Author: Annelise Reinwald
-
Four states enact cellphone bans in May so far
Four (4) states enacted cellphone bans in May so far: All of the state policies prohibit unsanctioned cell phone usage from the beginning of the school day to the end of the days. Each policy does not apply to school-issued or school-used devices and have exemptions for use by students with medical or academic needs…
-
Indiana becomes 17th state to pass universal private school choice
What’s the story? Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed the state budget bill—House Bill (HB) 1001—on May 6, 2025, which included provisions to remove income eligibility requirements from Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program. This action makes the program universal, where all students are defined as eligible to participate in the private school choice voucher program in…
-
Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program
What’s the story? The Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 on April 24, 2025, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said on social media that he will sign it once it reaches him. Texas is the 16th state to enact a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for alternatives to…
-
West Virginia becomes 25th state with a Parents’ Bill of Rights
What’s the story? West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) signed House Bill (HB) 2129 on Apr. 12, 2025, establishing a Parents’ Bill of Rights in state law. The bill states that parents have a fundamental right to direct their minor children’s upbringing in the following specific areas: The bill also stated that it did not…
-
District judge blocks Iowa law requiring school districts to remove books depicting sex acts
What’s the story? On March 25, U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher blocked a portion of Iowa state law requiring school districts to remove all books from public school libraries that contain descriptions of sex acts, as defined by the law. Locher ruled that the law — Senate File (SF) 496 passed in 2023 — was…
-
Resolutions to nullify Biden environment and energy rules head to Trump’s desk
What’s the story? Both chambers of Congress passed the following two resolutions in early March to nullify Biden administration rules related to environmental and energy policy: The resolutions of disapproval were sent to Trump’s desk for his signature on March 4 and March 10, respectively. Trump had not yet signed the resolutions as of March…
-
Wyoming gov. vetoes bill allowing state legislators to nullify agency rules
What’s the story? Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R) vetoed Senate File (SF) 0127 on March 4, 2025. The bill was designed to create a process for legislators to disapprove of and nullify executive agency regulations. Wyoming has a Republican trifecta. The final version of SF127 approved by the legislature was designed to require the Wyoming…
-
Idaho enacts universal private school choice tax credit, becoming the 14th state with a universal school choice program
What’s the story? Gov. Brad Little (R) signed House Bill (HB) 93 into law on Feb. 27, 2025, making Idaho the 14th state to adopt a universal private school choice program. Universal private school choice programs provide families with public funds to cover expenses incurred by private education. Vouchers, ESAs, and education tax credits are…
-
Tennessee enacts private school choice scholarship bill, becoming the 13th state with a universal school choice program
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 (EFA) into law on Feb. 12, 2025. The bill — House Bill 6004 — creates a universal private school student scholarship program under which all students are or will be eligible to receive the scholarship. Going into 2025, Tennessee had two existing education…
-
Washington state judge dismisses challenge to Parents’ Bill of Rights; legislators set to consider bill that would rewrite it
King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott in Washington allowed the state Parents’ Bill of Rights to take full effect on Jan. 27, dismissing a lawsuit against the 2024 Initiative 2081 that enacted the Bill of Rights. Judge Scott had temporarily blocked portions of the statute on Jun. 21, 2024, that required school districts to…