Year: 2025

  • Ohio becomes twenty-third state to adopt a Parents’ Bill of Rights

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    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a Parents’ Bill of Rights into law on Jan. 8, encoding a parent’s right to direct the upbringing and education of their child into state law. Ohio is the 23rd state to adopt a Parents’ Bill of Rights. House Bill 8 includes the following rights for parents: The bill…

  • Coalition of Democratic and Republican members select Texas House Speaker

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Jan. 16, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Texas House of Representatives elects Rep. Dustin Burrows (R) as speaker On Jan. 14, a coalition of Democrats and Republicans elected Rep. Dustin Burrows (R) to serve as speaker of the Texas House of…

  • Senate Armed Services Committee holds confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense

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    The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense on Jan. 14, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet announced a date for a committee vote on Hegseth’s nomination. Hegseth must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds confirmation hearing for Chris Wright for secretary of energy

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    The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Chris Wright for secretary of energy on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Wright’s nomination. Wright must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…

  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee holds confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation

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    The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Duffy’s nomination. Duffy must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…

  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state

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    The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had scheduled a business meeting to consider Rubio’s nomination for January 20, 2025. Rubio must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…

  • Ballotpedia releases the state supreme court vacancies count for 2024

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    Twenty state supreme court justices vacated their seats before their term was scheduled to end in 2024. Of the 20 vacancies, 17 were caused by justices retiring, and three were caused by justices ascending to the chief justice position of the court. This is the first year since Ballotpedia started tracking state supreme court vacancies…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #139

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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 Bible references in Texas’ elementary curriculum In this section,…

  • 77 officials were recalled in 2024 – higher than the 10-year average

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: 77 officials were recalled in 2024 – higher than the 10-year average Seventy-seven officials were removed from office through recall elections in 2024. An average of about 55 officials were recalled between 2014…

  • Checks and Balances, January 2025

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    In this edition of Checks and Balances: Federal stories: State stories: Commentary: Regulatory Tally: In Washington U.S. House passes two administrative state bills What’s the story? The House of Representatives passed two administrative state bills in December—the Midnight Rules Relief Act and the Prove It Act. The bills proposed (1) allowing Congress to disapprove multiple…