Year: 2025

  • Texas Gov. Abbott (R) signs bill to allow early voting on weekends and up to Election Day

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    On June 22, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 2753 into law. The bill moves the start of early voting later, but extends early voting to weekends and the four days leading up to Election Day. The new law requires early voting to begin on the 12th day before Election Day and end on the…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #162

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues: The debate over social-emotional learning In this section, we curate reporting, analysis,…

  • Ballot measure update: Utah veto referendum and amendments in Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana certified for 2026

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    The number of certified statewide ballot measures for both 2025 and 2026 is trending above average compared to previous election cycles as of June 24. 2025 ballot measures For 2025, 27 statewide ballot measures have been certified in seven states—Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. This is six more than the average…

  • Utah voters to decide public sector collective bargaining ban in first veto referendum in 18 years

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    In Utah, a veto referendum has qualified for the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to uphold or repeal House Bill 267 (HB 267). The bill would prohibit public sector unions from entering into collective bargaining agreements. It would take effect only if a majority of voters support upholding it in the…

  • A look at work requirements for public assistance in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, June 25, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at work requirements for public assistance in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Regular Daily Brew readers will know we have followed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act from the beginning. Today,…

  • Texas Gov. Abbott signs bill restricting the use of extreme risk protection orders

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    On June 22, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed SB 1326 into law, banning the enactment or enforcement of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) — also known as red flag laws — in the state. The bill explicitly applies to any state agency or authority, university systems, municipalities, counties, special districts and authorities, and district attorneys…

  • Republican party committees maintain lead in cumulative fundraising in 2026 election cycle

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    As of May 31, 2025, the end of the most recent party committee campaign finance filing period, the three committees associated with the Democratic Party have raised a cumulative $146 million and spent $145 million in the 2026 election cycle, while the three committees associated with the Republican Party have raised $172 million and spent…

  • European Commission to drop greenwashing rule

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world European Commission to drop greenwashing rule What’s the story? The European Commission (EC) announced plans June 20 to withdraw its Green Claims Directive, a proposed regulation that would have required companies to substantiate environmental marketing claims—such as carbon neutral or eco-friendly—that lacked clear standards.…

  • Senators running for governor win 42% of the time, and governors running for Senate win 33% of the time

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Senators running for governor win 42% of the time, and governors running for Senate win 33% of the time As the 2026 midterm elections grow closer, parties are looking for candidates to run…

  • Arizona 2026 ballot measure would require voter approval to raise local grocery sales taxes, cap them at 2%

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    Arizona voters will decide on a measure that would prohibit local governments from establishing or raising a sales tax on groceries without voter approval, and would limit the rate to 2%. Voters will decide the measure on Nov. 3, 2026. The measure was introduced in the Arizona House of Representatives on Jan. 27 as House…