Budget Policy & Priorities / Public News Service

Although the Food and Drug Administration removed the in-person requirement for patients to get abortion pills, they must only be prescribed by health-care providers who are certified to treat such patients, and patients must complete a consent form. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, January 27, 2023

Legislation Would Expand NY Medication Abortion Access

New York pharmacists would be able to dispense abortion medication under newly proposed legislation, and a person could get the prescription from a …

According to research from the American Federation of Teachers, there were 55,000 fewer registered nurses employed in the U.S. in 2021 than in 2020. This was the first decrease in five years. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, January 27, 2023

CT Groups, Unions Call for Public-Health Reforms

Health-care professionals and advocates in Connecticut have said it will take sweeping reforms to bolster the state's flailing public health system…

Friday, January 27, 2023

MN Navigates School Funding as Poll Shows Support for More Aid

A Minnesota House committee heard testimony Thursday about the governor's proposed spending plan for education. As these talks unfold, public polling …

CDC research shows that proper gun storage could help prevent an estimated 26,000 firearm-related suicides that occur annually in the United States. (vectorass/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Gun-Safety Advocates Face Uphill Battle with Indiana Lawmakers

Advocates of gun-law reform face an uphill battle to push their ideas through the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly, but say public …

Gov. Greg Gianforte gave his second State of the State address Wednesday. (Montana Public Affairs Network)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Gov. Gianforte Proposes Tax Cuts in State of State Address

Gov. Greg Gianforte delivered his State of the State address to the Montana Legislature Wednesday night, discussing his plans for the state's hefty …

According to data from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, reading scores for New York fourth graders declined by six points from 2019. Meanwhile, eighth graders' reading scores remained unchanged. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Study: Students Still Struggle with Pandemic Learning Loss

Students are still struggling with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. A study from the research group NWEA showed 2022 test scores are not …

Gov. Joe Lombardo was the only Republican in the nation to defeat a sitting Democratic governor in the 2022 midterm elections. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

NV Democrats: Governor Missed Mark on Key Issues in Speech

Some Nevada Democrats said the state's new Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo missed the mark on addressing key issues and putting forth solutions during …

About 400 fatal crashes happen each year as a direct result of texting and driving nationally, according to Sensiblemotive. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Iowa Lawmakers Push for Drivers' Hands-Free Cellphone Use

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill which would dramatically reduce the use of cellphones in vehicles. Right now, it is illegal in Iowa to send or …

The Center for State Policy Analysis found the Massachusetts millionaires' tax would raise about $1.3 billion in 2023 alone, and do so in a

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

MA Advocates of Higher Ed Set Goals for Fair Share Revenue

Advocates for higher education in the Commonwealth will gather today to collaborate on how to use revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment which …

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is working to identify cost-effective ways to ensure the state reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050 and achieves net-zero emissions. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

MA Leads Nation in 'Green' Building Development

Massachusetts ranks number one in the nation for "green" building development. The ranking is based on what's known as LEED certification, which is …

The City of Albany received $80 million as part of the American Rescue Plan. $25 million will go to city agencies and organizations to fund local projects to support the city's post-pandemic economic recovery. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Albany Mayor Focuses on Housing, Infrastructure after Mayors' Conference

The mayor of New York's state capital said she is eager to get to work on projects she observed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' big meeting last …

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

In 2021, the total cost of the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was around $113 billion. The significant increase from the previous year's total of $79 billion was in large part the result of extra pandemic-related benefits. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Propose Severe Restrictions for Food Assistance

A Republican-backed bill in the Iowa Legislature seeks to put strict new limits on which foods people could buy at the grocery store using public-assi…

About 6% of all cars sold in the United States in 2022 were battery-electric powered, but officials say the number of EVs is expected to grow to 25% by 2030. (ake1150/Adobe Stock)

Report: EVs Could Impact Future Highway-Maintenance Funding

Most experts agree that putting more electric vehicles on the road is a positive step toward fighting climate change, but a new report warns that …

Maine's biennial budget proposal recommends $169 million in state funds to strengthen care for older Mainers and expand services to help them age in their homes, including increased support for home-delivered meals and programs that reduce senior neglect and exploitation. (Adobe Stock)

Supporters of Paid Family, Medical Leave in ME Hopeful This Legislative Session

AARP Maine said it is hopeful lawmakers will find common ground on issues to support older Mainers this legislative session, including establishing a …

A program in Colorado gives undocumented workers who are laid off access to unemployment benefits for up to 13 weeks. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

Undocumented Workers Could Get Access to Unemployment Under WA Bill

Undocumented workers in Washington state do not have access to unemployment insurance, but some state lawmakers aim to change it this session…

When people are trying to flee a violent conflict in places like Ukraine, they are often aided through information and resources provided by nonviolent peacekeepers. (Adobe Stock)

MN Group Applauds Funding for 'Unarmed Civilian Protection'

Humanitarian groups, including one based in Minnesota, pointed out global conflicts have been pervasive in recent years. And in those trouble spots…

About 6% of all cars sold in the United States in 2021 were battery-electric powered, but officials say the number of EVs is expected to grow to 25% by 2030. (ARHIT/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Examines EV Impacts on MI Highway Maintenance, Funding

Most experts agree putting more electric vehicles on the road is a major step toward fighting climate change, but a new report says states will also …

According to a poll by the American Federation of Teachers, 85% of those surveyed want the new Congress to focus on providing resources and support to public schools, instead of carrying our political investigations. 15% felt otherwise. (Adobe Stock)

New AFT Poll Shows Parent, Voter Priorities for Public Education

A new poll shows parents and voters want improved public education and stronger building blocks for those students. According to the poll, from the …

Washington state's tax code has been rated one of the nation's most regressive. (frittipix/Adobe Stock)

WA Joins Multi-State Effort to Pass Wealth Tax

Lawmakers in Washington and other states are introducing bills taxing wealth in their legislatures in a coordinated effort today. In Olympia…

Washington state's approximately 67,700 employees have contracts up for ratification this session. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

Amid Retention Issues, WA State Workers Push for Raises

Washington state workers face a bevy of challenges, but they hope to get a lifeline from lawmakers this legislative session. Along with lagging pay…

There are about 3.2 million public school teachers in the United States. Some 74.3% are female, while 25.7% are male. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Voters Reject Tuition Vouchers, Voice Public School Support

A new poll commissioned by the American Federation of Teachers finds most voters strongly oppose private school vouchers, which allow families to …

Nearly one in five new mothers participating in Wyoming's Medicaid Pregnant Women Program lose their health insurance 60 days after giving birth. (Adobe Stock)

WY Lawmakers Consider Extended Health Coverage for New Moms

New mothers in Wyoming enrolled in the Medicaid Pregnant Women Program lose their health insurance 60 days after giving birth, but a new bill making …

Nearly 60 percent of Americans say they are bothered

KY Lawmaker Says Graduated Income Tax Offers “Some Relief to Function as a State”

An Oxfam report released this week shows the richest 1% of individuals have gotten richer since the pandemic, capturing almost two-thirds of all new …

Billionaire wealth has increased by $2.7 billion per day, while more than 1.7 billion people live in countries where their wages, adjusted for inflation, have declined. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rich Got Richer, Workers Left Behind During Pandemic

The world's richest 1% took home almost twice as much wealth as the bottom 99% combined during the pandemic, according to a new Oxfam International …

Since 2018, a wave of public school teacher protests and strikes have occurred in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and other states. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Teachers Lambast Governor’s Proposed Tax Cuts

West Virginia's teachers' union warns that new proposed tax cuts will further shrink school budgets and drive more educators out of the profession…

In addition to an aging population, 11% of Mainers have serious mobility impairments requiring targeted and inclusive long-term planning to ensure accessibility to public spaces across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Livable, Healthy Communities: Goal of AARP Planning Event

AARP Maine will sponsor an online workshop this week on long-range planning for health equity, with a focus on housing, community services and safe …

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New York has a shortage of 615,025 rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. (Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Critics: NY State of State Address Misses Needed Solutions

While Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State speech addressed key issues affecting New Yorkers, some feel the solutions fell short. In her speech…

According to Mental Health America's 2023 state rankings, Virginia ranks 34th for access to care and 38th overall. For adult mental health care the state ranked 14th, but youth mental health was ranked 48th. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Plan Better Funds VA Mental-Health Programs

A recently proposed plan has been devised to better fund Virginia's mental-health programs. The new Right Help, Right Now plan calls for $230 …

This year's debate over school funding in North Dakota is expected to consider formula changes to deal with declining enrollment. (gpointstudio/freepik)

ND Education Funding Debate Comes Into Focus

Teachers and their advocates said a proposed funding increase for North Dakota's public schools looks promising, but they hope lawmakers take it a …

Report: Tennessee's 'State of the Child' is Improving

Tennessee's "State of the Child 2022" report is an assessment of how children are faring, and this year's edition focuses on the situation for …

Black renters receive a disproportionate share of eviction filings and experience the highest rates of eviction filings and eviction judgments, according to the publication Sociological Science. (WayhomeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Study: TX Cities Spend More on Police, Less on Community Supports

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social …

Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has blocked the so-called

Higher Ed Braces for DeSantis Attacks on Unions, 'Trendy Ideology'

If it's "woke," "trendy," or has anything to do with race and diversity, it appears Gov. Ron DeSantis wants no part of it in Florida. From signing …

Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, spoke to the Age Wave Coalition on Thursday. (Christina Clem/AARP Washington)

Groups Gather in Olympia to Discuss WA 'Age Wave'

With the state legislative session underway, a coalition advocating for older Washingtonians gathered on Thursday to discuss priorities for 2023…

Half of U.S. parents (52 percent) considered finding a new or different school for at least one of their children within the past year or are currently considering finding a new or different school for at least one of their children. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Governor Makes "School Choice" a Top Priority

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has proposed a measure that would allow Iowa parents to send their kids to private schools and make state money …

In the fall of 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Bucks National Trend of Women Stopping Out of Higher Education

Wyoming has managed to buck a national trend which has seen female students opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020…

One billion people currently need assistive technology products, and more than two billion people around the world are expected to need at least one assistive technology product by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. (Adobe Stock)

Americans With Disabilities Act Website Gets User-Friendly Upgrades

The Americans with Disabilities Act website has gotten a makeover, with updated navigation tools and easy-to-find answers to common questions on …

Soaring utility bills have been linked to an increase in natural-gas prices, costs which are passed along directly to consumers. (Adobe Stock)

Rising Utility Bills Unsustainable for Many Colorado Households

Experts are warning Colorado households utility bills currently making their way to mailboxes are likely to be even higher than the supersized bills p…

A 2021 housing affordability study found a decent two-bedroom apartment in the Omaha and Council Bluffs market would require a minimum wage of $19 an hour, more than many essential jobs in the area pay. (Adobe Stock)

ARPA Funds to Build Affordable Housing in Omaha-Council Bluffs

More affordable housing is coming to a Nebraska market that really needs it. An Omaha nonprofit has partnered with the City of Omaha, and was …

Oregon community college students who completed credentials or transferred within four years increased from 45% to 51% between 2017 and 2021. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Audit: Lawmakers Can Help Improve Oregon Community Colleges

An audit of community colleges in Oregon has implications for the state's legislative session, which started this week. The report from the …

Senior advocates point out that family caregivers perform a range of tasks such as shopping, transportation, meal preparation, medication management, wound care and home updates, ultimately saving the state money. (Adobe Stock)

WI Sees Renewed Calls for Caregiver Tax Credit

Wisconsin lawmakers are back in session and have a large budget surplus to work with. Advocates for the state's older residents hope any spending …

The California Food Assistance Program currently works alongside CalFresh to benefit many income-eligible people who hold green cards. (JetCityImage/Adobe Stock)<br />

CA Anti-Hunger Groups Slam Governor’s Proposed Budget

Groups that fight hunger say they're "deeply disappointed" in the new budget proposal released Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Last year, the …

Gov. Jay Inslee's last live State of the State address to lawmakers was in 2020. (TVW)

Gov. Inslee's State of the State Covers WA's 'Multifaceted' Challenges

Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his State of the State speech on Tuesday to open up the 2023 legislative session, touching on a wide range of issues he …

Gov. Brad Little made his first State of the State address since being re-elected in November. (Idaho Public Television)

Little's State of the State Address Emphasizes Education Spending in ID

Governor Brad Little kicked off the 2023 legislative session with his State of the State address and an Idaho teachers' organization is applauding his…

The demand for in-home caregivers is growing as the population rapidly ages. (pikselstock/Adobe Stock)

WA Caregivers Look to Lawmakers for Help with Worker Shortage

There is a shortage of in-home caregivers in Washington state, but a union representing workers hopes state lawmakers will be able to make changes …

About 10% of the child care workforce has left the profession, compared to the numbers at the start of the pandemic. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Child-Care Crisis Squeezes Families, Workers as WA Session Begins

Child care could be a crucial issue for state lawmakers as the session begins in Olympia today. Because of its cost, early childhood education and …

Raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour for all workers, including<br />tipped workers, would reduce the poverty level in New Hampshire to 2%, a 75% reduction in the state poverty level, according to One Fair Wage. (Adobe Stock)

NH Minimum Wage Called 'Out of Step' with Rest of New England, U.S.

Despite minimum-wage increases throughout New England in the new year, New Hampshire continues to match the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, forcing …

To curb the dramatic spike in drug overdose deaths, largely due to fentanyl, federal funding was made available to states in 2021 for the purchase of rapid fentanyl test strips. (Harald/AdobeStock)

TX Governor Signals Support for Legalization of Fentanyl Test Strips

Texas may soon join other states with legalized fentanyl test strips, used by those with drug addictions to detect the presence of the often lethal …

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