CPA will host a free breakfast for state legislators at the NCSL Spring Forum on April 8 at 8:00 a.m. in the Thornton Room at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. RSVP is requested to Joshua Dake at 202-956-5130 or jdake@cfpa.org.

Join the Center for Policy Alternatives for “Breaking the Cycle: Practical Solutions for Juvenile Justice Reform.” Legislators and experts will discuss media and messaging strategies, the impact of gangs, and much more. To learn more, visit the conference website here.

Application packets for the 2007 Flemming Leadership Class are now available at http://www.stateaction.org/leadership/flemming/application. Acceptance to the class is on a rolling application basis. Please contact Quinta Martin at 202-956-5132 or by email to qmartin@cfpa.org with any questions.

The Indiana legislature passed HB 1010, sponsored by Representative David Wolkins, which will substantially restrict public agencies’ use of eminent domain to transfer property from one private party to another in the name of economic development. Read CPA’s Eminent Domain policy brief and model legislation.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed an executive order that requires state agencies to avoid toxic chemicals and unsafe bio-based products in their purchasing. The order calls for the use of non-lead wheel weights on state vehicles and the purchase of state uniforms that don’t require dry cleaning with perchloroethylene. The executive order also creates a task force to develop policies that encourage the use, research and development of safer chemical alternatives by Maine consumers.

Michigan’s GOP-controlled House followed the Senate’s lead and approved SB 318, raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.95 this October, to $7.15 in July 2007, and to $7.40 in July 2008. Gov. Jennifer Granholm will sign the bill, which was sponsored by Senator Raymond Basham and a host of Democrats. The minimum wage increase was inspired by an effective labor-led coalition that worked to place the issue on the November 2006 ballot. Read CPA’s Minimum Wage policy brief and model legislation.

Representative Ben Lujan sponsored legislation that creates Family Opportunity Accounts, which can be used to pursue higher education, start a microenterprise business, or become a first-time home buyer. HB 112 also provides up to $2,000 of matching state funds to the Individual Development Accounts annually if the owner successfully completes a financial literacy course which covers the basics of how to reduce debt, manage money and avoid pitfalls such as predatory lending. The bill brings opportunity to many of the people who work the hardest but never realize their dreams. Read CPA's Individual Development Account policy brief and model legislation.

Energy-conscious New Mexico home and business owners—not to mention the state’s growing solar industry—got a big boost when Gov. Bill Richardson signed SB 269, sponsored by Senator Dede Feldman. The bill creates a solar tax credit to work in sync with federal tax credits that go into effect this year. Together, the credits will save consumers about 30 percent of the cost of typical residential solar systems. Read CPA’s Renewable Energy policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Bill Richardson signed SB 344, which will ban campaign contributions and gifts from prospective contractors to state and local political officials during the procurement process. The bill, sponsored by Senator Dede Feldman, will also require prospective contractors to disclose contributions of more than $250 to applicable political office holders in the two years prior to the bidding process.

Gov. Bill Richardson ordered a moratorium on new licenses for payday lenders and stricter regulations to end abusive lending practices. The new regulations include a limit on rollover loans can trap low-income earners in a cycle of high-interest debt and a cap on fees and transaction rates. A campaign to inform consumers that they do not have to repay unlicensed payday lenders is also being launched by the state. Read CPA’s Payday Lending policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Bill Richardson signed SB 295, sponsored by Senator Linda Lopez (see Legislator of the Month), which requires the use of paper ballots counted by optical scan machines. Paper ballots are the least expensive and most secure form of voting, and optical scanners quickly and accurately count votes. In the event of a recount, the paper ballots remain as a permanent, verifiable record of voter intent. Read CPA’s Help America Vote Act (HAVA) policy brief and model legislation.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell signed an executive order that requires most lobbyists who seek to influence the executive branch of state government to register and report their spending. Pennsylvania’s previous disclosure law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2002.

Gov. Mike Rounds signed SB 180, by Senator Jason Gant, to help protect victims of identity theft. The law will allow identity theft victims protect themselves by blocking access to their credits reports for as long as seven years by notifying consumer reporting agencies in writing. Read CPA’s Identity Theft policy brief and model legislation.

After eight years of effort, Utah finally managed to fix its hate crimes law. Prosecutors had considered the previous law unenforceable. HB 90, sponsored by Representative David Litvack and Senator Karen Hale, increases penalties for crimes that “intimidate or terrorize” another person and allows judges to give longer sentences if the crime is likely to “incite community unrest” or “cause members of the community to reasonably fear for their safety.” Read CPA’s Hate Crimes Prevention policy brief and model legislation.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill that allows in-home child care workers to select a union to negotiate with the state. HB 2353, sponsored by Representative Eric Pettigrew, authorizes collective bargaining for more than 10,000 child care providers. The state pays a child care subsidy for thousands of children so their parents can work. Read CPA’s Career Ladders for Childcare Workers policy brief and model legislation.

After the failure of two medical malpractice ballot initiatives—one backed by the medical industry, the other backed by trial lawyers—Gov. Christine Gregoire negotiated with both sides to create HB 2292. The bill overhauls the medical discipline system, regulates medical malpractice insurance, and reforms litigation procedures. The new law had bipartisan support and won the backing of both the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association and the Washington Medical Association. Read CPA’s Tort Reform and Civil Justice policy brief.

Gov. Gregoire signed SB 6885, a landmark overhaul of the unemployment insurance system sponsored by Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles. The bill restores balance, stability and equity into the unemployment insurance system and eliminates provisions that disproportionately reduce benefits for women, people of color and low-income workers. Read CPA’s Unemployment Insurance–Options for Reform policy brief and model legislation.

The West Virginia legislature sent to the governor’s desk HB 4048, sponsored by Representative Kevin Craig, which says that eminent domain may not be used to condemn property for private development or the enhancement of tax revenue. Read CPA’s Eminent Domain policy brief and model legislation.

New Mexico Senator Linda Lopez was on the forefront of a national election trend toward paper trails with her bill that requires paper ballots and optical scanners. Click here to read our interview with Senator Lopez.

With April 15 drawing closer, taxes are in the news and on everyone’s minds. Now is a great time for legislators and advocates to visit the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s website at www.itepnet.org. Read the Guide to Fair State and Local Taxes, which covers everything from basic terms and principles to strategies for progressive tax reform. A useful companion is ITEP’s report Who Pays?—a state-by-state comparative analysis on tax systems. The report details how different state taxes affect people at various income levels.