Laws

Repealing Certificate of Need Laws: The Impact on Healthcare Access and Hospital Closures Revealed

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Franklin, Tennessee – A recent opinion piece by Wendy Long argues against the repeal of Certificate of Need (CON) laws in Tennessee, claiming that it would lead to decreased access to healthcare. However, evidence suggests that repealing CON laws can actually increase accessibility. Under CON laws, healthcare facilities face barriers to opening or expanding, hindering competition and limiting options for patients. Long and other CON law proponents assert that hospitals will close without the protection of CON laws, as new facilities could attract privately insured patients and leave existing hospitals with only uninsured or under-insured … Read more

Idaho Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Laws Amid Lawsuit by Babe Vote and League of Women Voters

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BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled against two voter advocacy groups, Babe Vote and the League of Women Voters, in their legal challenge of certain voter identification laws in the state. The groups had filed a lawsuit against Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane regarding laws passed in 2023 that imposed restrictions on the use of student IDs for voter registration and as proof of identification at the polls, as well as additional requirements for proving residency to register to vote. They argued that these laws disproportionately affected certain groups of people … Read more

Minnesota Legislature Takes Action to Reform Property Forfeiture Laws in Response to Supreme Court Ruling

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St. Paul, Minnesota – The Minnesota Legislature is poised to pass new property forfeiture laws in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that declared the state’s current system unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in the case of Tyler v. Hennepin County found that the county violated a woman’s constitutional rights by selling her forfeited property for more than the amount she owed in taxes and keeping the surplus. Earlier this year, the state agreed to pay a settlement of $109 million to resolve class action lawsuits filed on behalf of Minnesotans … Read more

Guns in WA: A Roller Coaster Ride – Sales Skyrocket, Then Plummet as New Laws Prevail

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Seattle, Washington – A surge in gun sales in Washington has been followed by a sharp decline as new firearm laws come into effect. The recent changes have sparked a flurry of activity among gun buyers, with purchases peaking and then dropping drastically. The spike in sales occurred prior to the implementation of a set of stricter gun regulations, which were passed through a state ballot initiative last year. These new laws include measures such as enhanced background checks and an increase in the minimum age required to purchase a semi-automatic rifle. Gun enthusiasts and … Read more