Oregon voters became the first in the nation to decriminalize possession of “hard drugs” and thus making it easier to use illegal substances leading to safety and health implications. In addition, the measure could contribute to the workforce shortage when the industry resumes hiring. Florida voters approved raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, joining 8 other states and DC. In another sign of the times, Colorado voters approved a Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, making it the first state to do so through ballot initiative, and the ninth plus DC with state paid family leave law in the country. There was no paid federal leave law program before the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The undercurrent in the country could lead other states or Congress to act in a more expansive manner.
For more information, contact Jim Young at jim.young@agc.org.