Category: State
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Nevada becomes 21st state to adopt cellphone ban or limit
What’s the story? Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed Senate Bill (SB) 444 on May 28, 2025, requiring school boards in Nevada to adopt policies limiting the use of electronic communication devices, including cellphones, during instruction in schools. The law required school boards to prohibit students from accessing their cellphones during class. Both the Nevada State Senate…
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State supreme court vacancy count for May 2025
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from May 1, 2025, to May 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justice retirements: Two justices were sworn out of office in May 2025. Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed:…
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Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill banning RCV
On June 2, 2025, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed HF 954, making Iowa the sixth state to ban ranked-choice voting (RCV) this year. The new law says: “An election in this state shall not be conducted using ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting.” The bill also makes other changes to election laws in the…
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Oklahoma passes REINS Act, legislative and executive oversight, and judicial nondeference bills
Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed House Bill 2728, titled Oklahoma’s Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, on May 21. HB 2728 directs the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to independently review and verify economic impact statements for rules with implementation and compliance costs exceeding $1 million over five…
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Nevada Governor vetoes drop box bill
On May 22, 2025, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) vetoed AB 306, a bill that would have increased the availability of mail ballot drop boxes and added new security requirements for maintaining them. Under current law, county clerks must make a ballot drop box available at every polling location while that polling place is open, including…
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Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 run for governor of Alabama
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) announced on May 28, 2025, that he will run for governor of Alabama in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. Senate. The seat is open since incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is term-limited. As of May 28, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have…
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Anti-ESG bill dies in Texas House
A Texas bill that sought to shift the legal burden in shareholder lawsuits involving ESG policies failed in committee last week. The House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee voted it down 9–1. If enacted, the bill would have been the first to make it easier for shareholders to challenge ESG-related decisions by requiring companies to…
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North Carolina House passes bill to increase legislative control of rulemaking
What’s the story? The North Carolina House passed House Bill 402, named the NC REINS Act, on April 16, 2025, by a vote of 68-44. The bill would increase legislative oversight of proposed agency regulations. It was scheduled for a May 21 hearing before the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee. HB 402 would make any regulation…
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Florida enacts law changing initiative process requirements; legal challenge filed in federal court
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed HB 1205 on May 2, 2025. Changes included requirements for paid signature gatherers, such as registration, training, and residency requirements, voter signature requirements, limitations on ballot initiative sponsoring committees, and petition form standards. HB 1205 passed the legislature with unanimous support from Republicans and unanimous opposition from Democrats. The one…
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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…