Category: State
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South Dakota enacts REINS law, first new REINS state in 2026
On March 12, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden (R) signed Senate Bill 133 into law. SB 133 is a REINS-style law, requiring legislative committee review and potential legislative approval for new executive agency rules expected to cost $3 million or more over a two-year period. South Dakota is the 10th state to enact a law…
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Indiana lawmakers enact nine election-related bills during 2026 legislative session — in line with 2023-2025 average
Indiana lawmakers adjourned for the 2026 regular session on Feb. 27. During the session, legislators sent nine election-related bills to Gov. Mike Braun (R), who signed each one. Among the nine bills was SB 12, which bans the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV), making Indiana the 18th state to prohibit RCV. The legislation passed the…
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New Mexico enacts law prohibiting the deployment of troops to polling places
On March 9, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed legislation prohibiting a person from bringing or ordering military troops or armed federal agents to a polling place or ballot drop box location. Federal law prohibits the deployment of troops or United States servicemembers to a polling place “unless such force be necessary to…
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On this day in 1848, voters ratified the Wisconsin Constitution, one of the oldest constitutions still in effect today
On this day, March 13, 1848, Wisconsin voters ratified the state constitution with a vote of 72.5%-27.5%. This constitution is still in effect today. This was not the first ratification that was presented to voters. In 1846, Wisconsin voters approved a measure to form a state government, and the state’s first constitutional convention convened later…
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34 states require legislative review of all or some executive agency regulations
State legislatures oversee executive agency rulemaking through a variety of mechanisms that vary by state. Legislatures may be tasked with reviewing regulations, or explicitly approving them prior to their adoption. They can also disapprove of or nullify regulations, and hold hearings about proposed or adopted rules. The specific role of the legislature depends on the…
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Incumbent Larry Rhoden, Toby Doeden, Jon Hansen, and Dusty Johnson are running in the Republican primary for governor of South Dakota on June 2
Incumbent Larry Rhoden, Toby Doeden, Jon Hansen, and Dusty Johnson are running in the Republican primary for governor of South Dakota on June 2, 2026. If no candidate wins 35% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a July 28, 2026, runoff election. Rhoden was formerly lieutenant governor and replaced former Gov.…
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Arizona governor vetoes bill requiring the state to lower SNAP payment error rate to 3% by December 2030.
On Feb. 20, Governor Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed House Bill 2206, which would have required the Arizona Department of Economic Security to lower the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate to 3% or lower by December 30, 2030. This bill was introduced after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA or H.R.1)…
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State executives are retiring in two states where the filing deadline passed in February
In February, the filing deadline passed in five states: Ohio (Feb. 4), Indiana (Feb 6), Louisiana (Feb. 13), Maryland (Feb 24), and Idaho (Feb. 27). Across these five states, 23 seats are up for election. In Ohio, every single state executive office is open, while in Indiana, Maryland, and Idaho, every incumbent is seeking re-election.…
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Idaho Supreme Court upholds state school choice tax credit
On Feb. 5, 2026, the Idaho Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state's private school choice refundable tax credit, rejecting the argument that the program violated the Idaho Constitution and judicial precedent. The petitioners included the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution, Inc., Mormon Women for Ethical Government, School District No. 281, Latah County,…
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How Often Do Both State Legislative Chambers Flip at Once? Rarely. Only 20 times since 1992.
Since 1992, 160 changes in state legislative chamber partisan control occurred across the country. That includes 20 times both of a state’s legislative chambers changed partisan control in the same year (14%) and 120 times a single chamber changed partisan control (86%). While chambers may have periodic split control, especially chambers with an even number…