Finance & Revenue

How did a coalition of progressives and social conservative(s) kill an “agreed to” sports betting bill in Minnesota? Planning, solid procedural strategy, the benefit of legislative  deadlines, and finding an ally in the Catholic Conference. It was also noted that the bill did not have the support of the horse track community. A perfect storm perhaps.

Star Tribune | Bipartisan group takes credit for spiking sports betting in 2024 Minnesota Legislature

In 2022, Washington State imposed a 7% capital gains tax. For its first year, the tax revenue was $786 million. This November voters could vote to repeal it. The initiative to repeal the capital gains tax is being funded by hedge-fund millionaire Brian Heywood.

Seattle Times | Keep or repeal the capital gains tax? Voters will decide in November

This week’s primaries included North Dakota. In North Dakota, 61% of voters approved an age limit of 81 for federal candidates. @nbcnews

New Jersey Governor signed an overhaul of the state’s open records laws, S2930 (2024 | NJ) Opponents say the bill will make it harder for the public and media to access open records. Some ways there could be limits are that the bill defines “Commerical purpose” for withholding information and addresses political campaign usage of open records.

AP | New Jersey adopts public records overhaul but critics say it tightens access to documents

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT UPON SIGNING SENATE BILL NO. 2930

The Texas Stock Exchange is the talk of the town this week. The TSE  has raised $120 million from individuals and large investment firms. It will file registration documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission and should begin listings in 2026. Wall Street Journal

We’ve talked about public funding of stadiums. This spring several stadium funding proposals failed to pass voter scrutiny, including a stadium package for the  KC Chiefs.  Let’s look at a benefit of funding local stadiums- naming rights. A stadium funding analyst says “stadium and sports team subsidies actually have a positive return on investment when viewed as marketing expenses.”  

Governing | The Hidden Value Cities Get from Subsidizing Stadiums

Medellín, Columbia has planted 2.5 million plants & 880,000 trees which have cooled the city by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. @zerowaste

 Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0466 replaces Texas Attorney General Opinion JM-671. In explaining this, KP-0466 says that JM-671 relies too much on legislative history. The subtext here 
is deep.  KP-0466 requires Opioid Fund Council members to publicly disclose their interests in an open meeting of the Council and must refrain from deliberating or voting on matters as directed by section 572.058. Accordingly, Council members may participate in deliberations and vote on matters that do not involve their personal or professional interest.

The Office of Ocean Economy is a collaboration between businesses and all universities in Florida. The Office will be based within Florida Atlantic University. The goal is to harness public and private research, education, technology and business applications involving water. The standalone legislation is HB 1311 (2024 | FL) and it passed as an amendment in HB 1285 (2024 | FL).

Governing | Florida’s New Office of Ocean Economy Seeks to Spur Discovery

Did you know that the gross receipts tax traces back to Spain in 1342 and France in 1292? That’s according to the Tax Foundation. The gross receipts tax thrived during the Great Depression. Today 7 states,  Delaware, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, have a gross receipts tax and Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia allow local governments to impose a gross receipts tax. Four states, Indiana, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Michigan, have repealed their gross receipts tax.

@foodandwine is talking about a 5 year legal battle in Pennsylvania that ended with bubbly water, with no sugar added, being subject to the soda tax as a carbonated beverage.

Food and Wine | How a 24-Cent Dispute Over Perrier Led to a Pennsylvania Court Ruling

Laramie County, Wyo. sheriff’s department paid for a billboard in Denver that reads, “Work in Wyoming where breaking the law is still illegal and cops are funded!”

Governing | Who Said That

Microchip companies need government grants for funding. To get these grants, microchip companies are adding childcare to their business plans. The Department of Commerce grant funds are part of the CHIPS and Science Act (2022) and includes $50 billion to expand semiconductor manufacturing and research in the United States. The grant applications require that applicants offer childcare.

Route Fifty | Microchip companies need federal grant money. They’re rolling out child care to get it.

Alabama legislators passed HB 66 (2024 | AL) that requires seafood sold in restaurants to disclose whether the seafood is domestic or imported. Imported seafood must disclose the country of origin.

Alabama Political reporter | Alabama Legislature passes seafood labeling bill

@bloomberggreen wants us to know that Abrol, a parametric insurance start up, has raised  $60 million in a Series B funding round.

Bonjour, parametric insurance. Hawaii passed SB 799 (2024 | HI) supporting Parametric, or index-based, insurance solutions that settle claims on the characteristics of a disaster, as opposed to the loss sustained from the disaster.  Unlike traditional insurance, parametric solutions do not require lengthy loss adjustment processes, and they enable rapid disbursements of payouts to maximize liquidity and allow for flexibility in the use of the proceeds. 

This week Minnesota’s Governor signed the state’s Taylor Swift bill that tries to temper event ticket prices. The bill, HF1989 (2024 | MN), will require sellers to disclose all fees & prohibit resellers from selling more than one copy of a ticket. @skynews

Kiplinger suggests that the U.S. shift in the treatment of marijuana will help lower business taxes. Why? The change in classification opens up the Internal Revenue Code so that cannabis businesses are eligible for tax credits and deductions for expenses incurred in their business operations.

Kiplinger | How the Biden Marijuana Shift Could Impact Taxes

After ballot initiatives failed to support stadium construction in Kansas City, surely the legislature would step in? Nope. A bill to provide for $1 billion in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium, paying the debt off with tax revenues generated in the area over 30 years, died a quiet death without a vote. The hope: a veto of a tax compromise bill and to include the stadium funding in a special session tax bill.

KWCH | Legislature adjourns without Chiefs/Royals discussion

There have been protests on college campuses which have gained a lot of attention. Buried in the information is a fairly consistent call for socially responsible investment committees at universities. let’s look at one at Bard College.: “The Socially Responsible Investment Committee (SRIC) is a Bard student-led committee under Bard Student Government. The mission of the committee is to leverage power over corporations through shareholder engagement. We hope to break the stigma surrounding Economics and Finance by emphasizing potential positive social changes through the creation of intellectual accessibility. Our goal is to use investments as a tool to incentivize social responsibility within corporations. We bridge the gap between Bard’s administrative actions and student input. The committee is made up of a small group of student representatives and the college’s Chief Financial Officer, Taun Toay.”

Nebraska is considering imposing a digital ad tax, LB 1310 (NE | 2024) and LB 1354 (NE | 2024) . Small businesses are opposed because online ads are an affordable means for small businesses to advertise.

Governing | A Digital Ads Tax Would Devastate Small Businesses Like Mine 

A pilot program in Detroit is using a robot to clean a local public beach. It will sift through sand to remove bottle caps, cigarette butts, plastics, and more.

Route Fifty | In one city, litter meets its mechanical match

28 states ban the use of private funds in election administration. This ban applies to grant funding from non-profits. All 28 bans happened in the last 3 years. The latest state, Wisconsin approved two ballot propositions: (1) a ban on private donations to elections offices passed by 54% and (2)  limit who can perform election-related duties by 58%.

Route Fifty | States are banning private funding of elections. Some worry about unintended consequences.

Nevada is considering opening up their food assistance programs to restaurants. 13% of Nevada faces food insecurity. 9 states operate a restaurant meals program. Nevada’s proposed “Restaurant Meals Program, if established, would allow people 60 or older, those who are disabled and people experiencing homelessness enrolled in SNAP to buy meals at participating restaurants. “

Route Fifty | State looks to expand food assistance program to restaurants

To say we’re obsessed with civility, politesse, etiquette is an understatement. How many of you have heard my historic prattle about why knives are placed blades facing the plate? I digress. Minnesota has a bipartisan civility caucus. Yes, please and thank you; let’s replicate this.

Route Fifty | In this Legislature’s Civility Caucus, Republicans and Democrats actually like talking to each other

 In California, Paris Hilton, founder of the nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact, is supporting SB1043 (2024 | CA). This bill requires the California Department of Social Services to detail a center’s use of “seclusion rooms” and restraints through a publicly accessible online dashboard. Paris Hilton has personal experience with physical and emotional abuse that she says she experienced at youth treatment centers. This personal connection to the issue resonated with legislators as it did with Common’s support of juvenile justice reform.

Cal Matters | When celebrities push bills at California’s Legislature 

Imagine financing the careers of athletes. Finlete did and made it a reality. Regulators are questioning whether Finlete is sports betting wrapped with a more sophisticated bow.

ALTS Co | Invest in Athletes’ Potential with FINLETE

LA Times | Is Finlete offering a way to support ballplayers? Or another 

Microfactories may be the new it thing. They bring goods closer to consumers, use 90% less water and 80% less energy; are more sustainable; and can be more efficient and cost effective. @worldeconomicforum

$2.72 billion is the estimated legal wagering on March Madness across 28 states and D.C. according to the American Gaming Association.

AP | Every shot matters to someone.’ Basketball fans revel in, and bet on, March Madness tournament

Texas has pulled $8.5 billion in investments from BlackRock based on a Texas law requiring divestment from entities with policies that are deemed to boycott fossil fuels.

ESG Dive | Texas schools fund pulls $8.5B from BlackRock over ESG

North Dakota voters will vote whether people, who would turn 81 years of age or older during their term,  should be permitted to run for Congress or the US Senate. There’s a US Supreme Court case that calls this into constitutional question. But, since when has the US Constitution stopped state legislators?

NPR | A North Dakota ballot question could be a legal test case for political age limits

Kentucky wants to criminalize protesting at the Legislature with HB 626 (2024 | KY).   A Republican state representative says “The purpose of House Bill 626 is to ensure that the General Assembly has an opportunity to legislate without interference from people who wish to prevent us from doing our work on behalf of our constituents.”

AP | Kentucky GOP moves to criminalize interference with legislature after transgender protests

Connecticut Governor is proposing SB 15 (2024 | CT)  that would prohibit hidden fees also called junk fees, service fees, & convenience fees. These fees are placed on consumer transactions from event tickets, food and beverage, and airbnb stays. The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are also working to limit junk fees.

Governor Lamont Urges Legislature To Pass Law Prohibiting Hidden Fees on Event Tickets, Lodging, and Food and Beverage Services

This year voters in Michigan will vote whether to eliminate local and state property taxes and require a super majority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes. Other states going down this path: North Dakota, Wyoming, and Florida is studying the issue.

Governing | Some States Are Looking to Abolish Property Taxes Entirely

The Florida Legislature is turning its anti-woke machine against lab grown meat. Should we tell them that European countries like Italy and France have also banned, or require clear labeling on, lab created proteins? Arizona, Alabama, and New Hampshire Legislatures are all considering similar legislation. Not all states are using the anti-woke messaging.

Fast Company | Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature turn their ‘anti-woke’ agenda on lab-grown meat

 Fantasy Sports legislation failed to pass the Florida Senate. SB 1568 (2024 | FL) would see fantasy sports regulated through the Florida Gaming Commission and allow for wagering over the age of 21. Fantasy Sports operators would have paid a $500,000 application fee. Currently the Florida Gaming Commission allows some operators to operate and others are not. That’s the crystal clear policy that businesses crave (sarcasm).

SBC Americas | Daily fantasy sports measure sinks in Florida legislature

What are people saying about AI use in site selection when a company is relocating or expanding? That’s going to be a NO on AI. An academic researcher pitted AI against humans for an industrial site selection and there was no overlap in the selected sites. It was suggested that AI’s appropriate use was to augment the site selection to reduce risks.

Route Fifty | AI tools lack ‘expertise’ for site selection

Oregon Legislature passed HB 4083 (2024 | OR) that calls on the state to divest from coal interests. Divestment is triggered when an entity derives 20% or more of their revenue from coal production. The state currently has nearly $1B in coal investments.

News from the States | Legislature passes bill to rid Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System of coal investments

The Tax Foundation says that states should create de minimus exemptions for businesses that only have modest amounts of property, because the compliance costs for small businesses is too great. States that provide de minimus exemptions include MI, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IN, MT, RI, ID, UT. There are 26 states with no de minimus exemption for small businesses including TX, OK, KS, NV and CA.

This April voters in Missouri will decide whether to extend sales tax dedication to the Chiefs and the Royals so as  to maintain the three-eighths-cent dedicated tax and to permit building and maintenance of their stadiums. 

Governing | Public Officials Pressured to Spend Billions on Sports Venues

Utah Legislature is working to bring a new NHL stadium dream to reality by pushing SB 272 (2024 | UT) that would create a sports of entertainment district to utilize tax reinvestment funding to support the building of the $1B stadium complex. Supporters also say the stadium is a downtown revitalization opportunity.

Utah is also seeking a MLB team. HB 562 (2024 | UT) creates a similar reinvestment zone district to support the MLB stadium.

Fox13 | $1 billion NHL bill filed in Utah State Legislature

KSL | Utah Legislature approves ‘milestone’ bill creating Fairpark district, MLB stadium framework

Philadelphia is considering a new stadium for the 76ers. Turns out there’s a persuasive argument that there is no long term economic benefit to retaining an existing team by providing economic incentives. Local incentives aren’t even on the table in Philly.

Governing | Public Officials Pressured to Spend Billions on Sports Venues

Utah passed a State Sovereignty Act that states ““The Legislature may, by concurrent resolution, prohibit a government officer from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of a federal directive within the state if the Legislature determines the federal directive violates the principles of state sovereignty.”  I wonder if odds makers have a line on how many other conservative states will do this? 

CNN | Utah’s new ‘Sovereignty Act’ sets up a process to overrule the federal government. But is it constitutional?

Wisconsin Legislature has joined 20 other states that have passed legislation to prevent the use of AI and deep fakes in campaign materials. AB 1068 (WI | 2024) AB 664 (WI | 2024)

FoxNews | Wisconsin legislature passes laws restricting AI-produced deepfake campaign materials

U.S. Senators John Tester and Mike Rounds introduced a bill to protect their respective state ranchers by prohibiting federal funded school lunch programs from spending funds on fake meat, like the kind made in labs. Meet the School Lunch Integrity Act.

Rolling back tax breaks for affordable housing is bubbling : Ft. Worth, TX eliminated developer’s ability to buy out their obligations for a $200 per unit fee; and Arizona Republicans have proposed cutting in half the tax breaks that developers receive.

Governing | Some Cities Sweeten Tax Breaks for Housing Developers

Comune di Misterbianco, Italy grants tax cuts of $200 Euros off local rubbish taxes for people who adopt pets from the local animal shelter. The town’s mayor calls it a mix of innovation and common sense as pet adoptions reduce the costs of local animal shelters.

MSN

Let’s give a warm welcome to Unlocking America’s Future, a campaign to protect the American economy, workers, families, businesses, and the environment.

In California, it is estimated that the state’s cost to process a bill from drafting to passage is $30,000. In 2002, the price tag was $18,000.

CalMatters | A bill for every problem? Why California lawmakers introduce longshots

A conservative think tank in Alabama, the Alabama Policy Institute, in its guide to the issues for 2024, argues against the legalization/decriminalization of cannabis because of the need to protect unborn children/fetuses from marijuana.

Alabama Policy Institute | Guide to the Issues 2024

Kentucky’s Speaker of the House is supporting HB 4 (2024 | KY) that is to be amended to allow the Legislature to call itself into session for an additional 12 days a year and extend regular sessions beyond constitutionally required end dates. Fun fact: In 2022, Kentucky voters rejected a similar constitutional proposition.

Kentucky Lantern | Kentucky legislature could call itself into session under amendment proposed by House speaker

This week Flutter, the parent of FanDuel, opened its offering on NYSE. Flutter joins Draft Kings on the NYSE. Flutter is the current market share leader for sports betting in the U.S. Who else is talking sports betting? Oh yes all those State Capitols that continue to debate sports betting. @cnbc

What kind of things could get a legislator kicked out in Arizona? Threatening to kill a lobbyist by tossing them over a balcony, disorderly behavior that damages the reputation of the chamber.

AZ Mirror | Facing expulsion for threatening to kill a lobbyist, Rep. Leezah Sun resigned from the legislature

Florida Governor is urging the Legislature to support Congressional term limits. The Florida House of Representatives has passed HCR 693 (2024 | FL) imploring Congress to call a constitutional convention to establish congressional term limits.

Orlando Sentinel

Florida Legislature is considering term limits for county commissioners. In 2023, the Florida legislature reduced term limits for school board members from 12 years to 8.  It’s like a legislative renaissance to rehash term limits. 

WLRN | Term limits for county commissioners are moving in the Florida Legislature

Boulder Colorado introduced a soda tax to create greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables for those who do not otherwise qualify for food benefits. @npr

15 states are not participating in a federally funded meal program for kids during the summer, the Summer Electronic Benefit Program. The program helps feed 22 million kids. Some states are rejecting the program because states cannot hire administrators for the program, and other states are rejecting the federal funds for political reasons. Nebraska’s Governor rejected the program which he described as, ” just another form of welfare.”

Governing | Why Some States Are Rejecting Federal Money for Hungry Kids

The year is young and we’re already talking about fake AI robocalls being used to direct elections. New Hampshire primary voters received a fake AI based robocall purporting to be President Biden and providing false voting information.

Route Fifty | Fake Biden robocall to New Hampshire voters highlights how easy it is to make deepfakes

New York Governor’s budget proposal includes the elimination of the state’s potency tax. This tax was included in the 2021 legalization legislation.  In addition to local and sales taxes, the tax potency  taxes distributors at the rate of half a cent per milligram of total THC for flower, eight-tenths of 1 cent per milligram for concentrates and 3 cents per milligram for edibles.

MJBIzDaily | New York governor proposes eliminating marijuana product potency taxes

Mississippi Governor is requesting $300 million in incentives for a proposed factory that would manufacture electric vehicle batteries and employ about 2,000 people with a median salary of $66,000.

AP | Mississippi lawmakers to weigh incentives for an EV battery plant that could employ 2,000

  New York’s Governor supports $400 Million in funding for the Empire A.I. Consortium to make New York a “national leader in AI research and innovation.” The Empire A.I. Consortium will include Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York and the Simons Foundation research group.

Route Fifty | New York governor pledges to ‘shape the trajectory’ of AI development

Idaho is considering a bill that would limit the “use of artificial intelligence generated deep fakes in electioneering to manipulate a candidate’s recorded speech, photos or videos” when the AI use creates “a fundamentally different understanding” that did not occur in reality.”

Idaho Capital Sun | New bill in Idaho Legislature aims to fight use of AI to manipulate political electioneering 

Citigroup announced that it will be leaving the municipal bond market. For those in Texas, after targeting the financial and investment industry that utilizes ESG metrics, the number of bond writers shrunk and the cost of minimal bonds increased. Citbank follows UBS municipal bond market exit. A “Cost of Culture Wars.”

Route Fifty | Another large bank plans to exit the muni market

14 states amended laws to address organized retail theft. Alleged organized retail theft was thought to be 50%, that number has been retracted and replaced with LESS THAN 5%. Ummm…. yeah, that’s a big oopsie daisy in data.

Route Fifty | ‘Smash-and-grab’ robberies fuel new laws, but critics question the need

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has tracked economic impact of weather since the 1908s. In 2023, extreme weather cost more the US more than $92 billion for 25 major weather related incidents.

Route Fifty | Extreme weather cost $80 billion this year. The true price is far higher.

A December update to the Divestment Lists maintained by the Texas Comptroller includes new information concerning companies with ties to Iran and new policy considerations for entities with ties to the Sudan.

Texas Comptroller | DIVESTMENT STATUTE LISTS

A study by two university of Arkansas professors found that the more civil Legislatures are, the more productive the Legislature. “…our findings show that political incivility is having a real effect on our nation’s ability to govern — both in Congress and in our state capitols.”  

University of Arkansas | Study Links Political Civility to the Productivity of State Legislatures

 A Colorado legislator is not seeking re-election, and is citing reasons that have become commonplace. This Colorado legislator’s statement: ““While I’m proud of our legislative accomplishments, it has recently become clear that the sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family.”

CPR | Colorado state lawmaker resigns, citing ‘sensationalistic and vitriolic’ atmosphere 

Shareholders were most likely to support ESG proposals that focused on freedom of association proposals, e.g. employees’ right to form trade unions, & DEI.

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance | Which ESG proposals won the favor of investors?

How do cities bolster their downtowns? Would a tax break via an economic disaster zone help? The tax breaks could take the form best for the taxing jurisdiction. This could be breaks on property taxes, business taxes, or incentives for local banks to refinance commercial real estate loans to avoid foreclosures. Look to Detroit as a roadmap for these tax incentives.

Governing | Smarter, Targeted Tax Breaks That Could Help Resuscitate Central Cities

New Jersey has a new $2000 license fee to allow for alcohol delivery to residences. The permit prohibits alcohol delivery to college campuses, hotels and BYOB restaurants.

AP | New Jersey to allow beer, wine deliveries by third parties

In 2018, New Hampshire began its “Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative” that seeks to help return to work people recovering from substance abuse. New Hampshire has designated 350 businesses as “recovery friendly workplaces,” encompassing nearly 100,000 employees. Based on New Hampshire’s program the National Drug Control Policy released a new toolkit for employers and a ready-made state model law to assist in creating recovery-ready workplaces. 

Route Fifty | Sununu’s ‘Recovery Friendly Workplace’ serves as model for new national institute

Pennsylvania’s neighbors have legal cannabis. Pennsylvania’s legislators want the tax revenue. Supporters of legalization in PA say 50% of Pennsylvanians live in a county that borders a state that has legalized marijuana; and want to keep that revenue in the state. Supporters also favor a low tax structure that prevents black market sales.

FOX 43 | Recreational marijuana debate ramps up in Pennsylvania

Colorado voters this month opposed a ballot proposition to lower property taxes by pulling funds out of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refund pool (TABOR). As a result of the proposition’s defeat, taxpayers retained their TABOR payments and the Governor called the Legislature into a special session to address property tax increases that could reach 40%. 

AP | Colorado legislature will convene to address skyrocketing property costs

The Texas Ethics Commission is asking the Texas Attorney General to give an opinion on whether sworn ethics complaints can be confidentially shared with members of the legislature. RQ-00519-KP

Maine voters approved a referendum to prohibit foreign companies from contributing to referendum campaigns in the state. It stems from HydroQuebec spending millions against a referendum to halt cross-border hydropower transmission.

PBS | Maine voters reject new utilities proposal, approve a stop to foreign spending in referendums

For the first time in 3 years, support for legalizing marijuana has increased to 7 in 10 Americans according to a new Gallup poll. Before this increase, support had been stagnate at 68% support.

On Tuesday, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize marijuana. Sales will be legal to adults, 21 and older, for up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or 6 plants, and includes a 10% sales tax.

The Hill | Record 7 in 10 support legalized marijuana: Gallup

Remember how we talked about the Texas Attorney General providing this guidance letter on divestment due diligence? Well, the reactions are here. @TXEnergyBIZ says “Cynical, political “investigations” are only going to hurt Texas taxpayers and the Texas economy. #txlege #txenergy“. Investmentnews.com says 2 banks have dropped out of underwriting municipal bonds since the guidance letter.

Nevada has a state grant program for teacher’s to buy supplies. It is a $10 million grant program. “The just-launched DonorsChoose Grant Program follows a streamlined process: Teachers log in to the popular crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose, list what they want for their classrooms, and the platform leverages its existing relationships with vendors to fulfill their wish lists up to $500 each upon state Department of Education approval.”

Governing | Nevada Grant Program Gives $10M for Teacher Supplies

Santa Fe New Mexico voters will weigh in on whether a 3%excise tax will be placed upon the sale of homes over $1 million to fund affordable housing in the city. The new tax is projected to raise about $4.5 million a year for the Santa Fe Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 66% of Santa Fe voters support the tax measure.

Santa Fe Reporter | Poll: SF Voters Support Housing Tax

Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy | 2023’s State and Local Tax Ballot Measures: Voters to Weigh in on Property Taxes, Wealth Taxes, and More

Columbus Ohio has canceled $335 million in medical debt for 334,000 of its residents. The cost to the city will be $500,000. @goodgoodgoodco

The National Retail Federation says $12.2 BILLION will be spent on Halloween in the U.S. this year. That’s up from last year’s $10.6 billion. This translate to from between $854 million and $976 million in taxes.

Digital Commerce 360 | Halloween spending will surpass $12 billion: NRF

“Attorney General Tim Griffin said Northrup King Seed Co. has two years to divest the property in Craighead County under legislation passed by the majority-Republican Legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year.” The Northrup Seed Company is a subsidiary of Syngenta Seeds, which is owned by China National Chemical Company, or ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company. 

AP | Arkansas orders Chinese company’s subsidiary to divest itself of agricultural land

Texas Attorney General says that “Governmental Entities are advised that the lists of boycotters and discriminators maintained by the Attorney General and the Comptroller of Public Accounts are not exhaustive lists of companies that are in violation of state law.” What does this mean?  governmental entities cannot blindly rely on these verifications.

Bonjour, Keep our Republic, a bipartisan non-profit that operates in battleground states to build trust and confidence in elections. Polling shows that 21% of Republicans have confidence in elections while 71% of Democrats do.

AP | Bipartisan election integrity group launched in battleground Wisconsin

AP | Few Republicans have confidence in elections. It’s a long road for one group trying to change that

We’re use to seeing state Attorneys General suing companies, but welcome to 2023, when more cities are getting in on the action. 600+ school districts are suing social media companies. 12+ cities are suing car manufacturers for making their vehicles easy to steal. 100s of local governments have joined opioid suits. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform views this as ““monster that’s going to swallow all of courts.”

Governing | See You in Court: Cities Launch More Lawsuits Against Private Companies

The veto statement for SB 90 (2023 |CA), a bill that would have capped insulin costs by insurance carriers included an explanation that California is moving into manufacturing. 

CalMatters | Gavin Newsom rejected plan to lower insulin copays, saying a better deal is the works

Update to:

+1 state manufacturing pharmaceuticals

• September 28, 2023

Add California to the list of states that will begin/are manufacturing pharmaceuticals to bring down costs for their residents. Colorado was the first state to cap the cost of certain pharmaceuticals in 2019. In 2023, more than 20 states were taking action. California will be partnering with a drug manufacturer to produce pharmaceuticals with established controlled costs for Californians.

Route Fifty | California enters the ring of drug manufacturing. Could others follow?

The veto statement of SB 58 (2023 | CA), which would have decriminalized the use of some psychedelics, called for the Legislature to provide guidelines for therapeutic use. “California should immediately begin work to set up regulated treatment guidelines – replete with dosing information, therapeutic guidelines, rules to prevent against exploitation during guided treatments, and medical clearance of no underlying psychoses. Unfortunately, this bill would decriminalize possession prior to these guidelines going into place, and I cannot sign it.”

Ohio voters will be asked to regulate marijuana like alcohol. Proposition 2 is backed by the creatively named, Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The policy goals are to create a revenue source and to lessen the impact of the black market. Opposition includes Protect Ohio Workers and Families, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, and Ohio Business Roundtable. 23 states, alongside two territories and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana.

SciotoValeyGuardian | Issue 2: What Ohioans need to know about November’s marijuana measure

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tell us that 78 percent of the new workers between 2020 and 2030 will be Latino. The UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute found that the Latino population increased at a greater rate than the entire state population in every state. The U.S. Latino GDP would be the fifth largest GDP in the world according to this report.

Governing | Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlights Growing Latino Population and Economic Impact

 CivicPlus National Community Survey  found that 41% of residents are content with the information coming from their local governmental agencies.  82% say local governments should be transparent and allow access to administrative decisions. 69% support local governmental app use for things like potholes, leaking fire hydrants, trash collection, etc…

Route Fifty | Survey: Residents want local governments to be more transparent

The Oklahoma Legislature is in special session for tax fairness. So what does that mean? It means that the Governor wants the Lege to pass “A trigger law mandating that if a state or federal court finds that some individuals, due to their race, heritage, or political classification, don’t have to pay a state tax, then no Oklahoman will have to pay the tax.”

KSWO | Oklahoma Legislature special session on ‘Tax Fairness’ begins

Add California to the list of states that will begin/are manufacturing pharmaceuticals to bring down costs for their residents. Colorado was the first state to cap the cost of certain pharmaceuticals in 2019. In 2023, more than 20 states were taking action. California will be partnering with a drug manufacturer to produce pharmaceuticals with established controlled costs for Californians.

Route Fifty | California enters the ring of drug manufacturing. Could others follow?

You know how we talked about a constitutional provision in Oregon that prevents Republicans, who busted quorum,  from appearing on the ballot because of the  unexcused absences from quorum busting to prevent certain legislation. Well, the Oregon SoS is keeping the candidates off the ballot. But, the Oregon Supreme Court is entering this game. A first amendment right in quorum busting? This is going to be fun to watch.

Fox 12 Oregon | Oregon Supreme Court asked to decide whether GOP senators who boycotted Legislature can be re-elected

The bipartisan, federal Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act, was voted out of Senate Committee. Sounds exciting, right? Well, it is would allow cannabis businesses access to banking, including small business loans. Talk about unintended consequences, these legally operating businesses cannot use banks.

Schumer, Merkley, Daines, Sinema, Lummis Announce SAFER Banking Act

CNBC | Landmark marijuana financing bill clears big hurdle in the Senate

$218 million: the annual tax revenue if Ohio adopts a cannabis tax. According to a study by Ohio State, by year 5, the tax revenue is estimated to be $404 million. Voters are set to approve a cannabis tax this November. Ohio will place a 10% excise tax plus the state sales tax at 5.75% plus the local sales tax from 0.25% to 2.25% on sales of cannabis. 

We’ve talked about states luring workers with economic incentives as a method of economic development. We kicked off the conversation a few years ago with $10,000 relocation incentives in Oklahoma. Vermont has offered a $10,000 incentive too. Ascend WV offers $20,000 in incentives to move to West Virginia. State, local, and regional incentives have been successful, bring in new talent, and demand has been high.

Governing | Pay People to Move to Your State or Region? Maybe It’s Not Such a Bad Idea.

 Politics and the need for personal security is not just for Presidents any more. California is clarifying that elected officials can use campaign funds for personal security, including at their homes. AB 37 (2023 | CA)

California is taking on junk fees added to concert tickets, hotels, and online retails. SB 478 (2023 | CA) , The Consumers Legal Remedies Act, will define junk fees as unfair and deceptive.

I read a lot of Texas Attorney General Opinions. In Opinion AC-005, the interim Attorney General has recused themselves and the opinion is signed by Brent Webster. A name we all heard if we listened to the historic impeachment trial of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The recusal is rare. There’s a statement about it in the link. The question the opinion answers is whether a Governor’s Executive Order under Chapter 418 Government Code, has the force of law under the Penal Code. The answer: yes, yes it does.