As legislative sessions ramp up across the country, lawmakers are tackling a wide range of policy issues—from animal welfare and prison reform to cryptocurrency and education funding. In Alabama, legislators are considering new protections for tethered dogs, while Arizona explores the use of public funds for Bitcoin investments. Meanwhile, Michigan is pushing for greater transparency with a proposed ban on NDAs for lawmakers, and Pennsylvania’s governor is rolling out an ambitious energy strategy. With key budget decisions, criminal justice reforms, and economic policies up for debate, here’s a look at the latest developments from state capitols nationwide.
Alabama
Legislators in Alabama may soon make the outside tethering of dogs illegal with a new bill that would require pet owners to keep their dogs indoors during certain weather conditions. In addition to facing penalties for leaving a pet outside, owners could also face legal consequences if they fail to provide sufficient food and water for their pets under this proposed bill.
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Arizona
Arizona is continuing its shift toward cryptocurrency with new legislation aimed at allowing both pensions and public funds to be invested in Bitcoin.
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Arkansas
Senator Bryan King (R) introduced legislation to tackle prison overcrowding and crime in Arkansas by expanding local jails through county-state partnerships. His plan would use revenue from medical marijuana, casinos, and criminal settlements to fund public safety, including hiring officers.
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Connecticut
A new Select Committee on Special Education has been formed to address special education costs. The committee met for the first time on Monday, where presentations were given by the nonpartisan offices of Legislative Research and Fiscal Analysis.
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Maryland
Debates over energy policy continue to intensify in Maryland’s legislature, particularly regarding the state’s dwindling electricity supply and the rising costs of energy.
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Michigan
State Representatives Steve Carra and Dylan Wegela introduced bipartisan legislation to ban legislators from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The bills aim to prevent lawmakers from signing NDAs based on information obtained through their official duties. The issue of legislators signing NDAs has become increasingly politicized in recent years.
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Missouri
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s (R) first budget, presented Tuesday, includes a $2.5 billion surplus allocation to balance the $53.7 billion budget for the coming year. This represents a $450 million increase from the current fiscal year. The budget falls $300 million short of the state’s public education funding targets, despite a proposed $4 billion allocation for the foundation formula—the basic state aid program—in fiscal 2026.
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New Jersey
Despite passing laws, securing funding, and implementing taxes to combat smoking, New Jersey has received a poor grade from the American Lung Association, which believes the state has failed to adequately address the issue.
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New York
Lawmakers in New York are pushing for an increase in wages for food service workers, which would require restaurants to pay workers the full minimum wage in addition to tips. The proposed bill has faced backlash from restaurant owners, who argue it would increase operating costs and ultimately reduce tip income for workers.
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Ohio
Ohio lawmakers are taking a new approach to repealing the death penalty by directly addressing its funding through taxes. They aim to stop taxpayer funding for the death penalty as well as for abortion services.
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) this week introduced a set of energy proposals, dubbed the Lightning Plan, aimed at boosting the state’s competitiveness and establishing it as a leader in clean, affordable energy.
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Virginia
Virginia House Bill 2368 aims to reduce toll costs for frequent drivers and low-income residents. The bill proposes that drivers using electronic toll devices would not incur charges after reaching a monthly limit of $200. Additionally, individuals receiving TANF benefits would be exempt from tolls. The bill has progressed to the next stage of review by a House Transportation subcommittee.
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Wyoming
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R) is concerned about state lawmakers’ changes to his wildfire funding recommendations. Communities affected by wildfires last summer expressed a need for grants, not loans. Lawmakers reduced the governor’s proposed $130 million in funding to $100 million and changed it from a grant program to a loan program with 2% interest.
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