The states may tighten these regulations if they wish, but cannot relax them.

The panel was set up to consider assessments other than the Regents exam after the state tightened graduation standards.

The states may tighten these regulations, which include seasons, bag limits and shooting hours, but they cannot go the other way.

Within the next five years, 45 states tightened curriculum requirements and 27 instituted minimum grade-point averages for beginning teachers.

Several other states have tightened their own campaign finance systems.

In an effort to prevent such incidents, many states have tightened the requirements for license renewals.

Many states may actually tighten eligibility requirements or lower payments next year if the demand for benefits rises.

Nationwide, states have tightened their parole policies, making it much harder for inmates to be released early.

When adult enrollment reached 175,000 this year, the state tightened eligibility requirements.

The school now faces a series of new academic hurdles as the state tightens its academic requirements.