| | | | | | Legislative developments and policy trends from across the states to keep you ahead of the curve. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Current Legislative Landscape | | 3 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Congress are currently in regular session. | |
Ohio is in recess until November 9, though the Senate does have some if-needed dates scheduled for September and October.
| | | | | | 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!) | | | | | | | | Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines (become law without signature unless otherwise specified): - California (Newsom) - September 30
- Alaska (Dunleavy) - 20 days from presentment, Sunday excepted
- Illinois (Pritzker) - 60 days
- Massachusetts (Healey) - 10 days from presentment or pocket vetoed
- New Hampshire (Ayotte) - five days, Sundays excepted
- New York (Hochul) - 10 days from presentment, Sundays excepted
- Rhode Island (McKee) - six days from presentment
- Wisconsin (Evers) - six days from presentment, Sundays excepted
| | | | |
North Carolina is expected to reconvene for voting sessions multiple times through November. The legislature is currently scheduled to reconvene on September 28. | | | Interim Activity
Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
*Added since the last newsletter. | | | | | | |
The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Arkansas Senate District 1, Colorado Senate districts 17, 21, 29 and 31, Florida Senate District 21, Hawaii Senate districts 18 and 19, Kansas Senate districts 24 and 25, Mississippi House districts 70 and 77, Nebraska Senate District 41, New Mexico Senate District 33, North Dakota House districts 26 and 42, Oklahoma House District 92 and Senate District 17, South Carolina Senate District 15, Virginia House District 20, West Virginia Senate districts 3 and 17 and Wyoming Senate District 6 (November 3).
| | | Posting Bill Drafts for 2027 | |
Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah are posting bill drafts for 2027.
| | | | | | | | |
Colorado Colorado state budget deficit grows to $1.6B as Medicaid costs soar. [The Colorado Sun] | | |
New York Amid AI angst, New York moves forward with implementing landmark AI legislation. [Politico] | | | | | | | | |
FOCUS on Education & Technology | | | | | | | | | |
Two of the largest school districts in the United States, New York City Public Schools and Los Angeles Unified School District, have adopted policies limiting student access to generative artificial intelligence, signaling a significant shift in how K-12 school systems are approaching AI. The actions reflect concerns about academic integrity, student development, privacy and overreliance on automated tools, and may set a standard for other school districts looking to establish guardrails for the growing technology. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
With gubernatorial primaries now complete in all 50 states, the 2026 general election has taken shape. Our interactive Election Hub provides comprehensive coverage of governor’s races nationwide, including candidate and election overviews, polling data and fundraising numbers. From competitive open-seat contests in Michigan and Wisconsin to closely watched races in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, the hub tracks the campaigns and issues shaping state politics. Following Election Day, it will be updated with results and changes in political control. | | | | | | | | | | | | FOCUS: Trusted Experts in State Government Affairs | | | | 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. | | | | | | |
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. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
