State Legislation

An electric bicycle is shown with the legs of a human who is riding the e-bike.

Oregon Bill Would Ban E-Bikes for Riders Under 16

State lawmakers seek to change Oregon e-bike laws following the death of a 15-year old last summer.

March 1, 2024 - Oregon Capital Chronical

A bright red traffic lane reads “Bus Only.”

Texas Legislation Would Add More Roadblocks for Transit Funding in Austin

A former Austin city councilmember, now at the Texas State Legislature, is trying to make it harder for Austin Transit Partnership to borrow money to fund Project Connect, the Austin region’s big, ambitious transit investment plan.

March 20, 2023 - KUT

Rhode Island Capitol Building

Housing Reform Package Under Consideration by Rhode Island General Assembly

The Rhode Island House Speaker has introduced a package of 14 bills intended to ease housing construction without stepping on any toes at the local level.

March 8, 2023 - WPRI

A view of the entrance to Walt Disney World reads “Where Dreams Come True.”

Walt Disney World No Longer a Self-Governed Special District

The culture war is determining the powers of special districts in Florida, as exemplified by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing HB 9-B, thus rescinding a special district created 50 years ago to manage land and infrastructure around Disney World.

March 3, 2023 - Governor Ron DeSantis

110-10 Interchange

California Senate Committee Kills Freeway Expansion Bill

The proposed legislation would have prohibited new construction in historically underserved areas that often bear the burnt of the negative impacts of freeways.

July 4, 2022 - Streetsblog California

Yield Sign

Virginia Lawmakers Won't Let Cyclists Roll Through Stop Signs—Yet

The state legislature passed a bill calling for a study of the proposed law and its effects in other states.

February 25, 2021 - The Washington Post

New Jersey Power Plant

Landmark Environmental Justice Law Signed in New Jersey

New Jersey is now home to one of the "most stringent" environmental justice laws in the country.

September 30, 2020 - Next City

Arizona Agriculture

A Development Showdown Over Water in Rural Arizona

The battle for the future of Colorado River water, and whether it will be used for agriculture or new development, continues in Arizona.

September 10, 2020 - Arizona Republic

Burlington Vermont

Missing Middle Zoning Reform Advances in the Vermont Legislature

The Vermont State Senate voted unanimously to approve legislation that would reduce barriers to more compact residential development. The Vermont House of Representatives is up next.

August 3, 2020 - CNU Public Square

Arizona Agriculture

Legislation Would Prevent Rural-to-Urban Water Transfers in Arizona

A plan to sell water intended for agricultural uses to help fuel the development of a city on the edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area has inspired new state legislation.

January 29, 2020 - Arizona Republic

Portland

Oregon Could Trim Opportunity Zones Tax Break

The federal opportunity zones program is a double benefit in the state of Oregon, and legislators are wondering if the program is more effective in setting up tax havens than delivering investments in underserved areas.

January 19, 2020 - The Oregonian

Nebraska City

'Missing Middle Housing Act' Would Allow More Housing Options in Nebraska Residential Areas

The ranks of states considering or taking steps to override local control to allow new density in the residential neighborhoods of cities has swelled once again, this time with a state senator in Nebraska pitching statewide legislation.

January 13, 2020 - 1011 Now

California

Bill Would Allow Homeless Shelters to Skip Environmental Review in California

Environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act would no longer apply to the construction of homeless shelters under a law proposed in the California State Legislature.

January 13, 2020 - The Sacramento Bee

Riverside, California

Evaluating the Results of New Protections for Affordable Housing Development

California's Senate Bill 35 is touted by affordable housing advocates and other pro-development forces as an example of what good developments can happen when local obstructions are moved out of the way by the state.

November 26, 2019 - The Mercury News

Food Carts

Unleashing the Food Vendors in New York

Newly proposed legislation in the New York State Senate would bar cities from setting limits on the number of food vendors operating in the public realm.

November 5, 2019 - New York Post

Hilton Hotel Harbor Island San Diego

Airbnb Limitations Fall Short in California Legislature

A state bill that would have limited the number of short-term rentals in the coastal areas of San Diego County has been delayed until next year's legislative session.

July 16, 2019 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Las Vegas Sprawl

The Elephant in the Room in Nevada: Property Taxes

Despite an anticipated political showdown over the issues raised by the state's property taxes, the Nevada State Legislature failed to take up the issue this year.

May 28, 2019 - The Nevada Independent

Oak Harbor, Ohio

The Ohio 'Clean Air' Energy Bill Cuts Out Wind and Solar Credits

Nuclear power is the big winner in a new comprehensive energy bill moving through the State Legislature in Ohio.

May 25, 2019 - Statehouse News Bureau

Fire Escape

Rent Control for New York City Could Spillover Effect to the Rest of the State

The housing crisis isn't the same in every corner of New York State, but new rent control measures in the state legislature could apply solutions intended for the New York City rental market to the entire state.

May 25, 2019 - The Buffalo News

Seattle Apartments

Choosing Incentives Over Mandates for Minimum Urban Densities

Washington's House Bill 1923 is one of a number of bills under consideration this year on the West Coast that attempts to leverage the power of the state for the sake of new development.

May 17, 2019 - The Urbanist

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