Good morning, it’s Wednesday, February 5, 2025. In today’s edition, states consider ‘green amendments’; Colorado poised to raise minimum age for ammunition purchases; Mark Sanford eyes a comeback:
Top Stories
ENVIRONMENT: Legislators in at least six states have introduced legislation to create a constitutional right to a clean environment. Those so-called “green amendments” — in Connecticut, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico and Oregon — would join existing green amendments in Montana, Pennsylvania and New York. (Pluribus News)
Montana’s green amendment allowed young activists to sue the state over greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel projects. The state Supreme Court sided with those activists in December.
IMMIGRATION: The Indiana House voted mostly along party lines to approve legislation requiring state law enforcement to notify federal authorities when they arrest someone suspected of being in the country illegally. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
GUN POLITICS: The Colorado House is likely to approve legislation raising the minimum age to buy firearm ammunition to 21. The bill would require retailers to keep bullets in an enclosed display or behind a counter so customers could not access them without assistance. (Colorado Sun)
TRANS RIGHTS: The Montana Senate has approved legislation creating felony crimes for parents, medical providers and other adults who provide or procure gender affirming care for transgender minors. A bill creating fines for providing gender affirming care has been blocked by the state Supreme Court. (Montana Free Press)
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: Idaho’s House Judiciary and Rules Committee has approved legislation making the firing squad the first method of execution over lethal injection in carrying out future death sentences. (Idaho Press) Indiana Republicans are spearheading a legislative push to end capital punishment. (Indianapolis Star)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Washington lawmakers have filed bipartisan legislation to lift a ban on direct sales of electric vehicles to customers. Tesla is already allowed to sell cars direct to consumers, but the bill would place companies like Rivian and Lucid in the same category. (Washington State Standard)
CHILD CARE: Ohio’s House Children and Human Services Committee held its first hearing on legislation to direct $10 million into a child care program meant to boost the workforce. The program would create an application process for employers whose employees need child care assistance. (Ohio Capital Journal)
INSURANCE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has proposed spending $590 million on a home-hardening program that pays for wind mitigation upgrades to strengthen homes. DeSantis also wants to spend $30 million to help condo associations harden against hurricanes. (WUSF)
In Politics & Business
SOUTH CAROLINA: Former Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is considering a comeback attempt in 2026, four sources tell us. Sanford, whose second term as governor was virtually derailed by his bizarre sojourn to Argentina, has been talking to potential donors about running in two years; his state-level campaign account still has $1 million on hand. (Pluribus News)
There was a hot second in 2009 when “hiking the Appalachian Trail” was the funniest joke in Washington.
RHODE ISLAND: Gov. Dan McKee (D) and former CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes (D) are both raising money ahead of an anticipated Democratic primary rematch from 2022. Neither has formally declared a campaign. McKee beat Foulkes by just 3 points in the five-way primary three years ago. (Rhode Island Current)
NEW JERSEY: Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac (R) will join the crowded Republican field seeking to replace Gov. Phil Murphy (D). Kranjac is a supporter of President Trump in a field in which other candidates have kept more distance from the president. (NJ Advance Media)
MINNESOTA: The state Republican Party said it would file recall petitions against House Democrats who are continuing to boycott the legislative session. GOP leaders said the process was meant to force Democrats to the negotiating table; the full recall process can take up to 10 months. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
INDIANA: A state Senate committee has approved legislation that would reduce early voting windows from 28 days to 14, and to close party primaries. Current law allows Indiana voters to pick a Democratic or Republican ballot in the primaries; the bill would require voters to register with a party before casting a ballot in future primaries. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
By The Numbers
1: The number of new housing projects funded by a Utah starter home financing program that has broken ground a year after lawmakers approved the measure. A senior advisor to Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said more projects are in the works; the slow start underscores how long a slog it is to build new homes. (Pluribus News)
$51.5 billion: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It’s the first time a Pennsylvania budget proposal has topped $50 billion. (Associated Press)
Off The Wall
Americans are expected to place a record $1.39 billion in legal bets on this weekend’s Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Sports betting is now legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia. (American Gaming Association)
Washington lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow those with a suspended license to continue driving, if they install speed governors in their vehicles. The technology is similar to devices that require those convicted of driving under the influence to blow into a breathalyzer before starting their cars. (Seattle Times)
Quote of the Day
“We’re all on pins and needles wondering.”
— New York Assembly Housing Committee chair Linda Rosenthal (D), on states wondering whether the Trump administration will freeze Section 8 housing support. “[I]f they were to make any changes, it might be disastrous for our population,” Rosenthal said. (State of Politics)