This week, states tackled pressing issues through legislative and executive actions. Alabama eyes voting access reforms for 2026, while Arizona nears a tobacco age increase to 21. Arkansas approved a state insurance program to curb rising premiums, and California raised vehicle processing fees. Colorado launched a teacher home-buying program, Connecticut banned government crypto investments, and Delaware debates a tobacco tax hike. From Florida’s Medicaid changes to Georgia’s election review and Hawaii’s vetoes, states are addressing local and national priorities. Explore the details below for this week’s key developments.


Alabama

A number of bills targeting voting rights and access in Alabama were never considered by committees during the 2025 legislative session. Bills providing opportunities for early voting and easier access for voters with disabilities are expected to be filed again for the 2026 Legislative Session. 

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Arizona

Arizona Senate Bill 1247 aims to raise the legal age for purchasing and possessing tobacco products from 18 to 21 with an exception for active-duty military personnel, who would still be permitted to buy and use tobacco products at age 18. The bill is in a strong position to be voted on and approved by the legislature. 

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Arkansas

Lawmakers have granted preliminary approval for the proposed rate structure of the new state-owned captive insurance program, designed to cover property and buildings owned by public schools, higher education institutions, and state agencies. The captive, authorized through Acts 560 and 779 passed earlier this year, aims to curb rising insurance premiums driven by natural disasters, lawsuits, and cyber risks. 

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California

The Senate overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 791, allowing dealerships to increase document and processing fees from the current maximum of $85 up to 1% of a vehicle’s purchase price – capped at $500 – for new or used cars. The legislation now heads to the Assembly for further review. 

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Colorado

Senate Bill 167, signed into law on Wednesday by Governor Jared Polis (D), will create a new down payment assistance program to help public school teachers and staff buy their first homes. The bill creates a state-run investment portfolio within the state’s public school fund, with the interest and income from the portfolio going towards the down payment assistance program. 

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Connecticut

Lawmakers passed a bill banning all state and local government investments in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The legislation also prohibits the creation of a strategic reserve of digital assets and blocks government entities from accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment. 

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Delaware

Governor Matt Meyer (D) has proposed a tobacco tax increase of 50 cents per pack to help combat the looming budget deficit. However, lawmakers are proposing triple that amount, as well as raising the tax on other tobacco products from 30% to 45% of the wholesale price. The changes could bring in millions of additional revenue for the state. 

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Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed HB 1102 into law, ending the 600-person cap on a Medicaid managed-care pilot for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The law also reinstates mandatory public reporting on waiver program enrollment and waitlist data by county, and establishes a Statewide Family Care Council to conduct periodic studies to improve service coordination and funding allocation for Medicaid waiver recipients. 

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Georgia

State lawmakers are launching a new effort to review how elections are run in Georgia in order to ensure secure, transparent, and efficient voting ahead of the 2026 cycle. The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Election Procedures will issue a final report with recommendations before the 2026 legislative session. 

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Hawaii

Governor Josh Green (D) recently announced plans to veto 19 bills in the upcoming weeks, one of which would have allowed primary care physicians to recommend medical cannabis for any condition. 

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Illinois

The budget package approved by the General Assembly on May 31 calls for licensed sportsbooks to pay a tax of 25 cents for each of the first 20 million wagers they accept per year, and 50 cents for every bet beyond that. Legislators signed off on this per-wager tax to help bridge a $1 billion state budget gap. The new taxes will take effect July 1, pending Governor JB Pritzker (D)’s expected signature. 

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Indiana

Dozens of state employees have been laid off in response to budget cuts in the state’s new spending plan, signed into law by Governor Mike Braun (R).

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Iowa

Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed Senate File 657 into law, overhauling Iowa’s tax credit system and reducing incentives for business development. The new law caps the state’s tax incentives at $110 million annually and caps research activities credit at $40 million. The law also includes a temporary increase for workforce housing tax credits. 

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Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly (D) and the bipartisan State Finance Council approved the release of $36.2 million to fund scheduled salary increases for state employees under the 2025 pay plan. The full $40 million authorized by the legislature for compensation adjustments was not needed, so unused funds will revert to the general fund in next year’s budget. 

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Kentucky

Lawmakers are laying the groundwork in the legislative interim for the next regular session. Many committee and task force meetings will take place between now and December, giving lawmakers an opportunity to keep an eye on how new legislation is being implemented and what needs to be on priority lists for next session. 

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Louisiana

The Louisiana Legislature has approved a bill targeting out-of-state providers of abortion-indusing drugs. The bill gives more time to individuals who want to sue someone who performed, attempted to perform, or substantially facilitated an abortion. House Bill 575 easily passed both chambers.

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Maine

Lawmakers passed legislation on Tuesday that will prohibit the doxxing of minors. Families whose children are doxed – who have their personal information posted to intentionally cause direct or indirect harm – will now be able to seek court action.

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Maryland

The Board of Public Works, led by Governor Wes Moore (D), has approved more than $4.3 million in grants to support 20 projects under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Greenspace Equity program. Established by Maryland General Assembly legislation in 2023, the Greenspace Equity Program supports the creation, preservation and improvement of public green spaces. Its grants will benefit local governments, land trusts, and nonprofit organizations working to enhance green spaces in underserved communities. 

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Massachusetts

The House passed a bill last week that would allow intoxicating hemp-derived beverages to be sold in licensed Massachusetts liquor stores, while prohibiting edible intoxicating hemp-derived products like gummies. The bill would also restructure the Cannabis Control Commission, increase purchasing and possession limits for cannabis, and loosen existing requirements for medical marijuana businesses. 

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Michigan

The Michigan House passed legislation to create a course in firearms education for grades 6 to 12. HB 4285 would direct the Michigan Department of Education to work with the Department of Natural Resources to make a program of firearm safety instruction available to all public schools as an elective course. 

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Minnesota

The Legislature passed a bill on Monday to repeal undocumented adults’ eligibility for MinnesotaCare, the state-subsidized health insurance program for the working poor. Undocumented children will still be eligible for MinnesotaCare when Governor Tim Walz (D) signs the bill into law. The change is expected to save the state around $57 million in the next two years. 

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Mississippi

On July 1, many new laws will go into effect. The sale of Kratom will be restricted to those over the age of 21, wine will be available for delivery to homes where individuals over the age of 21 can sign for it, some homeless encampments will be banned, and schools will be allowed to directly pay college athletes, among other new laws. 

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Missouri

The House closed its special legislative session on Wednesday, approving three bills that were already approved in the state Senate and are now on their way to Governor Mike Kehoe (R)’s desk. The bills deal with financing sports stadiums in Kansas city and providing tornado relief for St. Louis. 

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Montana

Lawmakers came together this legislative session to advance a pro-business energy solution that attracts private investment with the intent to strengthen Montana’s grid. Senate Bill 188, creating a voluntary Solar Shares program, is now awaiting Governor Greg Gianforte (R)’s signature. 

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Nebraska

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission had its inaugural meeting on Monday, with the deadline for setting licensing criteria on July 1 approaching fast. Much of the first meeting focused on administrative hurdles, including the Open Meetings Act for virtual and in-person meetings. 

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Nevada

Governor Joe Lombardo (R) signed Assembly Bill 381 into law on Tuesday. The legislation, known as “Reba’s Law,” increases penalties for animal cruelty. 

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New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Senate passed a scaled-back version of House Bill 60, a controversial no-cause eviction bill that reignites debate over tenant rights and housing policy. The revised bill includes new guardrails, but still gives landlords broader power to end leases without explanation. The changes won bipartisan support in the Senate, but resistance is already building in the House. 

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New Jersey

Lawmakers advanced a bill that would make New Jersey the first state to create a program that preserves urban land for farming and community gardening. The legislation, passed by the Senate Budget Committee on Monday, would allocate $25 million in corporate tax revenue to acquire and lease city land for food production, education, and partnerships with local growers and nonprofits. 

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New York

On Monday, New York state senators approved the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow patients with terminal illnesses to end their own lives with a lethal prescription. The bill now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul (D)’s desk for signature, but she has given no indication of whether or not she supports it. 

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North Carolina

On Tuesday, lawmakers gave final approval to Senate Bill 153, which requires state agencies to sign agreements cooperating with U.S. Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE). It bars undocumented immigrants from receiving state-funded benefits and opens local governments that have declared themselves “sanctuaries” to lawsuits in crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. The bill now heads to Governor Josh Stein (D)’s desk. 

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North Dakota

Governor Kelly Armstrong (R) intended only to cut $150,000 for a Native American homelessness liaison, but his veto also unintentionally removed a $35 million appropriation for broader homelessness and affordable housing efforts. Attorney General Drew Wrigley ruled that Armstrong’s line-item veto of the Senate bill would stand, avoiding the need for a special legislative session to fix the error. 

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Ohio

Democratic lawmakers have introduced a series of gun-related bills intended to improve community safety by encouraging responsible gun ownership and promoting safe storage, among other goals. The bills have seen little, if any movement. 

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Oregon

Senate Bill 1098 is headed to Governor Tina Kotek’s (D) desk and is expected to be signed into law. The bill prohibits the removal of books from schools and public libraries solely due to content related to protected characteristics, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. 

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Pennsylvania

The state House this week passed House Bill 1549 which would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for most Pennsylvanians, and $12 in some smaller counties. The proposal would also raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. 

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Rhode Island

House lawmakers are considering the “Take it Outside” bill, which would allow restaurants to provide outdoor dining if their building has undergone severe damage from fires, floods, or other major disasters. 

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South Carolina

A new committee will take a closer look at the South Carolina Department of Transportation to improve and modernize the agency. Legislators hope the new committee will build a foundation for long-term growth, safety, and opportunity by focusing on congestion, permitting reform, and SCDOT’s organizational structure. 

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South Dakota

Tension was high on Monday as the Legislature’s Executive Board worked to make appointments to the South Dakota Legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee. Only three of the panel’s 11 members will be returning from last year’s group, leaving 8 seats to be selected for. 

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Tennessee

Republican lawmakers announced legislation this week that would make it a felony for public officials to release the names of immigration officers. The proposed bill targets former Nashville Mayor David Bridley’s 2019 executive order requiring city employees to report any interactions with federal immigration officials to the mayor’s office. 

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Texas

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick had pushed Republicans in both chambers of the Legislature to pass Senate Bill 3, banning products containing THC. The bill has sparked rare backlash from the right, with some Republicans deeming the measure “nanny-state overreach” that would eliminate the state’s $8 billion hemp industry and its estimated 50,000 jobs. Governor Greg Abbott (R) has not yet decided whether to sign or veto the bill. 

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Utah

Governor Spencer Cox (R) has already signed a few memorandums of understanding with companies to help materialize his vision of Utah’s nuclear future: dozens of small modular reactors, accumulating in the state over time. 

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Vermont

Governor Phil Scott (R) signed a law to allow ground-mounted net-metered solar arrays under 25 kW capacity to qualify for Vermont’s expedited registration process, making it easier and faster for residents to go solar. 

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Virginia

This year, the General Assembly passed legislation to create the Virginia Cash Now program, requiring states to automatically return unclaimed funds valued up to $5,000. The Virginia Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division will begin doling out checks to Virginians this week. 

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Washington

The Don’t Miss Your Flight Act, introduced in both the House and Senate, could help speed air cargo shipments through the supply chain by using existing federal funding to create incentives for surface transportation projects at and within five miles of a public airport. 

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West Virginia

Governor Patrick Morrisey (R) approved $738,000 in emergency purchases to fix West Virginia’s foster care crisis. Part of the money was spent on a foster care “listening tour,” where a Chicago-based advisory firm facilitated meetings around the state to bring together Child Protective Services workers, biological parents, and other important parties to air their grievances and offer solutions for a list of issues in the child welfare system. 

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Wisconsin

Republican lawmakers are proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s partial veto powers, which have allowed governors to alter appropriations bills by removing specific words, numbers, or punctuation. The proposed change would confine the governor to veto either entire sections of a bill or to reduce spending. 

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Wyoming

Wyoming’s new Select Committee on Gaming is hoping to give local governments more control over simulcast and historical horse racing (HHR) permits, with plans to draft legislation ahead of the next legislative session beginning in February 2026. The committee aims to address past failures in gambling regulation and empower municipalities to reject unwanted gaming operations within their jurisdictions. 

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