Wisconsin Republicans target governor’s uniquely broad partial veto powers
The Associated Press
Republicans want voters to curb the uniquely expansive partial veto powers that Wisconsin governors from both parties have enjoyed for nearly a century. Wisconsin is the only state where governors can partially veto spending bills by striking words, numbers and punctuation to create new meaning or spending amounts.
Illinois Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss ‘gerrymandered’ legislative map
The Associated Press
The Republican leader of the Illinois House and five voters on Tuesday filed a lawsuit asking the state Supreme Court to throw out the legislative district map as unconstitutionally drawn to favor Democrats. The lawsuit over the 2021 plan challenges the compactness of the districts, which snake among one another in odd ways that drew less-than-flattering critiques nationally at the time and the state constitution’s protections ensuring “free and equal” elections.
North Carolina Supreme Court blocking Democrat from re-claiming seat amid election battle
USA Today
The Republican-dominated North Carolina Supreme Court has been blocking a Democratic judge from certifying her win as her opponent continues to appeal the election results. Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs defeated her opponent, state appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin, by 734 votes in November’s election but Griffin has yet to concede the loss.
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and U.S. Congress are also in session.
The following states are expected to convene for the 2025 legislative session on the dates provided: Nevada and Oklahoma (February 3); Alabama (February 4); West Virginia (February 12); Florida (March 4) and Louisiana (April 14).
Virginia is scheduled to adjourn its 2025 legislative session on February 7.
California gaveled in its ongoing special session on January 9. According to KCRA, the special session, which had been in recess since the end of last year, is meant to provide the state’s Department of Justice with an extra $25 million to prepare for legal battles with the Trump administration. However, Democratic leaders have expanded the session to also address the wildfires in the southern part of the state and are planning to provide $2.5 billion in relief efforts through legislation in the session.
Florida began a special session on January 27 after rebuking a session called by Republican Gov. Ron Desantis that was supposed to begin the same day. According to Yahoo News, the legislature quickly gaveled out of the special session called by Governor Desantis that was supposed to address immigration as well as condominium prices. The legislature then quickly began their own special session, which will solely focus on immigration and aligning the state with the directives of Republican President Donald Trump. Addressing this rare rebuke of the governor by the conservative legislature, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said special sessions “should not be stunts designed to generate headlines.”
Tennessee is a holding a special session that began on January 27 focused on school vouchers. According to WBIR, Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill failed last year through failed votes and legislative gridlock, but he plans to bring the plan to a vote again during this special session. The session is also expected to include legislation related to hurricane aide for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and immigration policies to support Republican President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
District of Columbia Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 days from presentment, weekends excepted, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has 14 days from presentment to act on legislation or it is pocket vetoed. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has 45 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Interim Committees/Prefiles
The following states are currently holding interim committee hearings: Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma House and Senate and West Virginia.
The following states are currently posting bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies: Alabama, Florida, Nevada and Oklahoma.
Special Elections
Iowa held a special election for Senate District 35 on January 28. According to The Des Moines Register, Democrat Mike Zimmer defeated Republican Kate Whittington with 52 percent of the vote. Zimmer’s victory is a surprising flip for Democrats in a district Republican President Donald Trump won with almost 60 percent of the vote in November. Republicans will maintain a 34-16 majority in the Senate despite the loss.
Minnesota held a special election for Senate District 60 on January 28. As The Minnesota Star Tribune reports, Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Doron Clark defeated Republican Abigail Wolters with 91 percent of the vote. This victory ends a weeks-long stalemate due to the power-sharing agreement in the Senate with a 33-33 tie in party control. Democrats will now gain control in the Senate, though the Senate will need to vote to repeal the agreement once Clark is sworn in.
According to Fox 9, Minnesota’s special election for House District 40B scheduled for January 28 has been delayed to March by the state’s Supreme Court after it found that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz acted prematurely in issuing an order for the special election. This delay will likely cause a continuation of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor boycott in the House that has left it unable to form a quorum and function.
Delaware is scheduled to hold a special election for Senate districts 1 and 5 on February 15.
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