe Crossings For Colorado Wildlife And Motorists Act

June 2022 - Governor Jared Polis signed SB22-151 into law, in an effort to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. The measure creates a cash fund for use by the department of transportation for projects that provide safe road crossings for connectivity of wildlife and habitat.

Trump Administration Loses Attempt to Roll Back Sage-Grouse Habitat Protections

October 2019 - A federal judge blocked the Trump administration?s attempt to roll back sage-grouse habitat protections for special interests, which would have further opened the West to oil and gas leases

New Law to Invest $15 Million to Help Fossil Fuel Communities Transition to Renewable Energy

June 2021 - Governor Polis signed a Colorado Comeback bill to support communities transitioning away from fossil fuels. HB21-1290, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, will invest $15 million to help communities shift away from fossil fuels to more renewable sources of energy.

Governor Signs Trio of Climate Action & Clean Energy Stimulus Bills

June 2021 - Governor Polis signed into law three bills that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, all targeting investments in the clean energy sector and energy efficiency projects: HB21-1253, SB21-230, and 231.

Broomfield City Council Imposing Moratorium on New Energy Development

May 2019 - Broomfield City Council approved a six-month moratorium on new natural gas and oil development in the city, becoming the seventh Colorado community to impose a ban since the introduction of Senate Bill 181 in March. The moratorium passed unanimously on second reading, halting the municipal approval process for energy development until December.

Bill Passes to Prioritize Health and Safety in Oil and Gas

April 2019 - Senate Bill 181 changes the mission of the state regulatory body for the oil and gas. Among other restrictions on the energy sector, it allows local governments to regulate development.

Coloradans Reject Oil and Gas-backed Amendment

November 2018 - Amendment 74 would have put local governments at risk of lawsuits if any action caused any party to lose value on their property. The move, backed by oil and gas interests, was widely seen as a counter-threat to Proposition 112 which sought to keep oil and gas operations 2500 feet away from homes and schools.

Colorado Rising Submits Enough Signatures for Safer Setbacks Initiative to Qualify for November Ballot

August 2018 - Despite numerous hurdles, signatures have been submitted for 2,500-foot setbacks on fracking operations.

Governor Signs Executive Order on Orphaned Wells

July 2018 - Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an executive order that aims to address safety concerns with more than 260 orphaned wells and 360 orphaned sites in Colorado. The executive order follows a review that the governor ordered in the aftermath of the Firestone house explosion in 2017 that killed Joey Irwin and Mark Martinez and injured Erin Martinez.

Boulder City Council Approves 100 Percent Clean Electricity by 2030

December 2016 - The Boulder City Council approved a measure to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030. The Council considered the move as a major step toward reaching the city's longer-term goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050.

Feds Cancel Thompson Divide Oil and Gas Leases

November 2016 - U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze joined Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper yesterday in Denver to announce the final resolution of disputed oil and gas leases, cancelling leases in the Thompson Divide area of the White River National Forest.

November 2012 - The Colorado town of Longmont banned the practice of fracking for natural gas. This should set up quite a firestorm pitting the town's interests agains the state with a heavy influence from the energy industry constant through the process.

February 2012 - Colorado Rep. Jared Polis eliminated a measure from the House highway bill that would mandate commercial leasing of public lands for the unproven technology of oil shale development.

February 2012 - Senator Michael Bennet introduced an amendment (along with Kansas Senator Jerry Moran) to extend the wind energy production tax credit. Wind energy industries provide 6,000 jobs in Colorado.

November 2011 - Senator Mark Udall introduced legislation allowing clean energy development on federal lands, such as wind or solar energy. It's called the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act.

June 2011 - The new DOD funding bill increases goals for renewable energy on military bases. Colorado Senator Mark Udall's plans would wean the military off of billions of gallons of fossil fuels, creating huge annual savings. CNC reported on the "greening" of Colorado bases earlier this year.

January 2011 - A lawsuit was filed January 19th by a coalition of groups, including Earthjustice and the Sierra Club, challenging the Sunflower Coal Plant expansion in Kansas. It's an issue long on the radar of environmental groups sounding the alarm about pollution and questioning whether the plant is needed to meet energy demands.

December 2010 - A good sign in Colorado's push to wean the state from coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuels. Gov. Hickenlooper named wind-energy executive TJ Deora as director of the Governor's Energy Office. The idea is to facilitate the state's "new energy economy."

Governor Jared Polis Signs Law Creating Outdoor Recreation Office

May 2021 - The outdoor recreation industry office will serve as a central coordinator of outdoor recreation industry matters. The director of the office reports to the director of the Office of Economic Development.

No GMOs at Chipotle

April 2015 - The Mexican fast-casual dining chain Chipotle announced that it has become the first national restaurant chain to use only non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients.

Colorado Steps Ahead on Renewable Energy Policy

April 2013 - Colorado reaffirmed its role as a national leader in renewable energy when the State House approved the only bill in the country seeking to expand the use of wind, solar, and other alternative resources.

Fracking Decision Delayed Because of Overwhelming Number of Comments

December 2012 - The Department of the Interior decided to delay a ruling on hydraulic fracturing on Bureau of Land Management (federal) lands.

December 2011 - The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission adopted a law which would require oil and gas drillers to disclose all chemicals used in hydraulic fracking.

May 2011 - Fracking continues to be a big issue in the region. A shareholder's group has approached major oil conglomerates asking them to back off of fracking in the mountain West because of its lack of sustainability as a petroleum source and its ecological impact.

Climate Bill to Protect Environment & Support Disproportionately Impacted Communities Becomes Law

July 2021 - HB21-1266 aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental justice in disadvantaged communities, and set Colorado on a pathway to meeting the climate targets established in previous legislation.

Colorado One of the Latest States to Say "Yes" to Marriage Equality

March 2013 - The state legislature voted to legalize civil unions.

February 2011 - Obama Administration announced that it will stop defending the discriminatory federal "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) in court The Colorado bill to recognize civil unions is set for a Senate committee hearing on March 7th.

Birth Certificate Change Approved

November -0001 - Colorado House Committee passed the Birth Certificate Modernization Act -- a bill that eliminates one of the many barriers transgender Coloradans face every day. (later killed in the Senate but seen as a sign of progress).

Marriage Equality Comes to Colorado

November -0001 - Because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to not review appeals court rulings regarding same-sex marriage bans, same-sex marriage is now legal in Colorado.

Colorado Passes Gun Protections

April 2021 - Governor Jared Polis signed new policies meant to combat the public health crisis of gun violence. SB21-078 requires that lost or stolen firearms be reported to law enforcement. HB21-1106 requires that firearms be securely stored when not in use. Licensed gun dealers must also provide a storage device with the purchase of firearms.

Gun Safety Legislation Becomes Law

March 2013 - The state passed a comprehensive gun reform package, which includes limits on the size of magazines, universal background checks and a charge to gun buyers for those checks.

Medicaid Expansion Helped Decrease CO Uninsured Rate

September 2018 - Colorado and other states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act saw uninsured rates for low-income adults drop more than three times more than states that have not yet expanded coverage,

Joint Budget Committee approves Gov. Hickenlooper's request for Emergency CHP+ funding

December 2017 - The Joint Budget Committee approved Gov. John Hickenlooper's request for emergency funding to continue Colorado's Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program through Feb. 28, 2018. This supplemental funding provides additional time for Congress to authorize federal funding and prevents cancellation notices from being sent to Colorado CHP+ members.

Despite Uncertainties, Colorado Holding its Own on Health Coverage

October 2017 - In 2011, 16 percent of Colorado residents did not have health insurance, but by 2015 - after the rollout of the Affordable Care Act - that rate had dropped to just over 6 percent and is holding steady. That's according to the 2017 Colorado Health Access Survey.

Colorado to Continue Funding for Colorado's Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Program

June 2016 - Governor John Hickenlooper signed Colorado's annual budget legislation, also known as the Long Bill, fighting off efforts to stop contraception program.

Governor Hickenlooper Signs Health Care Bill Into Law in Frisco

June 2016 - Health-care bill HB 16-1336 is a law after Governor John Hickenlooper made a stopover in Frisco to add his signature. The new decree calls for the state's Division of Insurance to conduct a study looking at the viability of creating a single rating area from which health-insurance companies develop individual plan costs. The report is due in August.

Coverage Increases After Medicaid Expansion

March 2016 - A new report shows states that expanded Medicaid have lower uninsured rates than non-expansion states.

Mercy for Animals Commends Wendy's New Cage-Free Egg Policy

February 2016 - Wendy's announced its commitment to improving animal welfare in its U.S. and Canadian supply chains by switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2020.

Colorado Gets Aggressive on ACA

April 2013 - The Colorado legislature passed the Family Care Act (H.B. 13-1222), which creates state family and medical leave protections for civil union and domestic partners. It's seen as a victory for equality and Colorado families, and if a loved one becomes seriously ill or faces a family emergency, they will not have to choose between health and a job.

Constitutional Amendment Regulates Marijuana Like Alcohol

November 2012 - Voters supported a constitutional amendment to regulate marijuana like alcohol.

October 2012 - Colorado received a $43.5 million grant from the federal government in order to build the state-run Insurance Exchange as established under the Affordable Care Act. The grant will provide two years of funding for the building process, after which Colorado would be eligible for a "Level Two" grant.

May 2011 - Colorado Governor Hickenlooper signed into law SB11-200, which establishes insurance exchanges in Colorado. Seven other states have passed similar exchange laws. The exchanges are part of the Affordable Care Act.

April 2011 - The Colorado Health Exchange bill was approved by the state senate and is currently under review by the house. The Exchange would provide a way for Coloradans to comparison shop for insurance, getting the best coverage at the most affordable price. We've extensively covered this issue, which is a part of Federal Health Care reform and is considered by many state health advocacy groups to be a crucial part of protecting health care for Coloradans.

Voters Approve Funding Tool for Affordable Housing

November 2022 - Proposition 123, approved by Colorado voters in the midterm elections, will dedicates 0.1% of state income tax revenue for affordable housing programs, including aid to develop more housing and assistance for certain renters and home buyers.

Homeless Get Behavioral Health Support

May 2022 - SB22-211 invests $45 million to repurpose an unused, state-owned facility into a recovery oriented community to help those experiencing homelessness and seeking recovery access a continuum of behavioral health services and treatment, medical care, skill development, housing services, and more.

Homeless Support Moving to Local Communities

May 2022 - Governor Jared Polis has signed legislation aimed at reducing the rate of homelessness by supporting communities to develop and implement support systems that effectively respond to the barriers that people experiencing homelessness face.

Homeless Veterans Gain Housing Protections

April 2022 - Colorado lawmakers passed HB 1102, which adds veterans as a protected status under the Colorado Fair Housing Act.

Colorado to Invest $400 Million in Affordable Housing

January 2022 - In a victory for housing advocates, a task force charged with addressing homelessness and affordable housing across Colorado will now release recommendations on how to invest some $400 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Denver Voters Approve Shelter Funding

November 2021 - Measure 2B passed, which includes $38.6 million for shelters and facilities for people experiencing homelessness.

Governor Signs Bill Into Law That Aims to Address Homelessness

July 2021 - HB21-1271 establishes grant programs to encourage local governments to utilize affordable housing strategies, and directs money to local governments for the acquisition or restoration of underutilized properties to house people experiencing homelessness, a win for bill sponsor by Senator Julie Gonzales.

Fremont, Colorado 12th Community in U.S. to Achieve Functional Zero for Veteran Homelessness

May 2021 - Governor Polis and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) announced that the national initiative Built for Zero has certified Fremont, Colorado as the 12th community in the country to functionally end veteran homelessness.

Denver Voters Approve Fund Dedicated to Mitigating Homelessness

November 2020 - Denver voters approved Ballot Measure 2B, a 0.25% sales tax increase to provide housing and services and resources for people experiencing homelessness. The measure will allow Denver to build 1,800 homes with supportive services over the next ten years.

Denver County Court Judge Rules City’s Urban Camping Ban Unconstitutional

December 2019 - Denver County Judge Johnny Barajas found the ban to be unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment,” and said it violates both the U.S. and Colorado constitutions. The decision was released by Attorney Andy McNulty.

Activists Advance Low-income Housing Strategy in Denver Suburb

September 2017 - After confronting the City Council in June, Westminster has added inspectors, recommended increases in rental and food-assistance budgets, and prioritized 25 percent of the new downtown development for affordable housing.

Bill to Make Juneteenth a Colorado State Holiday Becomes Law

May 2022 - The new state holiday commemorates the day Union soldiers arrived in Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and declare that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were free.

CO Health Centers Win Grant to Bridge Employment Equity Gap

November 2021 - A new grant from SyncUp Colorado will allow Colorado's safety net health centers to develop more diverse staff that are connected to their communities and patients.

Bill to Address Inequities Becomes Law

July 2021 - SB21-181 establishes the Health Disparities and Community Grant Program, which will award money for the purposes of positively affecting social determinants of health to reduce the risk of future disease and health conditions in underrepresented populations.

Governor Polis Signs Executive Order Directing Action on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

August 2020 - Gov. Jared Polis signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Personnel & Administration to lead efforts on furthering equity, diversity, and inclusion within the State of Colorado. The new policy will direct and advise agencies in developing long-term strategic plans to foster and support inclusive, anti-discriminatory workplaces

Colorado Death Penalty Abolished, Polis Commutes Sentences Of Death Row Inmates

March 2020 - Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill to repeal the death penalty. This makes Colorado the 22nd state to abolish capital punishment, and it marks the conclusion of reform efforts that began at the Colorado State Capitol in 2007.

Colorado Voters Tax Wealthy to Fund School Meals for All

November 2022 - Colorado voters approved a state ballot initiative to provide healthy school meals for all students free of charge in the state’s public schools. Proposition FF removes some tax breaks for those earning $300,000 per year or more to fund the measure.

Colorado's Medical Deduction Helps Put Food on Table

December 2017 - One year after Colorado rolled out a new standard medical expense deduction, close to 9,000 seniors who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have been able to put more food on the table.

CO Expands SNAP exemptions

September 2017 - More Coloradans who are facing difficult life circumstances and financial challenges will be able to keep their food stamp benefits under a recent set of rule changes unanimously approved by Colorado's State Board of Human Services. Hunger Free Colorado and Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP) have been coordinating with the state to adopt these new changes for more than a year.

SNAP Dollars Worth Double at Some CO Farmers Markets

August 2016 - Food stamps are now worth double for fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 30 farmers markets and other outlets in Colorado.

Immigrants Win on Drivers License Process

May 2018 - Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill that aims to improve the state's long-embattled driver's license program for people living in the U.S. without documentation. Senate Bill 108 streamlines the renewal process and identification requirements for immigrants who have or are seeking driver's licenses. The measure marks lawmakers' first successful attempt to improve the program since it was created by the Colorado General Assembly in 2013, after years of persistent conservative pushback.

Immigrants Can Qualify for In-State Tuition

May 2018 - Refugees and Special Immigration Visa recipients will soon be eligible for in-state tuition at Colorado colleges. Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill allowing easier access to higher education. The bill will waive the traditional one-year residency requirement for college students and will lower higher education costs.

Bill to Improve SB251 Licenses Passes Both Houses

April 2018 - The Colorado House of Representatives passed the Eligibility Colorado Road and Community Safety Act (SB-18-108) in a vote of 38-24, clearing the road for the bill to park on Governor John Hickenlooper's desk for signage and paving the way for a healthier and safer Colorado for all residents and business owners. SB18-108 will allow people to renew their SB251 driver license online or by mail and permit those who have valid social security numbers to access the program.

Groups Reignite 24HR Hotline to Support Immigrants

February 2018 - A coalition of labor, faith, and grassroots organizers is renewing efforts to assist immigrants targeted for deportation. The Colorado Rapid Response Network provides legal assistance, know-your-rights training, and a 24-hour hotline to mobilize protection and document raids conducted by ICE.

Immigrants' Rights Supporters Celebrate Denver Win

August 2017 - The Public Safety Enforcement Priorities Act prohibits city employees from asking residents about their immigration status or handing that information over to ICE.

Feds Grant Jeanette Vizguerra, Arturo Hernandez Garcia Stays of Deportation

May 2017 - Jeanette Vizguerra, the mother of four who took sanctuary in a Denver church in February to avoid immigration authorities, will now be able to walk free after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Thursday granted her a stay of deportation until 2019. Vizguerra and Arturo Hernandez Garcia, the man who had previously sought sanctuary in a Denver church and was recently arrested by ICE agents, had gotten a nearly 2-year deportation stay.

Health Coverage on Rise for Hispanic Kids in Colorado

February 2016 - More Hispanic children in Colorado have health insurance, but they're still lagging behind their peers, according to a new report by a Georgetown University research center and the National Council of La Raza.

Gov. Polis Signs Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities

June 2022 - The Governor’s action directs the Departments of Labor & Employment (CDLE) and Personnel & Administration (DPA) to develop statewide guidance and strategies to expand the number of registered apprenticeship programs offered by state agencies by 20 percent by the end of Fiscal Year 2022-23. The goal is to expand apprenticeship opportunities for Coloradans of all ages, abilities, and industries.

Colorado Lawmakers Pass Just Transition for Workers

June 2022 - HB22-1394 would fund the Office of Just Transition, which is working to boost communities and workers transitioning from coal-based economies. The bill supports coal workers to help them provide for themselves and their families, and access innovative education and training opportunities.

Governor Jared Polis Signs Just Transitions Bill

March 2022 - Governor Jared Polis signed HB22-1193, in a move to power the transition to clean energy by funding just transition for coal workers programs.

Governor Polis Announces Paid Family Medical Leave for State Employees

December 2021 - Effective January 2021, state employees will be eligible for Paid Family Medical Leave program to care for a loved one, welcome a new child into the home, or recover from a serious illness.

Colorado Increasing the Minimum Wage for Workers

September 2021 - The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s (CDLE) Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS) announced the proposed new Colorado minimum wage, currently at $12.32 for 2021, will rise on January 1, 2022 to $12.56, or $9.54 for those receiving enough in tips for total pay to meet or exceed the full minimum wage.

Colorado Voters Approve Paid Family and Medical Leave

November 2020 - Colorado made history this week by becoming the first state in the country to pass paid family and medical leave at the ballot. Voters across the state overwhelmingly supported Proposition 118, with the measure gaining just over 57% of the vote as of the last update from the Secretary of State.

New Minimum-Wage Law Could Bring Relief to High-Cost CO Counties

June 2019 - Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1210 into law this week, repealing a 1999 prohibition against local governments creating their own minimum wages. The measure opens the door for counties and cities to address significant cost-of-living disparities across the state.

Colorado Advances Pay Equality for Women

April 2019 - Companies found to be paying employees less due to their gender will be forced to compensate them under SB-85, an equal pay bill awaiting Polis' signature. Companies will also be prevented from asking applicants about their salary history.

Bill Clears Way for Increasing Local Minimum Wages

April 2019 - The Local Wage Option bill (HB 1210) is on its way to the Governor's desk for signature. The bill would allow city and county officials to adjust their own minimum wages.

Colorado House of Representatives Passes FAMLI Act

April 2018 - The FAMLI Act would guarantee all Colorado workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for themselves and their families in a way that is friendly and supportive of business both large and small. The bill still has to clear the Senate.

Lowest-Paid Coloradans Edge Closer to Living Wage

February 2018 - Colorado's lowest-paid workers got a raise this week as the minimum wage increased by 90 cents to $10.20 an hour. But, for workers in many parts of the state, that still isn't enough to be financially self-sufficient.

Colorado Poverty Below National Average

September 2017 - The percentage of people living below the federal poverty level in Colorado continues to be below the national average, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. And, the state's child poverty rate dropped to just over 13 percent in 2016, down from nearly 15 percent the previous year, the lowest it's been since 2003.

State EITC Created

November -0001 - The Colorado Legislature passed the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC puts cash in the pockets of Colorado working families, rewarding families who are often working multiple jobs and are just trying to make ends meet. Advocates argue it’s an investment in Colorado that encourages and rewards work while helping to offset the impact of stagnant wages.

Governor Polis Signs Media Literacy Bill into Law

May 2021 - The bill requires the Department of Education to create and maintain an online resource bank of materials and resources pertaining to media literacy.

Colorado Moves to Protect Net Neutrality

April 2019 - The passage of SB-78 means Colorado internet users won't need to worry about internet service providers receiving their tax dollars while not abiding by net neutrality. A new law will prohibit providers that slow access to the internet or unfairly favor certain websites from receiving state grants.

HB21-1258 and SB21-239, to Expand Mental Health Access for Kids & Increase Access to State Resources, Become Law

July 2021 - Governor Polis signs two Colorado Comeback bills into law that seek to expand access to youth mental health services as well as expand the crisis support services offered by the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative to help Coloradans in need.

Colorado Passes Mental Health Measures

April 2021 - HB21-1119 hopes to lower the state's suicide rate by enhancing care for persons affected by suicide, and broadening Colorado's focus to include suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. HB21-1097 creates a Behavioral Health Administration.

Governor Polis Signs Bill to Curb Youth Suicide and Support Behavioral Health into Law

May 2019 - Governor Jared Polis today signed into law SB19-195, Child & Youth Behavioral Health System Enhancements, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora) to curb youth suicide in Colorado by making it easier for families to find and access the behavioral healthcare they need.

Colorado Cities Celebrate Indigenous People's Day

October 2016 - Denver and Boulder celebrated their first-ever Indigenous People's Day, after years of activist struggles to "transform Columbus Day," still a federal holiday. A Boulder resolution called for a correcting of the historical omissions of native peoples from public places, and is calling for tribal input to establish a new name for the city's Settlers Park.

Colorado Gives Day Broke Records

December 2012 - Colorado Gives Day on December 4th broke its previous record, giving $15.7 million to 1,246 Colorado nonprofits.

Push for Work Requirements to Receive Medicaid Coverage Dies in Legislature

March 2018 - A bill that would have added work requirements for people with Medicaid coverage died in the Colorado legislature. Critics warned the move would have taken health insurance away from hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.

Colorado’s Camp Hale-Continental Divide Now National Monument

October 2022 - President Joe Biden visited Colorado to designate the Camp Hale-Continental Divide area north of Leadville as a national monument. Soldiers from Camp Hale are credited with helping turn the tide against fascism in Europe during World War II.

Ranchers, Outdoor Rec Industry, Veterans Hail CORE Passage in U.S. House

November 2019 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Color ado Outdoor Recreation and Economy, or CORE, Act. If the measure clears the Senate, CORE would safeguard roughly 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado.

Trinidad Takes Conservation Steps to Become Outdoor-Recreation Destination

January 2019 - Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy in Colorado are moving forward with plans to conserve 30 square miles of wilderness south of Trinidad for wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation.

Denver Wins Prized Outdoor Retailer Trade Shows

August 2017 - After nearly 18 months of intensive and harried negotiations, Visit Denver has booked the twice-a-year trade show in the city's Colorado Convention Center for five years, starting in January 2018. Conference organizers decided to leave Utah in the wake of several actions taken by state officials that they felt put public lands at risk.

Browns Canyon Proposed to be a National Monument

March 2013 - Mark Udall announced he's introducing a bill to turn the beloved angling and recreation area Browns Canyon into a National Monument - a series of public meetings on his proposal (which was developed with lots of stakeholder input) began this month.

November 2012 - Wide open spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities mean more jobs and fatter paychecks in Big Sky County. A new report, "West is Best," makes connections between protected federal lands and economic prosperity in Big Sky Country.

July 2012 - A seven-year process to develop a roadless rule for Colorado ended in July, when the state and U.S. Forest Service came to an agreement. The new Colorado rule includes creation of an upper tier category of lands that provides the highest safeguards to 1.2 million acres, a refined inventory that includes 400,000 acres of previously non-inventoried roadless lands and measures protecting species and vegetation.

June 2012 - Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe announced that noted conservationist Louis Bacon intends to donate a conservation easement totaling approximately 90,000 acres in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains bordering the San Luis Valley. This easement will provide the foundation for the proposed new Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area, which the Service is in the process of establishing.

May 2012 - The Rocky Mountain Greenway Project, an urban park connecting Denver's metro area trail systems with Rocky Mountain National Park, three area National Wildlife Refuges and community trail systems, moved forward this month as part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative.

May 2012 - The U.S. Forest Service released a final version of the Colorado Roadless Rule this month, which will help manage 4 million acres backcountry public lands in the state. It addresses key concerns raised by sportsmen and environmental communities, including safeguarding key landscapes/habitats. This is one of two state-based roadless rules (Idaho is the other).

April 2012 - The Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012 (H.R. 4089) passed the House April 18 with bipartisan support and a vote of 274-146. It would require federal land managers to consider impacts to hunting and angling when developing land management plans, among other measures.

October 2011 - At a meeting with Mark Udall, the proposed San Juan Wilderness expansions received broad and wide-based support from groups including local governments, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, sportsmen (hunters & fishermen) and homeowners from the region.

September 2011 - Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennett introduced legislation to increase the San Juan Wilderness, protecting water supplies and helping to preserve recreational opportunities for Coloradans. Some of the land would be new wilderness, and other acreage would merely be protected from invasive procedures like mining. This is a bill which was shaped by community input - a grass roots effort mostly supported by locals

April 2011 - A new report from Headwaters Economics takes a look at oil, gas and coal development, and the role of those industries in state economies for Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The findings show that the economic benefits to states are limited - accounting for less than three percent of both total employment and total personal income.

Browns Canyon National Monument Declared

November -0001 - President Barack Obama plans to name Browns Canyon, in central Colorado, a national monument, a designation that adds a new layer of federal protection to the popular spot for whitewater rafting.

Governor Polis Signs Executive Order to Bring Reliable, Affordable, High-Speed Broadband Internet Access to Coloradans

February 2022 - Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed an Executive Order directing the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) to develop a Broadband Strategic Plan to connect over 99 percent of Colorado households to high-speed broadband by 2027.

December 2010 - The President signed a one-year law which would delay the Medicare physician payment cut by one year. Health care watchdogs have been concerned that those cuts will lead to physicians dropping senior patients.

New Law Raises Taxes on Cigarettes, Tobacco and Nicotine Products

July 2020 - HB20-1265 increases the statutory per cigarette tax from 1 cent to 6.5 cents until July 1, 2024, then to 8 cents until July 1, 2027, and thereafter to 10 cents.

Local Governments May Regulate Nicotine Products

March 2019 - Governor Jared Polis signed into law (March 28, 2019)a measure that confirms a local government's authority to regulate products containing nicotine.

Colorado Senate Defeats 'Religious Exemption Bill in Disguise'

April 2017 - The Colorado State Senate voted down Senate Bill 283, a bill that would have allowed businesses to claim that any belief, including religious beliefs, gives them the right to refuse to follow non-discrimination laws they don't like.

Southwestern Colorado Waters Win New Protections

October 2022 - The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission recently finalized the state's designation of the streams in southwestern Colorado as Outstanding Waters under the Clean Water Act. The designation protects existing high-quality waters from future degradation including pollution from development, mining, oil and gas, and other uses.

Yampa River Gets Boost for Priority Water Projects

September 2019 - Stakeholders along the Yampa River Valley are celebrating the launch of the Yampa River Fund, a collaborative community-based initiative dedicated to identifying and funding activities that protect water supplies, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

Water Bill Becomes Law

January 2010 - Gov. Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, signed a bill into law that will help protect Colorado's water.

Colorado Passes Law Protecting Pregnant Women Workers

June 2016 - The Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act requires employers to provide physical accommodations for pregnant working women, so they can continue to work and care for their families.

Access to Opioid Reversal Medication Expanded

October 2018 - The opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone is now more widely available in Massachusetts, as a result of the second major legislative act. The new law requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to issue a statewide standing order allowing pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription to any person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose, as well as their family members, friends, or others to assist them. The purchase is billable for insurance purposes, regardless of whether the transaction involves the person actually using the medication. Previously, pharmacies were required to have their own pharmacy-specific standing order to dispense naloxone or purchasers had to have a prescription. Also, people could be denied insurance coverage for the purchase of naloxone if they themselves were not the user of the medication.

State House Approves Measure to reduce supply of painkillers on the street.

January 2016 - State lawmakers gave unanimous approval in the house to a measure that would limit the prescriptions for pain medications to a seven-day supply.

Commonwealth Voters Approve Humane Treatment of Animals Measure

November 2016 - Voters approved Question 3 on Election Day which requires eggs sold in the Bay State be from cage-free farms. All pork and veal produced and sold in the state will also be required to come from humanely-caged animals by 2022.

MA Ranks in Top Ten for Animals

January 2016 - A new (ALDF) ranks the Commonwealth in the top ten states for protecting animals.

New Data Show That the Child Tax Credit Fueled a Substantial Reduction in Child Poverty

October 2022 - The nation’s child pover­ty rate dropped by half in 2021, from an esti­mat­ed 10% in 2020 to a his­toric low of 5%. This was pri­mar­i­ly thanks to the expand­ed child tax cred­it, accord­ing to the Sup­ple­men­tal Pover­ty Mea­sure (SPM).

Gov. Baker Signs Budget with $6.5 million for Community Action, New Focus on Poverty Reduction

July 2021 - Governor Charlie Baker signed the FY 22 budget, which contains $6.5 million for Community Action agencies to expand their reach; as well as a commission to address inequality, promote opportunity and end poverty.

Governor Charlie Baker Signs Student Opportunity Act

November 2019 - Governor Charlie Baker signed the Student Opportunity Act into law, adding $1.5 billion in annual education funding. PNS has been covering the Student Opportunity Act and past attempts to increase public education funding for years.

Proposed "Millionaire's Tax" Returns to Legislature

March 2019 - A so-called millionaire's tax that would help fund public education, and amend the state constitution, has been scheduled for a public hearing in April.

Measure Pending To Take Holistic Approach to Child Wellbeing

October 2015 - Representative Jay Livingstone and Senator Mark Montigny are sponsors of HB429/SB94, An Act to Relative to Ensuring the Wellbeing of All Children in the Commonwealth.

Free Meals Made Easier for Low-income Kids

October 2013 - It's easier for low-income children in high-poverty Boston public schools to get free meals this year, thanks to a program called "CEO," or community eligibility option.

Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law

June 2022 - Governor Charlie Baker signed the VOTES Act into law. It makes mail-in voting and expanded early voting permanent and is considered the widest expansion of voting rights in years.

State Lawmakers Pass Police Reform Bill

December 2020 - MA state legislators passed S.2963, a police reform bill that would ban chokeholds and limit use of tear gas. It's now on Governor Charlie Baker's desk for review.

Mass. among first states extending vote-by-mail expansion to November

July 2020 - Massachusetts has dropped its excuse requirements for voting by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic — not only in this summer's primary but also in the general election. Legislation signed on Monday by Gov. Charlie Baker is significant because it makes Massachusetts among the first states to lock in the ability of all registered voters to cast ballots by mail for November.

New MA Open Meeting Law

September 2017 - Public officials will no longer be able to use a broken website as an excuse for not notifying the public about an upcoming meeting. That's just one of the safeguards under a new Open Meeting law that takes effect across Massachusetts in early October.

MA Black and Latino Caucus "Listens" to Set Agenda

March 2017 - In what is being called a first-of-its kind move in the state, members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus held listening sessions with hundreds of voters to determine legislative priorities. The caucus identified 19 bills that are currently pending that align with the feedback they got from community members.

Baker-Polito Administration Re-Establishes Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes

November 2017 - Governor Charlie Baker signed an Executive Order re-establishing the Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes. The Task Force will advise the Governor on issues relating to the prevalence, deterrence and prevention of hate crimes in the Commonwealth and the support of victims of hate crimes, as well as full and effective coordination among law enforcement agencies. The Task Force will encourage and assist agencies in safe reporting of hate crimes pursuant to the Hate Crime Reporting Act, as well as analyze and publicize hate crime reports pursuant to the Hate Crime Penalties Act. This group will also develop best practices related to technical assistance for school districts that may seek to incorporate hate crime education into their curricula.

Oxfam Joins ACLU in Challenge of Trump Travel Ban

February 2017 - The Boston-based group Oxfam, ACLU of Massachusetts and state Attorney General Maura Healey joined in a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order. They argue that the order in unconstitutional and should be repealed.

Mass Approves Another Fleet of EV Chargers

September 2018 - Massachusetts regulators have approved a three-year, $25 million package of electric vehicle infrastructure programs run by two local subsidiaries of National Grid. It's the second proposal from the state's major utilities to pass muster with regulators in less than a year, following a $45 million plan from Eversource Energy in December. Neither of the two investor-owned utilities proposed full ownership of the charger systems, obviating what has been a point of contention in other states where utilities have proposed similar installations. Massachusetts is aiming to get 300,000 zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025, and the number of EV chargers has been ticking steadily upward. As of a year ago, 1,158 Level 2 ports and 128 fast chargers were available, according to the DPU, compared to 963 Level 2 ports and 83 fast chargers in the prior year.

State Directs $2.4 Billion to Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Protection, and Community Investments

August 2018 - Governor Charlie Baker has signed bipartisan legislation to authorize over $2.4 billion in capital allocations for investments in safeguarding residents, municipalities and businesses from the impacts of climate change, protecting environmental resources, and improving recreational opportunities. H. 4835 authorizes $501 million to respond to and prepare for extreme weather, sea level rise, inland flooding and other climate impacts, $581 million to continue supporting communities around the Commonwealth and the environmental stewardship work they do and more than $474 million to support environmental programs at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies ranging from air and water quality monitoring to hazardous waste cleanup and the restoration of rivers, wetlands, streams, and lakes.

MA Joins Suit to Maintain Fuel-Efficiency Standard

August 2018 - Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says the Bay State will be joining 19 other states in suing the Trump Administration to stop EPA's plan to freeze the fuel-efficiency standard is bad for public health, the environment and consumers. The EPA wants to freeze the fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks for six years. It was set to increase to an average of 54 miles-to-the-gallon by 2025 but will remain at about 35, the standard set for 2020. The administration claims freezing the fuel standard will cut more than $2,000 off the price of new cars and result in fewer highway deaths, but opponents contest those findings.

State Senate Unanimously Passes "An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future"

June 2018 - The Massachusetts Senate voted to pass S.2545, An Act to promote a clean energy future, sponsored by Senators Marc Pacheco and Mike Barrett. This legislation represents a firm stand by the Senate to ensure a healthier, cleaner Commonwealth for future generations of Massachusetts residents. Most importantly, the policies enacted in this legislation will have measurable benefits in the health of the global environment. This legislation is a forward-looking plan that prepares Massachusetts for the inevitable obstacles that will come with climate change. The policies and programs will protect public health, increase the use of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse emissions, implement a price on carbon, and create jobs in the innovative green-energy economy.

Mass. Joins New Coalition to Fight Carbon Pollution

February 2018 - State lawmakers have launched a multistate coalition to collaborate on legislation to combat carbon pollution. The Carbon Costs Coalition includes legislators from nine states, including Massachusetts. It will help those legislators design strategies to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean, renewable energy alternatives. The coalition will help state legislators who are working on the issue to compare notes on each other's bills and compare how they're conducting outreach and building their coalitions so they can be stronger by having that multistate idea sharing. The Coalition also will supplement the carbon reduction goals of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, a multistate compact that seeks to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector.

MA Joins in Effort to Extend Greenhouse Gas Iniative

August 2017 - A bipartisan coalition of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Governors committed to extending and strengthening the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The Governors agreed to extend the pollution cap to 2030, when it would decline 30% from 2020 levels.

Bay State's Largest Coal Fired Power Plant Shuts Down

June 2017 - The Brayton Point Power Station says it will cease operations this week. The plant has generated electricity since the 1960s and has been cited by federal regulators as one of the region's heaviest polluters.

MA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop By 21%

April 2017 - Even as President Trump works to derail the Clean Power Plan; Massachusetts continues to make progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The latest (DEP) numbers show a drop of 21 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Student Loan Bill of Rights Passes Mass. Senate

April 2018 - A bill to protect student-loan borrowers from deceptive loan-servicing companies has cleared the state Senate. Almost two-thirds of undergraduate students in the Bay State finish college with an average of nearly $30,000 of student loan debt, a 75 percent increase since 2004. Some loan-serving companies charge excessive fees, misrepresent products and steer borrowers to more expensive options. But Senate Bill 2380 would hold them accountable. SB 2380 would also establish a Student Loan Ombudsman office to review practices, resolve disputes and educate borrowers and the bill would also protect parents who take out loans to help their children.

Police Reform Bill Is Law After Months of Negotiations

January 2021 - Governor Charlie Baker signed a police reform bill into law, giving power to decertify officers to a civilian-led commission. It was the second version of the bill on his desk – he threatened to veto the first unless the General Court agreed to scale certain measures back.

MA Criminal Justice Bill Aims to Protect In-Person Jail Visits

March 2018 - Legislation introduced (S-2371) to prevent correctional institutions and jails from unreasonably limiting eligible inmates to fewer than two opportunities for in-person visits per week. The visitation provision is part of a much larger criminal justice reform bill. Proponents of the legislation say some sheriffs' departments around the country have eliminated in-person visiting in favor of video systems that can turn a profit. Private companies charge up to a $1.50 per minute for computer-based video visitation that often doesn't work well, making the experience frustrating and expensive, but in-person visits, especially with family and children, are an important part of the rehabilitation process.

Bill Seeks to Protect Marijuana Users in MA

January 2018 - A bill has been introduced in the legislature to keep those who follow the Bay State's law on marijuana use from being turned over to federal authorities. The bill, called "An Act relative to refusal of complicity", would prohibit local and state officials from using state resources to assist federal agents in the prosecution of individuals who are following the Commonwealth's marijuana laws, unless federal authorities have a warrant. The issue was drawn into the spotlight when U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he is rescinding the Obama administration policy of not interfering in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana. The bill reinforces the state's Constitutional protections against states being compelled by the federal government to pass laws that are consistent with federal law or to enforce federal laws. It was inspired by the practice of sanctuary cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Other states, including California, have taken similar actions.

Massachusetts Senate Passes Five Disability Bills

March 2016 - The Massachusetts Senate passed five bills that are intended to make life easier for persons with disabilities.

Restraints Settlement Agreement

February 2016 - A settlement agreement between DESE, Holyoke Public Schools and the Disability Law Center calls for the Peck school to reduce the use of restraints on students and for the center to monitor disciplinary practices at the school.

November 2012 - Something good may have actually come out of the vituperative arguements among partisan pundits during the presidential campaign. When conservative commentator Ann Coulter used the noun "retard" to describe President Obama in the final days of the campaign, it sparked an angry response from people who consider that "hate speech." According to the ARC of Massachusetts, a Boston-based non-profit serving those with disabilities, Coulter may have done them a favor by helping spread word of a movement against that word using a national campaign called "R-Word: Spread the Word to End the Word."

September 2012 - More medical students in Massachusetts are learning how to interact with patients who have intellectual or developmental disabilities - something not widely addressed in med schools - thanks to a program begun more than 20 years ago at Boston University School of Medicine, and now available at Tufts and Simmons School of Nursing. Operation House Call puts med students into homes of families whose children have I/DD to get familiar with communications and examination challenges.

Grants Awarded to Combat Violence Against Women

December 2017 - The Commonwealth awarded 37 grants totaling $2.7 million to community-based organizations, police departments, and state agencies to develop and strengthen law enforcement response, prosecution strategies, and victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.

Massachusetts Voters Approve Fair Share Amendment

December 2022 - Massachusetts voters approved Question 1 — commonly known as the Fair Share Amendment. The new constitutional amendment creates a 4 percent surcharge on income over $1 million, and the revenue will specifically fund education and transportation projects in the Bay State.

Massachusetts Senate Passes $1.5 billion Education Funding Bill

October 2019 - The Massachusetts Senate passed a major overhaul of the education funding formula, which would require the state to spend another $1.5 billion annually on public education by the time it is fully implemented. The bill, dubbed the Student Opportunity Act, is the most significant update to the funding formula since it was established in 1993. PNS has been covering this bill and similar efforts for the past several years.

Education Options Land MA Top Spot in Best States Ranking

September 2017 - Education opportunities were a major factor earning the Bay State the number 1 ranking in the U.S. News and World Reports rating of best state to live in America. The state also came in near the top when for health care.

Bay State Ranks Tops in Nation for Level of Education

January 2017 - A study released this month ranks Massachusetts as the most educated state in the nation (WalletHub), showing the state's ongoing commitment to education. The study focused on the percentage of adults aged 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, average university quality and gender gap in educational attainment.

Question Two Fails

November 2016 - Bay State voters sent a strong message on Election Day rejecting Question 2 which would have lifted the cap on the number of charter schools. It was rejected by a 63 percent to 37percent margin. The Boston CFO estimated passage of the measure would have cost the city 800 million dollars a year for ten years.

August 2012 - Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill that forged an agreement over teacher evaluation, and kept an initiative called Stand for Children from becoming a statewide ballot question. The measure calls on districts to institute a system that puts teacher performance ahead of seniority. The teachers' union said it's an acceptable compromise.

June 2012 - The Massachusetts House approved a bill that forges an agreement over teacher evaluation, and should keep an initiative called Stand for Children from becoming a statewide ballot question. The measure calls on districts to institute a system that puts teacher performance ahead of seniority. The teachers' union says it's an acceptable compromise. In that in layoffs and transfers, length of service can still play a role, and even as a tie-breaking factor.

MA Moves Closer to Harvesting Offshore Wind Power

May 2018 - Vineyard Wind has been selected to construct the project that will generate 800 megawatts of electric power, enough for a half-million homes. The project will help the Commonwealth meet carbon emission reductions mandated by the state's Global Warming Solutions Act. In the last legislative session the State Legislature required the utilities to procure 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind by 2027 so this announcement puts the state halfway toward meeting that goal. The second solicitation for the next 800 megawatts of power is expected to be released by June 2019 but could happen sooner. Vineyard Wind estimates that the project will create about 3,600 local full-time-equivalent jobs and $3.7 billion in energy cost savings. Legislation pending during this legislative session could further expand procurement requirements for offshore wind.

Solar Progress in Bay State

February 2017 - The town of Montague approved plans for a 23-acre solar power farm. The plan calls for 18,000 solar panels to be built on land already owned by electric utility Eversource.

Massachusetts Tops in Energy Efficiency Scorecard

October 2015 - It is now five years in a row the Commonwealth rated top honors in the "Energy Efficiency Scorecard" for 2015 awarded by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Funding Comes Through for Offshore Wind Projects

December 2012 - Massachusetts' offshore wind industry got a couple of big boosts, as the Obama administration announced funding for seven projects and environmentalists reached an agreement to protect an endangered species of whales.

September 2012 - Supporters of alternative energy - and job creation - got a boost from a new report in which some of the country's most influential environmental groups said it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind energy turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 14 coastal states.

April 2011 - The sometimes controversial Cape Wind Project got the green light from the federal authorities, and construction could begin as early as this fall for the countries first offshore wind farm.

Bay State Joins Suit to End Clean Water Rule Delay

February 2018 - Massachusetts and nine other states have joined environmental groups in a lawsuit to end delays in implementing the Clean Water Rule. The 2015 rule clarified which small streams and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has finalized an action to delay implementing the rule for two years while the agency moves to repeal or replace it. Critics of the rule say it only applies to "navigable waters," those large enough for boat traffic. But supporters of the rule say the water quality standards of the Clean Water Act cannot be met without reducing the pollution in some of the earlier headwater streams and these wetlands.

Southbridge Landfill Expansion on Hold

January 2016 - In response to more than 2,000 signatures from local citizens the Massachusetts environmental officials (MEPA) are putting the controversial Southbridge Landfill Expansion on hold.

Boston City Council Opposes Eversource Substation

March 2023 - The Boston City Council adopted a resolution opposing construction of the Eversource power substation in East Boston over concerns of environmental racism and an increased risk to the neighborhood of climate change resiliency.

February 2011 - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick issued two executive orders, which extend nondiscrimination protections to state employees on the basis of gender identity and expression, and apply to all state agencies and programs, as well as businesses that contract with the state.

Gov. Presents Gun Safety Legislation

January 2013 - Gun safety advocates in Massachusetts saw positive developments when proposed legislation reducing gun violence in the state and around the country was proposed.

Mass Medical Society Ends Opposition to Physician-Assisted Suicide

December 2017 - The Massachusetts Medical Society has voted to end its longstanding opposition to physician-assisted suicide and adopted a neutral stance on what it now calls "medical aid-in-dying." The society's governing body approved the changes in separate votes. Delegates voted 151 to 62 to retract the policy opposing physician-assisted suicide. The provision establishing a neutral position on medical aid-in-dying passed by a margin of 152 to 56 votes. In a separate vote, the society agreed on a definition for medical aid-in-dying that encompasses the possibility that Massachusetts physicians could one day be authorized to write prescriptions for lethal doses of medication to help the terminally ill die when they see fit.

Baker Signs Recreational Marijuana Law

July 2017 - Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law regulating recreational marijuana. Lawmakers amended the ballot measure passed by Bay State voter increasing the taxation of recreational marijuana 17 to 20 percent. The first Marijuana shops are expected open by July 2018.

Bay State First to Approve Recreational Marijuana in Northeast

November 2016 - Voters in the Commonwealth approved a ballot measure that legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Hours later, when the votes were added up, a similar measure passed in Maine. A big factor was revenue; when sales tax and state and local surcharges are added up, the tax for pot will be around 12 percent.

Outreach to Non-English Speakers About Health Benefits

February 2013 - Some of the Bay State's Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking small businesses are eligible for subsidized health insurance for employees but are unaware of their options. An outreach campaign is underway to inform them, as well as individuals and families.

November 2012 - With the re-election of President Obama, his Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) will see wider implementation in Massachusetts, which is ahead of the curve, having passed its own reforms six years ago. Advocates are making an effort to help small businesses and their employees take full advantage of tax credits. Some 50-thousand Massachusetts residents who are single, with incomes at or under about 44-thousand dollars, should get sliding-scale subsidies to help them afford insurance.

May 2012 - Governor Hickenlooper signed the Hospital Payment Assistance Program into law on May 7th. The law included provisions requiring hospitals to clearly state charges (allowing for comparative shopping in non-emergency situations) and allowances for extended bill payments for uninsured patients to avoid bankruptcy

May 2012 - House leaders released a revised plan to curb health care costs, keeping several key provisions intact, including a requirement that the health care industry cut spending growth in half by 2016, according to the Boston Globe. The reworked proposal, which was the focus of intense lobbying by hospitals, businesses, and other groups, also retains a provision that would impose a luxury tax on certain expensive providers and would redistribute the money to struggling hospitals.

February 2011 - After two years of debate, Governor Patrick put legislation forward aimed at taking the next step in health care reform in Massachusetts, which is cost containment. The plan, in part would change the "fee for service" system by encouraging better coordination of care and focus more on preventive medicine.

December 2010 - Governor Patrick announced that only 1.9 % of the state's residents are without health insurance- the lowest percentage to date. That's according to the state's annual household survey on health insurance which was released by the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy.

Baker announces a new $20 million, statewide fund to assist low-income households facing difficulty making rent and mortgage payments.

June 2020 - The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Baker Launches "Housing Choice Initiative"

December 2017 - The Great Neighborhoods campaign, led by the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance (MSGA) and a statewide coalition of advocacy organizations, local leaders, business groups and residents, declared a significant victory with the announcement of Governor Baker's Housing Choice Initiative. The new program will incentivize cities and towns to improve their local zoning practices and build more housing in sensible locations like downtowns, town centers and redevelopment areas. It establishes a statewide goal of 135,000 new homes created by 2025. One of the campaign?s principal goals is to create more housing, especially for young people and seniors.

Dip in Family Homelessness in Bay State

March 2017 - A new (Boston Foundation) report find family homelessness was down for the past two years; that after nearly a decade of increases. Homeless advocates also held a lobby day this month calling for more funding to move families out of shelters and into affordable housing.

April 2011 - Governor Deval Patrick announced the establishment of the Massachusetts Food Policy Council, which aims to bring healthy and local foods to all residents of the Commonwealth. The council will be to address hunger in the state, increase production, sales and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods and protect land and water resources for sustained local food production. Training, retaining and recruiting farmers will also be a priority.

Signatures Could Put Paid Leave, $15 Wage on Ballot

December 2017 - Community organizers say they have twice the number of signatures they need to put paid family leave and a $15 minimum wage on next year's state ballot. A grassroots effort gathered almost 275,000 signatures from 346 of the 351 towns and cities in Massachusetts. If the state Legislature doesn't act on the issues by the end of June, the coalition will need to collect about 11,000 more signatures to secure their place on the ballot in November.

Census Indicates Drop in MA Child Poverty Rate

September 2017 - The latest U.S. Census numbers show a drop in the Massachusetts child poverty rate. Since 2014, the child rate has dropped from 14.9 percent to 13.3 percent. A new study shows recent increases in the state minimum wage are cited as a major factor driving the improvement.

Bay State Tops in Nation for Job Growth

September 2017 - The Massachusett's labor force has grown faster than any other state in 2017, according to Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's annual State of Working Massachusetts report. While the workforce is up by more than 3 percent the report says wages remain flat.

Harvard Grad Students Unionize

October 2016 - It took a petition to the National Labor Relations Board and this week Graduate Students at Harvard University cleared the way for November elections for the Harvard Graduate Students Union-UAW.

Equal Pay Law Signed into Law in MA

August 2016 - A new law in Massachusetts will require men and women to be paid equally for comparable work in the state. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law. Women are currently paid on average about 82 percent of what their male counterparts make for comparable work in the Commonwealth. The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2018.

MA Minimum Wage Boost in 2016

January 2016 - The minimum wage increased to ten dollars per hour at the start of 2016 and will jump by another dollar in 2017.

Massachusetts Senate approves mental health parity bill

February 2020 - Individuals suffering from mental health issues would have access to health care on par with those suffering from physical ailments like high blood pressure or diabetes under a bill approved unanimously by the Massachusetts Senate. Supporters say the bill would help remove existing barriers to prompt health care, provide the state with better tools to enforce its mental health parity laws and create a more diverse workforce of mental health clinicians.

Mental Health Gets Boost in Proposed Budget

January 2016 - Governor Baker released his FY 2017 state budget proposal at the end of January. He proposes to fund the Department of Mental Health at $761 million dollars. That's in crease of 20 million dollars, about three percent.

June 2011 - The Patrick-Murray Administration announced $602,525 in Conservation Partnership Grants that will enable nine nonprofit organizations to preserve 136 acres of open space throughout the state -- including 57 acres of working forest. Conservation Partnership grants are designed to help nonprofit organizations purchase land or interests in land for conservation or recreation.

With Gov. Baker's Signature, Massachusetts Becomes First State to End the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products

November 2019 - Delivering a landmark victory for kids and public health over the tobacco industry, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new law that makes Massachusetts the first state in the nation to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes. The Massachusetts law is a major milestone in the fight to reverse the worsening e-cigarette epidemic and stop tobacco companies from targeting and addicting kids with flavored products.

Massachusetts Repeals Controversial "Welfare Family Cap"

June 2019 - The welfare family cap, which prevented families from receiving additional benefits if they have another child, was lifted after the sixth legislative vote to override Gov. Charlie Baker's vetoes. Rep. Marjorie C. Decker, D-Cambridge, and Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, were the lead sponsors of the bill.

Commonwealth Lawmakers Turn-Back Restrictions on Reproductive Health

March 2016 - Massachusetts lawmakers said "no" to a half dozen measures that would have increased restrictions on women's access to reproductive health.

CT Receives $5.5 Million to Combat the Opioid Crisis

April 2017 - Connecticut is receiving $5.5 million federal grant to expand the state's efforts to combat the prescription opioid and heroin crisis. The funding is being awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will be used by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to increase access to treatment, reduce unmet treatment need, and reduce opioid-related overdose deaths.

Undercover Video Shuts Down Veal Slaughterhouse

January 2014 - A Tri-state veal slaughterhouse's operations have been suspended by the USDA amid an investigation prompted by a complaint and undercover video.

CT Offers Property Tax Deferral During Covid-19

April 2020 - On April 1, 2020, Governor Ned Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7S, which, among other things, provides property tax relief to certain taxpayers impacted by COVID-19. Under the "Deferment Program," from March 10, 2020 through July 1, 2020 each municipality will have the right to allow eligible taxpayers the ability to defer payments of tax on real property, personal property or motor vehicles, municipal water, sewer and electric charges, or assessments by ninety days from the original due date of the payments. Eligible taxpayers must attest that they have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Landlords may be eligible for the program if they prove that the rented property will suffer significant income decline and that a commensurate forbearance was offered to their tenants.

Bill Would Help Homeless Families get Childcare

February 2016 - The state Senate Committee on Children held a hearing on a bill to increase access to childcare for homeless families.

CT Voters Approve Early Voting Measure

December 2022 - 60 percent of Connecticut voters approved early voting. Civic group leaders are hopeful this will benefit people who aren't always able to vote on one day. A similar measure failed in 2014.

CT House Passes Constitutional Amendment to Allow Early Voting

April 2019 - Connecticut House of Representatives has passed a resolution to adopt an amendment to the state constitution to create a system of early voting and no-excuse absentee voting for elections in the state. The House approved the resolution by a three-fourths super-majority vote of 125-24. If the Senate also approves the resolution by a three-fourths vote, a question on whether to adopt the constitutional amendment will appear on the November 2020 statewide ballot for voters' approval.

Bill Would Restore Voting Rights to Parolees, Pre-Trial Detainees

March 2018 - A bill (HB 5418) to restore the vote to thousands of Connecticut residents is getting a hearing in the General Assembly. If passed the bill would give some 4,000 people who are in custody but have not been convicted of a crime access to ballots, and it would restore voting rights to another 3,000 who are on parole. The legislation would bring Connecticut's voting rights laws into line with every other state in New England. Ten other states and Washington, D.C. also allow people who are on parole to vote. Supporters of the bill say technically, people who have not been convicted of a crime but are held in pretrial detention do have the right to vote, but they need access to absentee ballots or other means to cast their votes.

May 2012 - Connecticut made the history books when the state Senate passed ground-breaking legislation allowing citizens on Election Day to register to vote and cast their ballot. Connecticut law had required potential voters to register at least seven days prior to the election. Connecticut will join nine states and the District of Columbia that allow Election Day registration when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs HB 5024.

Bill Would End Prison Gerrymandering

February 2016 - A coalition of organizations is backing a bill to end prison gerrymandering in Connecticut.

$6 Million in Volkswagen Settlement Funds Released to Support Clean Air Projects in Connecticut

November 2019 - The State of Connecticut is making available $6 million from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation emissions cheating scandal to fund 15 clean air projects in the state. Administered through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Connecticut is making these funds available for a variety of vehicle electrification and diesel mitigation projects. The projects are part of the second funding cycle under the distribution of the state's VW settlement funding.

Executive Order Strengthens Connecticut's Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change

September 2019 - Governor Ned Lamont today signs an executive order strengthening Connecticut's ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change and ensure that the state's communities are as resilient as possible to rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms. The order expands the responsibilities of the Governor's Council on Climate Change, increases membership of the council, and directs the DEEP to evaluate ways to transition to a 100 percent clean energy grid by 2040.

$12.2 Million in Volkswagen Settlement Funds to Support Clean Air Projects in Connecticut

November 2018 - The State of Connecticut is making available $12.2 million dollars from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation emissions cheating scandal to fund ten clean air projects in the state. Administered through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Connecticut is one of the first states in the nation to make these funds available for a variety of diesel mitigation projects. The ten announced projects are part of the first funding cycle under the distribution of the state's VW settlement funding. The ten projects that are being awarded money under the first funding cycle will mitigate 145 tons of excess NOx emissions over the lifetime of the projects at a cost of $84,234 per ton of NOx reduced. The projects will also reduce over 7,600 tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from being released into the atmosphere. In addition to NOx and greenhouse gas, a total of 10.3 tons volatile organic compounds (VOC) and 6.6 tons of fine particulate matter, which contributes to asthma and other bronchial conditions, will be cost-effectively reduced from environmental justice communities and other areas of Connecticut that bear a disproportionate share of air pollution.

CT Governor Malloy Moves to Phase out Hydrofluorocarbons

September 2018 - Governor Dannel Malloy has directed the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to develop regulations that will phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of potent greenhouse gases known to contribute to climate change and are used in a variety of applications.

Malloy Joins Connecticut in Coalition Committed to Phasing out Coal Power in Favor of Clean Energy

September 2018 - Governor Dannel Malloy has committed the State of Connecticut to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance - a coalition of countries, regions, states, and businesses that are committed to phasing out traditional coal power and placing a moratorium on new traditional coal power stations. The alliance, which was co-founded by Canada and the United Kingdom in the fall of 2017, has over 50 members. Connecticut currently has only one coal fired plant in use, Bridgeport Harbor Station, which has already committed to cease burning coal by 2021.

Connecticut Wins Smog Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

June 2018 - The State of Connecticut and the State of New York have won their joint lawsuit in federal court against the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its administrator, Scott Pruitt, over the agency's failure to adequately control ozone pollution from other states that negatively impacts air quality in the two downwind states. In the lawsuit, which Connecticut and New York filed in January, the states alleged that EPA failed to perform its mandatory duty to develop federal implementation plans that fully address requirements for upwind states under the Good Neighbor Provision of the federal Clean Air Act for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

CT Hosts Regional Clean Transportation Listening Session

May 2018 - The second in a series of public listening sessions on the development of a regional clean transportation and climate initiative took place in Hartford. Policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders from seven Northeastern states and Washington, D.C., are seeking input on ways to modernize the transportation system and combat global climate change. Transportation is now the leading source of carbon emissions. Environmentalists point out that states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, including Connecticut, have cut emissions from power plants in half but emissions from transportation have remained constant or even grown a bit over the last few years. So in order to really address climate change, transportation needs to be dealt with. Organizers say the Hartford meeting is an opportunity to propose policies to reduce vehicle pollution while building a transportation system that serves all Connecticut residents.

Bill Seeks to Clamp Down on Methane Leaks

May 2018 - A recent survey of Hartford streets found many more leaks in gas lines than utilities acknowledge - but a bill now in the state Senate would cut the losses. Senate Bill 346, introduced by state Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Branford), would reduce the maximum allowable leakage rate for natural gas from 3 percent to 1 percent. Natural gas is 97 percent methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. It also contributes to smog that triggers asthma and other respiratory diseases. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority claims that it monitors and checks all leaks reported to it. But a two-month survey of Hartford streets using mobile leak detectors found six times the number of leaks reported in the city in an entire year, leaking over 300 metric tons of methane per year are wasted just in Hartford alone.

Legislators Launch Multistage Carbon Coalition

February 2018 - State lawmakers have launched a multistate coalition to collaborate on legislation to combat carbon pollution. The Carbon Costs Coalition includes legislators from nine states, including Connecticut. It will help those legislators design strategies to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean, renewable energy alternatives. The coalition will help state legislators who are working on the issue to compare notes on each other's bills and compare how they're conducting outreach and building their coalitions so they can be stronger by having that multistate idea sharing. In Connecticut legislation has been introduced to establish a tax on carbon-based fuels that would help spur investment in renewable energy programs. The Coalition also will supplement the carbon reduction goals of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, a multistate compact that seeks to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector.

Connecticut Joins States Suing Trump Administration Over Smog

December 2017 - Fourteen states, including Connecticut, are now suing the Trump Administration over what they say is a failure to enforce smog standards. The lawsuit says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has missed an October 1 deadline to designate which areas of the country have unhealthy air. Those areas would be required to take steps to improve air quality. Poor air quality particularly affects the health of children, people with asthma and those who work outside. The lawsuit says smog can cause or aggravate diseases including heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema.

Number of Youth in Detention Drops Dramatically During Pandemic

April 2020 - A new survey shows across the country, the population in juvenile detention centers dropped by 24-percent in March, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Connecticut, the drop is even bigger. The judicial branch is reporting a 45-percent reduction – from 79 young people on March 1st in the state's two detention centers, down to 46.

Judge Frees Prisoner in ACLU Lawsuit

April 2020 - A judge on Monday ordered one of five state prison inmates named as plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit by the ACLU of Connecticut seeking release because of the pandemic to be freed on a reduced bond. Superior Court Judge Joan Alexander agreed to reduce the bond on 26-year-old Tre McPherson from $5,100 to a promise to appear in court following a hearing on a motion filed by McPherson's lawyer, Daniel Lage. McPherson had not been able to post the bond following his arrest by Bridgeport police in February on charges of evading responsibility, operating without a license, reckless driving and failure to appear in court. In its lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, the ACLU stated that McPherson was being held in an open dormitory with 57 other men and had recently lost his sense of smell, and others in his dorm are reporting symptoms of illness.

Bill Promotes Fair Treatment for Incarcerated Women

March 2018 - A bill called An Act Concerning Fair Treatment of Incarcerated Women has been introduced in the General Assembly. This comes after an incarcerated woman gave birth without any medical assistance in January. Civil rights advocates have been pressing for legislation to ensure respect for incarcerated women's health, dignity and human rights. Senate Bill 13 would prohibit the shackling of women during childbirth, ensure services and support during and after pregnancy and delivery, and allow frequent visitation with children. And give incarcerated mothers and their children access to child-friendly visitation areas away from the noise and confrontations that can take place in adult visiting rooms.

Enfield Correctional Institution to Close as Result of Declining Crime Rate and Prison Population

November 2017 - As a result of the continuing decline in the state's crime rate and the resulting drop in the prison population, the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) will be closing the Enfield Correctional Institution in early 2018. The closure of the building, which currently holds around 700 offenders who will be transferred to other facilities, will save the state approximately $6.5 million in annual operating costs. There are 14,103 inmates incarcerated within Connecticut's state prison system - 836 fewer than a year ago. The state's prison population reached an all-time high of 19,894 inmates in 2008.

Gov. Malloy Signs Legislation Reforming the State's Pretrial Justice System

June 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy has signed into law legislation he introduced and developed with a number of lawmakers and advocates that will create a major reform to the state's methods of detention for people who have only been charged with a crime. The legislation brings the state into compliance with court rulings that have found the current system of bail is unconstitutional. Under current law hundreds of individuals currently locked up in Connecticut jails, not because they are threat to society, but simply because they are poor and cannot afford cash bail.

Jobs Training Center for Female Offenders Opens at York Correctional Institution

May 2017 - The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) has opened an American Job Center at York Correctional Institution in Niantic, the state's only institution for female offenders. The job development program is only the second of its kind in Connecticut and aims to continue reducing New York's historically low crime rate by providing inmates who are nearing the end of their sentences with the tools needed to become productive members of society upon their release.

Legislation to Reform CT's Pretrial Justice System Advances

April 2017 - The General Assembly's Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would begin the process of correcting Connecticut's bail system and moving toward a more just and equitable procedure by taking into account public safety risk rather than a defendant's ability to pay. The bill had been introduced by Governor Dannell Malloy.

Malloy Renews Push for Connecticut Bail Reform

March 2017 - In a presentation to the Sentencing Commission at the Legislative Office Building, Governor Dannell Malloy said: "No one should be sitting behind bars simply because they are poor." Malloy has been unsuccessful so far in getting the General Assembly to back his so-called Second Chance 2.0 legislation, which would eliminate bail bonds for nonviolent misdemeanor offenders and allow 18- to 20-year-olds to be tried as juveniles.

Mallloy Pushes for Bail Reform

February 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy has again introduced legislation to reform the bail system in Connecticut. A bill introduced last year never came to a vote in the General Assembly. The reforms would help some 3,000 people held in Connecticut jails simply because they cannot afford to post bail to be released.

Governor Calls for Bail Reform

December 2015 - In a speech at a Connecticut Law Review symposium Governor Dannel Malloy called for reform of the state's bail bond system, seeking to eliminate cash bail for misdemeanor offenses.

Governor Calls for Raising Age for Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction

December 2015 - Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy proposed raising the age of those who fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system to 21.

Governor Calls for Raising Age for Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction

November 2015 - Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy proposed raising the age of those who fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system to 21, which would help bring state law into line with the science of behavioral psychology and brain development.

Governor Calls for Bail Reform

November 2015 - In a speech at a Connecticut Law Review symposium Governor Dannel Malloy called for reform of the state's bail bond system, seeking to eliminate cash bail for misdemeanor offenses.

CT Supreme Court Rejects Request to Reconsider Death Penalty

October 2015 - The Connecticut Supreme Court turned down a motion by state prosecutors to reconsider its August ruling declaring capital punishment unconstitutional.

Judiciary Commitee Approves Bill to Repeal Death Penalty

April 2011 - A bill to repeal the death penalty has been approved by the Judiciary Committee and is expected to pass in the General Assembly, and Gov. Malloy has stuck by his campaign pledge to sign it.

Connecticut Achieves Milestone in Rape-Kit Testing Reform

October 2019 - Connecticut's reforms have significantly educed the state's backlog of untested rape kits and will ensure the prompt processing of kits going forward. In 2015 Connecticut had a backlog of more than 1,100 untested rape kits. By 2017, all untested rape kits in the state had been transferred for testing, and Connecticut now has electronic tracking of kits as well as policies to keep survivors informed of testing status. Now Connecticut is one of three states recognized in October for adopting six reforms recommended for ending the nationwide problem of rape kits that often go unprocessed for years. In 2016, the Joyful Heart Foundation launched a campaign to get all states to adopt its recommended reforms. With the addition of Connecticut, Oregon and Utah this year , the total number of states that have adopted all six rape-kit reforms now stands at 12.

Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz Announce Updated Family Violence Policy for State Employees

March 2019 - Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz announced that the administration has updated the state's policy regarding leave rights available to state employees who are victims of family violence and the procedures relating to such leave. Announced on International Women's Day, the policy is being updated to better ensure that employees who are experiencing family violence receive appropriate support. State agencies are partnering with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) and the state's 18 designated domestic violence organizations to ensure that resources are available to employees.

Rape-Kit Reform Bill Clears CT Legislature

May 2018 - Legislation to improve the tracking of sexual-assault evidence kits is on its way to Gov. Danell Malloy's desk. After a 2015 survey found almost 1,200 untested kits at law enforcement agencies across Connecticut, the governor established a working group to coordinate their tracking and testing. Senate Bill 17, which was built on that work, passed both the House and Senate with unanimous votes. Tracking can be key to both the criminal investigation and the healing process for survivors. Passage of the bill puts the state on track to clearing its backlog of untested sexual assault kits and to quickly testing new kits as they come in. The bill will also give survivors the ability to check on the status of their kit to help counteract the loss of self-determination and control that is often at the core of experiencing sexual assault.

State Agencies to Conduct Review of Sexual Harassment Prevention Procedures

December 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy directed Connecticut's policies and procedures on sexual harassment prevention to be reviewed within all executive branch state agencies. Based on the results, the Department of Administrative Services is required to deliver a report to the Governor no later than February 1, 2018, reviewing best practices to address and prevent harassment, and recommend additional measures to improve the state's existing policies and procedures.

Federal Grants to Assist CT Processing of Sexual Assault Kits

December 2017 - Connecticut has been awarded two competitive, federal grants worth $2.6 million that will assist the processing and testing of sexual assault evidence kits. A $1.85 million Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant will be used to test approximately 1,000 partially-tested kits that still require DNA testing. Further, this funding will support coordinated investigation and victim notification for cases that may be re-opened, training for law enforcement officers and states attorneys, as well as academic research at Central Connecticut State University to learn more about these cases and what can be done to improve investigation and prosecution. A $750,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice supports a new method of testing that searches for the presence or absence of male DNA. This new method will allow the state to increase capacity, efficiency, and quality of DNA screenings.

Legislation Strengthening State's Domestic Violence and Anti-Stalking Laws Signed into Law

June 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy has signed legislation that will strengthen the state's domestic violence laws. The bill, which was approved by unanimous votes in both chambers of the General Assembly, amends the criminal statutes governing stalking to include stalking via social media, telephone, and other forms of harassment, tracking and intimidation; changes the strangulation statutes to include suffocation; and enhances the penalty for violation of the conditions of release.

Bill to Help Domestic Violence Victims Clears House

April 2016 - A bill that would require those subject to temporary restraining orders to surrender their firearms and ammunition to police or a federal licensed gun dealer passed in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Families on Care 4 Kids Wait List Can Now Apply for Child Care Support

November 2017 - The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) has reopened the Care 4 Kids program and eligible families on the wait list can begin to enroll for the state's primary child care support. Funded with federal and state dollars and administered by OEC, Care 4 Kids helps low-income, working families afford safe, quality child care. In 2016, new federal requirements increased the costs of the program but did not increase funding necessary for their implementation. To remain fiscally sound, the program was closed to most new families by late 2016. Many other states were forced to make similar cutbacks. Families seeking this support were instead registered for the wait list so they would be able to apply once the program reopened. There are currently 5,769 families on the wait list in Connecticut.

Business Summit on Early Childhood Education

December 2010 - Business is taking a growing interest in promoting early childhood education as a means to ensuring that youngsters grow up to be members of a competent workforce.

Governor Orders School Employees Be Paid During Shutdown

April 2020 - For the duration of the coronavirus shutdown, school districts will continue to receive state funding and must continue to pay school staff they directly employ. Gov. Ned Lamont included the directives in his executive order. The order to keep school staff employed applies to not only teachers and school administrators, but secretaries and other active employees. It allows for contracts to be amended so that services can be sustained once school resumes.

Connecticut College to Accept Puerto Rico 'Guest' Students

December 2017 - Connecticut College has established a guest student program for college students from Puerto Rico whose education was disrupted after Hurricane Maria hit the island in September. The New London private liberal arts college provide room, board and tuition for up to six students. Guest students will pay what they would have paid to attend UPR directly to UPR. Connecticut College will offer a streamlined application process to UPR juniors and seniors in good standing. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

CT School Funding Proposal Improved, but Still Falling Short

February 2017 - Connecticut public-education advocates say the proposals for school funding in Governor Dannel Malloy's preliminary budget are a step in the right direction, but still fall short of the funds and funding formulas needed to make the system more equitable.

Governor Malloy Calls for Equitable School Funding

January 2017 - In his State of the State report Governor Dannel Malloy called for school funding that is fair, transparent, accountable and adaptable. Malloy challenged the General Assembly to act to guarantee "equal access to a quality education regardless of zip code." Last September, a Superior Court judge ordered the state to resolve inequities in the school funding system. The state is in the process of appealing that ruling.

Suit Challenging State School Funding Formula Goes to Trial

February 2016 - The trial in a lawsuit originally filed in 2005 that challenges the state's school funding formula finally began.

Full-Day Kindergarten Expansion Proposed

November -0001 - Governor Daniel Malloy unveiled his proposed $40 billion budget; and the good news is that he plans to increase the number of schools that teach full day Kindergarten. On the downside, Malloy’s budget slashes funding that supports family caregivers.

Funding Awarded for Landowners Along Connecticut River To Help Protect Turtles

January 2022 - A team of agencies will work with landowners to improve the wood turtle habitat in the Connecticut River watershed. A grant was awarded to the Connecticut River Conservancy from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help protect wood and spotted turtles. The grant will fund landowner outreach by CRC and wood turtle site assessment by project partner, The Orianne Society.

Families Get State Help with Home Heating Costs

November 2022 - With prices rising on utilities nationwide, Connecticut will be receiving $86.4 million dollars to fun the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to aid families with paying for home heating costs this winter. The funding will also be utilized for families to make home repairs that will lower energy bill costs.

Connecticut Authorizes Development of Offshore Wind Power

June 2019 - The legislation was approved last month in the House of Representatives, given final legislative approval on in the State Senate, and transmitted to the governor for signature. It authorizes the state to purchase up to 2,000 MW (or equivalent to 30 percent of state load) - the largest authorization by load of any state in the region.

State Agencies Ordered to Reduce Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts

April 2019 - Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order that directs executive branch state office buildings and vehicle fleets to become greener and more energy efficient through an expanded "Lead By Example" sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the state's carbon footprint as well as the cost of government operations. This includes meeting the state's overall statutory goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent reduction from 2001 levels by 2030 and reducing waste disposal and water consumption by 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, by 2030 from a defined baseline of 2020.

CT Takes First Step Toward Offshore Wind

April 2018 - The bids are in on a request for proposals that will bring offshore wind energy to Connecticut. Clean-energy advocates say offshore wind is a critical technology that will mean hundreds of jobs as well as clean, renewable energy to the state. Environmentalists are calling the move an important first step, but note that bidders were only allowed to propose up to 3 percent of the state's total annual electricity usage, or about 250 megawatts of power. So to keep this growing in the future, the Legislature will need to take action to expand that authorization. With these proposals, Connecticut joins Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, which have committed to building thousands of megawatts of offshore wind-generating capacity.

Gov. Malloy Orders a Resource Assessment to be Conducted on the Economic Viability of the Millstone Nuclear Generating Facilities

July 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy has signed an executive order directing the relevant state agencies to conduct a resource assessment to evaluate the current and projected economic viability for the continued operation of the Millstone nuclear generating facilities. The assessment is to help the state determine a path forward that best benefits the residents of Connecticut. Consumer advocates have been calling for Millstone to disclose its financial need for a state-funded subsidy by requiring the assessment include an examination of audited financial statements and other financial data when making its recommendations to the legislature for action in 2018.

Amendment to Overturn CT Pipeline Tax Introduced

June 2017 - A bill has been introduced in the Connecticut state Senate to end the Pipeline Tax passed in 2015 that would impose a surcharge on Connecticut electricity ratepayers to fund interstate gas pipelines to be built across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Should these pipeline proposals move forward, Connecticut ratepayers would be the only ones at the ratepayer level who would be subsidizing them. A recent study estimated that the proposed Access Northeast Pipeline would cost $6.6B.

September 2012 - Supporters of alternative energy - and job creation - got a boost from a new report in which some of the country's most influential environmental groups said it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind energy turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 14 coastal states.

Connecticut at Forefront of Green Chemistry and Clean Technology Development

April 2011 - A bill passed in the session ending May 5 creating a Chemical Innovations Institute at UConn Health Center (House Bill 5126) puts Connecticut at the forefront of green chemistry and clean technology development.

CT Ranks High in Energy Efficiency

November -0001 - Connecticut ranks near the top in an annual ranking of state car-related energy efficiency, but is lagging behind in home-related energy efficiency. The report from Wallethub, a financial advice, research and social networking website said when it comes to energy efficiency behind the wheel Connecticut just misses the top ten, ranking number 12 nationwide. The state came in lower at number 23 for home-related energy efficiency. Overall the state ranked number 12.

Connecticut Secured First National Estuarine Research Reserve Along Part of Long Island Sound

January 2022 - Conservationists applaud the news as key toward finding solutions to address habitats threatened by climate change. The reserve is a state-federal partnership, providing annual funding for research on climate resiliency, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitats. The Connecticut reserve, the nation's 30th, includes more than 50,000 acres in the southeastern part of the state, where the Connecticut and Thames rivers meet Long Island Sound. Nearly 50 species listed under the Connecticut Endangered Species Act can be found within the reserve.

Lawsuit Seeks to End Delay in Clean Water Rule

February 2018 - Connecticut and nine other states have joined environmental groups in a lawsuit to end delays in implementing the Clean Water Rule. The 2015 rule clarified which small streams and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit came a week after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt finalized an action to delay implementing the rule for two years while the agency moves to repeal or replace it. Critics of the rule say it only applies to "navigable waters," those large enough for boat traffic. But defenders of the rule say the issue was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court 20 years ago.

Budget Proposals Would Restore Funding for Clean Energy

April 2016 - Environmentalists praised Governor Dannell Malloy for proposing the restoration of funds for renewable energy programs in Connecticut.

Connecticut Lawmakers Lead for the Environment

February 2016 - The annual League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard gives high marks to Connecticut's congressional delegation.

November 2012 - Before Superstorm Sandy hit Connecticut, environmentalists told Connecticut News Service that beaches and salt marshes shield coastal areas from the worst impacts of storm surge and community planning that protects these natural barriers pays off big-time during high-intensity weather events. Following the storm, which did more than $360 million dollars in damage in the Nutmeg state, Gov. Dannel Malloy may have gotten the message, saying, "We have some real big infrastructure issues," including shoreline water protection.

Bill Introducaed to Ban Boilers

December 2010 - Many Connecticut residents have complained of toxic smoke entering their homes from their neighbors' outdoor wood boilers.

EPA Funding Long Island Sound Clean Up Efforts

January 2023 - The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding over 10-Million dollars in grant funding to aid conservation efforts of Long Island Sound. The 2022 Long Island Sound Futures Fund grants will help over 300-thousand people through environmental education programs.

CT Senators Introduce Gun Legislation

July 2018 - U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act, legislation led by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) that would strengthen accountability measures for gun dealers to ensure they are not engaging in illegal gun sales and to provide the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) with clear enforcement mechanisms. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, just five percent of gun dealers supply 90 percent of crime guns used in the United States. While the majority of gun dealers follow the law, a small number of delinquent gun dealers are recklessly perpetuating the epidemic of gun violence in this country. This legislation would ensure that guns do not end up in the wrong hands by authorizing increased inspections of gun dealers to ensure compliance standards are met, increasing penalties for serious offenses, and strengthening the Department of Justice's authority and discretion in enforcing gun laws.

Gun Safety Measures Progress

February 2013 - Connecticut lawmakers filed 16 gun-safety bills in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, including expanded background checks and updating the state's assault weapons ban.

New Haven Filling Lawsuit Against Opioid Makers, Distributors

November 2017 - The city of New Haven is filing a lawsuit against the nation's leading manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The suit seeks compensation for the costs incurred by the opioid crisis. This includes the burden placed upon police, social services, and first responders. Last year, 70 people died in New Haven from opioid related deaths, the second-highest total of any city in Connecticut. New Haven is suing Purdue Pharma, among other major opioid manufacturers, for ?deceptive marketing,? which the city is blaming in part for the burgeoning opioid crisis. Nine U.S. states: Alaska, New Jersey, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Washington, have also sued Purdue Pharma.

Cancer Prevention Advocates Laud State Budget

October 2017 - Passing both houses with veto-proof majorities, the state Legislature approved a $41.3 billion, two-year spending plan that maintains funding at current levels for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which helps medically underserved women get cancer screenings; preserves funding for one important anti-tobacco program. The budget passed both houses of the Legislature with veto-proof majorities. It also includes $18 million that makes every 11- and 12-year-old in the state eligible for the vaccine that protects against the human papillomaviruses.

Connecticut Joins Multi-state Lawsuit Defending Affordable Care Act

October 2017 - Connecticut joined with 17 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration's decision to abruptly stop making healthcare cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidy payments required by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) - a move that will put health coverage for more than six million Americans at risk while increasing costs. In addition to Connecticut, and led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, other states joining the lawsuit are Delaware, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

November 2012 - Connecticut doesn't have to worry about next month's deadline to tell the federal government whether it will participate in the Affordable Care Act. The state is already implementing "Obamacare." The state has received a $107 million federal grant to help implement the law, a cabinet level department has been created to oversee the law and the state has staffed the Connecticut Health Care Exchange, which will create a new online marketplace for insurance.

SustiNet Moves Through General Assembly

April 2011 - SustiNet, Connecticut's health reform legislation, continues to move through the General Assembly, having been approved by three committees so far.

Husky Program Improves Access to Healthcare

February 2011 - The state is changing the way it provides health care for 400-thousand low-income children and parents in the Husky program, and 200-thousand seniors and people with disabilities.

Small Businesses for Health Care Reform Organization Formed

January 2011 - An organization of small business owners (Small Businesses for Health Care Reform) has formed to promote federal health reform and state reform (SustiNet), in a state where other business groups oppose it.

Connecticut Tenant Protection's Bill Advances, Inspires Additional Legislation

April 2023 - Two bills aimed at addressing housing in Connecticut, Senate Bill 4 and House Bill 6781, advanced out of committee and could come to a vote during the current legislative session. The bills would enshrine a series of legislative protections to help renters and hold negligent landlords more accountable Along with this, Connecticut legislators have been examining a slew of other ways to provide affordable housing to renters in the state.

Bill Aimed at Better Funding Homelessness Programs Moves to Appropriations

March 2023 - House Bill 6554, which seeks $50 Million to aid homelessness response programs will be moving to the Appropriations Committee in Connecticut's General Assembly. It has bipartisan support and is moving closer to being part of the state's 2024-2025 Budget.

Governor's Challenge on Family Homelessness Matches 280 Families to Housing

December 2018 - The State of Connecticut and its partners in the nonprofit sector matched 280 families, including 548 children and 438 adults, to housing during the last three months as part of the Governor's Challenge on Family Homelessness - a campaign to house as many homeless families in the state as possible. Launched in September, the initiative was part of the ongoing goal to eliminate all forms of homelessness in the state. More than 25,000 new units of housing have been created in the past eight years. During this time, Connecticut was certified as having become just the second state in the nation to end homelessness among veterans.

New Report Shows Record Drop in Homelessness

May 2017 - An annual census of homelessness in the state found that the point-in-time count of homeless individuals in Connecticut confirms that the state's recent efforts to reduce homelessness and increase access to housing are working. Conducted by the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, this year's census found that homelessness in in the state has decreased for a fourth consecutive year and is at its lowest level to date.

CT Dedicates $10.7 M to Support the Development of Affordable Housing in Six Connecticut Communities

May 2017 - Nearly $10.7 million in funding has been approved by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors to support the development of seven affordable housing projects in six Connecticut communities. Funding comes through federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) program, which is administered by CHFA.

$23 Million Awarded to Support the Development of Affordable Housing

April 2017 - Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein announced that nearly $23 million in state funding is being awarded to support the development of affordable housing in six communities across Connecticut as part of the latest round of funding under the state's Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) program. These awards will play a role in helping to create, rehabilitate, or preserve more than 200 units of affordable housing and greatly expanding access to mixed income and supportive housing units. These new units are essential in the state's work to prevent and end homelessness.

Connecticut Ends Homelessness for Veterans

February 2016 - Governor Dannel Malloy announced that Connecticut had officially ended homelessness for veterans.

Connecticut Aims to End Homelessness for All Vets

November 2015 - On Veterans Day Connecticut was able to celebrate being the first state in the nation to eliminate chronic homelessness among veterans.

State Commits to Help Homeless

April 2013 - The budget approved by the Appropriations Committee sustains significant new investments in strategies to end homelessness, according to advocates, including a continuing commitment to rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing and affordable housing.

Bill on Aid-in-Dying Introduced in CT

February 2021 - A bill to allow medical aid-in-dying has just been introduced in the Connecticut Legislature. House Bill 6425 would permit a person with less than six months to live to get prescription medication to end their life, as long as they are mentally sound and get the consent of two doctors.

Bill to Strengthen Accountability for Police Misconduct Introduced

March 2017 - House Bill 7285 recognizes problems in Connecticut's police complaint system and that could be strengthened to fix them. An ACLU of Connecticut investigation found that nearly one million Connecticut residents are living in towns where police departments are not following state rules for accepting misconduct complaints. The bill would require police departments to establish policies to bring them into full compliance with a 2015 law on reporting police misconduct and abuse. However civil liberties advocates say the bill needs to be stronger to have any real effect.

April 2012 - Connecticut became the 17th state to abolish the death penalty.

CT to Offer Financial Aid to "Dreamers"

April 2018 - "Dreamers" will soon be able to receive institutional financial aid to attend Connecticut's public colleges and universities. 13 Republicans joined 78 Democrats in the state House of Representatives to give final passage to the bill that will let undocumented immigrants who arrived as children to apply for the assistance. The bill doesn't include access to federal Pell grants or state taxpayer-funded scholarships. But supporters of the measure say it will have a very big impact for students who previously were not eligible for any kind of aid. Governor Dannel Malloy has said he will sign the bill into law.

Gov. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Wyman Sign onto Coalition of Leaders to Stand with Dreamers Against Deportation

September 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman have joined a coalition of leaders of governors, mayors, city and state elected officials, law enforcement professionals, faith and civic leaders from across the country in a "We Are With Dreamers" statement, which calls on President Trump to preserve the successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and for Congress to pass a standalone version of the bipartisan Dream Act. To date, over 1,860 leaders have signed onto the statement.

Connecticut Joins Multistate Lawsuit Challenging President Trump on DACA

September 2017 - Connecticut has joined with a coalition of 14 other states and the District of Columbia in suing President Donald Trump and his administration, seeking to invalidate his memorandum that ends the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to enjoin federal agencies from using information gathered through DACA in immigration enforcement efforts.

Toolkit for Families Concerned about Immigration Enforcement is Now Available in Nine Languages

April 2017 - The state toolkit provides user-friendly, step-by-step resources and forms for parents and guardians who have concerns about immigration enforcement and its potential impact on the custody of their children is now available to download in nine languages: Arabic, English, French, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Latinos Use Holiday as a Cultural Bridge

November 2015 - New Haven's Latino Community celebrated the traditional "Day of the Dead" as both a way to remember those who have passed, and as a means to integrate their traditions with those of their adopted community.

Connecticut Resettlement Agencies Ready to Help More Syrian Refugees

October 2015 - The head of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, a refugee resettlement organization in New Haven, says Connecticut could double the number of refugees it takes in every year.

Interfaith Clergy Supports Immigrants' Rights

February 2012 - Interfaith clergy from southern Connecticut have come out in support of immigrants' rights in East Haven and have demanded that immigrants arrested by four East Haven police officers have their records expunged.

Governor Announces 60-Day Grace Period for Insurance Payments

March 2020 - The governor announced Wednesday a 60-day grace period for premium payments, policy cancellations and non-renewals of insurance policies beginning Wednesday, April 1. The move is designed to help those who have been furloughed, laid off or fired during the coronavirus crisis and are unable to make insurance payments. This includes life, health, automotive, casualty and other types of insurance plans. The grace period is not automatic - those wishing to take advantage of it must contact their insurance carriers.

Family and Medical Leave Act Signed into Law

June 2019 - Governor Ned Lamont has signed the Family and Medical Leave Act into law. When the program begins on January 1, 2022, workers in Connecticut will gain access to the necessary benefits that will allow them to take time off work to care for their own health, a newborn child, or a sick family member. Connecticut employees will be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Both personal disability leave and family care leave will be funded by the employee only. The withholding rate is 0.5 (one-half of one) percent on earnings up to the Social Security wage base.

15 Dollar Minimum Wage Becomes Law

May 2019 - The minimum hourly wage in Connecticut will rise to $15.00 through a series of gradual increases over the next several years, with the first one taking place this October. After the scheduled increases take effect, the new law requires the minimum wage to grow according to federal economic indicators. The current $10.10 wage will go up to $11.00 in October and increase by a dollar a year, reaching $15 on June 1, 2023. The Connecticut Department of Labor and Connecticut Voices for Children estimate those increases will raise wages for approximately 130,000 workers this year and more than half a million by 2024.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Is Approved in Committee

March 2019 - The General Assembly's labor committee has voted to approve legislation that will establish a paid family and medical leave program in the state. Under the proposal, a program would be established that provides workers who need to take time off of work to care for a new child, their own serious medical condition, or a serious medical condition of a family member with a portion of their salary for up to twelve weeks. It also protects those taking such leave, regardless of the size of their employer, from being fired or otherwise penalized by their employer for taking leave under those circumstances. The program, which has been designed based on actuarial models, will be funded at no cost to Connecticut businesses by having workers contribute a small percent of their income to a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund.

Appropriations Committee Approves Minimum Wage Bill

April 2018 - The General Assembly's Appropriations Committee voted 27-24 to advance legislation that will raise the minimum wage in Connecticut. House Bill 5388, An Act Concerning a Fair Minimum Wage, raises the minimum wage in the state to no less than twelve dollars per hour effective January 1, 2019, thirteen dollars and fifty cents per hour in 2020, and no less than fifteen dollars per hour in 2021. Then, beginning in 2022, the minimum wage will be increased each year by and amount equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the northeast urban area of New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA . The new minimum fair wage will be effective on the following January first.

Connecticut Labor Department Recovers $8.9 Million in Owed Wages for Workers

September 2017 - The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has recovered a record $8.9 million in unpaid wages for Connecticut workers during the fiscal year that ended June 30. This represents an increase of $1.8 million from the previous year. A total of $8,907,321.37 was returned to workers, which includes nearly $2.4 million recovered by wage enforcement staff responding to complaints that owed wages had not been paid and more than $1.9 million provided to employees that did not receive the required minimum wage or overtime.

CT Retirement Security Program Board Holds First Meeting

August 2017 - The authority that will be overseeing Connecticut's new Retirement Security Program has its first meeting on August 17th. The 15-member board will guide the launch of the retirement savings program signed into law in 2016. The Retirement Security Program requires businesses with five or more employees and no pension or 401(k) plan to participate in the payroll deduction savings plan. Employers cannot match employee contributions, and workers can opt out. The plan, which should begin operation in 2018, will help some 600,000 people in the state save for retirement.

General Assembly Joint Labor Committee Approves Paid Leave Bill

March 2017 - Assembly Bill 1, bill to create system of paid medical and family leave in Connecticut, passed by voice vote in the Joint Labor Committee. The bill would give covered employees up to 12 weeks of compensation to care for a newborn child or ill family member.

Yale Grad Students Rally for the Right to Join a Union

October 2015 - Graduate Student employees at Yale University are demanding the right to vote on forming a union.

Connecticut Ranks High in Supports for Working Families

November -0001 - A new state-by-state review of supports for working parents shows Connecticut is tied for second place, with only California scoring higher. But much remains to be done, according to advocates.

New Federal Bill Will Provide Better Mental Health Services

October 2022 - Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, has been working with a group of senators on The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act. This will require the U.S. Department of Education to collaborate with other education groups to have more proactive plans to promote positive mental health.

Open Space Grants That Will Preserve Nearly 1,200 Acres of Land in 14 Towns Across Connecticut

December 2018 - $4.8 million in state grants are being awarded to support the purchase of 1,139 acres of land for 15 projects in 14 Connecticut municipalities that the state will designate to be preserved as open space. The grants are being awarded through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and assists local governments, land trusts, and water companies in purchasing open space using funding from the Community Investment Act and state bond funds. This grant program requires match by the grant recipient and requires the open space land be protected by a conservation and public recreation easement, ensuring that the property is forever protected for public use and enjoyment.

Hemp Business Thriving in Connecticut

September 2019 - The State of Connecticut has licensed 82 hemp growers, 2 processors, and 21 manufacturers under a new pilot program he signed into law this spring allowing for the cultivation, harvesting, processing, and manufacturing of hemp plants and by-products in the state. In total, there are currently 294 acres of land being used to grow hemp in Connecticut. Public Act 19-3, was approved in both chambers of the General Assembly by unanimous, bipartisan votes and quickly signed into law by Governor Lamont on May 9 with the intent of enacting the program in time for the fast approaching hemp-growing season.

Malloy Shows Support for Home Care

February 2016 - Despite a looming budget deficit, Governor Dannel Malloy's administration has identified home care as a "core service" in Connecticut.

Malloy Calls Supporting Home Care a "Core Service"

February 2016 - Governor Dannel Malloy, in presenting has state budget, called programs that support home care for seniors, allowing them to remain in their homes rather than being confined to a nursing home, a "core service" in the state.

Proposed Changes to Elder and Disabled Care Funding

February 2011 - Changes proposed to funding for care for elders and the disabled would both increase the amount those populations have to pay in.

Age to Buy Tobacco Rises to 21

October 2019 - Public Law 19-13, raising the age to purchase tobacco products, went into effect on October 1st. The bill passed in the Senate at the end of May and was signed by Governor Lamont in June. Nearly nine out of ten smokers start by the time they turn 18. The legislation will help reduce levels of nicotine dependence and over time, decrease the number of tobacco related deaths across the state. Seventeen other states have raised the age for purchasing tobacco products to 21.

CT, NY, MD and NJ File of Appeal in Multi-State Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's SALT Reform

November 2019 - Connecticut, New York, Maryland and New Jersey filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to continue litigation against the federal government for its unlawful and unprecedented cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. This appeal challenges a September 30, 2019 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that rejected the states' suit, which argues that the SALT cap is a politically motivated bid to effectively raise property taxes in predominately Democratic states. The 2017 Tax Act, which resulted from the Trump administration's partisan agenda, reversing over a century of precedent in the federal tax code, drastically curtailed the state and local tax deduction by capping it at $10,000. An analysis by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance projected that the cap would increase New Yorkers' federal taxes by up to $15 billion annually. As one of the nation's top donor states, this attack is significantly more damaging to New York than many other states. Prior to enactment of the 2017 law, New York State already had the widest disparity among all states when factoring how much money New York sent to Washington and the funding it received in return. Other donor states, including Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey are being similarly injured.

CT Task Force Recommends Greater Access to Legal Assistance

January 2017 - A state task force of judges, attorneys, law enforcement and educators have issued a report saying a person's access to an attorney in some civil court proceedings should be a right. A new report from the Task Force to Improve Access to Legal Counsel in Civil Matters found that many Connecticut residents can't afford a lawyer to help them protect their essential needs. The report recommends making access to legal counsel a statutory right for cases involving restraining orders, child custody and residential evictions.

NOFA Promoting Winter Crops

January 2011 - CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) received a $30,000 grant to promote winter crops in the state, which helps support both farmers and winter urban farmers' markets, which have begun spreading around the state.

PFAS Task Force Submits Final Action Plan

November 2019 - The Connecticut Interagency PFAS Task Force, tasked with making recommendations to address the potential harmful effects of a widely-used class of chemicals known as PFAS, has transmitted its final action plan to Governor New Lamont's office. The plan recommends testing water supplies across the state, reducing the sources of PFAS in the environment, and cleaning up known contamination due to this class of emerging pollutants. Key recommendations include: -Testing public drinking water through a phased approach that prioritizes drinking water sources most vulnerable to PFAS pollution or that serve vulnerable populations, and communicating and educating public water systems customers and stakeholders; -Working to develop a Safe Drinking Water Advisory Council to advise the commissioner of Department of Public Health on potentially setting a maximum contaminant level for PFAS; -Identifying and evaluating other sources of human exposure to PFAS including fish, shellfish and agricultural products; -Minimizing occupational exposure to PFAS by identifying workplaces where these chemicals may be used or manufactured and helping employers implement strategies to control exposure; -Identifying the operations, processes, and consumer products that may be sources of PFAS contamination and establish standards and discharge limits for PFAS in air and water; -Establishing PFAS cleanup standards for soil, groundwater, surface water and aquatic life and continue to use existing statutory authority to investigate and cleanup PFAS releases;

Law Protects Non-Drivers

January 2010 - A new law aims to prevent the deaths and injuries of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized users on Connecticut's state roadways.

Connecticut Unsatisfactory in Women's Health Survey

December 2010 - A comprehensive survey of women's health for 2010 gives Connecticut an overall grade of unsatisfactory, including in some key areas of reproductive health.

Florida Greyhound Racing Legislation ups Protection Measures

April 2016 - Florida's greyhound racing industry will now have to report and track injuries following approval of state legislation tightening disclosure standards.

Chicken Packaging Lawsuit Settled

December 2009 - Perdue Farms, Inc. and The Humane Society of the United States are pleased to announce the settlement of two federal cases in New Jersey and Florida concerning...

Election Donations to Judges to Stop

November -0001 - Florida’s rule which bars judges and judicial candidates from soliciting campaign contributions was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court late this month. Supporters say the ruling is a victory for upholding the integrity of the country’s court system. More than half the states in the country have a similar rule for their judicial elections.

Judge will rule part of Florida felon voting law unconstitutional

May 2020 - A federal judge signaled that he would find part of a Florida law restricting the voting rights of former felons unconstitutional.

Florida Counties Must Provide Sample Ballots in Spanish

September 2018 - In a partial victory for Hispanic advocacy groups, a federal judge ruled that 32 Florida counties must at least provide sample ballots and signage in Spanish before the Nov. 6 statewide election.

Judge Says Voting Rights Process For Florida Felons Unconstitutional

February 2018 - A federal judge has declared unconstitutional Florida's procedure for restoring voting rights to felons who have served their time. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said the disenfranchisement of felons who have served their time is "nonsensical" and a violation of the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Florida Voters Will Decide Ballot Measure to Restore Felon's Voting Rights

January 2018 - Florida's Voting Restoration Amendment on next November's ballot would restore rights to citizens convicted of most non-violent crimes who have completed their prison sentence, parole and probation. Florida currently has one of the strictest felon disenfranchisement laws in the country. Roughly 1.6 million Florida citizens -- about one in four African Americans -- are barred from casting a ballot.

Giant Steps in Avoiding Election Night Dramas

April 2013 - The Florida Legislature approved an election reform bill (HB 7013), which expands access to early voting by allowing more early voting days, gives supervisors more flexibility in choosing early voting locations, keeps legislatively-generated amendment summaries to 75 words or less, and restores the ability of Floridians to move within the state and still cast a regular ballot.

Judge Rules Florida Can't Block Felons From Voting Due to Unpaid Fines

October 2019 - The right to vote for 1.4 million ex-felons in Florida got a boost when a federal judge ruled that the state can't prevent felons from voting, even if they can't afford to pay court-ordered fines and fees. The ruling applied to plaintiffs who sue but will force legislature to review the law.

Florida Votes to Restore Voting Rights People Who Complete Prison Terms

November 2018 - Voters approved Amendment 4, which says that most people convicted of felonies will automatically have their voting rights restored when they complete their sentences or go on probation. The amendment exempts those convicted of sex offenses and murder.

Florida Death Sentence "Unconstitutional"

January 2016 - The US Supreme Court ruled on 1-12-16 that Florida's death sentence scheme is unconstitutional.

Sunshine State Leads the Nation in Growth of Rooftop Solar

October 2017 - A new report from PV Magazine finds Florida now leads the nation in solar growth. The state saw a 110% increase in new residential solar permits over the previous year. Funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Barancik Foundation, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and now several cities and counties, Florida homeowners and businesses are now able to take advantage of some of the lowest prices for solar in the nation using a grassroots program called Solar United Neighbors of Florida (formerly FL SUN). A state-wide partnership between the latter and the League of Women Voters is being given credit for the growth.

Duke Energy Goes Big on Solar, Drops Nuclear Charge for Customers

September 2017 - Duke Energy will build nine or more solar plants and delete a controversial nuclear charge from customer bills. With 1.8 million customers in 35 counties, Duke is the second-largest in the state; the utility, however, has lagged behind other major utilities in solar energy and had drawn criticism for a pair of nuclear disappointments. The Florida president of Duke Energy, Harry Sideris, said the proposed initiatives worth $6 billion were filed Tuesday morning with the Florida Public Service Commission after months of outreach.

Legislature Approves Amendment 4

May 2017 - The Florida Legislature has officially approved a bill to implement the pro-solar Amendment 4, which voters overwhelmingly passed with 73% of the vote on the August 2016 primary ballot. The bill, S.B.90, is slated to reduce tax barriers for Floridians who want to go solar while also ensuring proper consumer protections are in place.

Florida Voters Reject Amendment 1

November 2016 - Voters overwhelmingly said no to the utility-backed Amendment 1, which would have penalized solar customers with fees and set back the effort to expand the solar market in the state.

New Biofuel Plant Will Recycle Brush

December 2012 - One of the country's first cellulosic biofuel plants is set to open in Florida in the coming months.

Federal Trade Commission Investigates Links Between Sugar Industry and Off-shore Ethanol Imports

October 2011 - FNC ran a two-part series detailing links between sugar industry interests and off-shore duty free import of sugar based ethanol--- under-cutting US produced corn based ethanol.

Fracking Update

March 2016 - Legislation to permit fracking in the state has died in the legislature.

BP Settlement Funds Restoration

December 2012 - BP reached a $4.5 billion dollar criminal settlement with the government over the 2010 Gulf oil explosion.

November 2012 - The US Environmental Protection Agency announced that oil giant British Petroleum would not be eligible for government contracts because of its controversial role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. After BP pleaded guilty to assorted felonies related to the disaster, the EPA stated that the company's "lack of business integrity" forced the agency into taking the action. The bar is temporary but open-ended; lasting until BP provides "sufficient evidence" that it can meet federal standards.

Land and water conservation wins at the ballot box

November -0001 - Voters adopted Amendment 1 – a measure which will dedicate 33 percent of net revenue from the existing excise tax on documents to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. The fund improves conservation easements, wildlife management areas, wetlands, forests, fish and wildlife habitats, beaches and shores, recreational trails and parks, urban open space, rural landscapes, working farms and ranches, historical and geological sites, lands protecting water and drinking water resources and lands in the Everglades Agricultural Areas and the Everglades Protection Area.

Oil Drilling Opposition in Broward County

November -0001 - The Broward County Commission took action to oppose an application for a state oil-drilling permit on an Everglades site in the county’s southwest corner. County commissioners unanimously agreed last week to seek an amendment to state law giving counties the legal authority to determine whether drilling for oil is permissible within their borders.

Gulf Coast Restoration Funding Soon

November -0001 - The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council is now evaluating submissions for funding under the Restoration agreement that comes as a result of the BP Horizon settlement money. Currently there are restoration projects proposed in Pensacola Bay, Apalachicola Bay, Suwannee River, Tampa Bay and Northwest Florida estuaries. Collectively, the funding will provide millions to Florida Gulf Coast communities to enable them to repair damage done by the oil spill to the wildlife and coastline. The RESTORE funding aims to make sure the money paid by BP because of the still will be applied towards areas impacted by the spill, instead of being diverted to unrelated projects.

BP Loses in Court

November -0001 - A federal court ruled against BP, making the gulf coast eligible to receive billions in fines from the oil giant – all related to the Gulf Coast spill.

Gay Adoption Ban Repealed

November -0001 - Governor Scott signed a bill repealing the state’s ban on gay adoptions. The law had been declared unconstitutional in 2010 but this officially repeals it.

Florida Legislature Passes Sweeping Gun Bill, Sends to Governor

March 2018 - The Florida Legislature passed its first gun restrictions in three decades. Senate Bill 7026 raises the legal age for buying rifles and imposes a three-day waiting period on all firearms sales, however a controversial provision also allows the arming of some public school personnel.

Medical Marijuana Amendment is Welcomed by Patients

November 2016 - After failing in 2014, voters in Florida overwhelmingly (70%) approved an amendment to the state constitution to give patients with debilitating illnesses access to medical marijuana.

May 2011 - FNC Broke the story that Florida's efforts to move low-income Medicaid patients into HMO's is getting a thumbs-down from HHS in D.C. A pilot program in five Florida counties has been plagued with lack of access, abuse and fraud. The Governor signed a law expanding the plan state-wide, but it needs a federal waiver to take effect. HHS has said no waiver is likely.

April 2011 - Florida's efforts to move low-income Medicaid patients into HMOs is getting a thumbs-down from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A pilot program in five Florida counties has been plagued with lack of access, abuse and fraud. The Governor signed a law expanding the plan state-wide, but it needs a federal waiver to take effect - a waiver that is now unlikely.

Special Session to look at Medicaid Funding

November -0001 - The Florida Senate called a special legislative session for June to reiterate support for a plan that would use federal Medicaid funding to provide health insurance to about 800,000 Floridians. The plan is set to be approved by the Florida Senate by June 3rd. The expansion may not move as swiftly in the State House since Republican leaders and the Governor are against the health coverage expansion.

ACA Enrollment Stays Strong

November -0001 - Florida’s ACA Enrollment remains high, in spite of efforts to limit access to enrollment by some conservative leaders in the state. Florida’s tally exceeds that of California. Up until now, Florida lawmakers have chosen to opt out of creating a Health care marketplace for Florida, leaving it up to residents to utilize the federal marketplace. They have also opted not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Even with that, as of mid-January 1.27 million Floridians enrolled in exchange plans, slightly more than California. Health care advocates consider that a victory, considering the fact that California has a larger population and is a democratic-led state.

More Children Gain Health Insurance

November -0001 - Enrollment of school-age children in Medicaid rose by 137,000 this year, which included more than 62,000 kids who transferred from the state's CHIP program, according to Florida Healthy Kids Corp., the nonprofit that runs CHIP in the state. That switch saved families money, since they previously had to pay a $15- or $20-a-month premium in CHIP.

Syringe Access Legislation Approved

March 2016 - Gov. Scott signed a bill creating the state's first sterile syringe exchange program.

Judge Strikes Down Jacksonville Redistricting as Racial Gerrymandering

October 2022 - A federal judge struck down seven Jacksonville City Council and three Duval School Board districts in the racial gerrymandering lawsuit brought against the city. The Voting Rights team at the Southern Poverty Law Center and to our co-counsel at the Harvard Election Law Clinic and the ACLU of Florida claimed victory with the ruling. the city is debating an appeal

More Florida Children With Less Hunger This Summer

August 2017 - Florida has seen some gains in the number of low-income children who are able to access summer nutrition programs.

Walt Disney World Workers Land Deal for $15 Minimum Wage

August 2018 - Disney reached a deal with unions that would hike the minimum wage for Walt Disney World Resort workers to $15 an hour by 2021, signaling an end to contract negotiations that have dragged on for nearly a year.

Florida Legislature Funds Efforts to Prevent Red Tide Outbreaks

May 2019 - The Legislative passed a bill that would allow investments of $3 million per year for six years in red tide mitigation. (SB 1552)

February 2011 - New fishing regulations and restrictions went into effect on Jan. 31 on the Atlantic Coast, and a few weeks later an endangered Right Whale was found on a Florida beach. Advocates are hoping the discovery will add more momentum to the movement to scale back overfishing and protect threatened species.

January 2011 - Overfishing off Florida's Atlantic Coast is blamed for the devastation a number of fish species, but a comeback kicked off on January 31st, with the implementation of a new plan and limited closures designed to specifically help 9 threatened species. Combined with efforts to protect other species like the Red Snapper, it's part of a large push to combat overfishing in the Southeast.

December 2010 - President Obama announced no new oil drilling off the Florida coast for at least seven years, but some are concerned that this measure will not stop the legislature from continuing efforts to allow drilling in state waters. The newly-elected Republican veto-proof majority has been loudly critical of federal efforts to ban oil drilling off the coast.

Conservation Move Headed to the Ballot

January 2014 - The Legacy Amendment (Amendment 1) will be placed on Florida ballots in November.

SD's Petition Law Ruled Unconstitutional: Will Lawmakers Try Again?

January 2020 - A law passed by the SD legislature in 2019 to impose reporting requirements on people who circulate petitions was struck down as unconstitutional. A grassroots group, South Dakota Voice, filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the bill from taking effect. The law would have required people who circulate petitions to wear badges with ID numbers, and put personal information into a public directory.

Fed. Judge Orders Greater Oversight of DAPL

December 2017 - A judge has ordered greater oversight measures for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The decision comes in the wake of the Keystone Pipeline spill, which highlighted the risk pipelines pose to local communities.

South Dakota Voters Backing Medicaid Expansion

March 2016 - A recent poll commissioned by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network shows 74 percent of voters support Gov. Dennis Daugaard's Medicaid expansion plans.

December 2010 - The Community Health Care Association is setting the stage for some major expansions. They anticipate almost doubling the number of clinics in the Dakotas, and could add up to 100,000 new patients. They also had initiatives for diabetes education, and rural clinic mammograms. Employees at several clinics raised funds on their own to give back to their communities

SD Gov. Suggests Tax Bump to Boost Teacher Pay

February 2016 - South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard proposed a half-cent sales tax hike to help boost teacher pay in the state.

SD Rejects "Dangerous" Biking Law

February 2016 - South Dakota lawmakers rejected a bill that opponents said would have made bicycling more dangerous on certain roads in the state.

Organic Farmers Get New Conservation Tool from USDA

March 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to help cover the costs of setting up about 20,000 acres of new conservation buffers specifically for organic farms.

Lumber Liquidators removes toxic flooring

December 2015 - Lumber Liquidators agreed to remove potentially toxic flooring merchandise from its store's shelves.

SD Lawmakers "Just Say No" to Welfare Drug Testing Bill

February 2016 - A bill that would have required drug testing for adult welfare applicants under age 65 was rejected by a South Dakota house committee.

Governor Pardons 11,000 Marijuana Convictions

December 2019 - Illinois' governor granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions, describing the step as a first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state's new marijuana legalization law. The law, which takes effect January 1, 2020, makes Illinois the 11th state to legalize marijuana for people 21 or older. Lawmakers said they hope to repair some of the damage caused by law enforcement’s efforts to combat sale and use of the drug, particularly in minority communities.

Illinois Tops Nation in Protecting Pets

January 2016 - For the eighth year in a row, Illinois is topping the list of states that are doing the most to bolster animal-protection laws.

Fair Election Ballot Initiative Approved

November -0001 - The Fair Elections Illinois ballot initiative was approved in Chicago, calling for the City Council and the state legislature to approve and implement small donor matching fund systems to finance future campaigns for local and state offices. Specifically, the question that will appear on the ballot is: "Should the city of Chicago or the state of Illinois reduce the influence of special interest money in elections by financing campaigns using small contributions from individuals and a limited amount of public money?"

Automatic Voter Registration Goes into effect in Illinois

August 2017 - Legislation ensuring Illinoisans who are eligible to vote will be automatically registered when they conduct business at state facilities is now law in Illinois. Governor Rauner signed the bill on the 54th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

October 2011 - A new poll of Illinois voters taken in October found opposition to the Tea Party movement is growing. The poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute asked voters if they would be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate affiliated with the Tea Party. 60 percent said they'd be less likely to vote for such a candidate compared to 46 percent last year.

Citizens United Rejected in Edwardsville

November -0001 - In Edwardsville, citizens voted overwhelmingly for their legislators to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling and declare that only human beings – not corporations – are entitled to constitutional rights and that money is not speech and campaign spending can be regulated.

Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Signed

November -0001 - Before leaving office in January, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to expand democracy in Illinois and bring it into the 21st century. The new laws make same-day voter registration permanent, expand early voting and set a special election on Nov. 8, 2016 to allow voters to fill the statewide position of Illinois Comptroller.

New Worker Protections Take Effect

July 2020 - Illinois workers will now be protected from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion and a range of other protected categories regardless of the size of their employer. Previously, provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act only applied to employers with 15 or more workers. The law still allows places of worship to hire based on religion for jobs connected to worship activities.

OCR Rules in Favor of Transgender Student

December 2015 - The Office for Civil Rights ruled that suburban Chicago school District 211 is violating an anti-discriminatory Title IX law by denying a transgender female student unrestricted access to the girl's locker room.

IL Landmark Climate Bill Signed Into Law

September 2021 - Governor JB Pritzker signs a landmark climate and jobs bill, once the Illinois Legislature finally passed it after lengthy debate and special sessions.

September 2011 - On September 12, Governor Quinn vetoed the so called "smart grid" legislation that would have increased electric bills to pay for an upgrade of the electrical grid in Illinois. This is a victory for AARP and other consumer groups which opposed it saying that it would have been too expensive for consumers and would have usurped the oversight of state regulators.

Gov. Signs Bill Granting Legal Privilege to Participants in Restorative Justice Practices

July 2021 - The Governor signed SB 64 into law, protecting what participants of restorative justice practices do and say from being used against them in court.

General Assembly Makes IL First State to Pass Bill Ending Cash Bail

January 2021 - The General Assembly passed a sweeping omnibus criminal justice bill during the lame-duck session, which includes the Pretrial Fairness Act, which would end cash bail, with judges allowed to detain people charged with certain crimes pretrial, such as domestic battery or murder.

Kudos to Illinois For New Laws to Reduce Recidivism

August 2017 - The Pew Charitable Trust's Stateline reports gives praise to Illinois for laws recently enacted to reduce recidivism. Illinois' governor signed a law that helps former inmates reintegrate into society, and the state is being praised for being one of the first to enact a "ban the box" law that means former inmates won't be asked to reveal they were in in prison when they first fill out an application.

Federal Court Certifies Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Prison Healthcare

May 2017 - A federal judge has ruled that long-standing problems with the medical and dental care provided in Illinois' state prisons must be addressed systemically, rather than relying on individual challenges from prisoners.

Bill Decriminalizes Small Amounts of Marijuana

April 2016 - A bill cleared the Illinois House in April that would put possession of small amounts of marijuana on par with traffic tickets.

Illinois Voters Eager for Criminal Justice Reforms

March 2016 - An ACLU poll shows the overwhelming majority of voters believe the system is "broken," with 76 percent of Illinois Democrats and 70 percent of Republicans agreeing that changes need to be made.

Red Light Cameras Limited

November -0001 - The Illinois House also approved a bill that would ban the use of red light cameras in non-home rule communities, generally towns with a population of less than 25,000. This legislation comes on the heels of Chicago Tribune investigation into the efficacy of red light cameras, which found that the cameras "failed to deliver on safety claims and that the city's yellow light intervals are dangerously short and out of step with national standards."

Governor's OT Cuts Delayed

January 2017 - The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted unanimously to delay the adoption of Rauner administration rules to cut overtime for providers caring for people with disabilities.

December 2011 - A groundbreaking Consent Decree approved in Federal Court in December gives Cook County residents a meaningful choice about where to live. Because of the ruling thousands of people with physical disabilities and mental illnesses who have been living in nursing homes because of the structure of Medicaid funding will be able to live in their own homes and participate in the community. The ruling came in the case of Colbert v. Quinn originally filed in 2007.

March 2011 - The Illinois Department of Human Services unveiled a new federally funded program that helps employers hire workers with disabilities through financial incentives to the employers.

Federal child care funding restored

November -0001 - After 18 years without any Congressional action, the Child Care and Development Block Grant has been reauthorized and revised to include basic provisions to improve the quality of child care nationwide. The measure increases state-level investments in activities to improve the quality of care, enhancing states' ability to train providers and develop safer and more effective child care services.

IL Becomes First State to Require Unit on Asian American History in Schools

July 2021 - The governor signed a bill into law requiring Illinois schools to have a unit on Asian American history, the nation's first such law.

IL National Leader in College Completion

September 2018 - Illinois is now the national leader in bachelor's degree completion rates among community college students. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 53.8 percent of new Illinois community college students in 2010 who transferred to a four-year college completed a bachelor's degree within six years.

Deal Reached in School Funding Fight

August 2017 - Illinois lawmakers have agreed to a new school funding formula, designed to bolster the state's poorest districts without taking money away from the rest. 831 of the state's 852 school districts will see more state dollars than before.

Illinois Good State for Teachers

November 2015 - Illinois is at the top of the list among states for teachers, according to a new ranking from personal finance website WalletHub.

US Army Corp of Engineers Funds to Combat Invasive Carp

January 2022 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is putting nearly $226 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project, aimed at keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, in its Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2022 Construction Work Plan.

Apple Lights Go Dim for the Birds

October 2017 - Chicago's new Apple store is dimming the lights due to bird deaths. Wildlife experts say bright lights confuse birds in flight, and they slam into the glass, often with fatal results. Complaints surfaced after residents started noticing dead birds around the new Apple store in Chicago and company officials have agreed to dim the lights.

Conservationists Celebrate Success of Eagles in Illinois

March 2016 - As the bald eagle population continues to grow in Illinois, The Nature Conservancy hosted an Eagle Day to celebrate effective conservation efforts.

Illinois Welcomes Endangered Wildlife

April 2014 - Illinois is taking steps towards welcoming back wolves, black bears and mountain lions to the state.

IL Senate Passes Clean Energy Bill

August 2021 - The Illinois Senate passed a clean energy bill in a special session. A sticking point was the timeline for closing coal-fired power plants, which this bill does by 2045. It's now up to the state House of Representatives.

Agreement Expected to Jump-start State's Clean Energy Industry

September 2013 - Illinois' largest power generator, Exelon Corp., and environmental groups have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to jump-start the state's stalled clean-energy industry.

April 2011 - To help support people using more "green" forms of transportation, Governor Quinn announced that the state will start tracking "dooring" accidents between cars and bicycle riders. The idea is to look for ways to making biking safer.

February 2011 - Governor Pat Quinn and Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support the advancement of electric vehicle and renewable energy technologies in Illinois. As part of the agreement, Illinois will receive a limited number of Mitsubishi Motors "i" battery electric vehicles (i MiEV) on a temporary basis to evaluate the new electric vehicle (EV) technology on the state's fleet. Saves 1200 jobs at Mitsubishi plant in Normal, IL.

February 2011 - The state will invest $1 million of Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding to install state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the Chicagoland area. This project is expected to be the largest concentration of DC quick-charge stations in the world.

December 2010 - Developers in December agreed to build two new wind farms in Illinois. These new projects will create hundreds of jobs in construction and maintenance during the next 18 months, as well as provide valuable new landowner payments and property taxes to their host communities for years to come.

Poll Shows Support for Renewables

November -0001 - A new poll conducted by Natural Resources Defense Council found that Illinoisans are committed to renewable energy and energy efficiency. According to the survey, 70 percent of those surveyed "strongly" support energy efficiency, 64 percent strongly support increased solar energy, 59 percent strongly support more wind power, 49 percent strongly support more natural gas, and 42 percent strongly support the use of more hydropower.

Bill Would Expand Renewable Energy

November -0001 - Legislation introduced in the Illinois General Assembly will expand support for renewable energy in Illinois. Supporters say HB 3328 and SB 1879 will ensure that energy consumers and the state economy will continue to benefit from affordable power, as well as a more secure and resilient grid. The legislation package features a proposal to construct microgrids, which are small power grids that can connect to the main grid or operate independently, reinforcing reliability and resiliency during extreme weather or other events. It is expected to create at least 400 full-time equivalent jobs in Illinois.

Illinois to Test for PFAs in Water Supply

September 2020 - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced that it plans to conduct a statewide investigation into the presence of per- and polyfluororalkyl substances (PFAs) in the state’s community water supply. These man-made chemicals have been used since the 1940s in numerous consumer and industrial applications -- including nonstick products, cleaning products, fire-fighting foams, etc. The use of some has now been phased out in the United States, however PFAs can still be found in certain imported products. Because PFAs do not break down, they can accumulate in the environment and in the human body, where they have been linked to adverse human health effects.

Sulfur Dioxide CO2 reduction

November 2015 - Emissions of sulfur dioxide carbon dioxide (CO2), and other pollutants will be significantly reduced by rules adopted in October by the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

Fast-Tracking for Fracking Stopped in its Tracks

May 2014 - A bill aimed at speeding up the start of fracking in Illinois was killed in late May.

Petcoke Disclosures Come Clean

February 2014 - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced new legislation that would require facilities to fully enclose petcoke if it is within five-thousand feet of communities.

Highway Toll Plan Stopped Because of Environmental Issues

November -0001 - A Federal District Court issued a decision in favor of environmental groups in Illinois finding that the federal and state transportation agencies’ approval of the final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the proposed Illiana Tollway were “arbitrary and capricious and in violation of NEPA.” The Environmental Law and Policy Center says it’s a major victory, and that by stopping the Illinois Tollway is a great win for Illinois taxpayers, for sound regional planning, and for protecting the Midewin National Prairie.

January 2011 - Governor Quinn signed legislation legalizing civil unions in Illinois. This was seen as a major human rights victory by LGBT civil rights organizations, and the ACLU.

December 2010 - In early December, both houses of the state legislature have signed a law that would allow gay couples to enter into civil unions in Illinois.

November 2011 - A new report released by Georgetown University says the number of Illinois children who are uninsured has dropped by nearly one percentage point. That means since 2008, more than 24 thousand Illinois children who would have gone without, have been given access to health care because of the Affordable Care Act.

August 2011 - Governor Pat Quinn signed new laws designed to improve the quality of life for those needing behavioral health services and ensure equal access to necessary treatments. The laws build upon Illinois' efforts to ensure equal access to health care for Illinois residents and coordinate care to improve outcomes.

Medicaid Cuts Restored

November -0001 - A law signed in June will restore some Medicaid cuts Illinois made in 2012 and could give the state access to about $2.4 billion in federal money over the next few years. The new law seeks about $400 million in federal matching funds for the approximately 349,000 new Medicaid sign-ups in Illinois under the Affordable Care Act expansion. Supporters hailed the new law as a way capitalize on federal money and improve the state's safety net for the most vulnerable residents.

Illinois Gets $1.2 Million to Boost Affordable Housing

October 2019 - HUD has awarded $1,200,141 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe, affordable homes and prevent foreclosures. Each HUD-approved agency will receive between $18,000 and $50,000 for FY2019.

HUD Awards Money for Homeless Illinois Vets

December 2015 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $443,453 in grants and vouchers to be used to expand support services and housing for Illinois veterans.

December 2011 - Governor Pat Quinn in December launched the Welcome Home Heroes program to promote homeownership for Illinois Veterans, active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members. The financing package is available statewide, and provides a forgivable grant up to $10,000 toward the purchase of a new home, as well as an additional mortgage tax credit up to $20,000 over the life of the loan. It also creates hundreds of jobs statewide.

Program Ensures Stability for Shaky Housing Situations for Teens

November -0001 - A project underway in Illinois is the first nationally to address a problem many homeless children and teens have of safely storing their belongings. The Chicago Youth Storage Initiative is working to develop storage programs that can create some stability for homeless youth. Tracy Baim, publisher, Windy City Times and project coordinator. This summer, the initiative is building lockers at a Southside overnight youth shelter as a pilot, and possibly two additional sites.

August 2011 - The State of Illinois has created a Muslim American advisory council to advise the Governor on appropriate policy developments, official directives, and other issues of significance impacting Illinois' Muslims.

March 2011 - Governor Quinn signed the bill that abolishes the death penalty.

Thousands of College Students Eligible for Food Stamps

February 2018 - New rules issued by the Illinois Department of Human Services allows full and part time college students to apply for SNAP benefits.

New School Lunch Program for All Students

November -0001 - More than one thousand high-poverty schools in Illinois adopted a new federal program this academic year aimed at improving access to free meals for students, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), included in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, enables qualifying high-poverty schools to serve no-cost breakfast and lunches to all students. The program, designed to make school meal operations more efficient and help reduce hunger, eliminates the need for schools to collect household applications to determine which students are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals.

Illinois' Governor Signs Law Limiting police on Immigration

August 2017 - Illinois will limit how local and state police can cooperate with federal immigration authorities under a plan signed into law Monday by the state's Republican Govenror Bruce Rauner

August 2011 - The Illinois DREAM Act has been passed and signed into law creating a privately-funded scholarship program for high school graduates from immigrant families who wish to attend college.

May 2011 - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement notifying the agency that because of its indiscriminate use of the "Secure Communities" deportation program, the State is ending its participation in the program. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights praises the Governor's action for taking the state of Illinois one step forward toward sensible solutions for our country's broken immigration system.

Illinois Workers Get a Raise

July 2020 - The minimum wage in Illinois rose to $10 per hour on July 1, 2020. Illinois’ minimum wage will increase by $1 per hour on each January 1 date thereafter until reaching $15 per hour on January 1, 2025.

New Law Promotes Diversity in Construction Jobs

December 2019 - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Illinois Works Jobs Program legislation Dec. 10 to help ensure that Illinois residents from all communities not only benefit from capital projects, but also have access to careers in the construction industry and building trades. The law encompasses a $25 million investment and works through community-based organizations to increase diversity in apprenticeships for construction and the building trades.

Illinois Teachers Getting a Raise

August 2019 - llinois is raising the bar for teacher pay: By the first day of school in 2023, teachers will make at least $40,000 following a bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The current minimum teacher salary ranges from only $9,000 to $11,000, depending on the individual teacher's level of education.

Lawmakers Approve $15 Minimum Wage

May 2017 - The Illinois House has approved a proposal to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years. Governor Rauner's signature is the next step.

Nursing Home Strike Averted

May 2017 - Nursing home workers have reached a tentative agreement with nursing home owners for a three-year contract, averting the largest nursing home strike in history.

Illinois Anti-Poverty Policies Make Progress, Need More Work

March 2016 - New report shows progress has been made to help reduce poverty by enacting certain laws, including one that bans employers from asking about criminal histories on job applications.

City of Springfield Passes TPP Resolution

October 2015 - The city of Springfield appears to be ahead of the pack in passing a resolution in October that called on lawmakers in Congress to oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other deals like it.

Minimum Wage Increase Approved for Ballot

May 2014 - The Illinois Senate passed legislation that would place a question on the November ballot asking voters if the state's minimum wage should be raised to $10 per hour.

Minimum Wage Proposal Receives Backing

March 2014 - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is joining labor unions and workers to push for raising the minimum wage.

Min. Wage Hike Proposed

September 2013 - State Rep. Arthur Turner (D-Chicago) introduced a bill in the House to increase the minimum wage in Illinois from $8.25 to $10.65 by 2016.

January 2012 - Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to increase tax relief for working families across Illinois. Senate Bill 400 doubles the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) over two years, saving low-income workers an extra $105 million per year. The new law also benefits all Illinois taxpayers by improving the value of the personal exemption and indexing it to inflation.

Project Helps Veterans Learn Career Skills

November -0001 - A new initiative in 25 cities, including Chicago, is working to promote economic success for veterans and their families through educational and employment opportunities. The Veterans Economic Communities Initiative is helping veterans gain competitive career skills and knowledge in local, in-demand fields. Cloud says the VA is partnering with businesses, educators, community organizations and others to connect veterans and their families to educational and employment opportunities in their area.

Workplace Protections for Pregnant Employees

November -0001 - A new law gives expecting and new mothers in Illinois some protection from workplace discrimination. Illinois employers are now required to make “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant employees which might include more frequent or longer bathroom breaks, limits on heavy lifting and assistance in manual labor; access to places to sit; time off to recover from childbirth; and private space for breast-feeding and expressing breast milk—accommodations that could prevent pregnant women from being fired due to their condition.

Minimum Wage Bill Heads to the Ballot

November -0001 - Governor Pat Quinn gave voters the chance to make their voices heard on an important issue that would benefit hundreds of thousands of working people across Illinois. House Bill 3814 was signed, which places an advisory question on the November 4 ballot that asks if the state’s minimum wage for those over the age of 18 should be raised to $10 by January 1, 2015.

Home Ownership Grows With Assistance Program

November -0001 - The Welcome Home Illinois program is setting all-time records in home ownership across the state. Since the program’s launch in April, 2, over 800 home buyers in 85 counties have reserved more than $360 million in financing, creating an estimated 1,400 new jobs. The response is the greatest the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has seen in its 30-year history of providing mortgage financing.

Job Opportunities Act Signed

November -0001 - Governor Pat Quinn signed the Job Opportunities Act in July to help former inmates get hired. The new law requires private employers in Illinois to first evaluate a job applicants' skills and then ask about their criminal histories.

Committee Votes to Raise Minimum Wage

November -0001 - The Illinois Senate's Executive Committee passed legislation to raise the state's minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2019. The bill, which passed by an 11-5 vote, would increase the minimum wage in Illinois to $9 an hour on July 1, increasing it 75 cents from the current $8.25 hourly wage.

New National Monument in Chicago

November -0001 - President Barack Obama has designated Chicago’s Far South Side district of Pullman a national monument. According to the Chicago Tribune, “portions of Pullman will be maintained by the National Park System in a manner similar to how it treats the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument,” and “individual residents will continue to own the row houses, the church and small businesses … .”

IL AG Looks to Protect Seniors

January 2010 - Indiana's "chief lawyer" is looking for ways to better protect consumers from fraud.

"Tobacco 21" Now Law in Illinois

July 2019 - Illinoisans now must be 21 or older to purchase tobacco and e-cigarette products after a new law taking effect this July. While the law reduces penalties for underage possession of tobacco products, it imposes stricter penalties on store owners who fail to comply with the new age restrictions. Supporters say the law will improve public health and potentially reduce health care costs.

Illinois Lawmakers Fund Ag-conservation

June 2021 - Environmental groups had called on the Illinois Legislature to renew funding for a conservation program for farmers before it expired. The provision was included in the final budget.

Evanston Wants to Curtail Farm Antibiotic Use

January 2010 - The Evanston City Council passed a resolution to call for an end to the misuse of antibiotics in livestock on factory farms. The town joins Chicago and more than 20 other cities that have passed similar resolutions.

Sprawl Report Finds Progress in Illinois

April 2014 - Several Illinois cities received high rankings in a new national report comparing sprawl vs. connectivity.

Ruling Could Reduce Amtrak Delays

January 2010 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Department of Transportation, Environmental Law and Policy Center and others when it affirmed Amtrak's power to create on-time performance standards.

Ride-Share Laws Vetoed

November -0001 - Governor Quinn vetoed two bills that would have placed statewide regulations on the ride-share industry that competes with taxis. It would have allowed car insurers to deny coverage to ride-share drivers at the times when they were using their vehicles for ride-share work.

Investments in Safe Passage Program

November -0001 - The state is investing $10 million the Safe Passage Program for Chicago Public Schools. It will expand the program by increasing routes to 93 schools currently in the program and adding 27 new schools.

E-Waste Bill Becomes Law

November -0001 - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed an electronics recycling bill to save underfunded electronic recycling programs in the state. The legislation requires manufacturers to increase the amount of items they have to pay to recycle by 10 million pounds. Rauner signed the bill because the previous legislation was outdated and made it unnecessarily difficult for local governments.

Money Headed to Great Lakes Projects

January 2014 - President Obama signed a spending bill that includes $300 million to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

New Water Safety Law

November -0001 - New legislation was signed in July aimed at improving safety on Illinois water-ways. The new boating laws will require boaters born after 1998 to pass a boating safety course and allows authorities to seize watercraft if the operator has been convicted multiple times in the past of driving under the influence.

Gov. Rauner Changes Mind on Bill Protecting Abortion Access in Illinois

September 2017 - Governor Bruce Rauner has agreed to sign a bill designed to maintain access to abortion in Illinois if the U-S Supreme Court changes its mind on the practice. Rauner previously said he would veto HB 40.

House Committee Advances Bill to Protect Reproductive Health Care

February 2017 - A measure removing a dangerous "trigger" provision in the Illinois abortion law and eliminating discriminatory provisions from Illinois law that deny insurance coverage of abortion to women who depend on Medicaid and State Employee Health Insurance cleared the Illinois House of Representatives Human Services Committee by a vote of 7 to 5.

Illinois Doing (Somthing) Right by Women's Reproductive Rights

February 2016 - The Population Institute's scorecard by state on reproductive rights gave Illinois a B minus for taking the positive step of expanding Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Indiana High on the List for Protecting Animals

January 2016 - Indiana is ranked 15th nationally for its animal protection laws, according to a new report from the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

"Ag-gag" Move Stripped

January 2014 - An Indiana Senate committee stripped all "ag-gag" language from Senate Bill 101 after hearing from thousands of across the state.

Pig Wrestling Canceled

November -0001 - After outcries from animal welfare groups, the Delaware County Fair in Muncie, Indiana canceled its pig wrestling events. During the events young animals are chased, tackled, and slammed into barrels in front of crowds. People from Indiana as well as Brooklyn, New York, Oklahoma, Canada and England signed an online petition protesting the event, with some calling hog wrestling "barbaric" and "cruel."

Bill Would Restrict Exotic Animal Ownership

November -0001 - A state leader is trying again to pass legislation that would tighten restrictions on ownership of exotic animals. Under Senate Bill 226, exhibitors and breeders of such animals as bears, wild cats and wolves would be required to obtain a state permit and submit to annual inspections.

Indiana County Receives Rural Development Grant

November 2015 - As part of an effort to strengthen the rural economy, USDA Rural Development announced the selection of Wells County Revitalization, Inc. as a recipient of a $43,000 Rural Business Development Grant.

Indiana Studies Redistricting Options

December 2015 - Momentum is building in Indiana to prevent political bias in the way legislative districts are drawn.

Classes Moved from Hall with KKK Mural

October 2017 - A student led petition drive is being called a success after officials at Indiana University Bloomington agreed to no longer hold classes in a hall with a mural depicting the KKK.

Lawmakers Reject Payday Lending Bill

February 2018 - A bill that would allow storefront lenders to charge annual interest rates of up to 222 percent by offering three- to 12-month loans of up to $1,500, was allowed to die quietly, by not being assigned to a committee in the state senate.

April 2012 - The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is recommending that Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) receive only one-eighth (1/8) of the base rate increase it is requesting. In its base rate case, I&M is requesting approximately $174.2 million in new, annual operating revenues from its Indiana customers. The OUCC's recommendations would limit the increase to $21.8 million.

Lifetime SNAP Ban Lifted for Some Felony Drug Convictions

January 2020 - Some Indiana residents previously convicted of drug crimes will be eligible for food stamps for the first time. Indiana was one of just four states in the U.S. to permanently ban people with drug convictions from receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A new law went into effect Jan. 1, 2020 that allows for people who have successfully completed their sentence or are currently in compliance with post-conviction monitoring such as probation, parole or community corrections to receive SNAP benefits. But if the person violates the terms of their release, SNAP eligibility is taken away.

Settlement Reached in Indiana Over The Way Mentally Ill People are Treated in Prison.

February 2016 - Indiana has joined two other states in announcing a settlement over the way people in prison who are mentally ill are treated.

Indiana Closing the Racial Achievement Gap

January 2016 - Educators in Indiana say they're making strides in closing the achievement gap for students of color.

Program Will Help Vets Become Teachers

November -0001 - A new law will give Veterans more support from the state as they seek new careers. A program called "second service" would give veterans scholarships and college credit for their military training to help earn an education degree from Indiana's universities.

School Safety Investments in Schools Boosted

November -0001 - More than 250 Indiana schools and school districts are sharing in some $9 million in state grants aimed at helping them boost school safety. The Governor’s office says nearly $5 million of the funding through the Secured School Safety Grant Program will go toward purchasing new equipment for schools. The remaining $4 million will pay for hiring school resource officers. Another $32,000 in grant money was awarded to four school districts for conducting school threat assessments.

Nipsco to Shutter at Least One Coal-fired Power Plant

August 2016 - An Indiana utility, Nipsco, plans to significantly reduce its coal-fired generation, retiring a plant by 2018 and most of another one in 2023.

Coal Gasification Plant Financing Questioned

January 2013 - Two Republican lawmakers have filed bills to reexamine the terms of a proposed $3-billion Rockpor coal gasification plant.

Solar Capacity Grows

November -0001 - Indiana ranked 14th in the nation in installed solar capacity last year, according to the recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review. In 2014, Indiana added 59 MW of solar electric capacity, bringing its total to 112 MW. That’s enough energy to power more than 12,000 homes. There are 65 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in Indiana, employing nearly 1,500 people.

Lake Michigan Shoreline Belongs to All Hoosiers

February 2018 - The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that Lake Michigan's shoreline is open to all, and adjacent property owners cannot exercise exclusive control of the beach between their homes and the water.

Victory Over Polluters

December 2015 - People in Elkhart, who endured 11 years of hazardous fires has been awarded just over $50 million in a class action lawsuit.

Ag Gag is Gagged

April 2013 - Indiana SB 373 - the so-called Ag-Gag bill - died as lawmakers finished up their budget writing session. The bill was modeled after ones that surfaced across the country this year, and would have banned people from using video for undercover operations that investigate animal abuse and environmental issues.

Coal-Gasification Scrapped

November -0001 - A controversial Southern Indiana coal gasification plant deal is scrapped. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management rescinded an air-quality permit for Leucadia National Corp.’s planned Rockport coal gasification plant at the firm’s request. The company requested the permit be rescinded since it hadn’t yet begun construction as a key deadline loomed. Opponents, including Citizens Action Coalition, said it would have driven up the cost of home heating in Indiana.

Companies Say They Will Pay for Pollution Cleanup

November -0001 - Under a proposed settlement the Atlantic Richfield Company and DuPont will pay for an estimated $26 million cleanup of lead and arsenic contamination in parts of a residential neighborhood in East Chicago, Indiana. The yards in this neighborhood are contaminated with lead and arsenic through industrial operations that took place from at least the early 1900s through 1985.

LGBT Rights Progress Noted in Indiana

November -0001 - A report finds Indiana is making progress when it comes to LGBT equality. The Movement Advancement Project examined the ways laws protect LGBT people, also how laws, or lack of laws, put them at risk of harm. Indiana is ranked among the 14 states under what the report calls 'medium equality.' Chris Paulsen with Indiana Equality Action says it’s an improvement because the state finally moved from the bottom to the middle.

Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Overturned

November -0001 - A federal judge ruled in August on the last remaining same-sex marriage case in Indiana, once again overturning the state's ban on gay marriage. In his ruling, Judge Richard Young struck down Indiana's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages that are performed in other states. Like Young's previous rulings, that decision is stayed pending appeal. The following week, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals the next week heard arguments in three other same-sex marriage cases from Indiana.

American Water Lays Out a Plan for Replacing Lead Pipes

February 2018 - The Indiana subsidiary of American Water Company has filed a plan with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to fully replace lead service lines in the communities it serves.

The Latest Kids Count Data Book Shows Improvements

February 2018 - A decrease in teen pregnancy and an increase in health coverage top the positive changes in Hoosier health measurements, according to The Kids Count Data Book released this month.

Indiana Won't Challenge Judge's Order on Abortion

August 2016 - Indiana has decided not to appeal a federal judge's order blocking a state law that would ban abortions because of a fetus' genetic abnormalities. The judge had issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law from taking effect. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky filed a lawsuit, arguing the law is unconstitutional and violates women's privacy rights.

Judge Blocks Indiana Abortion Law

July 2016 - A law that was supposed to go into effect July 1st in Indiana was blocked by a federal judge. HEA 1337 would have banned abortions of a fetus with genetic abnormalities or because of race, gender or ancestry.

Indiana Saw a Huge Drop in the Number of People Killed in House Fires in 2015.

February 2016 - Indiana saw a 14% drop in the number of fire deaths last year.

Medicaid Expansion Inked

November -0001 - Indiana is now the 28th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The program will be run under the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan, and expands eligibility to those earning incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. It’s estimated to be available to 350,000 lower income Hoosiers.

IN General Assembly Passes Measure to Seal Certain Eviction Records

February 2022 - Prior evictions can be a major barrier for folks looking for a new home, but a new bill pushing through the Indiana General Assembly would allow eviction records to be sealed in certain cases. The bill would allow tenants to seal prior eviction records if a judgment in a case was in favor of the tenant, or if the eviction was dismissed. A signature from Gov. Holcomb is likely.

Human-Trafficking Bill Introduced

March 2015 - A bill that aims to reduce human trafficking in the state is moving through the Indiana General Assembly.

Effort Underway to Make Sure Everyone has Access to Fresh Food

February 2016 - A bill to eliminate Indiana's food deserts won approval in a key legislative committee this winter.

Breakfast Grants on the way to Indiana

November -0001 - Indiana is among several states selected to receive grant funding from Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom, to help schools expand or begin breakfast-in-the-classroom programs. The districts that will receive funding will be selected later in the spring.

Local Food for Food Banks

November -0001 - A new program is getting underway that will improve access to fresh, nutritious and locally grown food for some of Indiana’s most vulnerable citizens. Farms to Food Banks program is kicking off this summer. It allows food banks to purchase surplus or number-two grade produce at below-market rates from local growers. Supporters say farmers will make money on produce that otherwise would have gone to waste, and food banks will have better quality produce.

Indiana takes in Syrian Refugee Family

January 2016 - The Archdiocese of Indianapolis resettled a refugee family from Syria, despite a call by Indiana Governor Mike Pence for a halt on the acceptance of Syrian refugees.

Right to Work Doesn't Stand Up in Court

September 2013 - Indiana's Right to Work law was ruled unconstitutional by a state court judge.

Caregivers Win Under New Law

November -0001 - A measure that will better support the 1.3 million family caregivers in Indiana was recently signed into law. The CARE Act goes into effect Jan. 1, and under the new law when a person is admitted into the hospital, he or she will have the option to designate the name of a family caregiver. The caregiver also can be notified upon discharge, and will be provided an explanation of medical instructions including medication management.

Broadband Access Will Expand

December 2009 - Governor Mike Pence signed two bills into law that will expand broadband Internet access across the state.

State-Run News Nixed

November -0001 - Indiana Governor Mike Pence has halted the development of a state-run news website. The Indianapolis Star published internal documents that detailed plans to have stories and news releases written by state press secretaries for the public and the media. The documents said the site at times would break news. The notion of prewritten stories for the media sparked criticism from journalists around the country, who likened the endeavor to state-run media in Russia and China.

A Big Step is Taken in Effort to Restore Habitat in the Indiana Dunes National Lake-shore.

February 2016 - After years of negotiations, a deal was reached to buy one of the last pieces of land in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Staying Home While Growing Older with a New Program

May 2014 - Four Area Agencies on Aging across Indiana have been selected to implement a new program aimed at helping older residents remain in their home as they age.

New Fines for Vaping Sales Violations

July 2020 - To reduce youth smoking and vaping in Indiana, fines will be doubled for businesses that sell tobacco and vaping products to minors. Vape shops will also be barred from allowing underage individuals in their stores, and they will be subject to state inspections, just like tobacco shops.

March 2012 - Governor Daniels signed the state's first smoking ban - which exempts bars, casinos, and private clubs. It takes effect July 1st.

Ballot Selfie's Given Okay by Federal Judge

November 2015 - A federal judged ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana's challenge of an Indiana law that would have made it illegal for a voter to take a "ballot" selfie at the polls or share it on social media.

Survey Shows IN Farmers Planted More Cover Crops Than Ever This Year

July 2021 - A survey from Indiana Conservation Partnerships showed farmers in the state planted more acres of cover crops than any other year. And the cover crops kept 1.6 million tons of sediments from entering Indiana waterways, including 4+ pounds of nitrogen and 2+ pounds of phosphorus.

Teen Pregnancy Rates Drop

May 2014 - Teen pregnancy rates are at historic lows, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Indiana Roads Get High Marks

November 2015 - Pavement and bridges maintained by the Indiana Department of Transportation continue to improve, according to the latest results submitted to the Federal Highway Administration.

USDA Grants Help with Indiana Water and Waste Systems

August 2018 - The USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program is offering funding for rural communities to help them pay for drinking water, storm-water drainage and waste-disposal systems. A total of $165 million is available for Indiana communities.

Federal Appeals Court Tosses out Ban on Selective Abortions

April 2018 - A federal appeals court in Chicago has ruled that an Indiana abortion law, signed into law in 2016 by then-Governor Mike Pence, is unconstitutional. It banned women from having abortions because of fetal disability or gender. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled the law imposes an undue burden on a woman's right to get an abortion.

Plan Rewards Young, Safe Drivers

January 2010 - A new Indiana law offers incentives to young drivers to stay safe. The law, which went into effect July 1, allows teens who take driver's education classes to get their license when they are 16 years, 3 months old. Previously, they had to wait until they turned 16 years, 6 months. A 2011 report said that the country could save 2,000 lives a year if all 50 states instituted comprehensive programs of phased-in driving privileges for teens.

New KY Law Supports Kentuckians Fighting Addiction

April 2023 - Two pieces of legislation have become law that support ongoing efforts to help Kentuckians fighting addiction. The Treatment Access Program allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and Recovery Ready Communities expands health care coverage and increasing treatment beds. The state has increased the number of treatment beds by 50%.

KY Greenlights Medical Cannabis

December 2022 - In an effort to reduce Kentuckians’ reliance on addictive opioids, Kentuckians with certain severe medical conditions will be able to possess and use small amounts of legally purchased medical cannabis. Governor’s Andy Beshear’s executive order begins January 1st 2023.

Ag-Gag Proposal Defeated

November -0001 - Animal welfare groups were able to block a controversial right to farm bill in the legislature from becoming law.

Protecting Funding for the Arts in State Budget One Bright Spot

February 2016 - With Kentucky's transition to a new governor, many important programs are facing cuts or elimination.

Foster Care Reform Signed into Law

May 2018 - Governor Bevin signed House Bill 1, legislation that sets forth a comprehensive plan to strengthen how the commonwealth supports children impacted by abuse or neglect and their families. The bill strengthens supports to help keep families together safely and, when that's not possible, addresses timelines for adoption cases so that children can more quickly move toward finding a permanent family.

New Law Could Reshape Landscape of Child Welfare

April 2018 - Kentucky's child-welfare system is set to get a major overhaul, which could be a game-changer for the more than eight thousand children in foster care. With the passage of House Bill 1 this session, new reforms will help strengthen how the commonwealth supports children impacted by abuse or neglect.

Fictive Kin Law Passes State Legislature

February 2017 - The Kentucky General Assembly sent a bill today to the governor which will allow close family friends to care for a child removed from a home due to safety concerns. The idea is for kinship caregivers to lessen the strain on the foster care system while also better serving the child facing the trauma of removal and change - a vital safety net advocated for by child advocacy organizations and others.

Governor Vetoes Senate Bill 2 (Voter ID Bill)

April 2020 - Governor Andy Beshear vetoed Senate Bill 2, which would have required Kentuckians to present a valid form of photo-identification at the polls.

Automatic Restoration of Voting Rights for Former Felons.

December 2015 - In late November Governor Steve Beshear signed an executive order providing automatic restoration of voting rights for non-violent and non-sexual felons.

Voting Rights for Ex-Felons Makes Progress

February 2014 - Legislation to restore voting rights for most ex-felons has passed out of the Senate.

Death Penalty Abolishment Makes Progress

February 2014 - For the first time in two decades a Republican lawmaker filed a bill to abolish the death penalty in KY and make life without parole the maximum sentence.

Rate Increases Held Off

November -0001 - Poverty-fighting, seniors and youth organizations were able to coalesce to stop two energy giants, LG&E and KU, from increasing the basic service charge on more than one million electric and natural gas customers across the state.

Kentucky’s second-largest city bans ‘no-knock’ warrants

July 2021 - Kentucky's second-largest city has banned the use of “no-knock” warrants. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton signed the ordinance into law in June, and it went into effect immediately.

KY Governor Signs Healthy Reentry Bill

April 2021 - Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 497 into law, a bill that would establish a certificate of employability program for eligible inmates in Kentucky prisons to encourage second-chance employment opportunities and reduced barriers to employment after leaving prison.

KY Restores Voting Rights to Former Felons

January 2020 - Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s new governor, recently signed an executive order restoring the vote to more than 140,000 of the estimated 240,000 Kentuckians who have completed felony sentences.

KY Voters Embrace Marsy's Law

November 2018 - Kentucky might become one of a handful of states to adopt a law intended to give crime victims the same rights as their accused perpetrators. Voters passed a measure known as "Marsy's Law," which would amend the state constitution to give crime victims legal protection equal to defendants in criminal cases. The fate of the vote still rests with the Kentucky Supreme Court who are reviewing a constitutional challenge to the proposal.

Dignity Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

March 2018 - Governor Bevin is expected to sign SB 133, which is called a victory for women behind bars. It would mandate basic health and hygiene services for women who are incarcerated, allow pregnant women access to substance abuse treatment, and prohibit the shackling of women in labor.

Kentucky Reducing Youth Incarcertation

October 2016 - Acknowledging that youth prisons cost millions of dollars and don't work - Kentucky is reducing its incarceration numbers. Youth in prisons has been cut by nearly half in the last year-plus since juvenile justice reforms became law.

Bill to Abolish Death Penalty Will Get Hearing

March 2016 - In the never ending grind to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky, there has been momentum this year.

April 2011 - The Kentucky Supreme court has refused to lift a temporary ban on all executions until a lower court judge can decide whether Kentucky's lethal-injection procedures meet necessary standards.

February 2011 - State taxpayers could save as much as $147 million over the next decade under an overhaul of the state's penal code that the Governor will soon sign into law. House Bill 463, sponsored by Rep. John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, is the result of a multi-year task force that examined the state's anti-crime efforts in collaboration with the Pew Center on the States. The reform package is the first comprehensive examination of the state's criminal laws since 1974.

KY to Begin Tracking Domestic Violence Homicides

May 2022 - In a win for advocates, Kentucky will now require the collection and analysis of data related to domestic violence in the commonwealth. Senate Bill 271, requires the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center (CJSAC) to collect data on occurrences and fatalities related to dating and domestic violence.

KY Governor Extends Statute of Limitations for Victims of Child Abuse

April 2021 - Governor Andy Beshear has signed House Bill 472 into law, which extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor sex offenses against children from five to 10 years, among other provisions.

KY Voters Could Decide on Crime Victim's Rights

January 2018 - A constitutional crime victims' bill of rights amendment edged closer to this fall's statewide election ballot with final passage of a bill proposing the change. Senate Bill 3 widely known as Marsy's Law will place the proposed amendment before voters this November. Kentucky currently has crime victims' rights listed in statute, but not in the state's constitution.

New Legislation Makes KY Safer for Domestic Violence Survivors

October 2017 - Governor Matt Bevin signed HB 309, which added important leasing protections for survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and fixed Kentucky's outdated mandatory domestic violence reporting law.

New Leasing Protections for Domestic-Violence Survivors

August 2017 - Advocates for increasing protections for victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence say progress is being made in implementing a new law that, in part, helps victims get out of leases. Training and implementation has now moved to educating landlords on how to handle those situations.

New Laws Increase Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors

June 2017 - Two new laws that increase protections for survivors of domestic violence went into effect June 29. The legislation replaces the state's existing mandatory reporting requirement for spouse abuse with a mandatory education and referral requirement for all survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. The law also requires landlords to provide new leasing protections for victims of domestic violence.

KY Lawmakers Provide Domestic Violence Victims Leasing Protections

April 2017 - After trying for four straight Kentucky legislative sessions, advocates for domestic violence victims achieved passage of a law that provides leasing protections and updates laws on reporting of abuse - by switching to an education and referral approach.

Guidelines Implemented for Kentucky's New IPO's

March 2016 - March brought another significant step forward in Kentucky's implementation of the new law extending civil protections from violence to dating couples.

Tool for Domestic Violence Victims

March 2016 - A bill in the Kentucky General Assembly that would give survivors of domestic violence and interpersonal violence the ability to get out of a home or apartment lease has passed the House.

Transitional Housing for DV Victims

November 2015 - Domestic violence advocates continue to gain wins - the latest an expansion of transitional housing for victims as they move out of shelters toward living independently.

November 2011 - State Senator Denise Harper Angel of Louisville has pre-filed a bill extending domestic violence protections to dating couples to be considered in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. More than 40 other states recognize dating partner relationships in laws that offer greater protection for battered victims through domestic violence or emergency protective orders.

Protection for Dating Partners

November -0001 - After seven consecutive years of trying, state lawmakers passed legislation extending immediate civil protections to dating partners. Kentucky was one of the last states to not provide that blanket of protection to those who were not married, with common child or living together. The takes effect Jan 1, 2016.

Protection for Dating Partners

November -0001 - The long overdue dating partners protection bill was signed into law, making Kentucky the 49th state to provide civil protections against domestic violence to those in dating relationships This was a fight that took over half a decade to win.

Early Childhood Ed Funding May Be Restored

January 2014 - After months of stressing the importance of child care assistance and pre-school funding, education and youth advocates received positive news in Governor Steve Beshear's budget for the next two fiscal years.

April 2012 - A new study says Kentucky is one of the few states where pre-K program trends are headed in the right direction. The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University says Kentucky provides more access to preschool than 80% of other states.

December 2010 - A task force charged with improving early childhood education in KY is recommending the state develop a model curriculum for preschool programs and implement a screening tool for children entering kindergarten. The group made 8 recommendations that it said would strengthen the system. About 50,000 Kentucky children are enrolled in state-funded preschools or Head Start.

Kentucky Judge Blocks Public Tax Credits for Private Schools

November 2021 - A Kentucky judge blocked part of a new state law that allows public tax credits to support private school tuition. The move halts state officials from implementing the so-called “educational opportunity accounts” under House Bill 563. The credits would have reduced taxes for people who donate money to support the private tuition grants.