• Pennsylvania Gas Drilling Fee Bill Debate Ends Without Vote
• BY: The Associated Press   |   Pennsylvania   |   February 8, 2012
• Pennsylvania, the only major gas-producing state that does not tax the taking of natural gas from its soil, moved closer Tuesday to imposing a fee on the drilling in the vast Marcellus Shale reserves that have transformed the state in recent years.

• Indiana Joins Right-to-Work Ranks as Governor Signs Bill
• BY: The Associated Press   |   Indiana   |   February 1, 2012
• Indiana is the first Rust Belt state to enact the contentious right-to-work labor law prohibiting labor contracts that require workers to pay union representation fees, after Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the bill Wednesday afternoon.
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• Michigan Grassroots Group to Push Marijuana Legalization Amendment
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Michigan   |   January 20, 2012
• The Committee for a Safer Michigan, a grassroots organization that supports the repeal of marijuana prohibition, announced Friday that it plans to push an amendment to the Michigan state constitution that would legalize cannabis use for residents 21 years and older.
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• Missouri Lawmaker Introduces New Immigration Legislation
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Missouri   |   January 12, 2012
• As the nationwide debate over immigration continues, Missouri could be the next nexus after legislation introduced in the state Senate would require schools to check the immigration status of their students and require law enforcement officers to check a person's immigration status when they have reasonable cause, the Kansas City Star reported Thursday.
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• States Consider Following Calif.'s Suit and Banning Tanning
• BY: Caroline Cournoyer   |   Nation   |   January 10, 2012
• Several states may soon join California, which at the start of this year became the first state to make it illegal for teenagers to use cancer-causing tanning beds.

• Indiana Dems Ending Boycott, Won't Promise Labor Vote
• BY: The Associated Press   |   Indiana   |   January 9, 2012
• INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana House Democrats on Monday ended a three-day boycott of the Legislature over a contentious labor bill but are not promising to stay long enough to allow a final vote on the divisive measure.

• State School Officers Urge Congress to Reauthorize ESEA
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   January 6, 2012
• The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) sent a letter Thursday to President Barack Obama and top congressional members of both parties, urging Congress to pass and the president to sign a bill reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act before the 2012-2013 school year begins.

• Utah Legislator to Consider Charging Medicaid Users for Smoking
• BY: Caroline Cournoyer   |   Utah   |   January 5, 2012
• A Utah state lawmaker wants to make Medicaid users who smoke pay higher co-payments. If enacted, it might be the first law of its kind.

• Most Democrats Absent from Indiana House Opening
• BY: The Associated Press   |   Indiana   |   January 4, 2012
• Most Indiana House Democrats were no-shows on the floor Wednesday when the Republican speaker tried to start the new session, a possible sign that lawmakers were walking out for the second straight year to oppose a "right-to-work" bill.

• Ind. House Speaker Plans Fast Start for Labor Bill
• BY: The Associated Press   |   Indiana   |   January 3, 2012
• Indiana's Republican House leader said Tuesday that lawmakers will almost immediately take up labor legislation that's likely to dominate much of the state's 2012 session after it spurred a Democratic walkout last year.

• Editorial Round-Up: New Year's Resolutions
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   January 3, 2012
• Newspapers nationwide offered their advice for federal, state and local policymakers in the coming year.

• Why Are Dentists Opposing Expanded Dental Care?
• BY: David Levine   |   January 2012
• Citing safety as the reason, dentists are fighting states’ efforts to create mid-level dental providers who can provide care to underserved areas. Some speculate they just fear losing business.
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• States Legislate in Response to News Headlines
• BY: Alan Greenblatt   |   January 2012
• In the current 24/7 news cycle, scandals often lead to bills in several statehouses.
• 2 Comments

• Legislative Issues to Watch in 2012
• BY: John Buntin,Caroline Cournoyer,Elizabeth Daigneau,Tod Newcombe,Dylan Scott   |   January 2012
• These nine topics will shape debate in state legislatures in 2012.
• 1 Comments