Notable Activity
Legislative activity was minimal this week as Congress transitioned from a weeklong sprint to pass House Resolution 1, and the General Assembly remained in its July recess. There was some movement, however, as Governor Stein signed and vetoed bills he had yet to address from the legislative session. So far, 84 bills have become law, while Governor Stein has vetoed 14 bills. The General Assembly has yet to release a schedule for when they plan on returning and taking up legislation again. There have been no indications on what, if any, vetoes will be attempted.
Of the vetoed legislation, House bills 171 and 805 and Senate bills 227 and 558 all relate to various initiatives to address diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI) across a variety of government institutions. Counties in particular should note House Bill 171prohibits local governments from continuing or implementing their own DEI programs or policies and from using government funds (local, state, or federal) for DEI initiatives or programs in the future.
The Governor also vetoed House Bill 96, which initially addressed squatters being removed from private property. However, at the last minute and prior to recessing for the summer, an amendment was added prohibiting local governments from regulating pet shops in their jurisdictions and placing regulatory authority exclusively under the Board of Agriculture. The topic of pet stores and large-scale commercial dog breeding has been a point of debate in the General Assembly for years, so this addition came as a surprise. In his statement on the veto, Governor Stein specifically mentioned the stripping of local government’s authority.
Several factors influence activity at the General Assembly, making it difficult to predict which vetoes will be overridden, when that might happen, and by whom. The House and Senate are continuing to negotiate compromise language for the state budget and determine the timeline for returning to legislative work. Ongoing discussions around other bills that may advance also add complexity to forecasting how veto override votes may unfold.