Which type of law can a state legislature enact that is more generous than federal law?

State legislatures have the authority to enact statutory law that can be more generous than federal law. Statutory law refers to laws that are written and enacted by a legislative body, such as state statutes. This allows states to provide greater protections, benefits, or rights than those established by federal law, as long as they do not violate federal statutes or constitutional principles.

For instance, states may choose to implement laws regarding minimum wage, environmental regulations, or health care that exceed federal requirements, reflecting local values and needs. This ability to give additional rights or protections is a fundamental aspect of the federal system, where states can tailor their legal frameworks to better serve their populations.

In contrast, common law refers to law derived from judicial decisions rather than statutes, while regulatory law generally relates to the rules created by governmental agencies based on statutory authority. Case law, on the other hand, involves the interpretation of law through judicial rulings and is dependent on specific cases rather than legislatively enacted statutes. This distinction clarifies why statutory law is the correct answer in this context.