2001 Legislative Highlights

What to Look Forward to, What to Watch Out for

Code: Intro = legislation introduced in 2001 # = law already on the books * = legislation introduced in 2001 that passed at least one house

Hate Crimes: All states, except AR, GA, IN, NM, SC, TX, UT, and WY, have hate crime laws that enumerate protected categories. In 2001, nearly half of these states put forward legislation to expand categories of hate crimes. And three states (TX, UT, SC) introduced legislation to create hate crime protection in 2001.

Death Penalty: In 2001, 19 of the 38 states with a death penalty introduced legislation for a moratorium. Illinois is the only state that has instituted a moratorium. (11 states also introduced legislation in 2001 to abolish the death penalty—CT, IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NM, VA. 12 states also introduced legislation to allow DNA testing for death penalty inmates—
ID, IN, LA, MD, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TX, UT, VA, WA.)

Right to Work (for less): Twenty-one states (AL, AR, AZ, GA, FL, ID, IA, KS, LA, MS, NC, ND, NE, NV, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WY) are right to work states, meaning that employees do not have to join a union when one exists at their workplace. Yet, unions are forced to negotiate contracts for nonunion members and these employees reap the benefits of union representation. Eight more states introduced right to work legislation in 2001.

Paycheck Deception: Since 1998, so-called "paycheck protection" bills have been introduced in 35 states as part of a coordinated effort to restrict the ability of unions to participate in politics. In 2001, 12 states introduced paycheck deception laws, and only one state, Utah, enacted such a measure (currently facing legal challenge).

Mifeprex: No laws currently exist to specifically restrict use of the FDA-approved Mifeprex drug for emergency contraceptives, but 17 states put forward legislation to block its use in 2001.

	Hate Crimes	Death Penalty Moratorium	Right to Work (for Less)	Paycheck Deception	Mifeprex Restriction
AL	#, Intro*	Intro	#		Intro*
AK	#, Intro	No death pen.
AZ	#		#
AR		Intro	#		Intro
CA	#, Intro
CO	#, Intro		Intro
CT	#, Intro	Intro	Intro
DE	#
DC	#	No death pen.
FL	#		#	Intro
GA			#
HI	#, Intro*	No death pen.	Intro		Intro
ID	#		#
IL	#, Intro*	#		Intro
IN		Intro			Intro
IA	#	No death pen.	#		Intro
KS	#, Intro		#		Intro
KY	#, Intro	Intro		Intro	Intro*
LA	#	Intro	#	Intro
ME	#	No death pen.
MD	#	Intro*
MA	#	No death pen.
MI	#	No death pen.	Intro	Intro
MN	#	No death pen.		Intro
MS	#, Intro	Intro	#	Intro
MO	#	Intro			Intro
MT	#, Intro			Intro
NE	#		#
NV	#, Intro	Intro*	#
NH	#		Intro		Intro
NJ	#, Intro	Intro			Intro
NM			Intro	Intro
NY	#, Intro
NC	#, Intro	Intro	#		Intro
ND	#	No death pen.	#	Intro
OH	#	Intro
OK	#	Intro	Intro		Intro
OR	#			2002 Initiative
PA	#, Intro	Intro
RI	#, Intro	No death pen.			Intro
SC	Intro		#		Intro*
SD	#		#	Intro
TN	#, Intro	Intro	#
TX	Intro*	Intro	#
UT	Intro		#	Intro*
VT	#,Intro	No death pen.
VA	#, Intro	Intro	#
WA	#, Intro	Intro
WV	#, Intro	No death pen.	Intro	Intro	Intro
WI	#				Intro
WY			#		Intro