December 20, 2015 Mandatory minimum sentences waiver passes Maryland senate Maryland senators are supporting a bill that gives judges more discretion when sentencing certain drug offenders. In a 40-7 vote, lawmakers approved the measure, which advocates called a safety valve against "one-size-fits-all" sentences for drug offense cases.
December 20, 2015 Republicans take aim at Colorado gun laws Republicans have one more shot Monday to change Colorado’s firearm laws, including two bills that would eliminate gun-control measures passed by Democrats in 2013.
December 20, 2015 California vaccine bill sparks acidic debate, Nazi links A California bill that would sharply limit vaccination waivers after a measles outbreak at Disneyland has generated such an acidic debate that the proposal's author was under added security this week.
December 20, 2015 California lawmakers advance bill requiring vaccinations for most schoolkids California lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require schoolchildren in the state to be vaccinated amid impassioned pleas from parents and doctors, even activist Robert Kennedy Jr.
December 20, 2015 Kansas first state to ban second-trimester abortion procedure critics call 'dismemberment' Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a bill making his state the first in the nation to ban a controversial second-trimester abortion procedure that critics describe as dismembering a fetus.
December 20, 2015 Kansas to allow residents to carry concealed guns without permit Kansas will become the fifth state to allow its residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit throughout the state.
December 20, 2015 Arizona first in nation to require patients be informed of abortion-reversal option Arizona will become the first state in the nation to require doctors to tell patients that abortions may be reversible, under a controversial bill that deals with an equally controversial method. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed the bill earlier this week.
December 20, 2015 California Dems push to repeal 'welfare queen' law California Democrats are trying to reverse a decades-old state law that bars families from getting extra welfare money for having an additional child, describing the law as "sexist" and "classist" -- despite concerns that repealing it could compound the state's money woes.
December 20, 2015 Alaska becomes third state to legalize recreational marijuana as ballot measure takes effect Alaska on Tuesday became the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but organizers don't expect any public celebrations since it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in public.
December 20, 2015 In close vote, Utah House OKs firing-squad proposal A hotly contested proposal that resurrects Utah's use of firing squads to carry out executions narrowly passed a key vote Friday in the state's Legislature after three missing lawmakers were summoned to break a tie vote.