Category: State
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Hawaii legislators advance bill to restrict corporate political activity
On May 8, Hawaii legislators sent a bill to Gov. Joshua Green (D) that would prohibit corporations from spending money or participating in election or ballot measure activities. SB 2471 would amend state law to modify the powers given to corporations. The bill establishes that corporations have artificial-person powers, defined as the ability to carry…
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Louisiana state legislature certifies two measures related to homestead tax exemptions for surviving spouses of deceased veterans and changing property tax limits for the 2026 ballot
The Louisiana State Legislature approved two constitutional amendments related to property taxes for the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. Legislators passed both amendments on May 11, 2026. In Louisiana, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a single session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of…
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State legislatures enact more than 200 election-related bills in first four months of 2026
States have enacted 236 election-related bills so far this year, 66% more than at this point in 2024 and nearly two-and-a-half times the total from 2022. These figures come from Ballotpedia's State of Election Policy 2026 Spring Report, which covers election-related legislative activity captured in our Election Administration Legislation Tracker through April 24 of this…
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Five Republican trifecta states and one with divided government enact bills reducing agency power in 2026
State legislative sessions in 2026 have featured a number of bills affecting the administrative state, with five Republican trifecta states and one state with a divided government enacting bills that reduce the power of state agencies. The term administrative state refers to executive branch agencies with unelected officials (in this case, at the state level)…
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New congressional maps in Florida, Tennessee aim to shift five more districts to Republicans ahead of 2026 midterms
Since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, two more states — Florida and Tennessee — have redrawn their congressional maps, Virginia’s map was blocked from certification by the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Alabama Legislature approved legislation that would set special primary elections in affected districts if courts roll back…
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Nine states are holding public utility commission elections this year
Republicans have majorities on all nine of the public utility commissions directly on the ballot this year. These states are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The other state in which public utility commissioners are directly on the ballot is Mississippi, which also has a Republican majority. However, Mississippi…
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State executives are retiring in three of the five states that had filing deadlines in April
In April, the filing deadline passed in five states, four of which are holding state executive elections in November: Virginia (April 2nd), Oklahoma (April 3rd), New York, North Dakota (April 6), and Michigan (April 21). Virginia is not holding state elections in 2026, while the rest of the states are. According to Ballotpedia’s data, state…
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Iowa voters will decide a constitutional amendment that would require two-thirds approval from the general assembly to increase income taxes
Iowa voters will decide on a constitutional amendment at the November 3, 2026, election that would require a two-thirds (about 66.67%) vote from both chambers of the general assembly to approve a bill that would increase the individual or corporate income tax rate. The amendment would also require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of…
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Signatures submitted for Missouri initiative requiring voter approval for certain legislative changes to initiative process and voter-approved laws
In Missouri, signatures were submitted for an initiative that would establish the citizen initiative and referendum process as fundamental rights and prohibit the state legislature from “weakening citizens’ initiative and referendum powers.” If enough signatures are found valid, the amendment will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. On May 3, Respect MO Voters, the campaign…
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State supreme court vacancy count for April 2026
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearings-in of justices from April 1 to April 30, 2026. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: During April 2026, one justice was sworn into office. Candidates nominated: During April 2026,…