Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill to protect Florida’s cattle industry, stop lab grown meat
DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1084 at the Hardee County Cattleman’s Arena which will ban the sale and manufacture of synthetic meat, which he denounced as “fake meat,” and prevent local governments from regulating electric-vehicle charging stations.
Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears end
Top Mississippi lawmakers have started negotiating on what could become a landmark plan to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of people in one of the poorest states in the U.S. But even with Republicans controlling both the state House and Senate, it’s far from clear that they will reach a compromise.
Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
The Senate passes a reauthorization of a key US surveillance program just after a midnight deadline
The Senate has voted to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans’ data nearly forced the statute to lapse.
Senate advances renewal of key US surveillance program as detractors seek changes
The Senate has advanced legislation that would reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance tool as lawmakers and the Biden administration rushed to tamp down fresh concerns about the program violating Americans’ civil liberties.
Senate rejects impeachment articles against Mayorkas, ending trial against Cabinet secretary
The Senate has dismissed all impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, ending the House Republican push to remove the Cabinet secretary from office over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border and ending his trial before arguments even began.
Georgia lawmakers approve private water utility bypassing county to serve homes near Hyundai plant
Georgia lawmakers have agreed to change a state law so that a private utility can provide water service to homes near Hyundai's upcoming electric vehicle plant without permission from local governments.
Lawmakers in Thailand overwhelmingly approve a bill to legalize same-sex marriage
Lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament have overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill that would make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender.
Schumer's rebuke of Netanyahu shows the long, fragile line the US and allies walk on interference
Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer lashed out at Prime Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections.
TikTok creators warn of economic impact if app sees ban, call it a vital space for the marginalized
TikTok creators across the country are expressing frustration over a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would lead to a nationwide ban of the app if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake.
Arizona legislation to better regulate rehab programs targeted by Medicaid scams is moving forward
A Navajo state senator in Arizona says she's hoping for final approval of her bill to tighten regulations for rehab facilities amid widespread fraud that has bilked hundreds of millions in Medicaid dollars.
A pioneering bill to slow fast fashion gets approval from France's lower house. Next stop the Senate
France's lower house of Parliament has unanimously approved a pioneering bill to curb the environmental impact of fast fashion, marking a significant step towards sustainability in the global fashion industry.
Iowa Republican shelves bill to criminalize death of an "unborn person" because of IVF concerns
A bill that would have criminalized the death of an “unborn person” has been shelved in Iowa after a Senate Republican joined Democrats in voicing concerns about the potential impact for in vitro fertilization after an Alabama court found frozen embryos can be considered children.
Biden's closest allies are stepping up pressure on White House to do more to ease suffering in Gaza
More of President Joe Biden’s top Senate allies are demanding that the U.S. act directly to ease Palestinian civilian suffering in Gaza and are joining calls to cut military aid if Israel refuses to change course.
What to know about Alabama's fast-tracked legislation to protect in vitro fertilization clinics
Alabama lawmakers have passed legislation that was quickly signed by Gov. Kay Ivey to protect clinics that provide in vitro fertilization from lawsuits in response to a ruling last month from the State's Supreme Court that frozen embryos have the rights of children under the state’s wrongful death law.
Appeals court ruling that vacates Capitol rioter's sentence could impact dozens of Jan. 6 cases
A federal appeals court in Washington has ordered a new sentence for a retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear, in a ruling that could impact dozens of other cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
Republicans block Senate bill to protect nationwide access to IVF treatments
Senate Republicans have blocked legislation that would protect access to in vitro fertilization, objecting to a vote on the issue Wednesday even after widespread backlash to a recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that threatens the practice.
Biden is summoning congressional leaders to the White House to talk Ukraine and government funding
President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the emergency aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as avoiding a government shutdown next month.
Maryland House OKs bill to enable undocumented immigrants to buy health insurance on state exchange
The Maryland House has voted for a measure to enable people to buy health insurance through the state’s health care exchange regardless of their immigration status, with the approval of a federal waiver.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine to meet Zelenskyy as US aid hangs in the balance
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine to try to reassure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials that Congress will deliver U.S. aid, even as a package that would provide $60 billion is stalled in the U.S. House.
Democrats embrace tougher border enforcement, seeing Trump's demolition of deal as a 'gift'
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats plan to “constantly over the next year” remind voters that it was Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, who torpedoed a bipartisan bill on border enforcement.
Lawmakers honor House clerk who served during chaos of Jan. 6 and McCarthy speaker votes
Lawmakers have honored the official charged with maintaining order in the House during two of the chamber’s most tumultuous moments — the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and last year’s longest race for House speaker since before the Civil War.
Senate Republicans block bipartisan border package, then scramble to find support for Ukraine aid
Wartime aid for Ukraine has been left hanging in the Senate after Republicans blocked a bipartisan border package that had been tied to the funding, then struggled to coalesce around a plan to salvage the aid for Kyiv.
Adult dancers in Washington state want a strippers' bill of rights. Here's how it could help them
Adult dancers in Washington state are fighting for statewide worker protections that advocates say would be the most comprehensive in the U.S. The industry has such wide regulation gaps that dancers have had to fend for themselves for safety in the workplace.
Border bill supporters combat misleading claims that it would let in more migrants
A provision of border security legislation that would give the U.S. a new authority to block migrants from entering the country has become a central line of attack from many Republicans who are opposing the legislation.