Sheri Biggs wins Republican nod for U.S. House in South Carolina over Trump-backed candidate
AP News
Sheri Biggs, a nurse practitioner and Air National Guard officer, won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House in South Carolina’s 3rd District on Tuesday, defeating a challenger who called himself former President Donald Trump’s pastor. Biggs defeated Mark Burns, a pastor who has been by Trump’s side for nearly a decade and has unsuccessfully run for Congress twice before.
Michigan Senate Democrats pass 2025 state budget
WXYZ ABC Detroit
Michigan Senate Democrats worked through the night Wednesday to pass the 2025 state budget, highly criticized by Michigan Republicans. It includes more resources for students who need them, like at-risk and bilingual education programs and free school meals for all kids, as well as free community college state-wide.
Board’s contract with Oklahoma religious charter school illegal, state Supreme Court rules
The Oklahoman
By a clear majority, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday a contract between the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and a religious charter school violates both state and federal law, is unconstitutional and must be voided. Republican state Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board on October 20 after the board, by a 3-2 vote, approved the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and the U.S. Congress are also in session.
South Carolina will be holding periodic meetings as an extension of its regular session to finalize specific legislation, including the budget.
The following states adjourned their 2024 legislative sessions on the dates provided: New Hampshire (June 13), Rhode Island (June 14) and Arizona (June 15).
Delaware is expected to adjourn its 2024 legislative session on June 30.
Connecticut convened a special session on June 26. According to the official agenda from Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, the special session will focus on several issues, including commercial motor vehicle taxes, school construction contract regulations and altering banking regulations to encourage new banks into the state.
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for a special session starting July 18. According to her press release, the special session will take up additional public safety protections. Some issues that will likely be addressed include pedestrian safety on roads and in public spaces, laws allowing courts to intervene for those who need substance abuse or mental health help and enhanced penalties for felons in possession of guns, according to KRQE. The session is expected to last several days.
Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced his plans to call a special session on July 25 to address property tax relief. According to the Nebraska Examiner, Governor Pillen announced his intentions to bring the legislature together for a special session over the summer to reduce property tax obligations for residents after a previous plan to reduce property taxes failed to pass during the regular session.
Kansas adjourned its one-day special session on June 18 after legislators approved a bill to reduce taxes in the state. The Kansas Reflector reports, a bill that would reduce state taxes by $1.2 billion over three years received broad bipartisan support during the session and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on June 21. The legislature also approved bills to provide tax incentives to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals if they choose to build stadiums in the state in the near future.
Virginia ended its special session on June 18 after failing to make changes to a military support program. WVTF reports, the session aimed to remedy limits on the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program that have created rising costs and complications for military families looking to access low-cost higher education benefits. Legislators could not reach a compromise on the best path forward for the program, with Democrats arguing the success of the program has led to issues for smaller colleges who cannot afford to provide the reduced tuition that the program demands without impacting other students.
Arkansas adjourned its special session on June 19 after passing several tax bills. According to KARK, legislation passed during the session lowered the state’s income tax from 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent while also lowering the corporate tax rate and increased tax credits for homeowners. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the legislation while again indicating her intentions to eventually eliminate the state’s income tax.
Utah adjourned its special session on June 19 after addressing power plant and Title IX concerns. According to Fox 13, the one-day session resulted in the passage of several pieces of legislation, including a resolution that instructs federal officials to follow state law with regards to Title IX protections for transgender people, which would conflict with state law that bans transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice. The legislature also passed a bill that would allow the state to take control of a local coal power plant before it is able to execute a planned switch over to natural gas and hydrogen production.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt had until June 14 to act on legislation or it was pocket vetoed.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has until June 27 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson has until July 1 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Hawaii Democratic Gov. Josh Green has until July 10 to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has 20 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont has 15 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has 15 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Illinois Democratic Gov J.B. Pritzker has 60 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has 20 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has five days from presentment, excluding Sundays, 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. Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee has six days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee 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, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri House and Senate, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, the New York Assembly, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, the Texas House, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The following states are currently posting bill drafts, prefiles and interim studies: Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah.
Special Elections
The following seats are expected to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Alabama House District 27 (July 16) and Wisconsin Senate District 4 (July 30).
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