Recent Developments in Florida Energy and Environmental Legislation
State AG Pulse | The Laboratories of Democracy
In this episode of our "Florida Capital Conversations" podcast series, policy advisor Jon Steverson and attorney Lawrence Sellers discuss significant legislative developments affecting the energy and environmental sectors in...more
On July 18, 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that environmental groups were entitled to intervene in a case challenging the lawfulness of a greenhouse gas regulation because the state’s attorneys failed to raise...more
The Washington Supreme Court recently denied review of a key decision from the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, upholding the authority of local governments to regulate solid waste generated and collected within...more
City of Los Angeles - Increase to Planning Applications and Affordable Housing Linkage Fees - On July 1, 2024, the fee for planning and land use applications increased by 3.5% based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban...more
When drafting and reviewing local government contracts, it’s imperative that legal counsel understand what language to focus on. There are a number of terms and conditions which political subdivisions cannot agree to under...more
Several cities in California successfully petitioned for a writ of mandate seeking the invalidation of California Senate Bill 9 (the HOME Act)....more
Omnibus Policy Bills on the Move - Prior to the March 22nd legislative deadline for policy bills, most committees created omnibus policy bills. Starting this week, both the House of Representatives and the Senate engaged...more
Virginia’s Constitution automatically disqualifies all persons convicted of any felony from voting unless their civil rights are restored by the Governor. See Va. Const. art. II, § 1. In a recent case, two plaintiffs...more
Where is the Governor’s Supplemental Budget? With legislators racing toward the first and second bill deadline on March 22, the Walz Administration spent the week behind closed doors putting the finishing touches on its...more
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in favor of a high school teacher, finding that the circuit court wrongly dismissed the teacher’s claims against his former employer, who had terminated the teacher after he refused to use a...more
Recently, the City of Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) ordered, among other things, the destruction of Titan Health LLC’s (Titan Health) marijuana plants that it deemed to “hav[e] evidence of...more
On November 1, 2023, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court held that the rulemaking entering Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ("RGGI") violated the state constitution. The decision upends regulatory...more
The 2023 Ohio General Election reached an unusually high turnout for an odd-numbered election year, thanks to two statewide ballot issues. Issue 1 garnered national attention, as Ohio became the latest state to enshrine...more
On November 7, 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 1, the Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety, to establish the constitutional right to certain reproductive decisions. The new right will be...more
The New York State Supreme Court has held the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “commission”) is unconstitutional in violation of the separation of powers. The ruling comes in Cuomo v. New...more
Yesterday's post concerned California's statutory scheme governing the gubernatorial power to fill vacant United States Senate seats. The relevant statute requires that the person appointed be an "elector of this state". ...more
Following the recent passing of Senator Diane Feinstein, California Governor announced the appointment of Laphonza Butler to complete Senator Feinstein's term in the U.S. Senate. Yesterday, Harvard Law Professor Stephen E....more
In a court hearing yesterday in the Montgomery County Circuit Court, it appeared that the staff of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission was prepared to move forward announcing licensees at its meeting on Thursday and that...more
At the November 2022 state general election, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a voting rights constitutional amendment known as Proposition 2022-2 (“Prop 2”). Prop 2 enshrined in the Michigan Constitution the right to...more
History - On December 14, 1819, Alabama was granted statehood after previously being part of the Mississippi and Alabama territories. The first Alabama constitution was drafted and passed at a convention in Huntsville,...more
In the wake of the landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we have been closely monitoring legal developments across the country. In addition to well publicized “trigger laws” that were effectuated...more
Because this is the second year of California's current legislative biennium, the legislature went into final recess on August 31. J.R. 51(b)(3). This does not mean, however, that the legislature has adjourned. A recess is...more
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“CRTA”), which was enacted in 2019, legalized recreational adult use cannabis in Illinois. The CRTA also created a Social Equity Program intended to offer disadvantaged people,...more
On Friday evening, the New York State Legislature concluded a two-day extraordinary legislative session called by Governor Hochul in response to two recent Supreme Court decisions. The legislature had been initially called...more
I recently had occasion to inspect some of the county records in the "Million Dollar Courthouse" in Pioche, Nevada. Among these records were the 19th Century oaths of office signed by persons entering into public office in...more