States & provinces | Good News for Humankind

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs bill banning “gay or trans panic” defense

By Peter Schulte / July 24, 2024 / Good news links

Gov. Whitmer signed a slate of 39 bills into law, including H.B. 4718. The legislation, sponsored by bisexual state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, states that in criminal trials, “evidence of the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of an individual’s actual or perceived sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation is not admissible” for the purposes of demonstrating “reasonable provocation.”

California passes first-in-the-nation law banning forced outings of queer students in state public schools

By Peter Schulte / July 16, 2024 / Good news links

The SAFETY Act prohibits “parental notification” policies in school districts that require educators to notify parents if their child requests to use pronouns and facilities different from the gender they were assigned at birth. The law, which goes into effect immediately, also protects teachers and administrators from retaliation if they choose not to follow district directives to out queer kids to their parents.

Inuvialuit people and Canadian governments sign deal to create massive new conservation area

By Peter Schulte / June 19, 2024 / Good news links

The Inuvialuit and the Canadian federal and Yukon governments have signed a new conservation agreement to ensure greater protection for more than 2 million acres of the Yukon’s northeast coast, 1.8% of Yukon’s landmass. The agreement provides protection and conservation of wildlife such as the Porcupine caribou herd, polar bears, and migratory birds. It will also help preserve and promote traditional use amongst Inuvialuit mostly living in Aklavik and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories who access the area.

Alberta’s last coal plant closes

By Peter Schulte / June 18, 2024 / Good news links

Capital Power’s Genesee 2 facility — the last dedicated coal plant in the Canadian province — has officially gone offline. According to the latest forecast from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), it’s not expected to come back online ever. As recently as 2001, coal accounted for as much as 80% of the electricity on the province’s grid.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore set to issue 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions

By Peter Schulte / June 16, 2024 / Good news links

During a news conference, Moore said the executive order will affect “tens of thousands of Marylanders” convicted of misdemeanors. Some may have had more than one conviction pardoned through the process. Advocates praised the move as a way of removing barriers to housing, employment, or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.

New York passes laws protecting kids from addictive social media content

By Peter Schulte / June 8, 2024 / Good news links

New York state has taken novel legislative steps to limit children’s exposure to computer algorithmic social media feeds, passing two laws to protect children from social media content and to protect their privacy. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act requires social media companies to restrict feeds for users under 18. The second law, the New York Child Data Protection Act, prohibits online sites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18.

Vermont becomes first U.S. state to require oil companies to pay for climate change damages

By Peter Schulte / June 1, 2024 / Good news links

Vermont has enacted a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather. The funds could be used for upgrading stormwater drainage systems; upgrading roads, bridges and railroads; relocating, elevating or retrofitting sewage treatment plants; and making energy-efficient weatherization upgrades to public and private buildings.

Minnesota bans the LGBTQ+ panic defense

By Peter Schulte / May 29, 2024 / Good news links

Minnesota passed H.F. 5216, a bill that bans the infamous LGBTQ+ panic defense, the LA Blade reports. The LGBTQ+ panic defense is when a defendant argues that they “panicked” when they learned that their victim was LGBTQ+ as an excuse for anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Signed by Gov. Tim Walz (D) after making its way through the state’s House of Representatives and Senate. It will go into effect on August 1, 2024.

Tennessee to become the first U.S. state to provide some children’s diapers

By Peter Schulte / May 21, 2024 / Good news links

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 92% of families receiving diapers in Tennessee are working and still unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers. However, it was just announced that the state’s Medicaid program will officially start covering 100 diapers a month for newborns, infants, and one-year-olds in August 2024, becoming the first U.S. state to do so.

Molly Cook just became the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to the Texas Senate

By Peter Schulte / May 8, 2024 / Good news links

Voters have made history by electing emergency room nurse and community organizer Molly Cook as Texas’s first out LGBTQ+ state senator. The Democrat’s victory was the result of a special election to fill the seat of John Whitmire (D), who is now Houston’s mayor.