State capitol policy updates: A busy week

A week of major policy news and additions to the growing list of November ballot measures. [Forward This](mailto:?&body=https%3A//ballotpedia.org/The_State_and_Local_Tap%3A_State_capitol_policy_updates%3A_A_busy_week) [blank][Tweet This]( [blank][Send to Linkedin]( [blank][Send to Facebook]( [blank] It's been a busy week in the state capitols, with major legislation passed in states from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. Also in this issue, catch up on measures headed for the ballot in November. As always, you can click the link below for the full week in state and local news. [Full version online →]( Hawaii House of Represenatatives District 8 gets first new representative in 36 years - Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) appointed [Troy Hashimoto]( to represent [District 8]( in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Hashimoto was selected to replace former Rep. [Joseph Souki](, who resigned on March 30, 2018, due to allegations of sexual misconduct. - Souki served as the District 8 representative since 1982, meaning this is the first time in 36 years that District 8 has a new representative. Pennsylvania House approves bill prohibiting abortions for Down syndrome - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives [voted 139 to 56]( in favor of House Bill 2050 (HB 2050). The bill would prohibit abortions if the reason for the procedure was a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. - Pennsylvania law at the time of the bill's passage prohibited abortions when the sole reason was the sex of the fetus. - House Speaker [Mike Turzai]( (R), who sponsored the bill, said the bill would protect "the dignity of every human being" and show support and compassion for families with individuals with Down syndrome. - Democratic Gov. [Tom Wolf]( expressed opposition to HB 2050, saying the bill was "another example of Harrisburg Republicans exploiting vulnerable families and trying to undermine the doctor-patient relationship to score political points." Judge rules felony case against Greitens can move forward - St. Louis Circuit Judge [Rex Burlison]( ruled that the invasion-of-privacy case against Missouri Governor [Eric Greitens]( (R) would move forward. The ruling was in response to a motion to dismiss by Greitens' defense team which accused prosecutors of withholding evidence and alleged that a private investigator lied to the court. Burlison imposed sanctions on prosecutors for failing to turn over evidence in a timely manner. - Greitens was indicted by a St. Louis grand jury for felony invasion of privacy on February 22, 2018. [Click here]( to read more. Florida Constitution Revision Commission adjourns until 2037, sending eight measures to the ballot for November 2018 - [The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC)]( met for the last time until 2037. The CRC referred [eight measures to the ballot]( for the election on November 6, 2018. The CRC rejected three ballot measures, and one was withdrawn before the final vote. - The eight ballot measures joined five other constitutional amendments on the ballot for the upcoming general election, bringing the total number of measures that Florida voters will address to 13. The eight CRC-referred ballot measures resulted from the combination of 20 separate proposals. To read more about the proposals, [click here](. Are you up to speed on polling and endorsements ahead of the upcoming slew of May primaries? With 11 states holding Democratic and Republican primaries next month, it’s a lot to keep up on. Get caught up quickly with our short, informative webinar on Wednesday, April 25. [Register now→]( The Colorado legislature puts amendment on the ballot to consolidate judge retention ballot language - The state Senate gave final approval to an amendment to allow less space on the ballot to be used for judge retention questions, sending it to the voters in November. Currently, the Colorado Constitution requires county clerks to write separate retention questions on the ballot for each judge or justice standing for retention. - [This amendment]() would change that language to allow county clerks to use one judge retention question for each level of courts with individual judges listed as ballot items below the question, thereby shortening the ballot. Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt resigns amid board of education reorganization - Kentucky Education Commissioner [Stephen Pruitt]( resigned, effective immediately, following a reorganization of the state Board of Education in which Gov. Matt Bevin (R) appointed seven new members to the 12-member board. - Pruitt was appointed by the Kentucky Board of Education in October 2015, before Bevin was governor. - Responses to Pruitt's resignation: - House Education Committee Chair John Carney (R) said he wished Pruitt had not resigned and, responding to board statements that Pruitt was not pushed out, said, "If he wasn’t pushed out he was certainly encouraged to step down." - Kentucky Education Association (KEA) President Stephanie Winkler said Pruitt had been a strong leader for students and public schools: "Forcing an honorable and highly qualified man to resign from his position without any cause is contrary to the best interests of students across the Commonwealth." New Jersey becomes 12th state to enact automatic voter registration - Governor [Phil Murphy]( (D) signed A2014 into law, making [New Jersey]( the 12th state to enact an [automatic voter registration]( policy. A2014 provides for automatic voter registration of eligible residents who apply for driver's licenses, examination permits, probationary licenses, or non-driver identification cards. - Responses: - Assembly Speaker [Craig Coughlin]( (D), one of the bill's sponsors, said, "This bill is designed to encourage participation in the democratic process by integrating voter registration with the process of driver registration." - Senator [Kristin Corrado]( (R), a former Passaic County Clerk who voted against A2014, said, "I am very concerned that mandating automatic voter registration without safeguards or penalties for the bad actors will compromise the integrity of future elections." - Earlier this month, Maryland also enacted an automatic voter registration policy. To learn more about automatic voter registration, see this [article](. Gov. Walker signs law prohibiting cities from enacting employment ordinances - Republican Gov. Scott Walker [signed AB 748](, which prohibits local governments from enacting employment ordinances related to hours and overtime, employment benefits, wages, and an employer's right to obtain salary information from prospective employees, among others. - Responses: - Rep. Rob Hutton (R) said AB 748 "establishes certainty for employees so that they know that they may receive the same treatment from the business and the government no matter where they are located." - Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D) disagreed, saying different industries required different standards: "The county’s association which is of course is [sic] opposed to taking away their local powers are concerned that they’re not going to be able to regulate employee hours or overtime, benefits, discrimination in any particular industry in their county." - More than two dozen other states have prohibited local governments from enacting similar laws and ordinances, according to Lexology. Hungry for more 2018 candidate information? Join our contest and win a dataset with the names and offices of all 2018 state and federal candidates we’ve collected as of April 30, 2018. [Learn more about the contest here→]( Ted Cruz endorses Mary Taylor for governor of Ohio - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed Lt. Gov. [Mary Taylor]() (R) to succeed term-limited Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) Thursday. - Taylor and Attorney General [Mike DeWine]( (R) are the only candidates who filed to appear in the [May 8 Republican primary](). Taylor has previously been endorsed by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Rand Paul (R-KY). DeWine has been endorsed by former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). - Six candidates filed for the Democratic primary, including former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D). Dayton appoints former MN House Speaker to MN Supreme Court - Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has appointed Rep. [Paul Thissen]( (D) to the [Minnesota Supreme Court](. Thissen has served as the state representative for Minnesota District 61B since 2002. He served as speaker of the house from 2013 to 2014. He replaces Judge David Stras, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. - Thissen is Dayton's fifth appointment to the seven-member court. Thissen announced he planned to resign his house seat on April 20 to join the court. The Tap has thousands of loyal readers each week. Want to reach them? Advertise in this email! Contact ads@ballotpedia.org for details. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. Decide which emails you want from Ballotpedia. [Unsubscribe from all emails]( or [update your subscription preferences](. 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