Virginia s General Assembly is taking up a bill to address outcomes for kids in foster care. Previous legislation either failed to pass or was watered down in favor of further research on the issues. House Bill 893 would require Virginia s Judicial Council to adopt new standards for attorneys to qualify to represent parents in child dependency cases. .
South Dakota lawmakers are taking a close look at teacher pay this session. A specific plan to establish salary requirements cleared the House this week. South Dakota has consistently ranked near the bottom among states for teacher pay. .
A North Carolina nonprofit focused on climate justice wants to help people advocate for their views about Duke Energy s proposed Carbon Plan. The North Carolina Utilities Commission is seeking input from residents across the state on the plan, starting on April 9. Brittany Griffin, advocacy manager for CleanAIRE NC, said public feedback will be crucial to help determine the effects of climate change, the transition to clean energy and its effects on public health, air quality and environmental protection. .
Arizona leaders are encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s new soot standards they said will protect people from dangerous and deadly particle pollution. Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club, said the revised standards will help reduce harmful pollution and improve air quality by lowering the standard for fine particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter, known as PM 2.5, from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to nine micrograms per cubic meter. .
Committees in both chambers of the General Assembly are hearing testimony on a measure to change how health insurance companies in Maryland make treatment coverage decisions. The process of what is known as utilization review can be time-consuming and opaque, and criteria may be set by the insurance company instead of clinical standards. The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Wednesday on Senate Bill 791, which would require insurers to use expert nonprofit clinical guidelines to make coverage decisions. .