Oregon mandates cage-free eggs by 2024
The new law mandates that all eggs produced or sold in the state must come from cage-free hens by 2024.
States & provinces
Illinois passes law requiring LGBT history curriculum be taught in schools
The law requires all schools in the state include “the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State” in official textbooks.
Texas is generating more electricity from wind than coal for the first time ever
Data released this month by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas shows wind created 22 percent of the electricity used in the first half of the year, edging out coal by 1%.
New York becomes first state to ban declawing cats
“Cat declawing is a brutal procedure similar to severing a human finger at the first knuckle and has lifelong ramifications for cats.”
New York climate plan sets 30-year goal for 100% renewable energy
A new law signed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sets the nation’s most aggressive targets for reducing carbon emissions.
California condor births mark soaring comeback after numbers dwindled to 22
Biologists estimate that the 1,000th and 1,001st chicks hatched in May this year, and they confirmed their existence this week.
California becomes first state in the U.S. to ban racial discrimination against natural hair
The CROWN Act updates the state’s anti-discrimination law so that “race” includes “traits historically associated with race,” such as afros and braids.
Hawaii becomes 26th U.S. state to decriminalize marijuana
The new law removes the possibility of jail time as a penalty for up to three grams of marijuana, but maintains a $130 fine.
Maine passes 2 bills to reduce ‘welfare cliff’
The bills aim to keep families transitioning from welfare to work from losing health, financial, and education benefits until they are earning enough to fully support themselves.
New California budget offers two free years of community college
The new California budget spends $280 million in total to make college more affordable.