GOP majorities enact 42 democracy bills—triple their recent average

By

Ballotpedia staff

Welcome to the Friday, Aug. 22, Brew. 

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. GOP majorities enact 42 direct democracy bills—triple their recent average
  2. Reader spotlight: your electrifying books, by Leslie Graves, Ballotpedia Founder and CEO
  3. Ohio voters could decide same-sex marriage constitutional amendments in 2026

GOP majorities enact 42 direct democracy bills—triple their recent average

Each year, we release a report on state legislation affecting the three aspects of direct democracy in the U.S.—the ballot initiative, referendum, and recall election. In this year’s report, which covers data in 2025 through Aug. 8, lawmakers enacted 72 bills on direct democracy, including 42 from Republican majorities. Both totals surpass the average number of total bills enacted each year since 2018—35.

Enacted legislation

This year, lawmakers in 23 states enacted 72 of the 587 proposed bills (12%), more than the 2018-2024 annual average of 35.

  • Republican majorities passed 42 (58%) and Democratic majorities passed three (4%). Twenty-five of the 72 bills enacted (35%) received bipartisan backing. Legislators in Maine and New Hampshire decided on two bills via voice vote.
  • From 2018 to 2024, Republican majorities passed an annual average of 13 bills, and Democratic majorities passed six. During that period, an annual average of 17 bills received bipartisan backing.
  • Lawmakers in Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah referred six constitutional amendments to the 2026 ballot.
  • Arkansas had the most enacted bills this year. Of the 26 proposed bills, lawmakers enacted 17.

Policy issue trends

Here’s a look at the four most common areas of legislative changes this year.

  • Nine states enacted bills prohibiting or increasing restrictions on foreign donor contributions to ballot measure campaigns. Those states are: Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Support among Republican lawmakers averaged 97%, while Democratic support averaged 46%.
  • North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah passed constitutional amendments to increase the voter approval threshold required for ballot measures to 60% for certain ballot measures. However, as constitutional amendments, each proposal requires voter approval in 2026. Support among Republican lawmakers averaged 90%, while Democratic support averaged 6%. 
  • Arkansas, Florida, and South Dakota passed bills adding or increasing identification requirements for petition signers. Support among Republican lawmakers averaged 93%, while Democratic support averaged 8%.
  • Arkansas and South Dakota passed bills shortening the period during which petition signatures for ballot initiatives are valid. Support among Republican lawmakers averaged 90%, while Democratic support averaged 5%.

Proposed legislation

Lawmakers in 46 states proposed 587 bills relating to direct democracy, more than the 2018-2024 annual average of 358.

  • The majority of legislative proposals were in states with Republican trifectas. Lawmakers in states with Republican trifectas proposed 362 (62%) bills, lawmakers in states with Democratic trifectas proposed 138 (24%), and lawmakers in states with divided governments proposed 87 (15%).
  • States with Republican trifectas introduced the greatest number of proposals since 2018. Compared to last year, proposals from states with Republican trifectas increased by 145%, while those with Democratic trifectas increased by 3.7%.
  • Lawmakers in Missouri introduced 53 bills—the most of any state. Two of these bills were enacted.

Click here to read our full analysis of 2025 changes to laws governing ballot measures.

Reader Spotlight: Your Electrifying Books

In an earlier column, I asked you: “What book has electrified you?” 

The response was wonderful. Several readers shared the books that really meant something to them. Among the titles and authors mentioned were:

  • George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm, 
  • Kevin Freeman’s Pirate Money,
  • John Vaillant’s Fire Weather,
  • Frank Herbert’s Dune, and 
  • Robert Heinlein’s Time Enough For Love.

What struck me most wasn’t just the diversity of the books our readers mentioned but what they had to say about those books.

One reader said that 1984 makes more sense today, with decades of hindsight, about how power can be subtly abused. Another reader noted how a book about financial preparedness connects directly to political stability. 

Each response showed how reading shapes how we think about civic engagement and democratic participation. Sometimes, we need deep context and historical perspective to help us make sense of current political and policy debates. And then there are times when a book we’re reading that seems to have little or no connection to politics or policy provides a new way for us to view those issues.

This is what makes reading, of all sorts and genres, so important. Whether we’re reading something like Alice in Wonderland (which really captured my imagination as a child) or The Federalist Papers, we’re learning something about ourselves, our society, and our role in it.

This is exactly why I love our Ballotpedia community. You’re the readers who are constantly learning and thinking deeply about how ideas connect to real-world governance and political life.

I would like to build on this conversation and engage even more members of the Ballotpedia community in it.

But this time, I want you to help decide the next step in this conversation. What would you like to learn about? Then we will share it with your fellow Daily Brew and Ballotpedia readers. Here are some suggestions, but please feel free to respond to this email with your own ideas!

  • Would you like to know more about the books that electrified our readers?
  • Would you like to ask about how our readers participate in civic life (i.e., do they advocate for issues, volunteer for campaigns, serve as election officers, or even serve as elected officials)?
  • Is there a question you want to ask about how Ballotpedia covers politics and policy that I haven’t discussed yet in this column?

Just reply to this email with your suggestion. I will read every one of your emails, and I will base future columns on your responses. 

We started this conversation where so many great, challenging, and transformative discussions have begun — with books. Let’s keep it going because I’m excited about where our exploration of ideas may take us. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Ohio voters could decide same-sex marriage constitutional amendments in 2026

Two proposed constitutional amendments regarding same-sex marriage were certified to begin gathering signatures in Ohio. If enough signatures are submitted, voters will decide these amendments on Nov. 3, 2026.

One initiative would repeal language in the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The other initiative would, according to the measure text, provide for equality of rights under the law “on account of race, color, creed or religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression regardless of sex assigned at birth, pregnancy status, genetic information, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin, or military and veteran status.”

The Ohio Equal Rights organization originally filed both initiatives as a single initiative. However, the Ohio Ballot Board voted on July 9 to divide the petition into two. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) said, “It would be good to give [voters] those as two separate amendments. Is it conceivable that there are voters out there that would support one part of this but not support the other part of this?”

In response, Ohio Equal Rights co-chair Lis Regula said, “We still think splitting the amendment creates unnecessary hurdles, but we still think, moving forward, this is our best shot. It could take months, if not years, to appeal the decision in court. Moving forward, even though it is double the signatures and paperwork, it is the best shot we have at securing equality for every Ohioan.”

Proponents must collect 413,488 valid signatures for each initiative and submit them by July 1, 2026. Ohio also has a signature distribution requirement, requiring proponents to gather signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Ohio has recognized same-sex marriage since 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. Twenty-seven states still have constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. In 2004, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, but due to the Obergefell ruling, this amendment is no longer in effect.

Since 1994, there have been 41 statewide ballot measures related to same-sex marriage. Thirty-four of these measures in 30 states prohibited same-sex marriage or defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Voters approved 31 of these measures and defeated three. There were also two ballot measures related to civil unions and one ballot measure that legalized same-sex marriage in Washington.

The Obergefell ruling struck down constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman. After 2015, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada voters approved initiatives removing these amendments.

Besides Ohio, Virginia voters may also decide on a constitutional amendment in 2026 to remove a provision defining marriage as between a man and a woman. This amendment must pass the Legislature again to be on the ballot in 2026.

Click here to read about the ballot measures Ohio voters may decide on in 2026.