Mark your calendar!  The tenth annual Summit on the States will be held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.  Please contact Quinta Martin at 202-956-5132 or by email at qmartin@cfpa.org with any questions.

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

Colorado Governor Bill Owens signed HB 1149, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Carroll, which will expand existing ethics laws to require lobbyists to fully disclose their clients, the bills they’re working on, and whether they’re for or against that legislation.  Read CPA's Ethics Reform policy brief and model legislation.

A bill recently signed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush will increase oversight of the state’s two school voucher programs. Under the new law—SB 256, sponsored by Sen. James King—the state will have more authority to monitor the finances of schools that accept vouchers. Those schools that receive corporate tax credit vouchers (read CPA’s Education Tax Credit policy brief) will now administer standardized tests to be used for program evaluation. Florida’s third voucher program was recently struck down by the state Supreme Court, in part due to a lack of state control of public money at private schools. Read CPA’s School Vouchers policy brief.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed SB 2349, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Rep. Marlow Colvin, to protect homeowners from unscrupulous “mortgage rescue” practices. The new law targets companies that use predatory practices while offering financial assistance to save homes from foreclosure. It also guarantees that homeowners will receive a substantial portion of their equity in the home from such companies.

The Indiana legislature enacted HB 1101, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Walorski, which requires businesses to notify customers of any loss or theft of personal data “without unreasonable delay.” If more than 1,000 people are affected, the business must also notify the three major credit bureaus. The law takes effect on July 1. Read CPA’s Identity Theft policy brief and model legislation.

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack signed HF 2754 and its companion appropriation bill HF 2759, sponsored by the House Ways and Means Committee, that is touted as being the most aggressive renewable fuels legislation in the country. The legislation is intended to boost availability of ethanol and biodiesel throughout the state. The bills create a renewable fuels standard (RFS) starting at 10 percent in 2009 and increasing to 25 percent by 2019, and a new ethanol promotion tax credit for each gallon of ethanol blended into gasoline.

The Nebraska legislature enacted the provisions of LB 1181, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Johnson, which was amended into LB 1114, to reform the juvenile detention process. The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman, requires juvenile detention hearings to be held within 48 hours of arrest, with status hearings every 14 days thereafter. The legislation also clarifies that placement of a juvenile in detention is not to be considered as a treatment service. Read CPA’s Juvenile Detention Reform policy brief and model legislation.

SB 1748, sponsored by Sen. Randy Bass, will allow Oklahomans who have become victims of identity theft to place a security freeze on their credit reports. Governor Brad Henry has signed the bill. Read CPA’s Identity Theft policy brief and model legislation.

The Tennessee legislature unanimously approved HB 3597, sponsored by Rep. Larry Turner, which will crack down on predatory mortgage lending. The bill will restrict lenders from charging excessive fees or engaging in a variety of practices that are unfair to the borrower. Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed the bill, which will be effective as of January 1, 2007. Read CPA’s Predatory Mortgage Lending policy brief and model legislation.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed HB 861, sponsored by the House Health Care Committee, which will make the state the second in the nation—after Massachusetts—to enact a near-universal healthcare coverage plan this year. The plan will cover as many as 96 percent of Vermont’s residents by 2010. Read CPA’s Health Care For All policy brief and model legislation.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed SB 483, sponsored by Sen. Theodore Kanavas (see Legislator of the Month), to encourage the extension of broadband Internet access to rural areas where service is limited. The legislation will create tax incentives for companies that work with the Department of Commerce to provide broadband access to underserved areas. Read CPA’s Municipal Wireless Internet policy brief and model legislation.

Rural areas often lack access to broadband internet services, which can slow their economic development. Wisconsin Senator Ted Kanavas sought to address this “digital divide” with his bill, SB 483. Click here to read an interview with Senator Kanavas on the success of his bill.

Rising gas prices, tropical storms strengthened by global warming, and the ongoing war in Iraq have pushed the environment to the top of the public policy agenda. The State Environmental Leadership Program (SELP) strives to protect our nation’s air, water and land by connecting environmental advocacy organizations and enhancing their ability to effectively influence state-level policy. SELP’s website, www.selp.org, describes its efforts to facilitate collaboration, share information, and create strategies between organizations who share the common goal of preserving the environment. The website links to its member organizations in various states as well as other resources for those who seek information about state and national environmental issues.