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Arizona – Gov. Jan Brewer (R) on Thursday followed through on her threat to veto bills that reach her desk before lawmakers finish passing the budget and Medicaid expansion. The Governor vetoed five bills, only one of which was substantive, but put the House on notice to adopt the Senate-approved Medicaid bill.
Kansas – Lawmakers will be meeting in overtime beginning today, as the legislative session passed the 90th day mark Thursday. The House and Senate remain deadlocked over taxes.
North Carolina – The Senate passed a budget today that includes $770 million in tax reductions, although none of the tax changes have actually been identified.
Iowa – A day after the Senate wrapped up its work, the House finished passing the budget and adjourned the 2013 session sine die Thursday. Lawmakers approved landmark legislation to expand Medicaid and reform education after reaching bipartisan agreements with Gov. Terry Branstad (R) on Wednesday.
Kansas – House and Senate budget negotiators remain hung up on various proposals to halt a sales tax cut that is scheduled to kick in July 1, and there remains no end in sight to the dispute between the two chambers. The session reaches it's 90th day today, traditionally the last day of session, which lawmakers had promised to shave by 10 days this year.
North Carolina – The Senate is expected to give final approval to the state budget bill today, sending the measure over to the House for debate. Meanwhile in the lower chamber, Rep. Robert Brawley (R) gave up his post as chair of the House Finance Committee on Wednesday as part of an ongoing personal dispute with House Speaker Thom Tillis (R).
Iowa – Landmark Medicaid expansion and education reform measures passed the Senate last night after Gov. Terry Branstad (R) reached bipartisan agreements with legislative leaders on those issues and the state budget Wednesday. The Senate has adjourned for the year and House is expected to finish passing the bills and wrap up the 2013 session today.
South Dakota – Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) will call lawmakers back to Pierre for a brief session next month to address a funding shortfall for a new state veterans home. No other issues are expected to be the session agenda.
Massachusetts – Lt. Gov. Tim Murray (D), who was seen as the likely successor to Gov. Deval Patrick (D) but now faces questions over dubious fundraising practices, will resign from office effective June 2. The lieutenant governor's office will remain vacant until a new office holder is elected in November 2014.
Texas – As Monday's deadline for adjournment approaches, lawmakers' debate over a $2 billion water infrastructure plan is slowing passage of the $100 billion state budget.
Kansas – House and Senate budget negotiators made some progress on the budget front Tuesday by settling their dispute over how much to cut higher education funding, but remain deadlocked on taxes. Lawmakers are now nine session days past their target for adjournment.
California – Eric Garcetti (D) was elected as the new mayor of Los Angeles on Tuesday, by a 54% - 46% margin over Wendy Greuel (D). Garcetti replaces Antonio Villaraigosa (D), who was term-limited after serving as mayor for 8 years.
Iowa – Gov. Terry Branstad (R) and legislative leaders announced Monday that they are making progress toward a compromise on Medicaid. Lawmakers also need to finish passing the budget and finalize education reforms before they can adjourn the 2013 session, which was scheduled to end May 3.
Minnesota – The 2013 session of the Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die Monday night, but not before lawmakers finalized the state budget and passed major tax increases on corporations, high income earners, and cigarettes.
Alabama – The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight last night. Lawmakers passed major campaign finance reforms and expanded gun rights on the final day of session. Also on Monday, Gov. Robert Bentley (R) signed the state budget bills as passed by legislators two week earlier.
Louisiana – A bill to expand Medicaid using the Arkansas model passed one committee last week, but ran into a roadblock in the Senate Finance Committee today and defeated by 7-3 vote in the committee. The issue is still alive in the La. House, however.
Missouri – The 2013 session adjourned sine die on Friday, May 17. Major bill to raise the sales tax, increase transportation funding, and reform tax credit programs all died on the final day.
Alabama – Today is the final day of session for lawmakers in Montgomery. Bills on gun rights, drug testing for welfare recipients, and campaign finance reform are among the major items expected to see floor votes before the legislature adjourns sine die at midnight.
Minnesota – The Minnesota legislature adjourns sine die at midnight tonight. Legislators expect to finalize a slew of tax increases today, including on high income earners, corporations, and cigarettes.
New York – Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D) opted to resign from the legislature today rather than face expulsion proceedings, which were to have begun this week, over sexual harassment charges. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) won't call a special election to fill Lopez's vacant seat in order to prevent the powerful Brooklyn lawmaker from steering the election's outcome.
North Carolina – The Senate's $20.58 billion proposed budget was unveiled Sunday night, which leadership expects to pass and send to the House by the end of the week.
Arizona – Despite the opposition of Senate President Andy Biggs (R), legislation supported by Gov. Brewer (R) to expand Medicaid passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill is expected to be taken up by the House next week as part of the budget debate.
North Carolina – Lawmakers will begin to shift their focus to budget matters now that the crossover deadline for non-money bills passed last night at midnight, winnowing the legislative agenda. Senate Republicans have announced that they will begin budget debates next week, after they unveil their proposal for state spending on Sunday night.
Kansas – House and Senate Republican leaders missed their target date for adjournment earlier this week but announced on Thursday that they are finally nearing a deal to scale back planned sales tax reductions. An agreement on the sales tax rate would clear the way for lawmakers to adjourn next week.
Minnesota – Legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton (D) reached an agreement Thursday on tax increases on high incomes and cigarettes, clearing the way for Monday's adjournment.