PLI Bulletin

Easy Enrollment, Virginia Victories, Coronavirus Updates and More

Posted on February 26, 2020

Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Act: Last year, Maryland enacted a system to use information from state income tax returns to help uninsured residents obtain health care coverage. The Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Act is based on the Maryland law which is being successfully implemented right now. 

What progressive legislators in Virginia are doing right: Over the course of just a few weeks, the Virginia General Assembly has advanced a broad and deep agenda of progressive bills. For a rundown, read the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.

What’s next for state and local government IT in 2020: 2019 was “the year of ransomware,” and if your jurisdiction is not ready, make it so. According to this podcast from StateScoop, the hot issues for 2020 include: election cybersecurity, data privacy, and government use of artificial intelligence.

Websites with good updates about the Coronavirus: The New York Times update here is probably the best single place for accurate information. The Johns Hopkins University has an interactive map with confirmed cases and deaths around the world. The official word about COVID-19 is at the Centers for Disease Control.

An “explainer” on state prescription drug policy options: The Center for American Progress published a fairly comprehensive overview of what states have done and can do to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Nearly 200 model bills online: The Public Leadership Institute’s library of model bills covers wide-ranging topics from civil rights, public safety and the environment to health, education and reproductive rights.