Natural Resources Subcommittee advances HB 4,020a after removing ODOT amid fiscal questions The Natural Resources Subcommittee voted to advance HB 4,020a to the full committee with a due-pass recommendation after adopting an amendment (dash a2) that removes the Department of Transportation; members requested a written fiscal estimate from ODOT/LFO before further floor action.

The Natural Resources Subcommittee has moved forward with House Bill 4,020a, but not without controversy and questions surrounding the fiscal impact of removing the Department of Transportation.

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#OR #FiscalTransparency #AgencyAccountability

Judiciary committee advances bill to clarify review of state-issued notices restricting access to property The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted 8–2 to advance LD 2150 as amended, a strike-and-replace measure that clarifies notices restricting access to state property are final agency actions reviewable under the Administrative Procedure (ADC) process, requires written notice and data reporting, and preserves agency authority while creating an avenue to appeal.

Maine's Judiciary Committee just advanced a crucial bill that could reshape how state-issued property access restrictions are reviewed and challenged—are you ready for the implications?

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#ME #LegalReform #CitizenPortal #MaineJudiciary #AgencyAccountability

Rules attorney recommends removing legislative-entrenchment language from HB 2592 Committee recommended HB 2592, an AI bill that would require legislative ratification of temporary agency rules and set a 30-day session deadline with a simple-majority threshold. The rules attorney flagged a "legislative entrenchment" problem and said that provision would not bind a future legislature; he recommended removing that mechanism.

Arizona's House Bill 2592 could reshape how state agencies use AI, but a rules attorney warns of a constitutional crisis lurking within its legislative entrenchment clause.

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#AZ #LegislativeReform #ArizonaAI #CitizenPortal #ArtificialIntelligence #AgencyAccountability

House Appropriations committee adopts narrower BAR authority after debate over agency flexibility After a daylong hearing on FY26 budget-adjustment language and FY27 reauthorization requests, the House Appropriations & Finance Committee adopted a more-limited HAFC scenario for BAR authority while flagging multiple specific items for follow-up in catch-up cleanup.

In a pivotal session, New Mexico's House Appropriations & Finance Committee adopted a more limited budget-adjustment authority after intense debate on agency flexibility and funding impacts.

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#NM #FiscalResponsibility #NewMexicoBudget #AgencyAccountability #CitizenPortal

House and Senate government operations review reports-repeal survey; counsel warns nonresponse will be treated as assent to repeal At a Jan. 20 joint hearing, legislative counsel Tucker Anderson told members that surveys on statutory reports are due Friday and that failure to reply will be treated as a recommendation to repeal; committees discussed retaining, extending or repealing individual reports and agreed to follow up with agencies that did not respond.

Vermont's government is on the brink of major changes as a crucial deadline looms—nonresponses to a new report survey could lead to sweeping repeals of existing mandates!

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#VT #LegislativeReview #VermontGovernment #AgencyAccountability #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal

EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers The Environmental Protection Agency says it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to limit the amount of wetlands it covers.

The EPA's proposal undermines our water and communities. Gutting wetland protections risks rural folks and our drinking water. 🌿💧🏠 #WaterIsLife #EPA #PeopleNotPolluters #AgencyAccountability

Audit finds Kansas agencies report 4.1M sq ft of office space; state-owned lease costs often higher than private leases An audit of state office space found agencies reported about 4.1 million square feet of owned or leased office space statewide, most of it leased and concentrated in Shawnee County. Auditors could not reliably compare lease-vs.-ownership costs because agency data from the Department of Administration were inconsistent; they recommended better cost-

An audit reveals Kansas agencies are sitting on 4.1 million square feet of office space, but can’t determine if leasing or owning is cheaper due to inconsistent data.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #KansasOfficeSpace #LeaseCosts #AgencyAccountability

Council discusses agency reforms and funding for children services compliance Council reviews reforms for agency compliance and funding for children's services improvements.

Alaska's lawmakers are taking a bold stand to overhaul agency accountability and funding, aiming for better compliance in crucial services like child welfare and public safety.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #AgencyAccountability #FundingReform #AlaskaAgencyReforms

Oregon alters juvenile expunction laws to enhance confidentiality protections Oregon amends juvenile expunction provisions to strengthen record confidentiality and agency accountability.

Oregon is taking a bold step to protect the future of its youth by amending juvenile expunction laws to enhance confidentiality and accountability!

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#OR #YouthRights #AgencyAccountability

Citizen lawsuits target agency enforcement failures under EPA guidelines Citizens pursue lawsuits against agencies for failure to comply with EPA inspection requirements.

Citizens are stepping up to hold agencies accountable through lawsuits, challenging the EPA's failure to conduct necessary inspections and protect our environment.

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#VT #EnvironmentalProtection #CitizenPortal #VermontCitizens #CitizenLawsuits #AgencyAccountability

Montana Legislature sets regulations for agency rule adoption timeline Legislature limits agency rule adoption from October to year-end, outlines exemptions.

Montana's House Bill 592 could reshape agency rule-making, limiting new regulations during critical months and sparking debate on efficiency versus responsiveness.

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#MT #RegulatoryReform #CitizenPortal #AgencyAccountability #MontanaLegislation #GovernmentTransparency

Leadership changes prompt discussion on SARA funding at Winthrop University Committee discusses future of SARA amid leadership transitions and potential funding cuts.

Urgent discussions in South Carolina reveal that the future of the Agency for Research and Accountability hangs in the balance as leadership changes and funding concerns emerge.

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#SC #EducationalOutcomes #CitizenPortal #AgencyAccountability #BudgetaryIssues

Chevron Deference: NOT the Oil Company—Just a Legal Leftover!

READ MORE HERE: dammedifyoudont.blogspot.com/2025/03/chev...

#ChevronDeference
#LegalRevolution
#NotTheGasCompany
#JudicialIndependence
#StatutoryShift
#LawyerLife
#SupremeCourtScoop
#AgencyAccountability
#LegalMicDrop
#InnovationInLaw

Maryland DLS recommends $1.7M cuts and position reductions across multiple agencies DLS proposes significant budget cuts and agency recommendations for fiscal adjustments

Major budget cuts and position reductions are on the table as Maryland's Appropriations Committee navigates a fiscal minefield, sparking intense debates among agencies.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #FiscalResponsibility #AgencyAccountability #GovernmentTransparency #MarylandBudget

Oklahoma Legislature enacts new child protection law for DHS oversight Oklahoma's House Bill 2185 mandates DHS to act on crimes against children in custody.

Oklahoma's new House Bill 2185 could revolutionize child protection by demanding accountability from state agencies when allegations of misconduct arise.

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#OK #AgencyAccountability #LegislativeReform #ChildWelfare #CitizenPortal

Judiciary Committee approves SB918 limiting agency authority in legal reviews SB918 permits recovery of costs in frivolous agency order reviews effective November 2025

Oklahoma's SB918 could transform the relationship between citizens and state agencies by limiting bureaucratic power and changing how legal challenges are handled.

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#OK #LegalReform #AgencyAccountability #JudicialTransparency #CitizenPortal

Committee recommends approval of multiple DES name update regulations Committee unanimously supports sending several agency name updates to the full committee.

The Senate Committee is making crucial updates to environmental regulations, ensuring our agencies reflect current standards for a healthier future.

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#SC #SouthCarolinaVeterans #AgencyAccountability #EnvironmentalRegulations #WastewaterManagement #CitizenPortal

Trump has paralyzed agency that safeguards worker rights, labor experts and advocates say President Trump's firing of one of the National Labor Relations Board's five members has left the labor watchdog adrift, experts say.

He's still at it.

#Trump #WorkerRights #LaborRights #AgencyAccountability #WorkersProtection #LaborExperts #Advocacy #EmploymentLaw #UnionStrong #SocialJustice