States will be scrambling to manage new priorities and demands from Washington, tighten their belts in a tough budget cycle and respond to federal frameworks on AI regulation.
Despite being the nation’s largest full-time legislature, divided government and a budget impasse have sharply limited output.
States are having doubts about whether their sports betting programs — legalized in a rush of legislation over the last several years — are generating the promised benefits.
The House voted this week to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for seven years, while also modifying the program.
The state’s projected budget deficit for fiscal year 2026 has increased to $58.3 million. Idaho’s constitution prevents it from running a budget deficit.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener and a group of advocates spent seven years pushing a bill to promote dense housing near transit stops. It finally became law.
Lawmakers want to prevent chatbots capable of human-like conversations from encouraging teens to hurt themselves or engaging in sexual interactions with kids.
The bill aims to get around federal protections for gun manufacturers.
Negotiations over revising the first-in-the-nation law collapsed and now it won’t be enacted until at least June 2026.
States introduced far more bills and passed many more into law than Congress has, acting in key areas such as tech, finance and health.
It’s one of the most robust paid leave laws in the country and has required the state government to build out a sprawling administrative apparatus.
Burton was an influential figure in Democratic circles for decades as a member of Congress and state legislator.
Colorado will no longer allow donors of sperm or eggs to remain anonymous. Georgia recently guaranteed adoptees the right to see their original birth certificates.
SEPTA is cutting service and hiking fares amid a budget stalemate in the Pennsylvania legislature. The fight is highlighting regional fault lines.
It’s happening more and more. But while the initiative process could use some reforms, it's a legitimate element of the democratic process.
Despite their obvious differences, legislators are able to work across the aisle on issues of shared concern such as transportation and housing, says the head of NCSL.
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