New York protects “the birds & the bees” with nation-leading pesticides legislation
The Birds and Bees Protection Act bans the neonic pesticides uses that provide no economic benefits to users or are replaceable with safer, effective alternatives.
States & provinces
U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Black Alabama voters in unexpected defense of Voting Rights Act
New maps are now likely in Alabama and Louisiana that could allow Black voters to elect their preferred candidates in two more congressional districts.
Seth Marnin makes history as U.S.’s first out trans male judge
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has appointed the state’s first out transgender judge and the nation’s first trans man ever to serve on a judicial bench.
California expands Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide universal access to free books for young children
With this expansion, all California children under 5 will be eligible to receive a free book in the mail every month, as the program scales over the next several years.
Minnesota enacts right-to-repair law that covers more devices than any other U.S. state
Companies that sell in Minnesota but don’t offer customers or independent repair shops the materials needed to fix devices within 60 days can be found in violation of state law.
Illinois set to become first U.S. state to end book bans
Governor Pritzker is expected to sign a bill that would block essential state funding for public libraries and public schools in Illinois that ban books.
Vermont governor signs 1st-in-nation shield bills that explicitly include medicated abortion
The bills protect providers from discipline for providing legally protected reproductive and gender affirming health care services.
Quebec and Montreal order more than 1200 electric buses
The provincial government is providing $1.1 billion while the federal government will contribute $780 million, making it North America’s largest-ever electric bus acquisition.
Oregon licenses U.S.’s first-ever legal psilocybin facilitators
Oregon regulators announced on April 18 that they have approved the nation’s first state-licensed psilocybin facilitators to administer the psychedelic to adults at regulated facilities.
Maryland passes bill protecting gender-affirming care access for trans people on Medicaid
“While other states are dead set on ripping away reproductive rights and attempting to erase the existence of trans and nonbinary individuals, we’re doing the opposite: We’re making Maryland a state that is welcoming, inclusive, and that safeguards the rights of all people.”