Civic accountability for the Midwest.
Midwest Safety News tracks state legislation across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas, plus city councils and county boards across the Midwest states. We surface what local government is actually doing. Not just what gets reported.
Latest Stories
View all →- TXTexas SB16
Texas creates a new criminal offense for stealing homes through forged deeds
Texans who file forged deeds to steal homes or commercial property would face a dedicated criminal charge under a measure Gov. Greg Abbott signed on September 16.
- TXTexas SB12
The Texas attorney general gets sweeping power to prosecute election crimes himself
The Texas attorney general would have a duty to prosecute alleged election-law crimes anywhere in the state, regardless of whether local district attorneys decline to act, under a measure Gov. Greg Abbott signed on…
- MIMichigan SB2
Senate passes the procedural half of the FOIA expansion package
Michigan's plan to bring the Legislature and the governor's office under the state freedom of information act took its second step on the same day the first one cleared the Senate.
- MIMichigan SB1
Senate votes to bring the Legislature and governor under public records law
Michigan residents who try to pry loose emails, calendars, and policy drafts from state government would gain new ground under a bill the state Senate passed in late January.
- INIndiana SB0293
Indiana pharmacists licensed elsewhere skip an extra exam under reciprocity bill
Pharmacists licensed in another state will no longer have to clear an additional examination requirement to be licensed in Indiana, under a bill (SB0293) signed by the governor on March 4 as Public Law 140. New…
- INIndiana SB0008
Indiana tightens when public-library budgets need city or county sign-off
Public-library budgets in Indiana would face binding review by the local fiscal body at a lower threshold under a bill (SB0008) that cleared the Senate 31-13 on January 26 and is now under House review. The measure…
- KYKentucky SB136
Kentucky overhauls its unemployment insurance rules
Kentucky's unemployment insurance system will operate under a revised set of rules after Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 136 on April 12.
- KYKentucky HB1
Kentucky lawmakers override veto to launch federal school choice program
Kentucky will move ahead with implementing a new federal education opportunity program after the General Assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 1 in mid-March.
- MNMinnesota SF476
Minnesota human services rules would get a sweeping rewrite
Minnesotans who rely on disability supports, foster care or vulnerable-adult protections would see a sweeping rewrite of state human services rules under a bill (SF476) the Senate passed April 23 on a 39-28 vote.
- MNMinnesota SF334
Senate bill advancing professional development requirements moves to House
A Senate bill (SF334) that seeks to modify implementation professional development requirements for educators has advanced from the Senate and is now moving to the House for further consideration.