Year: 2025

  • State legislatures approved 30% of indirect initiated state statutes between 2018 and 2024

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: State legislatures approved 30% of indirect initiated state statutes between 2018 and 2024  As part of our ongoing coverage of direct democracy in the United States, Ballotpedia has completed an overview of all…

  • Florida attorney general launches investigation of climate groups

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C. Labor Department says Citi’s racial equity program violates civil rights laws What’s the story The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued an advisory opinion last week arguing Citigroup’s racial equity program violates federal civil rights laws. The program was created to…

  • State legislatures approved 10 of 33 indirect initiated state statutes between 2018 and 2025

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    Between 2018 and 2025, state legislatures approved 10 of the 33 indirect initiated state statutes (30.3%) that qualified for the ballot, with voters deciding the remaining 23. An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes. While…

  • Four out of six eligible governors could run for a third term in 2026—the most since 1990

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, July 29, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Four out of six eligible governors could run for a third term in 2026—the most since 1990 On July 24, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced that he would not seek a third term…

  • Texas voters to decide on amendment dedicating sales tax revenue to state water fund in November

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    Among the 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot for Texas voters this November is an amendment to dedicate a portion of sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund, which voters authorized in 2023 with the passage of Proposition 6. It was approved with 77.7% of voters supporting it.  The 2025 amendment, Proposition 4, would…

  • The school year is about to begin—see how much your district received in federal pandemic relief

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    Welcome to the Monday, July 28, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: The school year is about to begin—see how much your district received in federal pandemic relief   Between 2020 and 2021, Congress provided roughly $190 billion in aid to K-12 school districts as part…

  • ESG opponents argue BlackRock still boycotts Texas energy

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    Consumers’ Research (CR), a nonprofit critical of ESG investing, and the American Energy Institute (AEI), an energy advocacy group, released a report arguing BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is still boycotting Texas energy. The report contradicts BlackRock’s claims and those made by former Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R), who earlier this summer removed the…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    A look at state laws requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration In 1996, the U.S. Congress passed a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections. However, it does not apply to state and local offices. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot require proof of citizenship with federal registration forms.…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration, July 25, 2025

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    Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration. Every Friday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.  In this week’s Ballot Bulletin, we cover 48 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • On sixth attempt, Maine voters approved ballot measure for separation from Massachusetts on July 26, 1819 — 206 years ago

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    Before Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820, voters weighed in on six ballot measures over three decades regarding separation from Massachusetts. And the final ballot measure, voted upon 206 years ago on July 26, 1819, was approved 70.6% ‘Yes’ to 29.4% ‘No.’ After the American Revolution, Maine was part of the Commonwealth…