1. Connecticut: the House of Representatives gave overwhelming final approval to commit $100 million to stem cell research in Connecticut.  Gov. M. Jodi Rell pledged to sign the bill and make Connecticut the third state to finance embryonic research opposed by President Bush and the Catholic Church. Rell, who proposed providing $20 million in research funds over two years applauded the final passage Tuesday of the more ambitious measure, which will provide $10 million annually for 10 years, beginning July 1, 2006.



2. Delaware: Legislation to prohibit human reproductive cloning and authorize human embryonic stem cell research, amending the Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act, was proposed on June 1, 2005 by Senators Venables, Blevins and Sorenson and Representatives Hudson and Maier, but a vote on the bill was deferred until January 1, 2006.  



3. Illinois: In July 2005, an executive order by Governor Blagojevich authorized $10 million in state grants for research on stem cells, including those harvested from human embryos. Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes drafted and proposed legislation that would create the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute.  The Institute would be state-funded and would distribute $1 billion in stem cell research grants over the next decade, $100 million annually, to universities and medical research facilities in Illinois. 



4. Kansas: Refusing to be defined by Brownback, a  pro-stem cell legislation advocacy organization has been established. Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is already supported by 240 patient advocacy groups, businesses and civic leaders.



5. Maryland was defeated by a filibuster for funding this year, but Sen. Paula Hollinger will re-introduce next year, and numbers look good for passage-- $23 million tried for. Poll shows 60% Marylanders support hESCR, 27% oppose, 13% undecided.



6. Massachusetts passed a bill this Summer allowing hESCR and some (limited) SCNT research, but no funding.



7. Michigan: Ann Arbor - The University of Michigan is allocating $10.5 million to expand stem cell research. University President Mary Sue Coleman says it's an effort to keep the school in the vanguard of biomedical research. To avoid opposition from those who say embryos are living human beings, the university uses existing stem cell lines allowed under a 2001 federal rule.



8. Minnesota: The State's bonding bill includes $20 million over the next five years for the biotechnology and medical genomics partnership of the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute, the Mayo Clinic, IBM and others.



9. New Jersey passed two bills already this year, the first legalizing hESCR and criminalizing reproductive cloning (20 year jail sentence) while allowing SCNT ($11 million, $5 million already allocated, 90 grant requests already received) and two major bills to be proposed in next two weeks, one a cigarette tax to raise $150 million to build a stem cell research center, and another for $230 million over ten years. Also Governor Corzine proposes a $250 million Edison Initiative, an unknown portion dedicated to stem cells.



10. New York, in the last week of session, Senator Spano introduced bill for $25 million this year, and $100 million next year-- still trying for $1 billion over ten years, did not succeed this year, but very much alive



11. Florida, aiming for 2008 ballot.  State Sen. Burt Aaronson and 200 volunteers are already working, their movement, called Floridians for Stem Cell Research and Cures, is aiming for $200 million over ten years. Also another state bill aiming for $150 million-led by State Sen. Ronald Klien and Rep. Frank Sands. Of course, almost any stem cell positives in Florida involve the strong support of Bernie Siegel, and Genetics Policy Institute.



12. Missouri defeated anti-SCNT legislation fourth year in a row, is now trying for a Constitutional Amendment that allows any research legal in America to be legal there. Missouri's effort is just amazing-see earlier columns. For just one small example, Governor Matt Blunt stood up in church and urged parishioners to pray for guidance about stem cell research-after publicly announcing his support for SCNT.



13. Texas: HJR 96 was introduced by Representative Elliot Naishtat of Austin and establishes a stem cell research program to make grants and loans for stem cell research, for research facilities, and for other research.  It would require a constitutional amendment. HB 2469 was sponsored by Representative Senfronia Thompson of Houston and would establish a Texas Institute for Regenerative Medicine for funding stem cell research.  It would also establish a Stem Cell Research Account; protect research using human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic germ cells, human adult stem cells, and cells from SCNT; and require infertility patient options for unused fertilized eggs.  The bill seeks a $900 million bond to issue over the next 6 years.  



14. Washington's House of Reps passed HB 1268 allowing SCNT-but bill was defeated by one vote in Senate. Back next year!



 15. Wisconsin's Governor Jim Doyle, vetoing a bill which would have prohibited SCNT. Governor Doyle hopes to get $275 million for stem cell research.



16. California: beloved golden state- tomorrow we will do an update on the court battle, which took a strongly positive turn yesterday (for the good guys!).







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