Virginia bans the gay/trans panic legal defense
It’s the 12th state to ban defendants from arguing they “panicked” when they found out their victim was LGBTQ.
States & provinces
Massachusetts passes sweeping climate legislation to reduce emissions
The law, which was passed last week by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, sets emission limits at 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 75 percent below by 2040 with interim limits every five years.
Virginia bans cosmetic testing on animals
Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Kaye Kory introduced the bill. Its passage makes Virginia the fourth state in the U.S. to make a law prohibiting cosmetic animal testing.
Virginia restores voting rights for the previously incarcerated
Under the new policy, Virginia joins Maine, Vermont, and Washington, D.C who all maintain voting rights for felons and even protect the right to vote for individuals during their prison time.
New Jersey passes groundbreaking LGBTQ “Senior Bill of Rights”
Anti-LGBTQ discrimination will be banned in senior care facilities, in what could be the next frontier in LGBTQ rights.
Connecticut becomes 8th U.S. state to pass CROWN Act, making natural hairstyle discrimination illegal
The bill protects those wearing natural or protective hairstyles from discrimination at their workplace or school and makes said discrimination illegal.
Maryland’s Montgomery County makes largest electric school bus order in U.S. history
Montgomery County Public Schools has decided to fully electrify its fleet, starting with an order for 326 electric school buses to be delivered in the next 4 years.
Uttarakhand becomes first Indian state to give wives co-ownership of ancestral land
The landmark ruling, called the the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, is set to affect some 350,000 women who manage properties alongside, or in the absence of their husbands.
Texas to add 35 GW of wind and solar in next 3 years
“The near-term additions — which are largely underpinned by financial security deposits for interconnection, federal tax incentives and power purchase agreements — would more than double ERCOT’s solar and wind footprint to 64 GW in just three years,” S&P Global writes.
New York State mandates fertility treatment coverage for same-sex couples
Many LGBTQ+ couples still have to pay six to 12 months of out-of-pocket expenses for testing to qualify for fertility services. Under the new law, insurers are required to cover these services immediately.