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A bill to clarify state rules related to HIV tests sailed through the Georgia House in February without a dissenting vote. It arrived in the Senate with little fanfare and with good prospects for passage. But a provision in House Bill 1058 that would have promoted ‘‘needle exchanges’’ for injection drug users was stripped out of the bill in the Senate, as a health committee took up the proposal. (Miller, 3/17)

Politically potent tobacco bills have not advanced to Gov. Jerry Brown a week after California legislators passed them, for now delaying the tobacco industry’s strategy to exact revenge with a referendum campaign. (White, 3/17)

Kentucky would halt its mine inspections in the beleaguered coalfields, ceding the job to a federal agency, under legislation that passed the Republican-led state Senate on Thursday. Sen. Chris Girdler said his measure, which passed on a 25-11 vote, would end duplication from federal and state inspections and offer some relief for struggling coal operators. (Schreiner, 3/17)

The Kansas House on Thursday tentatively approved a bill to prohibit city, county and school district officials from adopting certain types of healthy food policies. The bill — House Bill 2595 — would prevent local officials from restricting the sale of so-called junk food at restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers. It also would preclude policies that require businesses to provide consumers with more nutritional information about the food and drinks they sell. (McLean, 3/17)