New Mexico halts some oil-field lease sales in standoff over royalty rates in Permian Basin
New Mexicoโs State Land Office will withhold lease sales indefinitely on its most promising tracts for oil and gas development in the Permian Basin as it seeks approval by the state Legislature to increase top-tier royalty rates.
South Dakota Republican lawmakers want clarity for the state's abortion laws. They propose a video
South Dakotaโs Republican-controlled Legislature has approved the creation of a video to outline the stateโs abortion laws and to clarify when health care providers are legally allowed to intervene.
Wisconsinโs Democratic governor signs his new legislative maps into law after Republicans pass them
Wisconsinโs Democratic governor, Tony Evers, has signed new legislative district maps into law that he proposed and that the Republicans who control the Legislature passed to avoid having the liberal-leaning state Supreme Court draw the lines.
Wisconsin's Democratic governor promises to veto last-ditch Republican redistricting effort
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has promised to veto a redistricting proposal that the Republican-controlled Assembly passed and that largely mirror maps he proposed, but with changes that would reduce the number of GOP incumbents who would have to face one another in November.
Judge orders new North Dakota legislative district for 2 Native American tribes
A federal judge has ordered a new legislative district for two Native American tribes who successfully challenged North Dakotaโs 2021 redistricting map as violating the Voting Rights Act in diluting Native American votersโ strength.
How much gerrymandering is too much? In New York, the answer could make or break Dems' House hopes
New Yorkโs highest court just gave Democrats a chance to redraw the stateโs congressional districts, a major victory as the party tries to flip seats in the state to win control of the U.S. House next year.
Court ruling backs tribesโ effort to force lawmakers to redraw North Dakota legislative boundaries
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request from North Dakota's secretary of state to delay a federal judge's ruling that found the state's 2021 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act in diluting the voting strength of two Native American tribes.
Legislative marathon delays criminal trial for North Texas House member charged with felony
Rep. Frederick Frazier was indicted over a year ago on two charges of impersonating a public servant. But the case has not gone to trial yet, partly because Frazier has been able to delay the case until the Legislature concludes its work.
Florida abortion rights at stake as state Supreme Court takes up challenge to GOP-led restrictions
The Florida Supreme Court must decide whether to overrule broad abortion rights protections provided for decades under the state constitution and instead uphold a law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans the procedure in most cases after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Wisconsin's new liberal Supreme Court justice hasn't heard a case but Republicans may impeach
Even before the newly elected justice who gave liberals a one-seat majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has heard a case, Republican lawmakers are talking about taking the unprecedented step of impeaching and removing her from office.
LGBTQ+ advocates sue to block Texasโ new law that could criminalize some drag performances
State officials backing Senate Bill 12 have said they want to protect children from seeing sexually explicit performances. But new legal challenges say the law is so broad and vague that it criminalizes constitutionally protected expression.
North Dakota university leaders fear 'catastrophic implications' of new Minnesota free tuition plan
North Dakota higher education officials are deeply worried about losing students and revenue in 2024 when neighboring Minnesota makes tuition free for thousands of its residents at public colleges and universities.
New Texas laws favor parents in child abuse investigations as legislators try to limit number of kids in foster care
Legislators also passed bills that will provide foster kids entering the troubled system with duffel bags or backpacks and those aging out of the system with help setting up bank accounts.
Governor Greg Abbott sets personal veto record, kills bill on sickle cell disease registry
The bill by State Representative Jarvis Johnson aimed to use the registry to help with a cure and treatment for sickle cell disease in Texas, but Governor Abbott vetoed it, writing it โwould force hospitals to share reams of sensitive health information โฆ putting the privacy of patients at risk.โ
Lawmakers passed a bill to stop insurers from considering ESG criteria in setting rates
So-called environmental, social and governance policies are often adopted by companies to reduce their carbon footprints. The new Texas bill aims to stop insurers doing business in Texas from using ESG criteria, but it doesnโt include penalties for violations.
Fossil fuels got a boost from lawmakers aiming to fix Texasโ grid, while renewable energy escaped stricter regulations
The bills will give owners of natural gas power plants incentives to build more capacity, but they donโt go as far as originally proposed to change how electricity is created and sold in the Texas market.
Gun safety advocates see signs of progress in first session after Uvalde shooting even though raise-the-age bill stalled
Emotions often ran high over a proposal to limit young adultsโ access to some firearms. Lawmakers have largely prioritized school safety measures, but there was still progress for some gun-related legislation.
Extended boycott disqualifies 2 GOP senators, 1 independent in Oregon Senate from being reelected
Two Republicans and an Independent in the Oregon Senate are now disqualified from reelection as a walkout has stalled hundreds of bills and triggered a constitutional amendment aimed at stopping the boycotts.
Kansas governor thwarts small legal settlement with business over COVID-19 restrictions
Kansasโ Democratic governor has scuttled a small legal settlement between the state and the owner of a Wichita fitness studio forced to shut down during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic and then operate under restrictions.
Ken Paxtonโs whistleblowers ask Texas Supreme Court to take up their case as $3.3 million settlement in jeopardy
Lawyers for four former employees who accused the attorney general of firing them for reporting alleged crimes to authorities say Paxton wonโt agree to finalizing the deadline by the end of this legislative session.
A Texas lawmaker wants voters to decide whether legislators deserve a raise
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, has proposed an amendment to the state constitution to raise legislator pay and tie it to teachersโ pay, saying it would give lawmakers a living wage and allow a broader range of Texans to serve.
Paxton whistleblowers urge lawmakers not to oppose settlement that will be paid with taxpayer dollars
In a statement, the attorneys for the four former top deputies who accused Attorney General Ken Paxton of crimes said state employees โcannot be expected to report government corruption in the future if they know the Legislature wonโt back their rights.โ
With full state coffers and bipartisan support, Texas teachers are hopeful theyโll get a raise this year
The COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and burnout have pummeled teachers in the last few years. Lawmakers from both parties agree they should get a pay bump โ but it wonโt happen without some negotiation.
Violence looms over New Mexico Legislature as work begins
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for new gun control laws and greater accountability for firearm manufacturers while denouncing recent drive-by shootings against politicians in Albuquerque and what she called a national scourge of violence.
New documents detail Sen. Ron Johnson asking about electors
Newly released documents from the House Jan. 6 committee show that the former Wisconsin Republican Party chairman testified that U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to him weeks before Joe Biden assumed the presidency about having the stateโs GOP-controlled Legislature, rather than voters, choose Wisconsinโs presidential electors.