Missouri Amendment 4 Would Make Citizen-Led Constitutional Changes Harder
Missouri voters will decide Aug. 4 whether citizen-led constitutional amendments must win majorities in all eight congressional districts.
State News
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Mississippi Youth Court Overhaul Takes Effect With $29.5 Million in New Spending
Mississippi’s enacted youth-court overhaul adds nine judicial positions, changes hearing and records rules, expands diversion and begins a transition away from referees by July 1, 2027.
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Massachusetts House Rejects Senate Economic Bill Version, Sending Housing and AI Rules to Conference
The Massachusetts House rejected the Senate’s version of a $575.4 million economic-development package on July 30. Conference committees must now negotiate unresolved housing, AI, cryptocurrency-kiosk, micromobility and research-funding provisions.
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Maryland approves voting-system contract worth up to $109.4 million for 2028
Maryland approved a statewide voting-system contract with a five-year base value of $84,909,900.53. Optional renewals could raise the contract’s maximum value to $109,381,984.13 as officials prepare for the 2028 presidential election.
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Maine Immigration Laws Now Limit Police, Landlords and Public Facilities
Four Maine laws took effect July 29, limiting some cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and setting new rules for police, jails, public facilities and landlords.
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Louisiana AI Laws Take Effect Aug. 1 for Deepfakes and Political Ads
Two Louisiana laws taking effect Aug. 1 create new criminal penalties for sexual deepfakes and require disclosures on certain AI-generated political ads.
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Kentucky Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Over Unredacted Voter List
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s Kentucky lawsuit seeking an unredacted statewide voter-registration list, but the department’s appeal keeps the dispute active.
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Kansas Opens Statewide Water Meetings as Officials Plan for Future Supply
Kansas has begun a seven-meeting regional water consultation process. Five scheduled sessions remain, giving residents opportunities to discuss conservation, water quality, infrastructure funding and long-term planning.
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Illinois EV Rebate Applications Open Aug. 1: Who Qualifies and What to Prepare
Illinois residents can apply for the next state EV rebate cycle beginning Aug. 1, but applications must be mailed, postmarked on time and submitted while funding remains.
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Idaho Abortion Rights Initiative Heads to November Ballot; Arguments Due July 31
Idaho voters will decide Proposition 1 on November 3, 2026. Arguments for or against the proposed reproductive-rights law are due to the Secretary of State by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on July 31.
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Georgia’s $409 Million Psychiatric Hospital Faces a Statewide Test
Georgia enacted $409 million for a planned 300-bed forensic hospital as hundreds await evaluation or treatment. New wait-time benchmarks run through November 2029.
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Colorado Courts Test CourtCall After Webex Disruptions
Colorado is testing CourtCall in selected courtrooms across 16 counties after Webex disruptions. Approved virtual attendees should check the courtroom date, link and phone access code before appearing.
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Arkansas SNAP recipients get new ebtEDGE app after theft reports
Arkansas SNAP recipients are moving to a new EBT processor and app with card locks and transaction controls after DHS reported suspicious benefit activity.
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Arizona Supreme Court Rules When Clergy Must Report Child Abuse
Arizona’s high court upheld a narrow clergy exception for abuse disclosed through qualifying confidential religious communications while limiting courts’ ability to second-guess a religious institution’s interpretation of its own doctrine.
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Unions Sue Alaska Governor Over Vacant Public Pension Board Seats
Alaska unions are asking a judge to require Gov. Mike Dunleavy to fill two vacant seats on the board overseeing about $49 billion in public retirement assets.
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Alabama Supreme Court Expedites Tuberville Appeal as Ballot Deadlines Near
The Alabama Supreme Court accelerated briefing in a challenge to Tommy Tuberville’s eligibility, but the schedule could extend beyond Alabama deadlines for replacing a nominee or changing candidate certifications.
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Washington voters face final deadlines before Aug. 4 primary
Washington voters can still return ballots, update registration in person and check ballot status before the Aug. 4 primary deadline.
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Virginia Moves to Rewrite Landfill Rules After $173 Million Shoosmith Cleanup
Virginia is reviewing statewide landfill financial-assurance rules after Shoosmith’s projected costs exceeded two available bonds. Public comments are due August 12, and a state evaluation is due October 5.
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Vermont Opens $25 Million Housing Loan Round; Proposals Due Sept. 4
Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak opened a new $25 million round of low-interest housing financing through Invest in Vermont. Eligible organizations must submit proposals by September 4, 2026.
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Tennessee Immigration Law Faces New Federal Challenge After Taking Effect
Tennessee’s new immigration offense is in effect while a renewed federal lawsuit seeks to block enforcement and represent potentially affected noncitizens.
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South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden Wins Republican Primary Runoff
Unofficial results show Larry Rhoden defeating Toby Doeden in South Dakota’s first gubernatorial runoff. He will face Democrat Dan Ahlers on November 3 for a full four-year term.
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Court Ruling Clears Path for Shekarchi’s Rhode Island Supreme Court Bid
A Providence County judge ruled that state Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi was permitted to apply for a Rhode Island Supreme Court seat, leaving the nomination, confirmation and separate ethics questions unresolved.