Year: 2026

  • Kansas becomes thirty-third state to enact a K-12 cellphone ban

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    On March 20, 2026, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill enacting a statewide ban on cellphones in K-12 schools. The ban applies to all public and nonpublic accredited schools and prohibits the use of cellphones during the school day, commonly referred to as a “bell-to-bell” ban. School district boards and governing authorities of…

  • Minnesota voters have decided 218 ballot measures since 1857, beginning with the ratification of the state constitution

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    Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Minnesota ballot measures dating back to 1857, the year Minnesota voters ratified the state constitution and the year before Minnesota was admitted to the union. Between 1857 and 2025, Minnesota voters decided on 218 ballot measures. In total, 123 measures were approved (56.4%), and 95 were defeated (43.6%). Two…

  • Seven open seats in Idaho state legislative elections this year; second-fewest since 2010

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    Seven seats are open in Idaho’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is the second-fewest open seats since 2010 and means newcomers could represent as little as 7% of the legislature next year. The average number of open seats each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 18. Forty-two incumbents face primary…

  • Harris (D) and Fuller (R) to meet April 7 in special runoff election to represent Georgia's 14th Congressional District

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    Shawn Harris (D) and Clayton Fuller (R) are running in a special runoff election to represent Georgia's 14th Congressional District on April 7. Neither received a majority of votes in a special election on March 10, with Harris receiving 37.3% of the vote and Fuller 34.9%. Governor Brian Kemp (R) called the special election after…

  • Kentucky Legislature overrides veto of bill opting into federal school choice tax credit scholarship program

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    On March 17, 2026, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear's (D) veto of House Bill 1, which requires the secretary of state to annually opt the state into the federal school choice tax credit scholarship program.  Gov. Beshear vetoed the bill on March 13, and the Kentucky House voted on March…

  • Colorado voters to decide on ballot measures on sex requirements for school sports teams and surgeries for transgender minors

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    Welcome to the Thursday, March 26, Brew. By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Colorado voters to decide on ballot measures on sex requirements for school sports teams and surgeries for transgender minors On March 16 and 17, two measures related to sex and gender were certified for…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #198

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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 verifying students’ immigration status In this section, we curate reporting,…

  • Advocacy groups sue SEC over proxy policy shift

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C. Advocacy groups sue SEC over proxy policy shift What’s the story? On March 19, 2026, two investor advocacy groups — the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and As You Sow — filed a lawsuit in U.S.District Court for the District of Columbia challenging how…

  • Senate takes up SAVE America Act to require voter ID, proof of citizenship for federal elections

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Senate takes up SAVE America Act to require voter ID, proof of citizenship for federal elections On March 17, the U.S. Senate began debate on the SAVE America Act, which would require individuals…

  • Markwayne Mullin confirmed as secretary of homeland security

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Markwayne Mullin as secretary of homeland security on March 23, 2026. The Senate voted 54-45 in favor of his nomination, with 52 Republicans and two Democrats, Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), voting in favor. Forty-two Democrats voted against the nomination, along with two independents who caucus…