Year: 2025
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House subcommittee addresses proxy advisory firms
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets held a hearing last week on proxy advisory firms, which guide institutional investors on how to vote their shares. Opponents say proxy firms promote ESG priorities in shareholder votes—especially Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, which control a combined 90% of the proxy advisory market. Critics…
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Texas voters will decide on an amendment to prohibit taxes on realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, estate, or trust in Nov. 2025
The Texas State Legislature voted to send an amendment to voters this November that would prohibit the legislature from enacting taxes on realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust, including a tax on the sale or transfer of a capital asset. The amendment would not apply to property taxes, sales…
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Veto referendum proposed to repeal Ohio Senate Bill 1 on higher education policies, including DEI, curriculum, and faculty requirements
A veto referendum effort has been launched to repeal Ohio Senate Bill 1, a law that would change state higher education policies, including prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. If the referendum qualifies for the November 2025 ballot and is approved by voters, SB 1 would be repealed. SB 1 is designed to prohibit…
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West Virginia enacts bill aligning municipal election dates
On April 24, 2025, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) signed SB 50, requiring all local municipal elections to be held concurrently with a regularly scheduled statewide primary or general election by 2032. The Republican-sponsored bill passed the West Virginia Legislature with bipartisan support, including a unanimous vote in the West Virginia Senate. Supporters of…
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Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos advance to June 7, 2025, mayoral runoff election in San Antonio
On May 3, Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos advanced to the June 7, 2025, mayoral runoff election in San Antonio, Texas. Twenty-seven candidates ran in the nonpartisan general election on May 3. Beto Altamirano, John Courage, Adriana Garcia, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Ortiz Jones, Pablos, Manny Pelaez, and Clayton Perry were notable candidates based on…
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The last election of the 2024 cycle has ended
On May 7, Jefferson Griffin (R) conceded defeat to incumbent justice Allison Riggs (D) in North Carolina’s 2024 state supreme court election. This was the last 2024 election without an official winner. Various legal actions were taken between the election and Griffin’s concession. On Nov. 6, Griffin held a lead of just under 10,000 ballots…
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Indiana becomes 17th state to pass universal private school choice
What’s the story? Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed the state budget bill—House Bill (HB) 1001—on May 6, 2025, which included provisions to remove income eligibility requirements from Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program. This action makes the program universal, where all students are defined as eligible to participate in the private school choice voucher program in…
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Colorado voters to decide on two measures related to school meal program funding and tax deductions
This November, voters in Colorado will decide on two ballot measures related to funding the Healthy School Meals for All Program, which was created by voter approval of Proposition FF in 2022. One measure would retain existing revenue from Proposition FF, while the other would expand the program’s funding by further reducing state income tax…
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Alabama voters to decide on amendment in May 2026 to prohibit pay reductions for district attorneys during term
Alabama voters will decide on a constitutional amendment related to compensation for district attorneys on May 26, 2026. It is the second measure certified for the state’s May 2026 ballot. The amendment would prohibit lowering compensation for district attorneys during his or her term of office. Currently, the Alabama Constitution provides for the salary, fees,…
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North Dakota Legislature sustained governor’s veto of universal school choice bill: analysis of rural vs urban/suburban votes
What’s the Story The North Dakota House sustained Gov. Kelly Armstrong‘s (R) veto of the universal school choice bill House Bill 1540 on April 25. The veto was sustained in the House by a 45-48 vote, with the 45 votes supporting the veto override coming from Republican members. The 48 votes opposing consisted of 37…