(Click on each state abbreviation for details)

As of September 11, 2023

AZ: Senate President Warren Petersen is greenlighting a suit against the Biden administration for its recent designation of a national monument near the Grand Canyon.

AR: The Governor summoned a special session to cut the state’s top individual income tax rate from 4.7% to 4.4%, and top corporate income from 5.1% to 4.8%.

CA: Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins recently announced that Senator Mike McGuire will be the Pro Tem Designee. Sen. McGuire has served as Majority Leader since 2022.

CA: Lawmakers approved a new excise tax on guns and ammunition that would require manufacturers, vendors and dealers to pay an extra 11% tax.

CO: Sen. Robert Rodriguez will be the state’s new Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Rodriguez previously served as Assistant Majority Leader.

IL: Chinese EV lithium battery maker Gotion has chosen Illinois as the site of a new $2B plant, which is expected to create some 2,600 jobs in the state.

KS: Senate President Ty Masterson warned against dramatic increases in pay for state lawmakers, saying, “Public service at some level does have sacrifice to it.

ME: A bill sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson and signed by the Governor devotes about $60M to the state’s childcare system over the next two years.

WI: State lawmakers introduced legislation that would require insurance companies to offer hearing-aid coverage for children.

MO: Senator Bill Eigel, who has been bitterly critical of the fellow Republicans controlling the state government, has entered the GOP primary contest for governor.

NM: The Governor’s emergency order suspending the right to carry firearms in public in and around Albuquerque drew an immediate court challenge from a gun-rights group.

NY: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are calling for legislation and nearly $180M in federal funding to address maternal mortality and mental health.

NC: The state’s 2023-25 budget will move forward without provisions for two commercial casinos, which lacked support among House members.

OR: Supermarket giants Kroger and Albertson’s said they would sell off at least 49 stores in the state to assuage regulators if their $24.6B merger is approved.

As of June 29, 2023

AZ: The governor signed two executive orders giving additional protections to the state’s LGBTQ residents.

CA: State officials have reached a deal on a $310B state budget that they say protects core programs and covers a $30B-plus deficit without dipping into key reserves

DE: The Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023, which sets a planning process and goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is headed to the governor.

GA: Senate Republicans support giving $6,000 educational vouchers to many students, part of a nationwide push for education savings accounts following the COVID-19 pandemic.

MA: Because the budget won’t be passed by July 1, the state will operate with an interim budget while lawmakers negotiate a final spending plan.

MA: Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem is sponsoring a bill that would ban selling, leasing, trading or renting cell phone location data, partly to protect abortion rights.

MI: Lawmakers approved an $82B budget centering on education, infrastructure and theenvironment, the first opportunity in decades for Democrats to craft a budget reflecting their priorities.

NH: Lawmakers are at odds over bail reform, with Senate leaders pushing to limit bail options for people charged with violent offenses.

NJ: State leaders are poised to double the child tax credit for families that make less than $80,000, expanding the program a year after it was created.

NJ: A voluminous new tax relief proposal targeting New Jersey seniors is on its way to afull vote in the legislature.

OH: With considerable differences between the House and Senate versions of the biennial budget, it seems unlikely it will be signed into law before July 1.

OH: Amazon’s profitable cloud business will invest roughly $7.8B by the end of 2029 to expand its data center operations in central Ohio.

OK: The Senate failed to produce the two-thirds vote requirement to overturn the governor’s veto of Oklahoma’s tribal tobacco compact.

OR: Legislators passed several bills addressing sex crimes, street racing, ghost guns and other public safety issues, but did not fund a legal service for victims.

OR: Two Republicans crossed the aisle to help pass a tax increase that will provide funding for a 988 suicide hotline service.

PA: With the state’s annual budget deadline looming, a disagreement over some schoolfunding could delay the entire budget.

TX: A special session ended with the legislature deadlocked on property tax cuts, so thegovernor called a second special session focused solely on property taxes.

VT: Child care programs will get a $120M boost to increase affordability, quality and access after the legislature overrode the governor’s veto.

WI: Republicans don't plan any substantive changes to the state budget, so funding cutsto the University of Wisconsin System will remain absent the governor's veto.

As of July 25, 2023

AL: Lawmakers chose to increase the percentage of Black voters in the second district instead of creating a Black majority district following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

CT: The governor has signed legislation requiring high school students to take a financial literacy course before graduating.

KY: Senate President Robert Stivers said the administration should be open to the State Auditor’s special examination of the handling of disaster relief funds.

MI: The governor signed a $24.3B school aid budget that includes free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students and a $91M increase to the state’s preschool program.

OK: Senators return to the Capitol on July 24 in a special-session effort to override two of the governor’s vetoes and thereby extend tribal compacts.

OR: A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senate President Rob Wagner and the Senate Minority Leader would require a class in personal finance for students to graduate.

PA: There may be a glimmer of hope in resolving the state’s budget stalemate according to Senate President Pro Tem Kim Ward.

PA: The Senate advanced legislation liberalizing the state’s 5-year-old medical marijuana program by expanding who can buy it and allowing it to be sold in edible form.

WI: The governor approved sweeping legislation that changes how the state’s youngest elementary school students learn to read by emphasizing a phonics-based approach.

As of June 29, 2023

AZ: The governor signed two executive orders giving additional protections to the state’s LGBTQ residents.

CA: State officials have reached a deal on a $310B state budget that they say protects core programs and covers a $30B-plus deficit without dipping into key reserves

DE: The Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023, which sets a planning process and goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is headed to the governor.

GA: Senate Republicans support giving $6,000 educational vouchers to many students, part of a nationwide push for education savings accounts following the COVID-19 pandemic.

MA: Because the budget won’t be passed by July 1, the state will operate with an interim budget while lawmakers negotiate a final spending plan.

MA: Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem is sponsoring a bill that would ban selling, leasing, trading or renting cell phone location data, partly to protect abortion rights.

MI: Lawmakers approved an $82B budget centering on education, infrastructure and theenvironment, the first opportunity in decades for Democrats to craft a budget reflecting their priorities.

NH: Lawmakers are at odds over bail reform, with Senate leaders pushing to limit bail options for people charged with violent offenses.

NJ: State leaders are poised to double the child tax credit for families that make less than $80,000, expanding the program a year after it was created.

NJ: A voluminous new tax relief proposal targeting New Jersey seniors is on its way to afull vote in the legislature.

OH: With considerable differences between the House and Senate versions of the biennial budget, it seems unlikely it will be signed into law before July 1.

OH: Amazon’s profitable cloud business will invest roughly $7.8B by the end of 2029 to expand its data center operations in central Ohio.

OK: The Senate failed to produce the two-thirds vote requirement to overturn the governor’s veto of Oklahoma’s tribal tobacco compact.

OR: Legislators passed several bills addressing sex crimes, street racing, ghost guns and other public safety issues, but did not fund a legal service for victims.

OR: Two Republicans crossed the aisle to help pass a tax increase that will provide funding for a 988 suicide hotline service.

PA: With the state’s annual budget deadline looming, a disagreement over some schoolfunding could delay the entire budget.

TX: A special session ended with the legislature deadlocked on property tax cuts, so thegovernor called a second special session focused solely on property taxes.

VT: Child care programs will get a $120M boost to increase affordability, quality and access after the legislature overrode the governor’s veto.

WI: Republicans don't plan any substantive changes to the state budget, so funding cutsto the University of Wisconsin System will remain absent the governor's veto.

As of June 1, 2023

AL: The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would impose mandatory penalties for possessing, using or carrying a firearm in a gang-related crime.

CA: The Senate is expected to vote on a bill (SB 584) that would impose a 15% tax on short-term rentals such as Airbnb's to fund affordable housing projects.

CT: Mobile-home residents would have the chance to buy their parks before the land is sold under a new bill passed by the Senate.

MI: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks expressed support for the Governor's new strategy to entice more businesses to the state.

MN: A provision banning non-compete agreements was tucked into an omnibus spending bill passed by the Legislature earlier this session. CA, ND and OK have similar bans.

NJ: Senate President Nicholas Scutari introduced the Senate version of a tax relief bill for senior citizens, heralding a conflict with the Governor as the state's budget deadline nears.

NY: Legislative leaders are close to a deal on the Clean Slate Act, which would seal individuals' criminal records after a certain period of time. Sex crimes are excluded.

OH: Baby items such as diapers, strollers and car seats would be exempt from state sales taxes under a bill that cleared the Senate by unanimous vote.

OH: Two Republicans have introduced bills that would eliminate sales tax on guns and ammo; and incentivize gun manufacturers to build firearms in the state by reducing their tax burden.

OK: The state's Supreme Court struck down two laws banning abortion in life-threatening situations, though the procedure remains illegal in nearly all other cases.

OR: In the midst of a Republican walk-out, Democrats in the Senate voted to begin fining absent senators $325 for every day a quorum is not reached.

TN: The Governor's proposal to address mass shootings with a bill enabling law enforcement to confiscate weapons from unstable people "won't pass the House," said the House Speaker.

VA: Virginia has joined several other states in eliminating college degree requirements for the vast majority of state jobs.

WY: Senate President Ogden Driskill said surrounding states are beating the Cowboy State at attracting new businesses, and wants a task force to scrutinize regulatory obstacles.

As of May 16, 2023

CT: In the same week when ChatGPT’s CEO addressed Congress, lawmakers in CT passed a bill to begin setting standards for the use of AI tools.

FL: Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and the House Speaker have endorsed Governor Ron DeSantis for a presidential run.

FL: The Governor signed three measures bringing change to state universities, including the banning of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.”

IN: At least five bills aimed at lowering healthcare costs have cleared the Senate and House.

MO: The Legislature passed a measure allowing retired teachers to work full-time for up to four years, rather than two years, while retaining retirement benefits.

MO: Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden commented after lawmakers fell short of a goal to limit foreign ownership of farmland.

MT: The Governor signed a bill that caps the insurance copay on a 30-day supply of insulin at $35.

NE: Session-long debates over a 12-week abortion ban and a restriction on gender-affirming care could be settled this week with an amendment pairing the two measures.

NV: The Legislature has approved a measure asking voters whether to make abortion a constitutional right in the state.

ND: In a published editorial, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue said that an $8.8B fund with potential to reduce the state’s overdependence on oil and gas is an appropriate subject for public scrutiny.

OK: Republican leaders have announced a $785 education investment that includes a raise in teacher pay and unlocks a voucher-like tax credit program.

OR: Republicans continued their boycott of the state Capitol, leading to the apparent disqualification of three lawmakers from re-election due to a recent voter-approved law.

SC: A bill that would dissolve the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and create two new cabinet-level agencies awaits the Governor’s signature.

TN: The battle between parental oversight and freedom of expression continues to brew as another bill passed to tighten the consequences for books with content deemed obscene.

TX: The House gave final approval to two bills that would create a $1B fund to invest in more land for the state parks system.

WA: Ahead of a special session on the issue, lawmakers have come to a tentative agreement making drug possession a gross misdemeanor.

As of March 16, 2023

FL: Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said there is little support in the Senate for a House bill that would lower the minimum age to buy rifles and other long guns.

ID: The House Education Committee advanced a bill that would prohibit K-12 students from using bathrooms that do not match their biological sex.

IL: The state has mandated paid time off up to 40 hours per year for full-time employees “for any purpose.”

IA: Lawmakers approved what may be the largest government overhaul in any state this year with a bill that would consolidate departments, cut agencies, and eliminate 200 jobs.

IA: The Senate Ways and Means committee advanced legislation to reduce and eventually eliminate the state income tax.

KS: After sparring over competing proposals, lawmakers signed off on a measure to reduce the state and local taxes on groceries.

ME: The Legislature will host the State of the Tribes Address for the first time in two decades, providing tribal chiefs the opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers.

NM: The Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Term Mimi Stewart that requires gun owners to keep firearms safely stored.

NM: Legislators agreed on a medical malpractice proposal that would enable independent outpatient clinics to continue operating — a bipartisan breakthrough in a combative debate.

NY: Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the legislature should invest funds in mental health, crime and violence prevention, and education.

NC: After years of debate, Medicaid expansion has passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.

OK: Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat is creating an Economic Development Select Committee to study

SD: The Governor has put her veto on a fourth bill that the Legislature approved in its 2023 session, the latest an objection to excluding cryptocurrency from the definition of “money.”

UT: The Governor has signed legislation banning all abortion clinics in the state by the start of next year.

As of March 2, 2023

FL: Affordable housing, a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, rates #1 in this list of “10 big issues to watch in Florida’s 2023 legislative session.”

ID: A legislative committee rejected a bill that would have made schools and libraries liable to lawsuits for distributing material deemed harmful to children.

IN: A bill banning all gender-affirming care passed the Senate 36-12. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray characterized the banned treatments as “uncertain, unproven, and life-altering.”

MI: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said the Senate will move a package of gun-control bills through committee and to the floor as soon as possible.

MS: With the Governor’s signature on a GOP-led bill, Mississippi became the third state this year to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

MO: A Senate committee has approved a bill to exempt ammunition and the sale of firearms from state and local sales taxes.

MO: Infighting among Republican lawmakers came to a head in a dispute over transgender care.

MT: The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee advanced a bill that would prohibit internet service providers from allowing anyone to access TikTok, punishable by a $10,000 fine.

OH: The Senate Committee on Rail Safety held its first meeting after the derailment in East Palestine. Senate President Matt Huffman has said lawmakers could explore changes to tort law.

SD: The Governor said she would veto a state budget that does not include her proposed repeal of the state sales tax on food.

UT: A push to mandate that members of religious clergy report child sexual abuse when it's brought to their attention is facing resistance.

WY: A bill that outlaws medication abortions is likely to become law after legislators sent it out of the House in a 56-5 vote.