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Legislative developments and policy trends from across the states to keep you ahead of the curve. | | | |
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Current Legislative Landscape | |
15 states, DC, PR and US are currently in regular session. | | | |
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We are closely monitoring all legislative session activity to provide you with the most up-to-date information. (Got an on-the-ground tip on sessions? Email us!) | |
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Past Governor Signing Deadlines
- Arkansas (Sanders) - May 19
Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines - Oklahoma (Stitt) - May 29 or pocket vetoed
- Iowa (Reynolds) - June 2 or pocket vetoed
- Colorado (Polis) - June 13
- Hawaii (Green) - June 22
- Missouri (Kehoe) - June 29
- Alaska (Dunleavy) - 20 days from presentment, Sunday excepted
- Connecticut (Lamont) and Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment.
- Kansas (Kelly) and Tennessee (Lee) - 10 days, Sundays excepted
- Maryland (Moore) - 30 days from presentment
- Minnesota (Waltz) - 14 days from presentment or pocket vetoed
- South Carolina (McMaster) - five days, Sundays excepted
- Wisconsin (Evers) - six days from presentment, Sundays excepted
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The following states adjourned their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided: - Minnesota (May 17)
- Alaska (May 20)
The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided: - Illinois (May 31)
- Louisiana (June 1)
- New York (June 4)
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Special Sessions
The Florida legislature convened a special session on May 12. The session is focused on budget work and is expected to adjourn on May 29. [CBS 12] South Carolina convened a special session on May 15, the day after the regular session adjourned. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster called the session to discuss the upcoming fiscal year’s budget and to further consider redrawing congressional maps. [WBTV] Alaska is holding a special session that began on May 21 after adjourning the regular session the previous day. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the special session to address a bill that is meant to advance a natural gas pipeline after legislators failed to pass it during the regular session. [The Anchorage Daily News] Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced a special session to address redistricting. Legislators are expected to be called back to Atlanta on June 17 to decide on gerrymandering and voting issues. [WTVM]
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Interim Activity
Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
*Added since the last newsletter. | | |
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Georgia held a special election for Senate District 7 on May 19. Democrats Ruwu Romman and Rahul Garabadu each got 38 and 33 percent of the vote respectively, beating fellow Democrat Astrid Ross. Romman and Garabadu will now head to a runoff election on June 16 since neither candidate got a majority of the vote. [Fox 5 Atlanta] Pennsylvania held a special election for House District 196 on May 19. Republican George Margetas defeated Democrat Ron Ruman with 55.6 percent of the vote. [WGAL] The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Georgia House District 177 and Maine House District 29 (June 9), Georgia Senate District 7 (June 16), Louisiana House District 39 (June 27), Arkansas House District 44 (August 4) and Pennsylvania House District 12 (August 18).
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Posting Bill Drafts for 2027 | |
Montana is currently posting bill drafts for the 2027 legislative session.
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Alaska Alaska governor vetoes bill that sought to adjust state's transportation planning. [Alaska Beacon]
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New Hampshire New Hampshire House passes Senate compromise bill on landfill policy. [WMUR] | | |
Missouri Missouri lawmakers fail to pass AI regulations during 2026 legislative session. [K8 News]
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Wisconsin Failed surplus deal would have sent Wisconsin budget into the red, analysis finds [WPR] | | | | |
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FOCUS on Financial Issues | | | |
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Prediction markets have rapidly emerged as one of the most closely watched issues in state legislatures in 2026. These online platforms allow users to wager on the outcome of future events ranging from elections and sporting events to weather patterns and economic indicators. Operators argue that prediction markets function more like commodity exchanges than traditional sportsbooks because they facilitate trades between users instead of setting odds directly. That distinction has sparked a growing debate among policymakers over whether these platforms should be treated as financial products, gambling operations or a unique category altogether.
As prediction markets continue to gain popularity, lawmakers across the country are increasingly examining their legal status, consumer protections and taxation structures. So far in 2026, at least 17 states have considered legislation related to prediction markets, including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia. | |
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FOCUS on Education, Budget and Tax | | | |
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Across the states, education funding remains central to budget planning and debate. From public school investments to school choice initiatives, legislatures are balancing competing priorities while shaping long-term education spending strategies.
Education is often among the largest allocations in a state budget, making it a key focus during legislative budget negotiations. Recent state actions show how funding decisions around schools continue to influence broader fiscal policy discussions.
FOCUS will continue to monitor developments on education spending and state budget decisions across the country.
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FOCUS: Trusted Experts in State Government Affairs | |
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Since 2003, FOCUS has provided tailored, results-driven government affairs solutions for our clients. We offer best-in-class legislative and regulatory tracking to keep you informed and ahead of the curve. Our full-service platform delivers real-time, comprehensive coverage across all 50 states, D.C., Congress, local jurisdictions, and key state and federal agencies. With filtered databases, customized alerts, expert analysis, an intuitive dashboard, and outstanding support, our team equips you with the tools and intelligence needed to navigate policy developments with confidence and clarity. | | |
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Customized, Comprehensive Tracking Platform | Track legislation and regulations across all 50 states, Congress, Puerto Rico, thousands of municipalities, and select international regions in an expert-filtered, tailored-to-you database. No keyword dumps, no junk—just what’s relevant. | | | |
Intel-rich Bill Analysis & Weekly Reporting | Customized, analyst-written reports on priority legislation and regulations—delivered weekly to inform strategy and identify risks & opportunities early. | | | |
Unparalleled Customer Service | Direct, ongoing access to your lead analyst, unlimited training and support, and concierge-level client care. We pride ourselves on serving as an extension of your staff. | | | |
Access The Advocacy Group (TAG) — the premier 50-state and global lobbying network — at no cost. No middlemen. No referral fees. Just direct access to the best of the best. The TAG network includes 60+ top-tier, independent firms — one in every state, country, and specialty. | | | |
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