Year: 2025

  • Maine voters to decide citizen initiatives on voter ID and extreme risk protection orders in November

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Maine voters to decide citizen initiatives on voter ID and extreme risk protection orders in November Maine voters will decide on two citizen initiatives this year – one that would require voters to…

  • Vice President J.D. Vance casts fifth tie-breaking vote to pass One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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    On July 1, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance cast his fifth tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget reconciliation bill currently before Congress. Fifty Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 45 Democrats, two Independents who caucus with Democrats, and Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine),…

  • Oregon governor signs ESG investing law

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world EU regulators propose ESG stress test standards What’s the story? Three EU financial regulators—the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, and the European Securities and Markets Authority—have proposed new rules requiring national banking and insurance regulators in member states to…

  • This year sees fewest officials facing recall at midyear since 2020

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, July 1, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: This year sees fewest officials facing recall at midyear since 2020 Twice a year, we release reports on recall efforts nationwide for all state and local elected offices. Today, we’ll explore our mid-year 2025…

  • After 2023 veto, Arizona legislature sends drug cartel terrorism designation law directly to voters as ballot measure

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    The Arizona State Legislature approved House Concurrent Resolution 2055 (HCR 2055), placing a ballot measure about drug cartels before voters in the 2026 election. If approved, the ballot measure would define drug cartels as terrorist organizations and require the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to “do everything within its authority to address the threat posed…

  • Oregon joins 45 other states in allowing the governor to make appointments to vacant U.S. Senate seats

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    On June 20, 2025, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed Senate Bill 952 (SB 952), which gives the governor the power to appoint an interim U.S. senator for the state if a vacancy occurs. The bill includes the following provisions: In 36 states, governors appoint individuals to fill vacancies temporarily until a special election. The…

  • Sen. Thom Tillis announces he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026

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    Portrait photo of Senator Thom Tillis

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced on June 29, 2025, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. On his retirement, Tillis said in a statement, “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming…

  • Louisiana is the eighth state in 2025 to pass a bill prohibiting foreign national contributions to ballot measure campaigns

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    Louisiana is the 18th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the eighth state to do so in 2025, a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. Louisiana House Bill 693 (HB 693) modified existing campaign finance rules, including establishing new rules for political…

  • Texas voters will decide on eighth amendment related to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct since its founding in 1965 in November

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    Texas will head to the polls in November to decide on 17 ballot measures, including Proposition 12, which will be the eighth amendment related to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC), which was established in the constitution in 1965.  Proposition 12 would amend the Texas Constitution to change the composition of the SCJC by…

  • Maine lawmakers recall RCV expansion from Gov. Mills’ desk

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    On June 25, 2025, both chambers of the Maine Legislature agreed by voice vote to recall LD 1666 from Gov. Janet Mills (D) desk and carry the bill over to the next special or regular legislative session. The bill would have expanded the state’s use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) to include general and special elections…