What States Need From the Feds When Natural Disasters Strike
National Conference of State Legislatures
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In today’s newsletter: The latest installment in our “State of Play” video series covers state disaster resilience; the U.S. economy loses up to $15.2 billion annually to foodborne illnesses; and a costly governor’s race in Oregon led to bipartisan campaign finance reform. Also, who’s the most famous musician from your state?
Disaster Resilience Is a State-Federal Balancing Act
Federal recovery aid can be a big help to communities after a natural disaster strikes, but applying for it is complicated and not all disasters qualify. More flexibility and less confusion would help, state lawmakers say.
Reducing Foodborne Risks
Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from foodborne diseases annually. The FDA Food Code offers scientifically based guidelines to standardize retail food safety, but only a quarter of states have adopted the latest version.
Oregon Campaign Finance Reform
After a tsunami of spending on the 2022 Oregon governor’s race—a record $70 million—a coalition of lawmakers passed the state’s first campaign finance reform this spring. This episode examines how it came together.
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Which States Are Expanding Adult Dental Benefits?
Between 2020 and 2023, 26 states expanded Medicaid adult dental benefit offerings. And four of those states expanded their benefits twice during that time. This is just one of many updates captured in CareQuest Institute’s Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage Checker. The tool shows the landscape for Medicaid adult dental benefits, helping to inform both federal- and state-level policymaking conversations.
Map Monday: Notable Music Makers
Every state can claim at least one famous musician as its own—someone who was born there or spent a lot of time living there. This somewhat subjective list is based on each artist’s reputation, record sales and awards.
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Transparency Can Tame Even the Most Skeptical Election Critic
When critics have a chance to watch the election process up close, or even get directly involved, they tend to become fans.
A Look Back at a Consequential and Contentious Supreme Court Term
NCSL and SCOTUSblog team up for a review of the justices’ decisions on homelessness, regulatory authority and more.
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