Category: State
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Kansas becomes thirty-third state to enact a K-12 cellphone ban
On March 20, 2026, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill enacting a statewide ban on cellphones in K-12 schools. The ban applies to all public and nonpublic accredited schools and prohibits the use of cellphones during the school day, commonly referred to as a “bell-to-bell” ban. School district boards and governing authorities of…
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Kentucky Legislature overrides veto of bill opting into federal school choice tax credit scholarship program
On March 17, 2026, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear's (D) veto of House Bill 1, which requires the secretary of state to annually opt the state into the federal school choice tax credit scholarship program. Gov. Beshear vetoed the bill on March 13, and the Kentucky House voted on March…
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One-fourth of indirect initiatives were approved by state legislatures between 2018 and 2025; 12 currently pending before state legislatures
There are nine states that authorize indirect initiatives, either statutes or constitutional amendments, where citizen-proposed ballot measures are first presented to state legislatures. Between 2018 and 2025, 40 indirect initiatives were certified to state legislatures. Ten were approved by state legislatures, while 17 were approved and 13 were rejected by voters. For the 2026 ballot,…
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Ohio becomes second state this year to ban ranked-choice voting
On March 17, Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a bill making Ohio the 19th state to ban ranked-choice voting (RCV). Ohio is the second state to enact a prohibition on RCV this year, after Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed a ban in February. In 2025, six states enacted legislation prohibiting RCV. Six states also…
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New Mexico lawmakers approve three pieces of election-related legislation in 2026 session
During New Mexico's 2026 regular legislative session that ended on Feb. 19, lawmakers adopted one election-related resolution and passed two election-related bills, both of which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed in March. Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to voters that would allow school elections to be held on the same dates…
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Wyoming expands post-election audit requirements, enacts three other election bills in 2026 session
On March 11, Wyoming lawmakers adjourned for the 2026 regular session after enacting four election-related bills. Among those bills was SF 113, which requires election officials to conduct a hand count audit of physical ballots cast during the 2026 primary and general elections. Each county is required to hand-count as close to 5% of all…
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West Virginia voters to decide on homestead exemption increase amendment in Nov. 2026
As the West Virginia State Legislature adjourned on March 14, 2026, one amendment—a measure that would state that only citizens may vote in elections—made the ballot. However, several amendments, including a homestead exemption increase, did not make the 2026 ballot. The amendment would have increased the minimum homestead exemption for certain homeowners from $20,000 to…
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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…