Year: 2025
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Nevada initiative to exempt teachers from strike ban moves to legislature, could appear on 2026 ballot
In Nevada, voters may decide on an initiative that would exempt public school teachers from the state’s prohibition on strikes. Petitioners submitted signatures on Nov. 18, 2024, and enough valid signatures were found to certify the measure to the legislature on Dec. 11, 2024. If the legislature does not act on the measure or rejects…
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Scott Turner confirmed as secretary of housing and urban development
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Scott Turner as secretary of housing and urban development on Feb. 5, 2025. The Senate voted 55-44 in favor of his nomination with two Democrats, Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the twelfth member of President Donald Trump’s…
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State supreme court vacancy count for January 2025
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from December 31, 2024, to January 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: Since last month’s state supreme court vacancy count, two justices have stepped down before their…
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24% of last January’s elections were uncontested
Throughout January, Ballotpedia covered 25 elections in seven states, 24% of which were uncontested. That’s down from December when 44% of the 123 covered elections were uncontested but comparable to last January when 30% of the 23 covered elections were uncontested Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is…
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Pam Bondi confirmed as U.S. attorney general
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general on Feb. 4, 2025. The Senate voted 54-46 in favor of her nomination with one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the eleventh member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential…
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Three candidates are running in the nonpartisan election for Wisconsin’s Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser, and Jeff Wright are running in the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin’s superintendent of public instruction on Feb. 18, 2025. The top two finishers will then run in a general election on April 1, 2025. PBS Wisconsin’s Steven Potter wrote, “Although the position is described as non-partisan, the job of running…
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Arkansas Governor applies to CMS for waiver to implement work requirements for Medicaid
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent a section 1115 waiver request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last Tuesday, January 28th, requesting permission to implement work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients aged 19-64. Section 1115 of the Social Security Act allows for states to request approval from the CMS to waive certain…
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Republican state officials request ESG clarification
Twenty-two Republican state financial officers—treasurers, auditors, and a comptroller—sent a letter Jan. 28 asking the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue new rules clarifying and updating ESG policies enacted or proposed during the Biden administration. The DOL and the SEC each issued ESG and sustainability investing rules…
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Administrative State legislation tracking update: 34 federalism-related bills introduced in 2025 legislative sessions so far
Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Legislation Tracker recorded 34 bills related to federalism as of Feb. 3. in the 2025 legislative sessions across 18 states and in Congress. These bills reflect ongoing debates about the balance of power between state and federal governments, addressing issues from unfunded mandates to federal regulatory authority. Overall, the tracker covered nearly…