The following highlights recent news of state actions on human cloning and stem cell research.

• Florida: Gov. Charlie Crist (R) last week proposed that the state spend $20 million on nonembryonic stem cell research, the Miami Herald reports. Crist last summer during his gubernatorial campaign said he supported human embryonic stem cell research and opposed President Bush's veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (HR 810). According to the Herald, Crist acknowledged that he made the proposal based on likely opposition to embryonic stem cell research in the Republican-controlled state Legislature. State Rep. Anitere Flores (R) has filed a bill that is similar to Crist's proposal. State Rep. Franklin Sands (D) -- who last month filed a bill (HB 555) that would require the state to provide at least $20 million annually over the next 10 years for research using human embryonic stem cells, amniotic fluid-derived stem cells and adult stem cells -- said it is "kind of sad" that Crist "raised the white flag before the battle begins" (Fineout, Miami Herald, 2/1). Crist said he was less interested in making a "political point" by supporting embryonic stem cell research than passing a measure to provide state funding for other types of stem cell research (Deslatte, Florida Capital Bureau, 2/4).
  
  
• Minnesota: The House Committee on Biosciences and Emerging Technology on Wednesday by voice vote approved a bill (HF 34) sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL) that would allocate state funds for stem cell research, but lawmakers deleted a line that would require special funding for embryonic stem cell research, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (Olson, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/8). According to Kahn, the bill would form a review panel to assess medical and ethical implications of research and would require patients undergoing fertility treatments to confirm consent before their unused embryos would be used for research (Bakst, AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/6). A similar measure (SF 100), sponsored by Sen. Dick Cohen (DFL), would allocate some state funds for embryonic stem cell research, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (Lopez, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/5). Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Monday indicated that he would veto legislation expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research. Pawlenty during a speech to the Minnesota Family Council said he supports research using umbilical cord blood, adult stem cells or cells extracted from embryos without damaging them. "I do not support wide-open embryonic stem cell research," he added (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/5).
  
  
• Nebraska: Sen. Mark Christensen (R) recently introduced a bill (LB 700) that would ban all human cloning for both reproductive and research purposes in the state, the AP/Beatrice Daily Sun reports. The legislation has the same provisions as a University of Nebraska Medical Center policy on human cloning for both stem cell research and reproductive purposes, according to the AP/Daily Sun. Greg Schleppenbach of the Nebraska Catholic Conference during a news conference called for a ban on cloning to ensure it does not happen in the future. A majority of senators have cosigned the legislation, which has not yet been debated by the Legislature, the AP/Daily Sun reports (AP/Beatrice Daily Sun, 2/6).