Idaho among states starting next phase of vaccine distribution

Here are a few notable changes to vaccine availability and distribution during this past week: 

• Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) announced on Jan. 12 that the state is starting its next phase of vaccine distribution. Little said teachers, school staff, and first responders would be prioritized between Jan. 13-31. Individuals age 65 and older will be able to receive the vaccine starting Feb. 1.
   
• Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) announced on Jan. 13 that people age 70 and older can now register to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Previously, vaccines were reserved for those 80 and older.
   
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) expanded Phase 1b of the state’s vaccination plan on Jan. 12 to include individuals age 65 and older and immunocompromised individuals. Previously, only individuals 75 and older were eligible.

Illinois selects Welch as new state House speaker, replacing longest-serving speaker Madigan

• Illinois House Democrats elected Rep. Chris Welch (D) state House speaker on Jan. 13. Welch has served in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2013 and is Illinois’ first Black speaker. 
   
• Welch replaces District 22 representative, Michael Madigan (D), who took office in 1971. He first served as House speaker from 1983 to 1995, losing the speakership when Republicans took control of the state House. Madigan regained the speakership when Democrats retook the state House in 1997. 
   
• In 2017, Madigan became the longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history. He served as House speaker for a total of 36 years.

Delaware, West Virginia governors to be sworn in this week

• Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. West Virginia and Delaware will swear in their incumbent governors on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, respectively. 
   
• Four states will swear in other state executives this week:
  • West Virginia (attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state auditor, and commissioner of agriculture) and Pennsylvania (auditor general, attorney general, and treasurer) will swear in state executives on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, respectively
  • Alabama has sworn in its public service commissioner and will swear in the state board of education on Jan. 18
  • Delaware has sworn in its insurance commissioner and will swear in its lieutenant governor on Jan. 19.
     
• Of the 44 states that held legislative elections on Nov. 3:
  • 12 states swore in newly-elected legislators in 2020
  • 29 states have sworn in members so far this month
  • One state (New Mexico) will swear in its state legislature on Jan. 19.
     
• Alabama will swear in judges on both the state supreme court and the state intermediate appellate court on Jan. 18.

Six state elected officials test positive for COVID-19

• On Jan. 10, Florida state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R), who represents District 28, announced she tested positive for COVID-19.
   
• On Jan. 11, Montana state Rep. Fiona Nave (R), who represents District 57, announced she tested positive for COVID-19.
   
• On Jan. 11, North Dakota Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford (R) announced he tested negative for COVID-19. His wife tested positive for the virus on Jan. 7.
   
• On Jan. 12, Georgia state Sen. Mike Dugan (R), who represents District 30, announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
   
• On Jan. 13, Arkansas state Rep. Milton Nicks Jr. (D), who represents District 50, announced he tested positive for COVID-19. 
   
• On Jan. 14, Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R), who represents District 32, announced he would self-quarantine after a possible exposure to someone with COVID-19.
   
• On Jan. 14, Texas state Rep. Joe Deshotel (D), who represents District 22, announced he tested positive for COVID-19.  

Oklahoma lifts quarantine requirements in schools if mask-wearing, social distancing enforced

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced on Jan. 12 that schools enforcing social distancing and mask-wearing will not have to quarantine students who were potentially exposed to the virus but are not showing symptoms. The new policy does not apply to students who were potentially exposed during after-school activities, including sports. Previously, schools were required to enforce a two-week quarantine for students potentially exposed to COVID-19, whether or not they exhibited symptoms. 
   
• Nationwide:
  • Two states (N.M., W.Va.) and Washington, D.C. have state- or district-ordered school closures
  • Five states (Calif., Del., Hawaii, N.C., R.I.) have state-ordered regional school closures, require closures for certain grade levels, or allow hybrid instruction only
  • Four states (Ark., Fla., Iowa, Texas) have state-ordered in-person instruction
  • Thirty-nine states leave decisions to schools or districts

Jenner takes office as Indiana Secretary of Education

• Katie Jenner took office on Jan. 11 as Indiana’s first secretary of education. Jenner, a former senior education advisor to Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), assumed the role after the former Indiana superintendent of public instruction, Jennifer McCormick (R), left office the previous week. 
   
• Jenner was appointed to the position by Gov. Holcomb in November 2020, the first time that the chief of the state’s schools was appointed rather than elected. Under a new law passed by the Indiana legislature, the position of the elected state superintendent of public instruction was abolished and replaced by the secretary of education, which is appointed by the governor. The law was initially scheduled to go into effect in 2025, but the change was moved to 2021 after former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction McCormick announced that she would not seek another term. 
   
• Jenner began her career working in K-12 public education as a career and technical education teacher. She has held various administrative roles, including assistant superintendent for Madison Consolidated Schools in Indiana, worked as the vice president of K-12 Initiatives and Statewide Partnerships for Ivy Tech Community College, and most recently served as the senior education advisor to Gov. Holcomb.
   
• The secretary of education is the chief executive officer of the Indiana Department of Education and serves on the Indiana State Board of Education. Jenner was elected chair of the board on Jan. 13.

Louisiana extends face-covering mandate, modifies re-opening restrictions

• Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) extended the state’s mask mandate on Jan. 12 and modified Phase 2 reopening until Feb. 10. The state’s mask requirement has been effective since July 13, 2020.
   
• Thirty-eight states have effective statewide orders requiring individuals to wear masks in indoor or outdoor public spaces. All 23 states with a Democratic governor have statewide mask orders, while 15 out of 27 Republican states require face coverings. Mississippi is the only state that has allowed a statewide face-covering requirement to expire.

Ballot Measures Update

• A total of 129 statewide ballot measures were certified for 2020 ballots in 34 states for elections on seven different dates. Ninety-three of the measures were approved, and 36 were defeated.
   
• Forty-three of the certified measures were citizen-initiated measures. Eighty-one were legislative referrals. One was an automatic constitutional revision commission question. Four were advisory measures in Washington.
   
• Click here to see all ballot measure election results, including highlighted measures.
   
• Eight statewide measures have been certified for the 2021 ballot.
   
• One statewide measure has been certified for the 2022 ballot.

Special Elections

• Twenty state legislative special elections have been scheduled in 14 states so far this year, with two elections having taken place already. Heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled both of the seats.
  • In special elections between 2011 and 2020, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year.
  • An average of 57 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past six even years (2010: 30, 2012: 46, 2014: 40, 2016: 66, 2018: 99 2020: 59).
  • An average of 88 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five odd years (2011: 94, 2013: 84, 2015: 88, 2017: 98, 2019: 77).
     
• Upcoming special elections include:
  • January 19
    • Alabama House of Representatives District 33
  • January 23
    • Texas House of Representatives District 68
  • January 26
    • Iowa State Senate District 41