Legislative Updates
Data privacy bills received work sessions in Maine (LD 1705) and New Hampshire (HB 10) over the last month. NAMA and NERSA will continue following them and evaluating their impact on data collection for convenience services employees and micro-market consumers. View all legislation tracked in your state on NAMA’s website.
Connecticut has fallen significantly short of revenue projections for 2023, but it is still enjoying a surplus. As alerted in last month’s update, the state recently expanded the reasons for employees to take paid sick leave to include mental health wellness days and various medical, psychological, and victim services when an employee’s child is the victim of family violence or sexual assault.
Maine’s minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2024 from $13.80 to $14.15, in accordance with the state’s required annual cost-of-living increases. Minimum tipped wages will also rise to $7.08. In the 2024 legislative session, Maine will likely look to roll back some of the regulations enacted this year on PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or ‘forever chemicals’). If left unaddressed, Maine’s new PFAS restrictions will remain the most onerous in the country, and it is unlikely businesses will be able to meet them. Lawmakers will also consider firearm legislation in the wake of the tragedy in Lewiston.
New Hampshire legislators are gearing up for the 2024 session, which begins in January. Lawmakers have proposed nearly 100 new bills for 2024 in addition to those from 2023 that have been “carried over” into the new year.
Rhode Island elected Democrat Gabe Amo to replace Congressman David Cicilline. Amo previously served as an advisor in the White House. The state is doing well financially; it continues to grow its reserves and is forming a pension impact study group to review the state of its pension system.
Vermont’s Community Broadband Board will draft a digital equity plan after receiving public input. The goal of the plan is to ensure every Vermonter has access to the internet to fully participate in society.
Political Updates
On November 7, voters in most states headed to the polls to decide a variety of local, judicial, and state elections. Election results determine the legislative priorities in states and cities over the next several years. Lawmakers have direct and indirect impacts on the business environment, so following major trends or election results in your state may be helpful when planning business strategies, investments, and operations.
In total this year, Democrats won the elections. While Republicans retook the Louisiana Governor’s Office a couple months ago, Democrats won most key races in New England and nationwide. Notably, Democrats took control of the Virginia State Senate and won the judicial elections in Pennsylvania.
In New Hampshire, Democrats won special elections for the House, shrinking Republicans’ already-slim majority. We do not expect to see much legislation advance in 2024 in New Hampshire due to the nearly-equal Republican-Democrat split in the House. That said, Republicans did win a couple notable mayoral seats in New Hampshire, including an upset in the Manchester mayoral race.