Medicaid work rules move to state systems. What enrollees should watch
The Medicaid work rule is effective, but states will decide how to verify hours, exemptions and notices before most systems must be ready by Jan. 1.
State Government
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Maine’s first statewide housing count beat the 2025 goal — but permits aren’t finished homes
Maine estimated 7,499 permitted housing units in 2025, surpassing its goal, but the first statewide dataset has coverage limits and the target rises to 13,300 units by 2030.
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Mount Holly landfill under investigation as state audit questions North Carolina’s old-dump oversight
The Gaston Co. Landfill in Mount Holly is listed in North Carolina’s pre-regulatory landfill program as under investigation, while a July 2026 audit found that 534 of 688 older landfill sites had never been investigated.
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Hawaii keeps limited emergency housing and homelessness procurement flexibility through September
Two July 10 emergency proclamations remain active through Sept. 8, allowing limited procurement and development flexibility for qualifying housing projects and homelessness services while documentation and oversight obligations remain.
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New Hampshire’s commercial-zone housing mandate changed again. What towns and developers face now
House Bill 1588 makes multifamily housing in qualifying commercial zones a by-right use, while House Bill 1010 preserves infrastructure review for roads, water and sewer capacity.
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Iowa’s state IT outsourcing begins today as about 192 jobs enter transition
Cognizant begins managing Iowa executive-branch IT operations on August 3, while AWS’s larger cloud migration remains ahead and about 192 state layoffs are scheduled.
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California lawmakers return for final month of 2026 session
California lawmakers return August 3 with fiscal, floor and passage deadlines compressed into the final weeks of the 2025-26 legislative session.
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New Jersey targets algorithmic rent coordination under new FAIR Act
New Jersey’s FAIR Act targets a narrow form of algorithmic rent coordination, but it will not immediately lower rents or create a statewide rent cap.
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Illinois’ New AI Safety Law Takes Effect: What Residents and Businesses Should Know
Illinois’ new frontier-AI safety law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, but its direct requirements apply mainly to the largest developers of exceptionally powerful models.
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Delaware launches office to help small businesses navigate permits and regulations
Delaware’s new Office of Small Business Access gives business owners a centralized route for reporting licensing, permitting and regulatory problems and seeking help from state agencies.
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California sues five local governments over housing-plan violations
California filed housing-law lawsuits against Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest and Turlock, seeking court orders, rezoning and possible penalties while the cases remain unresolved.
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New Hampshire Landfill Law Pauses New Capacity Approvals and Adds Review Panel
HB 707 creates a seven-member committee, broadens landfill-siting criteria and pauses approvals for additional capacity until at least July 1, 2027, with Dalton remaining a key test.
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Indiana Inspector General Stops Publishing Individual Investigation Summaries
Indiana’s inspector general has ended publication of individual investigation summaries, narrowing public access to cases that do not lead to criminal charges or State Ethics Commission action.
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Vermont Directs State Agencies to Prioritize Local News in Advertising
Gov. Phil Scott’s July 23 executive order gives Vermont media preference in state advertising, affecting an estimated $4 million to $5 million annually while requiring better spending tracking and annual reports.
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Ohio Medicaid Work Requirements: What Enrollees Need to Know Before 2027
Ohio Medicaid’s new 80-hour monthly community-engagement requirement begins January 1, 2027. Here is who may be affected, how Ohio plans to verify eligibility and what enrollees should do before notices arrive.
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Hawaii Signs New AI Laws Covering Deepfakes and AI Companions
Hawaii’s new AI laws took effect July 14, creating conditional civil remedies for qualifying deepfakes and disclosure, crisis-response and minor-protection rules for AI companion operators.
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Delaware Health-Care Laws Put New Limits on Hospital Costs and Ownership
Delaware laws signed July 20 set statewide hospital-assistance standards, restrict some medical-debt collection, require primary-care spending and phase in hospital price limits and ownership protections.
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More Than 100 Louisiana Governor’s Office Employees Signed Nondisclosure Agreements
Records reviewed by the Gulf States Newsroom and Type Investigations show that at least 121 employees signed broad confidentiality agreements that remain in effect after they leave state government, raising questions about public accountability and records access.
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Kentucky Medicaid Members Begin Getting Notices About 2027 Community-Engagement Rules
Kentucky Medicaid’s first notices are informational, but some adults may need to document work, education, training, volunteering or qualifying income before applying or renewing coverage in 2027.
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Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke indicted in state political-corruption case
Sylvia Luke and four others face a 12-count state indictment as Hawaii’s acting lieutenant governor handles her duties and the Aug. 8 primary approaches.
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Massachusetts Senate Advances Public Records Proposal Covering Governor and Legislature
A pending Massachusetts Senate proposal would create formal access rules for specified records from the governor’s office and Legislature, with Senate consideration scheduled for July 30.
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West Virginia seeks expedited disaster declaration as cleanup continues
West Virginia is seeking an expedited federal disaster declaration after July flooding as crews remove debris and damage assessments continue in seven counties.