PLI Bulletin
LGBT Fairness, Cybersecurity, Coronavirus and More
Posted on February 13, 2020
LGBT Fairness Act: Senator Adam Ebbin, who became Virginia’s first openly gay legislator in 2003, is about to see his long-time legislation enacted to prohibit housing and employment discrimination against LGBT people. The LGBT Fairness Act, which is similar to Adam’s bill and can be enacted at the state or local levels, amends existing state or local civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
When and how should you argue on social media? What should you do when you see lies about political issues, officeholders or candidates? Your best tactic will be to address not the writer but the facts, and the best response will be to hyperlink to objective proof that the meme is untrue. For more, read the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.
NPR Coronavirus Podcast: This podcast from National Public Radio is just 11 minutes long, but in a question-answer format it covers a lot of points about the 2019-nCoV epidemic that average Americans barely understand.
Unique opportunity to raise revenues from health insurance companies: States have a new opportunity to raise revenue by continuing a fee on insurance companies that already exists—something that Maryland and Delaware have already done. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains how.
Cybersecurity must be a top priority for both cities and states: Last year saw more reported ransomware attacks against states and localities than any prior year. The FBI has traced attacks to organized crime syndicates in Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Read more in a recent Governing Magazine article.
Repro Rights Report for the first six weeks of sessions: The Public Leadership Institute’s most recent Repro Rights Report describes 55 proactive abortion rights bills introduced in the 2020 sessions as well as another 55 that carried over from 2019 sessions.
Polling Priorities, Logical Fallacies, Clean Slate and More
Posted on January 29, 2020
Clean Slate Act: In 2018, Pennsylvania enacted the Clean Slate Act which automatically seals criminal records that are routinely eligible for sealing but which otherwise require a complicated and costly application process. How to...
Youth Voting, Repro Rights, Family Leave and More
Posted on January 15, 2020
Six Policies to Promote Youth Voting: The Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project produced the report “Democracy’s Future: Proposals to Expand Access to Registration and Voting for a New Generation” which includes model...
Election Day Registration, Neuroscience, Key Questions for 2020, and More
Posted on January 1, 2020
Election Day Registration Act: Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia now have Election Day Registration. The Election Day Registration Act allows qualified individuals with proof of residence to register at a local precinct...
Flavored Tobacco, Opportunity Zones, SNAP Cuts and More
Posted on December 18, 2019
Flavored Tobacco Products Prohibition Act: The State of Massachusetts has banned flavored tobacco products—both flavored tobacco and vapes. The Flavored Tobacco Products Prohibition Act does the same in a simple format. Overwhelmingly, these flavors...
It’s the Economy, Criminal Records, Robocalls and More
Posted on December 4, 2019
Protection Against Robocalls Act: Americans everywhere are subjected to innumerable unwanted robocalls and telephone scams. Earlier this year, the State of Maine enacted legislation to do something about it. The Protection Against Robocalls Act,...
Sick Leave, Urban Greening, 2020 Narrative and More
Posted on November 20, 2019
Paid Sick Leave Act: Millions of Americans do not have access to a single paid sick day if they become sick or need time to take care of a sick child or elderly parent....
Minimum Wage, Popular Bills, Free Markets and More
Posted on November 7, 2019
Fair Minimum Wage Act: With the exception of a few states and cities that have really dealt with the issue, like IL, NJ, NY, MA, MD, Seattle and Washington, DC, it is both good...
Basic rules, Credit Checks, Tobacco Control and More
Posted on October 23, 2019
No Credit Checks in Employment Act: It has become fairly routine for employers to check the credit history of job applicants and employees, even though it has nothing to do with job performance. The...
Climate Solutions, Ransomware Attacks, Media Lies and More
Posted on October 10, 2019
Safe Schools Act: The Safe Schools Act, which could be enacted by states, counties, localities or school boards, would deter harassment, intimidation and bullying in K-12 schools by creating laying down clear educational policies....