Just Dropped In (To See What State My State Was In) edition

Statehouses all over the country are hopping. As of this week, 33 of the nation's legislatures are in session (also, D.C. and Puerto Rico). 

And with the beginnings of legislative sessions come the annual (in most states) reports by the nation's governors on how things are going: the State of the State addresses (State of the Commonwealth addresses for Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Kentucky, of course). 

Gov. Christie's State of the State address received disproportionate attention, but typically these speeches fly below out-of-state radars. If you're itching to catch one in particular, though, NASBO has a handy list of states and dates. Bonus: They post a link to the text of each address after it's delivered. 

• Wisconsin's State of the State address won't happen until next week, which the state GOP is no doubt looking forward to -- if for no other reason than to distract from Rep. Joel Kleefish's repeated attempts to reduce a rich donor's post-divorce payments. In 2011, Kleefish introduced a bill that would have effectively nullified a judge's order for multimillionaire Michael Eisenga to pay spousal support (the bill was terrible and failed). This year, Eisenga helped write a bill that would reduce his child support payments -- a bill Rep. Kleefish introduced as AB 540, Kleefish has just withdrawn the measure, but he plans to rework the proposal and reintroduce it later in session.

• Indiana Gov. Mike Pence used part of his State of the State speech to urge the legislature to pass a same-sex marriage ban. A committee vote on the measure was just postponed for the second time this week. GOP Speaker Brian Bosma claims he wants to give the House Judiciary Committee "more time to digest the issue," but it sounds like he hasn't pressured enough Republicans into supporting the ban (if three of the committee's nine Republicans vote with the four committee Democrats, the measure will be defeated). Fun fact: Speaker Bosma can replace committee members pretty much whenever he wants. Smart money is on the same-sex marriage ban making it to the House floor one way or another.

• Maine Gov. Paul LePage has yet to schedule his State of the State address this year, but odds are good that Medicaid expansion will be one of the topics covered. Both legislative Democrats and the Bangor Daily News have excoriated LePage for spending $925,000 of taxpayers' money on a consultant hand-picked by his administration to conduct an analysis of the state's Medicaid and public welfare programs. The report draws problematic conclusions from questionable figures and projections and "reads as a political manifesto that methodically explains each talking point Medicaid expansion opponents have used over the past year to refute calls to extend coverage." The report also fails to recommend alternative reforms -- that's going to cost taxpayers another $141,120.

In other news,

• "State legislature to consider measure making voting easier" is not a headline often seen in recent years. However, this one in The Republican comes pretty close. The Massachusetts state Senate, dominated by Democrats, will vote tomorrow on a bill that would implement early voting and online voter registration. 

• Live Free or High is an obvious pun to make about this evening's vote by the New Hampshire House to legalize recreational marijuana. Gov. Maggie Hassan has promised to veto the legislation, but it probably won't pass the Senate, anyway. This is reportedly "the first time a legislative chamber has voted to treat the drug like alchohol" (recreational pot was approved in Colorado and Washington via ballot measures).

• There's another state Senate special election in Virginia on Tuesday. If Democrat Lynwood Lewis' tiny lead holds up in the SD-06 recount, the three-way SD-33 contest will determine partisan control of the chamber. Here are some ads. 

• I don't really feel the need to talk about Wyoming state Senator Bruce Burns, since everyone else already has... but he wants to bring back the firing squad for state executions because he thinks the gas chamber is "cruel and unusual," so I just can't help myself.

• Could this be the year for grocery store wine in Tennessee? Get excited!

For the Week of January 15, 2014 The following 27 state legislatures are actively meeting this week: ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, DELAWARE, GEORGIA, IDAHO, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, and WEST VIRGINIA Also meeting:  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

ALABAMA The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14. ARIZONA The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 13. Governor Janice K. Brewer (R) delivered her State of the State Address January 13. ARKANSAS A special election was held January 14 for Senate District 21. Turnout was less than 17%. The Republican won, a pickup for the GOP, but with a 21 R/13 D Senate going in, chamber control wasn't exactly at stake.  DELAWARE The General Assembly convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14. FLORIDA The House Agricultural Subcommittee met January 14 to discuss H.B. 157 and H.B. 71, which address hydraulic fracking. The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will meet January 16 to discuss S.B. 238, which expands an existing public records exemption for certain personal identification and location information of current and former public defenders, of current and former criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and of the spouses and children of such defenders and counsel.  GEORGIA The General Assembly convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 13. Governor Nathan Deal (R) will deliver his State of the State address January 15. HAWAII The Legislature is scheduled to convene the 2014 Legislative Session January 15. IOWA The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 13. Governor Terry Branstad (R) delivered his State of the State address January 14. KANSAS The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 13. MARYLAND The Senate Finance Committee and House Health and Government Operations Committee met January 14 to discuss S.B. 134 and H.B. 119. Both measures, sponsored by Governor Martin O'Malley's (D) administration, would provide retroactive health insurance to residents who tried but were unsuccessful at signing up for coverage in the state's health care exchange before December 31, 2013.

MICHIGAN Governor Rick Snyder (R) will deliver his State of the State address January 16.  The Senate Education Committee and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on K-12, School Aid and Education will jointly meet January 15 to discuss options for assessments aligned with the Common Core State Standards.  MISSOURI The House Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee met January 13 to discuss H.B. 1099, the state's right-to-work bill.  NEBRASKA Governor Dave Heineman (R) will deliver his State of the State Address January 15.  NEW HAMPSHIRE The House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee met January 14 to discuss H.B. 1168, which requires employers to maintain files documenting an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S.  The House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee met January 14 to discuss H.B. 1368, which prohibits an employer from requesting a job applicant's criminal history unless certain circumstances exist.  NEW JERSEY The Legislature adjourned the 2013 Legislative Session January 13.  The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14.  NORTH DAKOTA The Health Care Reform Review Committee will meet January 15 to discuss the immediate needs and challenges of the North Dakota health care delivery system. The committee will also discuss the feasibility of developing a plan for a private health care model that will comply with the federal Affordable Care Act. OREGON The Senate Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will host an informational hearing January 15 regarding proposed legislative concepts and discussion centered on climate change and renewable portfolio standards. RHODE ISLAND Governor Lincoln Chaffee (I) will deliver his State of the State address January 15.  SOUTH CAROLINA The General Assembly convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14.  SOUTH DAKOTA The Legislature convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14.  Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) delivered his State of the State Address January 14.  TENNESSEE The General Assembly convened the 2014 Legislative Session January 14.   VERMONT Governor Peter Shumlin (D) will deliver his Budget Address January 15.  VIRGINIA Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe (D), Lieutenant Governor-elect Ralph Northam (D), and Attorney General-elect Mark Herring (D) took office on January 11. Governor McAuliffe's inauguration was January 11.  WASHINGTON  Governor Jay Inslee (R) delivered his State of the State Address January 14.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.