State of the States: Democratic State Legislatures Make Record Progress

We made it to the end of the week! Now say it with us, T.G.I.S.O.T.S. Thank God It’s State of the States! The DLCC is here to help you catch up on the state legislative stories you might have missed. It’s March 10th; ease into the weekend with a roundup of state stories from across the country.

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ICYMI 

• This week’s Demmy for Outstanding Legislative Agenda goes to Michigan Democrats who, in the House, moved quickly on repealing the state’s abhorrent right-to-work law, enshrining LGBTQ protections, and passing common sense gun reform. In the Senate, Democrats voted to repeal Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban. While Republicans spin their wheels and bow to the far-right of their party, Democrats are proving that when they have power, they pass popular legislation that lifts up working families and enshrines our most basic rights.

• Republicans are moving about 351 anti-LGBTQ+ bills through state legislatures across the country, showing that attacking trans youth and the LGBTQ+ community is their number one priority. As interim DLCC President Heather Williams said to HuffPost, “This Republican Party is playing politics with people’s lives and they’re painting a clear picture of what their priorities are.” For example, Arizona Republicans want to pass an extreme bathroom bill to single out and expel trans students from common spaces. This discriminatory legislation is not only dangerous, but the GOP clearly keeps forgetting the economic consequences of hateful legislation like this…

• New Hampshire House Republicans also held hearings on an anti-trans bill that is so extreme it was endorsed by a local white supremacy group. The legislation could criminalize parents of trans youth, ‘out’ trans youth against their will, and criminalize doctors that perform life saving gender affirming care. Democrats are down just three seats in the chamber, a historically low margin, and have the opportunity to stop dangerous legislation like this by taking back control of the chamber this year.

• In Oklahoma, House Republicans censured Rep. Mauree Turner, the nation’s first non-binary state legislator, and the only Black and Muslim representative serving in the state legislature, using false accusations without evidence to support their claims. Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson and other Democratic colleagues were quick to defend Rep. Turner, saying, “This is a historic display of inhumanity by House Republicans to silence anyone who is different from them. It is a manifestation of ignorance and hate.”

GOP Fail 

• Americans are standing up and calling out the GOP for their discrimination. In Iowa, hundreds of students held a “We Say Gay” class walkout to protest the slate of anti-LGBTQ bills Republicans put forward this week that would impose restrictive school policies and state laws when it comes to students’ freedom of gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender-affirming care.

• Newt Gingrich called out a Florida bill that would require bloggers to register with the state if they want to talk about the Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Florida GOP has gone so far right they’ve even lost Newt Gingrich…
  
• Michigan Republicans voted against repealing Michigan’s archaic 1931 abortion ban making it clear that if they were still in the majority, abortion rights could be at risk. Republicans are continuing to show that they would roll back reproductive freedom any chance they get.

Democratic Leadership

• Georgia Democrats are calling on Republicans to pass the Georgia Reproductive Freedom Act after the GOP refused to hold hearings on the broadly popular legislation. Republicans have similarly refused to hold hearings on pieces of legislation calling for Medicaid expansion. The GOP is refusing to even consider popular legislation, instead prioritizing their extreme MAGA agenda.

• In Minnesota, DFLers are becoming a model for the country on enshrining voting rights. Last week, the legislature passed a voting rights bill to allow people still on parole or probation to vote. We are so proud of our DFLers continuing to move full steam ahead on defending democracy in the states.