Good morning, it’s Wednesday, July 9, 2025. In today’s edition, Texas to consider emergency response after deadly floods; New Hampshire backs no-fault evictions; Georgia Lt. Gov. loans himself $10 million:
Top Stories
DISASTER RELIEF: Texas lawmakers will take up legislation to address emergency operations in a previously scheduled special session to begin later this month, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said. Legislation to offer grants to small counties to purchase emergency communications systems failed in the state Senate earlier this year. (Pluribus News)
Officials said more than 100 people had died in flash flooding in the Texas Hill Country over the weekend. More than 1,700 personnel from 20 state agencies were engaged in the response.
AGRICULTURE: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced a new initiative aimed at blocking foreign “countries of concern” from owning farmland. As part of the initiative, federal agencies will seek to block investments by countries like China, declaring U.S. farmland a national security issue. (Alabama Reflector)
Republican-controlled states have been at the vanguard of new laws blocking “countries of concern” from owning farmland.
HOUSING: New Hampshire lawmakers have approved a no-fault eviction bill, allowing property owners to evict renters at the end of a lease period without providing a reason. The bill would require property owners to give tenants 60 days’ notice before ending a lease. (WMUR)
IMMIGRATION: Massachusetts Rep. James Hawkins (D) has introduced legislation to ban law enforcement, including ICE agents, from wearing masks. The bill would exempt officials wearing medical-grade masks meant to prevent the transmission of disease or to protect against exposure to smoke and toxins. (MassLive)
AGE VERIFICATION: Ohio lawmakers included a provision in last month’s budget that would require adult websites to verify users are of age before giving them access to content. Businesses that fail to comply would be subject to civil lawsuits brought by the state attorney general. (Columbus Dispatch)
INSURANCE: The Illinois legislature has given final approval to a bill banning insurance companies from limiting or denying life insurance coverage based on an applicant’s criminal record. The bill would require insurance companies to pay for funerals of a policyholder who is a former convict. (WAND)
In Politics & Business
GEORGIA: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) made his campaign for governor official on Tuesday, lending himself $10 million for the Republican primary. He joins Attorney General Chris Carr (R) in the GOP primary; Jones positioned himself as a key ally of President Trump. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
WISCONSIN: Businessman Bill Berrien (R) has launched his campaign for governor, joining Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann (R) in the Republican primary. Berrien called himself an outsider like President Trump; a political committee he launched in April has raised $1.2 million so far. (State Affairs)
Gov. Tony Evers (D) says his own decision about whether to run for re-election is a couple of weeks away. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
CONNECTICUT: State Rep. Josh Elliott (D) has filed papers to run for governor in 2026, challenging Gov. Ned Lamont (D). Liberals are angry with Lamont over vetoes of affordable housing legislation and a pro-labor bill. (Hartford Courant)
CALIFORNIA: Assembly Republicans have chosen Assemb. Heath Flora (R) as their new minority leader. Flora, the current minority floor leader, will take over the caucus as Assemb. James Gallagher (R) terms out next year. (Sacramento Bee)
PEOPLE: Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman (D) has left the hospital, nearly a month after he was shot nine times in an assassination attempt. The alleged assassin later murdered former House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) at her home. (Associated Press)
By The Numbers
40%: The share of stolen guns that are taken from vehicles in 2022, up 31% over 2018 figures. The number of guns stolen from homes and businesses dropped 40% over that same period. (Rhode Island Current)
$7,641,137,308: The amount of revenue Mississippi collected through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 0.54% above expectations. The state collected $41 million more than anticipated through the fiscal year. (Jackson Clarion-Ledger)
Off The Wall
The National Conference of State Legislatures has announced the main act for its closing reception at next month’s Summit in Boston. Admit it, you’re as psyched as we are to see Boyz II Men.
Lawmakers, are you planning to attend NCSL’s Summit in Boston this year? Let us know, we’d love to schedule some time to sit down and hear about your legislative priorities for next year!
New Haven, Conn., is attempting to set a world record by holding the largest-ever pizza party. The town aims to attract 5,000 attendees to a Sept. 12 event; each attendee must eat two slices and stay to the end of the party. The current record is held by the Pizza World Champions in Tulsa, Okla., which set the record in 2023. (New Haven Independent)
We’ll be reporting live from the ground that day…
Quote of the Day
“We know these storms are coming. They’re coming with greater frequency and intensity, so what we have to do is make sure that infrastructure like this contemplates that kind of weather event.”
— North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D), highlighting emergency preparedness after last year’s storms caused flooding in the western part of the state. (State Affairs)