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Good morning, it’s Monday, July 20, 2026. In today’s edition, Missouri bans limits on anesthesia coverage; lawmakers seek to centralize nuclear permitting offices; big governor’s race news in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota:
Top Stories
HEALTHCARE: Missouri lawmakers approved bipartisan legislation banning insurance companies from placing time limits on anesthesia. The measure, and others like it passed in half a dozen states, comes in response to Anthem, which adopted a policy of capping anesthesia coverage during medical procedures — a policy the insurance giant rescinded in 2024 before it was ever enforced. (Pluribus News)
ENERGY: Lawmakers in at least nine states introduced bills this year to centralize offices responsible for shepherding nuclear development in a bid to expedite permitting. Texas kicked off the trend last year, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a bill into law in March. (Pluribus News)
MORE: Pennsylvania lawmakers have approved legislation laying the groundwork for small nuclear reactors. The bill gives the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to set fees for small reactors lower than those charged for larger light-water reactors. (State Affairs)
ABORTION: A federal judge has blocked South Dakota from enforcing a ban on advertising reproductive healthcare. The state had tried to sue a New York-based nonprofit that had advertised abortion-inducing medication. (Associated Press)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has signed legislation overhauling the state’s youth court system. One bill assigns full-time judges to handle youth court cases. Another adds capacity to youth correctional facilities, and a third creates a statewide intervention system for at-risk kids. (Supertalk)
GUN POLITICS: A federal appeals court has struck down New Jersey’s ban on semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines. The split ruling of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals relied heavily on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, the 2022 case that bolstered Second Amendment claims. (New Jersey Monitor)
SECURITY: A total of 31 states now allow political candidates to use campaign funds on security costs, including improvements to homes and offices. The rapid increase in states adopting the practice comes amid concerns over a growing wave of political violence. Threats against lawmakers and members of Congress have increased dramatically in the last decade. (Pluribus News)
In Politics & Business
WISCONSIN: Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D) has ended her campaign for governor after a firestorm over a fundraising scandal that led her to fire her campaign manager last week. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) is back in the race, ten days after ending his bid, with the support of Gov. Tony Evers (D). (State Affairs)
Democrats are closer than ever to winning back control of the Wisconsin legislature. But the must-win governor’s race is becoming a massive headache for the party.
MICHIGAN: Former Attorney General Mike Cox (R) has ended his campaign for governor, after President Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. John James (R) in the GOP primary. Cox’s exit leaves James facing businessman Perry Johnson (R) in the Aug. 4 primary. (Detroit News)
MINNESOTA: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell (R), President Trump’s pick to be the Republican nominee for governor, isn’t registered to vote in the state. Minnesota law allows voters to register on Election Day. The state Republican Party has raised concerns about his electability, in spite of Trump’s nod. (Minnesota Star Tribune)
MISSOURI: Voters will decide in an Aug. 4 primary election whether to require lawmakers to phase out the state income tax. The constitutional amendment, backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe (R), would allow lawmakers to expand the state income tax to replace the lost income, which makes up about 60% of general fund revenue. (Pluribus News)
Voters in North Carolina, Washington, Iowa and California will all decide income tax measures on November’s ballot.
ARIZONA: Voters will decide this November whether to separate school and club sports teams into male, female and co-ed divisions. The proposal survived a court challenge last week when a judge ruled the inclusion of separate bathroom and locker room facilities were linked to sports rules. (State Affairs)
By The Numbers
30: The number of Arizona lawmakers who quit their jobs early between 2020 and 2025, the highest share of legislative vacancies in the nation. Many cited low pay in their decisions to quit. (State Affairs)
63,792: The number of Arkansas Medicaid enrollees flagged as “not compliant” with upcoming work requirement rules. The new rules, under the Republican reconciliation bill, will take effect next year. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
$264.1 million: The opening weekend box office take for “The Odyssey,” the best opening weekend for a Christopher Nolan film since “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012. “The Odyssey” earned $124.5 million in domestic ticket sales in the U.S. (Associated Press)
Off The Wall
New Jersey Assemb. Michael Inganamort (R) is asking Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) to intervene after FIFA said it will sell pieces of the grass field used for yesterday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. Inganamort said the state paid $13 million to upgrade the stadium, including replacing artificial turf with grass, which makes it state-owned property. “FIFA needs to get off our turf, literally,” he said. (New Jersey Globe)
Alaska Rep. Garret Nelson (R) came to the rescue of fellow Rep. Julie Coulombe (R) last week when a black bear approached Coulombe after a late-night legislative session in Juneau. Nelson bluff-charged the bear, which ran away. Still, Nelson said later he wouldn’t advise charging bears. (Alaska Beacon)
Quote of the Day
“It’s about vibe and energy.”
— Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D), pushing for the permanent adoption of legislation allowing bars and restaurants to offer happy hour specials. The legislature allowed happy hours during the World Cup, an experiment Healey called a success. (State Affairs)