Recent Developments in Florida Energy and Environmental Legislation
Eminent Domain: First Principles, Kelo, and In Service of Infrastructure Buildout
After a busy week, legislators left Raleigh on Thursday for the foreseeable future. Although they did not pass a new 2024 budget bill, they did appropriate funds for certain purposes and are authorized to return later this...more
Ohio voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on two constitutional amendments on the ballot this November. HJR 2 and HJR 4 cleared the Ohio legislature yesterday during marathon sessions as the General Assembly...more
They say Thursday is the new Friday, and the State Senate took the sentiment to heart yesterday, quickly convening, dispensing with procedural business, and adjourning into a three day weekend. The House Rules Chairman...more
With the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) finally receiving its 38th affirmative vote in January from the Virginia General Assembly and the resulting litigation to have the amendment added to the Constitution, it is worth...more
The second year of the 88th General Assembly convened on Monday. Republicans maintain their majority in both chambers, 53-47 majority in the House and a 32-18 majority in the Senate....more
After a number of long days and late nights, the First Session of the 88th General Assembly of Iowa adjourned sine die on Saturday, April 27, 2019—the 105th day of session, five days ahead of the scheduled adjournment date...more
It was a busy week of committee meetings for North Carolina with no sign of it slowing down any time soon. The Senate passed SB29: Move Over Law/Increase Penalties, which increases the penalty for drivers that do not move...more
The 88th General Assembly convened this week, with Republicans holding a 32-18 majority in the Senate and a 54-46 majority in the House. Floor action focused on canvassing the 2018 election, organizing the chambers,...more
On Election Day in 2018, voters in three states approved amendments to rules involving a variety of ethics reforms involving lobbying, contributions and gifts....more
The nation’s political divide was reflected in last night’s Congressional elections. Republicans will maintain control of the Senate, but Democrats have gained control of the House of Representatives....more
Republican Brian Kemp declared victory last week in his bid to replace Governor Nathan Deal as Georgia’s 83rd governor. Kemp avoided a runoff against Democrat Stacey Abrams by securing 50.33 percent of the vote amid...more
This year, North Carolina had a “blue moon” election in which there were no statewide races on the ballot aside from judicial contests. Blue moon elections occur every twelve years (the last was 2006) and historically produce...more
Despite 2018 being a “blue moon” election cycle, North Carolina experienced near-record voter turnout for yesterday’s election. Once in a “blue moon,” North Carolina does not have any marquee, statewide races on the...more
The 2018 Short Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned in late June and can boast something that many Short Sessions cannot: that it was genuinely short. What else made it memorable? An unusual...more
The N.C. General Assembly reconvened in Raleigh May 16 for the legislative “short session.” The short session occurs in the second year of the two-year biennium, which began January 2017. ...more
The North Carolina General Assembly left Raleigh after adjusting the second year of the biennial budget and considering a number of policy issues during a six-week session. Legislators now return to their districts to...more
As we enter the new year, there are new changes in state and federal lobbying, gift and campaign finance laws. California: In September, Gov. Jerry Brown signed new campaign finance laws that require political committees...more
Brief History of Special Sessions - In odd numbered years, after the North Carolina General Assembly adjourns its Long Session, the body typically abstains from lawmaking through the commencement of the Short Session the...more
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court continues to expand the reach of the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state Constitution. Adopted in 1971, the Environmental Rights Amendment recognizes that the people have a right to...more
It is a busy week at the General Assembly as legislators are pushing through the final days of the 2016 short session. The legislature is expected to adjourn for the year either late today, July 5, or tomorrow, July 6. The...more
With the federal minimum wage stalled at $7.25 since 2009, HR Legalist has been tracking several developments to wage and hour law on both the federal level (via the pending overtime rule change recently reported by HR...more