Each week, The Weekly Brew brings you a collection of the most viewed stories from The Daily Brew, condensed. Here are the top stories from the week of August 24 - August 28.
Laws in 12 states provide school boards with differing powers and duties depending on the type of district they represent
Most states either have only one type of school district or do not distinguish different powers and duties for school boards in different types of school districts. However, laws in 12 states give school boards in different types of school districts distinct powers and duties. These boards may have different levels of control over district taxing or financing, and they may have different numbers of elected members.
Of the 12 states that grant school boards distinct powers and duties based on the type of district:
- Nine — Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Wisconsin — have one statute enumerating the powers and duties of all school boards in the state and separate statutes granting additional authorities for one or more district types.
- Three — Alabama, Minnesota, and Maryland — enumerate the powers and duties of each type of school district separately.
States enact 14 ESG-related bills in 2026, the fewest since 2021
State legislatures passed 14 environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)-related bills during the 2026 legislative sessions, including two that became law after lawmakers overrode gubernatorial vetoes. This was the fewest ESG bills enacted in a single year since 2021, and the third-fewest in the seven years Ballotpedia has tracked ESG legislation.
The 2026 legislative sessions continued the partisan divide that has characterized state ESG policymaking. Republican-controlled state governments enacted most new laws and generally focused on limiting the use of ESG considerations in public investments, financial services, and corporate governance. Democratic-controlled state governments enacted no legislation supporting ESG policies this year.
States enact more than 400 election-related bills in first seven months of 2026
States have enacted 419 election-related bills so far this year — the most of any even-numbered session year since Ballotpedia launched its Election Policy Legislation Tracker in 2022.
These figures come from Ballotpedia's State of Election Policy Legislation 2026 Mid-Year Report, which covers election-related legislative activity captured in our legislation tracker through Aug. 14 of this year.
The 419 bills enacted in 44 states represent an 11% decline compared with this point in 2025. But when compared with past even-numbered session years, the 2026 total is 47% more than at this point in 2024, and roughly twice as many bills as were enacted in 2022.
More than half of the bills — 53.2% — were enacted in states with Republican trifectas. Meanwhile, 37.7% were enacted in states with Democratic trifectas, roughly double the 2025 rate, and 9.1% of bills were enacted in states with divided governments.
Voters to decide on at least eight statewide measures on the initiative and referendum process in 2026 — the most since 2000
In 2026, voters will decide on at least eight ballot measures related to the initiative and referendum process, which is the most since 2000, when voters also decided on eight. Seven measures would add requirements or restrictions to the process, including two that voters decided earlier this year in North Dakota and Missouri. One measure would expand constitutional provisions related to the initiative and referendum process. Two measures in Missouri and Nebraska that would expand or further establish the process in state constitutions are pending signature verification or judicial review for the 2026 ballot.
The ballot measures are grouped into two categories: those that add requirements or restrictions to the process, and those that expand or further establish the process in state constitutions.
50 States in 50 Days
Thousands of general elections are taking place across the United States on Nov. 3, 2026. Those elections include offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Each day leading up to the election, Ballotpedia is highlighting one state in the Daily Brew. This preview series, called 50 States in 50 Days, has been a regular feature going back to 2018. To see the states we’ve highlighted so far, click below.