• State of the State Addresses: What Are Governors' Priorities?
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   March 11, 2013
• We've summarized all the key issues governors talked about in their speeches to kick off legislative sessions.

• Gun Debate Shines National Spotlight on Colorado
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   March 8, 2013
• Hardened by mass shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 and at an Aurora movie theater in July, Colorado teeters on the cusp of passing some of the strictest gun laws in the Mountain West.

• Disposable Bag Fees, Bans Being Considered in Several States
• Source: Washington Post   |   Nation   |   March 8, 2013
• Maryland, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Vermont or Washington could become the first state to impose a charge for disposable bags this year. Meanwhile, at least six states -- Arkansas, California, Florida, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island -- are considering banning all disposable bags.

• Illinois' Fracking Deal May be National Model
• Source: AP/Quad-City Times   |   Illinois   |   March 8, 2013
• The Illinois model might also offer a template to other states seeking to carve out a middle ground between energy companies that would like free rein and environmental groups that want to ban the practice entirely.
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• Tuition Equity Bill May Have a Chance in Florida This Year
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   March 7, 2013
• A bill to allow U.S. born children of undocumented immigrants in-state tuition is advancing in the Florida legislature.

• Texas Seeks New Execution Standards for Intellectually Disabled
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   March 7, 2013
• A new bill seeks to clarify the standards used when deciding to execute intellectually disabled criminals.

• Arkansas Adopts Nation's Strictest Abortion Law Despite Gov. Beebe's Veto
• Source: AP/Businessweek   |   Arkansas   |   March 7, 2013
• Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature defied Gov. Mike Beebe, overriding his veto of the now law that bans the procedure from the 12th week of pregnancy.

• Idaho Abortion Law Struck Down
• Source: AP/Idaho Statesman   |   Idaho   |   March 7, 2013
• A federal judge has struck down Idaho's law banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on beliefs held by physicians and others that the fetus is able to feel pain at that point.

• Study: States with More Gun Laws Have Fewer Gun Deaths
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   March 7, 2013
• States with the most laws had a mortality rate 42 percent lower than those states with the fewest laws, according to the study.
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• Death Penalty Likely to be Repealed in Maryland
• Source: Washington Post   |   Maryland   |   March 7, 2013
• The Maryland Senate voted to repeal the death penalty after four days of emotional debate, moving the state closer to becoming the sixth in as many years to abolish executions. The House is expected to approve the measure.

• After Newtown, States Go Different Directions on School Safety
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   March 6, 2013
• States have pursued a variety of proposals on school safety in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings.

• Minneapolis May Make it More Expensive to Run for Mayor Than Governor
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minneapolis   |   March 6, 2013
• The city is considering raising the fee to discourage frivolous candidates, but critics say it could dampen the spirit of democracy.

• Push for Voter ID Bill Renewed in North Carolina
• BY: McClatchy News   |   North Carolina   |   March 6, 2013
• House Republicans announced plans Tuesday to begin moving the politically divisive voter photo ID bill through the legislature, saying they would slow walk it to give all parties the opportunity to comment.

• Preschool Expansion Bill Dies in Utah
• Source: Salt Lake Tribune   |   Utah   |   March 6, 2013
• Republican senators killed a bill that would have expanded preschool for at-risk Utah children — criticizing technical aspects of the proposal rather than focusing on the longtime conservative argument that young children belong at home.

• Roadkill May be Added to Menus in Montana
• Source: Bloomberg   |   Montana   |   March 6, 2013
• If a bill being considered in the legislature becomes law, Montana would join Colorado, Florida, Illinois, West Virginia, Georgia and a handful of other states in allowing residents to turn roadkill into dinner.
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