This Week in FOCUS – January 9, 2025

The Pa. House is tied 101-101 for the first day of the legislative session after a Democratic state rep suffered a health emergency

Philadelphia Inquirer

A Democratic state representative from Western Pennsylvania suffered a health emergency and is expected to be absent from the first day of the legislative session on Tuesday, putting the party’s one-seat majority in the state House in jeopardy after Democrats narrowly hung on to control of the chamber in the 2024 election.

Read More


Wisconsin Governor Evers Seeks Voter Power to Enact and Repeal State Laws

Newsweek

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has renewed his push to empower voters with the ability to create and repeal state laws independently of the legislature, a proposal Republicans have opposed in the past. The initiative, revealed Monday, is set to be included in Governor Evers’ upcoming state budget and marks a significant step in a longstanding battle over legislative authority in Wisconsin.

Read More


Federal judge kicks battle over NC Supreme Court election back to state court

FOX News

A federal judge on Monday kicked the battle over an election to fill a spot on North Carolina’s Supreme Court back to the state’s highest court. North Carolina’s highest court on Tuesday then blocked the certification of the election results between Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs and GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin.

Read More


This Week in FOCUS

CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVermontVirginia and Wisconsin are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and U.S. Congress are also in session.

 The following states adjourned their 2024 legislative sessions on the dates provided: Ohio and Michigan (December 31), District of Columbia (January 2) and U.S. Congress (January 3).

 New Jersey is expected to adjourn its 2024 legislative session on January 14.

 The following are expected to convene for the 2025 legislative session on the dates provided: Arizona, ArkansasGeorgiaIdahoIowaKansas and Washington (January 13); DelawareMinnesotaNew JerseySouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexas and Wyoming (January 14); Hawaii (January 15) and AlaskaNew MexicoOregon and Utah (January 21).

 Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has until January 10 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. District of Columbia Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 days from presentment, weekends excepted, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey has 10 days from presentment 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 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: AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoKansasLouisianaMinnesotaNevadaNew MexicoOklahoma House and SenateOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexas HouseUtahWashington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

 The following states are currently posting bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies: AlabamaArizonaArkansasDelawareFloridaIowaKansasNevadaNew MexicoOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahWashington and Wyoming.

 Special Elections

 The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on January 28: Iowa Senate District 35 and Minnesota House District 40B and Senate District 60.

Virginia

held special elections for House District 26 and Senate District 32 on January 7 and the Democrats prevailed in both races, allowing the party to maintain control of their majority in both chambers. According to the Associated Press, Democrat JJ Singh won House District 32 over Republican challenger Ram Venkatachalam while Democrat Suhas Subramanyam defeated Republican Tumay Harding in Senate District 32.


This Week in FOCUS

Schedule a demo of our legislative and regulatory tracking database and to find out more about our 50-state government affairs services.

Schedule Demo Now