Year: 2025

  • Nine states have new initiative signature requirements heading into the 2025-2026 election cycle

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    Heading into the 2025-2026 election cycle, signature requirements for citizen-initiated measures changed in nine states. Turnout on Nov.5, 2024, caused signature requirements for citizen-initiated ballot measures to change in seven states. Two other states changed their requirements based on the number of registered voters. The average change was a 12.47% increase.  Changes ranged from a…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    A crash course on the budget reconciliation process Congress is expected to seek to pass key elements of President Donald Trump’s (R) policy agenda through the budget reconciliation process. Budget reconciliation is a term for the legislative process that bypasses the filibuster to approve a package of legislation in Congress that changes spending, revenues, or…

  • President Donald Trump (R) ends January with 48% approval, 45% disapproval

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    At the end of Jan., approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 48% approval. Forty-five percent of voters disapproved of his performance. At the end of Jan., congressional approval was at 27% and disapproval was at 48%.  At this time during Trump’s first term in office, presidential approval was four points lower at…

  • Doug Burgum confirmed as secretary of the interior

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior on Jan. 30, 2025. The Senate voted 79-18 in favor of his nomination with 25 Democrats, one independent who caucuses with Democrats, and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the eighth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in…

  • Texas legislature set to consider universal school choice legislation after 2024 elections replaced Republican opponents with Republican supporters

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    Texas State Senate Republicans introduced a universal school choice bill (Senate Bill 2) on Jan. 24, and the Senate Education Committee approved it 9-2 on Jan. 29. SB 2 was placed on the Senate’s intent calendar for a floor vote on February 4. SB 2 would create an education savings account (ESA) program that, subject…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration, Jan. 31, 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 244 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee holds confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services

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    The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services on Jan. 30, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on his nomination. Kennedy must receive a majority approval vote in the…

  • Senate Intelligence Committee holds confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence

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    The Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence on Jan. 30, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Gabbard must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can be put up…

  • 2024 election analysis – the average state legislative margin of victory was more than 27 points

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    Welcome to the Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: 2024 election analysis – the average state legislative margin of victory was more than 27 points As lawmakers around the country meet in state legislatures for the 2025 legislative sessions, we’re continuing our…

  • Texas sends letter opposing financial firm DEI policies

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    Ten states, led by Texas, have requested information from BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and others regarding their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The Jan. 23 letter argued business and investment decisions based on race, sex, and other diversity criteria could violate financial firms’ fiduciary duty to focus on maximizing shareholder value. Texas and other states…