Maryland
Government Looks for Ways to Save Energy
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is urging Marylanders to reduce electricity usage by 15% by 2015 and is convening a summit July 25 to explore options. It will also focus on searching for cleaner sources of power and fixing congested transmission lines. In a separate event, O'Malley outlined efforts to reduce energy consumption, including replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights and requiring new state buildings to use less electricity.
Source: The Gazette

Pennsylvania
New Energy Bill Might Hurt Small Business
State lawmakers are discussing a four-bill package intended to stimulate state demand for "homegrown" fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel and promote conservation and control energy cost increases. However, the plan includes a "system benefit charge" of 0.0005 cents per kilowatt-hour on all electric bills that Senate Republicans say is actually a new tax that could hurt small businesses.
Source: The Patriot-News

Alabama
Tax Hurdles Face Startup Small Businesses  
Small business owners met with officials from the state and federal tax offices during a tax workshop last week. Attendees had an opportunity to have their questions answered about payroll, withholding, personal property and other taxes. Tricia McCrary, revenue examiner for the Alabama Department of Revenue in Muscle Shoals, sympathized with small business owners and said income tax questions are always on the minds of those with new businesses, who can face unnecessary expenses in the form of penalties if they file taxes late.
Source: Tuscaloosa News

Missouri
Tax Break Bill Blocked
Gov. Matt Blunt (R) vetoed a major economic development bill this week, saying it had "excessive spending" built in. The $200 million measure contained more than two dozen tax breaks for job creation, beef producers, film makers, alternative fuel vehicles and redevelopers. Blunt said he is willing to call lawmakers back for a special session if they agree to pass a "more restrained version of the bill."
Source: The Jefferson City News Tribune

Colorado
State Gets a Grant to Open Education Centers
Six states including Colorado will receive a $500,000 grant from the National Governors' Association to establish science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education centers. The Colorado grant also triggers a $100,000 match from the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation's WIRED Initiative and a $150,000 in-kind match from the Colorado Children's Campaign. Other states receiving the grants are Hawaii, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Source: The Greeley Tribune

Iowa
Companies to Measure Emissions
Iowa will join with more than 30 other states to come up with a common system to measure greenhouse gas emissions, which is a step toward finding ways to reduce emissions. The states are part of a newly created group called The Climate Registry, which allows companies in participating states to choose to have their emissions tracked. The costs of this initiative will be covered by the participating companies with no expenses passed on to taxpayers, according to state officials.
Source: Sioux City Journal

Arizona
State Passes Strict Immigration Law
Four days after the Senate killed the federal comprehensive immigration bill, Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) signed a bill imposing tough sanctions on employers who hire illegal immigrants. The new legislation requires every local business to verify the legal status of each new employee. A first violation can result in a suspension of the business license. Napolitano said she will call a special session this fall to amend the measure before it is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.
Source: The Washington Post

Utah
Falling Tax Base Hinders Economic Development
A 2006 law changing the distribution of sales tax is causing South Salt Lake to lose about $2 million a year in taxes. The statewide sales tax formula gives cities half the sales-tax money based on point of sale and half based on population. To solve the problem, South Salt Lake raised property taxes 134%. However, more than 30% of city land is committed to public uses that hold a tax-exempt status, leaving the city with a low tax base.
Source: Deseret Morning News