Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Property Claim Litigation Bill Passed by the Texas Senate
May 1 2015 // The Texas Senate on April 30 passed a bill aimed at stemming the onslaught of property claim litigation that has been occurring with increasing frequency in the state following natural catastrophes. Advocates of Senate...
Louisiana Senate Committee OKs Medical Marijuana Bill
Apr 30 2015 // Louisiana law enforcement associations have previously blocked efforts to get medical marijuana to patients who suffer, despite a 1991 state law allowing its medicinal use. That changed on April 29. Michael Ranatza, head...
Felony DUI Bill in Colorado Passes Key Senate Test After Changes
Apr 30 2015 // A measure to add penalties for habitual drunken drivers has advanced in the state Senate after weeks of delay. The felony DUI bill would make a fourth DUI a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of as...
Dismantle of Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Fails in Senate
Apr 27 2015 // Governance of Minnesota’s health insurance exchange could be in for a change, but MNsure won’t go away entirely. The Democratic-led Minnesota Senate defeated GOP attempts to dismantle MNsure. Several...
House, Senate Committees Pass Trade Authority Bills
Apr 23 2015 // Legislation to speed trade deals through the U.S. Congress cleared through a key committee on Thursday, but low Democratic support signaled a looming battle over a Pacific trade pact central to President Barack...
Nevada Uber Regulation Bill That Failed Senate Shows Signs of Life
Apr 22 2015 // A bill that would allow for ridesharing companies such as Uber in Nevada is showing signs of life after failing a vote of the Nevada Senate. SB439 was granted a deadline waiver on Monday, meaning it can be reconsidered at...
Michigan Auto Insurance Bills Passed by Senate
Apr 20 2015 // A divided state Senate approved revisions to Michigan’s auto insurance law that backers said would curtail costs in the only state to require unlimited medical benefits for those severely injured in crashes and that...
Higher DUI Fines OK’d by Montana Senate
Apr 20 2015 // Montana senators have endorsed a proposal to double DUI fines. Seven Democrats joined 20 Republicans Saturday to approve House Bill 488 on a 27-23 vote that reversed the Senate’s Friday opinion against the bill. The...
Oklahoma Ridesharing Bill Passes Senate Without Discrimination Protections
Apr 17 2015 // A bill that sets up a regulatory framework in Oklahoma for ridesharing programs such as Uber and Lyft passed the state Senate, but not before a provision protecting gay and transgender passengers from discrimination was...
Obama Likely to Veto Republicans’ Estate Tax Repeal Bill
Apr 15 2015 // The White House on Tuesday said Democratic President Barack Obama’s advisers would recommend that he veto a pending Republican-authored bill to repeal the estate tax. A vote on the bill in the House of...
Texting While Driving Ban OK’d in Oklahoma Senate
Apr 13 2015 // Oklahoma drivers could be pulled over and ticketed for texting while driving under a bill passed overwhelmingly in the state Senate. The Senate voted 38-6 for the HB 1965, which now returns to the House for...
Florida Senate Passes ‘Waldo Bill’ Banning Traffic Ticket Quotas
Apr 10 2015 // Traffic ticket quotas for law enforcement agencies would be illegal under a bill passed by the Florida Senate. The so-called “Waldo Bill” (SB 264) passed unanimously with no debate Wednesday. It must still pass...
Georgia Senate Sends Ridesharing Bill to Governor
Apr 6 2015 // The Georgia Senate has expanded the requirements ridesharing companies must meet to operate in the state. The Senate voted last Thursday to add a requirement for drivers of companies such as Uber to display certificates of...
Nevada Senate Passes Bill Allowing 80 Mph Speed Limits
Apr 6 2015 // A bill allowing Nevada to increase speed limits up to 80 mph has passed out of the state Senate. Senators voted to approve SB 2 on Thursday in a 16-4 vote. The bill now moves to the Assembly. The bill is sponsored by...
Insurance Agent One of 4 Democrats Vying for Vacant Texas House Seat
Apr 1 2015 // Voters in western San Antonio are choosing a successor for state Rep. Jose Menendez, who left office in February to become a Texas senator. Four Democratic candidates squaring off are former San Antonio City Council member...
Controversial Ridesharing Legislation Makes it Through Georgia Senate
Mar 30 2015 // The Georgia Senate has passed a slightly tweaked substitute measure to a House bill that apparently clears the way for Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing companies to keep operating in the state. The substitute, which makes...
New Hampshire Senate Delays Workers’ Compensation Reform Deal
Mar 27 2015 // New Hampshire state senators have pushed off a deal to reform New Hampshire’s workers’ compensation insurance laws. The chamber voted Thursday to send a tentative deal, which would’ve given providers...
California Senate Approves $1B Water Plan Amid Drought
Mar 26 2015 // The state Senate has approved a $1 billion proposal to speed up spending on water projects in drought-stricken California. The Senate this week voted 35-1 on the package to accelerate infrastructure spending. An...
Maryland House, Senate Pass Fracking Bills
Mar 26 2015 // Legislation that limits when and how fracking could take place in Maryland passed Tuesday in both chambers of the state legislature. Senators voted 29-17 for a bill that holds drilling companies strictly liable for...
Retooled Medical Marijuana Bill Gets OK from Georgia Senate
Mar 26 2015 // After two rancorous years of squabbling, confusion and heated debate, Georgia appears on the verge of having a medical marijuana law after the state Senate passed a sweeping bill Tuesday that would allow cannabis oil to be...
