Nine States Still Conducting Legislative Business

Illinois
The General Assembly is in a veto session. The House voted to override Gov. Ryan's veto of a bill allowing small communities to impose their own sales tax.

Indiana
The Legislature began its 2000 session early at the request of Gov. O'Bannon. Issues currently under consideration include tax breaks for banks and tax credits for research and development.

Massachusetts
Lawmakers voted to override Gov. Cellucci's veto of $94 million in school funding along with various other human-services provisions before the Legislature adjourned for the year on Wednesday, November 17. The Legislature also recently passed a bill allowing the state to take over failing HMO operations.

Michigan
Both houses are in legislative recess until after Thanksgiving. Last week the House passed legislation banning city residence requirements as a condition of employment. The bill will go next to conference committee since the Senate passed a similar measure in May.

New Jersey
Legislators in the Senate are fashioning a bill that would provide for a landmark statewide school construction program originally proposed by Gov. Whitman.

Ohio
The House is debating how to allocate tobacco settlement money. Gov. Taft has urged lawmakers to restore the 26-year spending plan that was reduced to 12 years last week by the Senate.

Pennsylvania
The Legislature voted to ban same-sex health benefits for employees of state-financed colleges and universities. The Senate agreed with a previous measure passed by the House to move up the 2000 primary to early April. The Senate also approved a bill to spend $623 million over five years to preserve the environment - an extended version of the governor's "Growing Greener" initiative.

States In Special Session

Alabama
Gov. Seigelman called a special session for the Legislature to replace the state's franchise tax that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in March.

Tennessee
Governor Sundquist called a special session on tax reform in order to solve the state's fiscal difficulties. The Senate Finance Committee recently passed a graduated income tax plan, which could reach the floor of the Senate later this week.