National
Food and Nutrition
WHY COULDN’T WASHINGTON STOP A SODA TAX BAN WHEN OREGON COULD?
Sightline, 12/21/2018
The lack of coalition strength to fight Big Soda in Washington this November is evidence of a much larger problem: Washington lacks a robust network of organizations dedicated to implementing and protecting smart and sustainable food policy in the state. The task of organizing this network used to fall to Food Action, a food policy nonprofit with a 20-year history in the state under its original name, the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network. This year, Food Action ran out of funds and is ceasing operations.
Broadband
Net neutrality battle heads to court in 2019
CNET, 12/26/2018
Time’s run out for net neutrality supporters hoping to restore Obama-era regulations using a legislative loophole, but the fight’s far from over as it heads to federal appeals court.
Democrats in the House of Representatives failed to gather enough votes by the end of the year to use the Congressional Review Act to undo the Federal Communications Commission’s rollback of the popular rules. The Republican-led agency voted a year ago this month to repeal the rules adopted in 2015, which were designed to ensure that all traffic on the internet was treated equally.
Chemical Safety
Analysis: Wins and Losses in the Farm Bill—Time
Beyond Pesticides, 12/19/2018
The good. Our major victory in the Farm Bill does not move us forward, but simply protects the status quo of our democracy—protecting the power of states and local government to adopt pesticide restrictions that are more stringent than the federal government.
Public Safety
DOT Rules Federal Laws on Breaks for Truckers Preempt California Regulations
The Wall Street Journal, 12/21/2018
The U.S. Transportation Department ruled Friday that California laws requiring truck drivers be allowed certain break periods can be pre-empted by federal laws, which provide for less downtime.
Florida Lawmakers File Anti-“Sanctuary” Bills That Would Force Cooperation With ICE
Miami New Times, 12/20/2018
State Sen. Aaron Bean…. filed a bill yesterday that would force local cops and state governments to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In layman’s terms, he aims to ban sanctuary cities and communities across the Sunshine State. This is basically a bunch of nonsense designed to gin up support from Bean’s racist voter base in North Florida.
“A state entity, law enforcement agency, or local governmental entity may not adopt or have in effect a sanctuary policy,” the bill reads. It then adds, “A state entity, local governmental entity, or law enforcement agency shall fully comply with and, to the full extent permitted by law, support the enforcement of federal immigration law.”
Gov. Snyder signs law allowing communities to limit fireworks
Times Herald, 12/31/2018
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law a bill that gives local communities the power to limit the number of days residents may legally set off fireworks.
Missouri lawmaker wants to ban local rules for food packaging
FOX 4 Kansas City, 1/1/2019
A Missouri state lawmaker wants to prohibit local governments from banning food and drink packaging amid a push by environmentalists to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
State Rep. Dan Shaul, an Imperial Republican and director of the Missouri Grocers Association, filed legislation that would prohibit bans, restrictions or other regulations on bottles, cups, bags, containers and other food and drink packaging, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The limits would cover containers made of plastic, aluminum, cardboard and a variety of other materials.
Businesses could still opt to use more environmentally friendly to-go wrappings and other packaging for food and drinks under Shaul’s bill. But the lawmaker said the move toward more sustainable packaging should be consumer-driven and not dictated by local governments.
Bill Would Prohibit ‘Sanctuary Cities’ in N.H.
New Hampshire Public Radio, 12/31/2018
A bill coming before New Hampshire’s next legislative session would prohibit sanctuary cities in the state…
A group of Republican lawmakers are backing a bill that would “establish the New Hampshire anti-sanctuary act, which requires state and local government entities to comply with federal immigration detainer requests.”
OHIO LAWMAKERS OVERRIDE KASICH VETO ON PRO-GUN BILL
Guns.com, 1/2/2019
Additionally, the legislation expands state preemption safeguards against local gun control measures– such as those increasing advocated in Cleveland and Columbus — as well as eases signage requirements on private property in regards to firearms.
Gun-owner rights bill OK’d over Gov. John Kasich veto
ABC News 5 Cleveland, 12/27/2018
A bill broadening gun-owner rights has become law in Ohio, after the Republican-led state Legislature overrode GOP Gov. John Kasich’s veto.
The Senate voted 21-11 on Thursday to reject Kasich’s decision to strike down the bill. That followed a House override earlier in the day.
The legislation expands gun access for off-duty police officers and allows pre-emption of local gun restrictions, among other things. [Emphasis added]
Tennessee’s anti-sanctuary city law goes into effect on New Year’s Day
ThinkProgress, 12/28/2018
A new Tennessee law is set to go into effect on January 1, which will end local governments’ access to state economic development funds if they do not comply with a ban on “sanctuary” policies.
The City-State Fight Continues In The 2019 Legislative Session. Here Are Bills To Look Out For.
KERA News, 12/21/2018
When the Texas Legislature reconvenes Jan. 8, lawmakers will already have on their desks bills aimed at undoing City of Austin rules.
The city-state conflict is nothing new. Last time they met in 2017, state lawmakers passed bills overturning Austin ordinances affecting ride-hailing companies, like Uber and Lyft, and passed a “sanctuary cities” bill…
Bills to watch
- H.B. 222 – State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) filed a bill prohibiting municipalities from adopting any ordinance requiring employers to provide paid sick leave.
- H.B. 470 – State Rep. Dennis Paul (R-Houston) filed a bill limiting municipalities to a 4 percent maximum increase in property tax revenue year over year.
