Good morning, it’s Friday, February 13, 2026. Happy early Valentine’s Day to all our readers, we love you. In today’s edition, states seek chatbot regulations; MAHA gains steam in red states; Taylor Robson drops Arizona Gov bid:
Top Stories
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Bipartisan groups of lawmakers have introduced at least 58 bills in 29 states seeking to regulate companion chatbots and their interaction with minors. The wide variety of bills include measures to prohibit “unsafe features,” bar exposing minors to explicit material, or banning access for minors altogether. Supporters of the push warn chatbots represent a public health emergency. (Pluribus News)
Among supporters of regulations on chatbots: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and more than a few very liberal California and New York Democrats.
PUBLIC HEALTH: Supporters of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA agenda are backing legislation in more than half a dozen states to dismantle vaccine requirements in schools and workplaces. They’re using a 2025 Idaho law that prohibits businesses and schools from requiring “medical interventions,” including vaccines, tests or treatments, as a condition of entry or employment. (Pluribus News)
LGBTQ RIGHTS: The Missouri House approved a bill to permanently ban gender-affirming care for minors. The bill would remove a 2027 sunset on the 2023 law that initially banned care including hormone therapy and surgeries. (Kansas City Star) The Tennessee House Judiciary Committee advanced bills banning state observances of Pride Month, barring anti-discrimination laws from applying to LGBTQ individuals and barring health care providers from asking gender-related questions to minors. (Tennessee Lookout)
ENERGY: Colorado Sen. Cathy Kipp (D) and Rep. Kyle Brown (D) have introduced legislation requiring data center operators to build or purchase enough renewable energy to cover annual electricity usage beginning in 2031. It would require developers to enter into contracts with utilities to cover costs of grid upgrades. A separate bill from pro-business Democrats aims to exempt developers from state sales and use taxes. (Colorado Public Radio)
ECONOMY: Michigan Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) has introduced legislation to bar companies that receive state incentives from buying back their own stock. The ban covers incentives through the Michigan Strategic Fund. (State Affairs)
IMMIGRATION: The South Dakota House has approved legislation requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify program to check whether employees are eligible to work in the United States. South Dakota would be the 10th state to require E-Verify use by all employers. (South Dakota Searchlight)
TRANSPORTATION: A U.S. Appeals Court on Tuesday declined to block a lower court’s temporary restraining order, forcing the Trump administration to continue funding construction of the Gateway Tunnel project between New York and New Jersey. New Jersey officials said the order would require $200 million in funding to be released immediately. (NJ Advance Media)
GAMBLING: The Mississippi House and Senate have approved separate measures to require the state Gaming Commission and the Department of Human Services to collect gambling winnings from those who owe child support. The bills apply to winnings at slot machines or through sports bets. (Supertalk)
In Politics & Business
ARIZONA: Businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson (R) is dropping her bid for governor in the face of low polling. Taylor Robson had been under frequent attack by groups like Turning Point USA, even though she won President Trump’s co-endorsement. Her exit leaves U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs (R) and Dave Schweikert (R) vying for the right to take on Gov. Katie Hobbs (D). (State Affairs)
MORE: The Arizona Education Association and a public education advocacy group have filed ballot language with the Secretary of State’s office for a proposal to overhaul the state’s school voucher system. They must collect 255,949 valid signatures before July 2 to make the November ballot. (AZ Mirror)
WASHINGTON: The state House has approved legislation making it more difficult to challenge a resident’s voter registration. The bill would require anyone challenging a voter’s eligibility to live in the same county and fill out a form provided by the Secretary of State’s office outlining the reason for the challenge. (Washington State Standard)
By The Numbers
Nearly $30 million: The amount of surplus revenue South Dakota anticipates collecting this fiscal year. Lawmakers are considering spending the extra cash on pay raises for state employees. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
14,481: The number of Seattle students who skipped school on Wednesday to attend the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade through downtown. That’s more than a quarter of all students enrolled in Seattle Public Schools. (Seattle Times)
Off The Wall
The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s second annual Snowplow Naming Contest drew nearly 6,000 votes last month. The winners included “Keep Portland Cleared,” “Mississlippy,” “A Sleetcar Named Deicer” and “Pink Pony Plow.” (Oregonian)
A serial thief who has been stealing towels, shoes and underwear at a school in New Zealand has been identified as a cat burglar. As in, an actual cat, which school authorities have dubbed Slinky Malinki. The cat had been stashing the purloined goods behind a shed. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“In light of recent events and to ensure steady leadership for our state during this time, I have canceled out-of-state travel for this month, including my attendance at this long-planned conference.”
— Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), who will not attend the annual meeting of the National Governors Association after Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) came under scrutiny for alleged connections to a developer in a 2022-2023 bribery scandal. (Honolulu Star Advertiser) Luke said this week she may be the $35,000 Bandit referenced in a court filing. (Pluribus News)