Good morning, it’s Tuesday, August 12, 2025. In today’s edition, lawmakers advance modular homes; Ohio GOP kicks off redistricting process; Trump endorses in Georgia governor’s race:
Top Stories
HOUSING: Lawmakers in three states have advanced measures to make it easier to build homes entirely or partially made in factories. Colorado and Utah approved building codes for factory-built structures, while Oregon legislators approved a $25 million bond to finance factory-built homes for low-income families. Modular homes allow builders to complete projects in half the time, reducing costs by 20%. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: Ohio Republicans are eyeing U.S. House seats held by Reps. Emilia Sykes (D), Marcy Kaptur (D) and Greg Landsman (D) as they kick off their own redistricting process in the next few weeks. Ohio is required by law to redraw their lines after a 2022 map was adopted without bipartisan support. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said his state could eliminate as many as ten Democratic seats in its current redistricting process. (The Hill)
PUBLIC HEALTH: At least half of states have enacted regulations on kratom, the herbal supplement used to treat opioid withdrawal. The Food and Drug Administration is moving to ban 7-OH, the compound found in kratom. Seven states considered bills to tighten kratom regulations. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
ENVIRONMENT: The Illinois legislature is considering a bill to ban styrofoam to-go containers by 2030. The measure would impose penalties of up to $1,000 for multiple offenses within a 12-month period. (Telegraph)
TRANSPORTATION: Representatives from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’s (D) office, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety have met with Tesla about the company’s proposal to bring self-driving cars to the state. No decision has been made, but Tesla has begun the certification process to operate autonomous vehicles in the Phoenix area. (State Affairs)
BUDGETS: Oregon officials expect the Republican reconciliation bill to create a $1 billion hole in the state budget, undermining food assistance programs and medical insurance benefits. The hole could grow to as much as $6 billion in the 2027-2029 budget. (Oregonian)
ELECTIONS: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) has formally rejected a Department of Justice request for access to the state’s voter registration files. In a letter to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates, Bellows asked for an explanation about why DOJ was requesting the files. (Maine Public Radio)
In Politics & Business
GEORGIA: President Trump is endorsing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) in the Republican primary to replace term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R). Jones faces Attorney General Chris Carr (R) in the primary election. (Associated Press)
MORE: State Sen. Blake Tillery (R) and Rep. David Clark (R) have both jumped into the race for lieutenant governor. They join Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R), Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy (R) and several others in the crowded GOP field. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
NEW YORK: A new Siena University survey shows Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) leading U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) by a 45%-31% margin. Asked whether they would vote to re-elect Hochul, just 35% said yes, while 53% said they wanted to vote for someone else. (Siena)
FLORIDA: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to name state Sen. Jay Collins (R) as his new lieutenant governor. Former Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez (R) resigned to become president of Florida International University. (Politico)
CRIME BLOTTER: South Carolina Rep. R.J. May (R) has resigned his seat as he awaits trial on charges of distributing illegal material involving children. May faces ten charges; he is being held in a county jail without bond. (Associated Press)
By The Numbers
119: The official tally of those who lost their lives in catastrophic Texas Hill Country flooding last month. The youngest victims were just 1 year old; the oldest was 91. (Texas Tribune)
73%: The share of Americans who have fallen for an online scam, according to a Pew Research Center report. An estimated 32% of respondents said they were victims of a scam within the last year. (Los Angeles Times)
$13,705: The price, per pound, of Panamanian Geisha Coffee, sold in an international online auction. It’s the most expensive coffee ever sold. Geisha is an Arabica coffee variety prized for its floral aromas and bright acidity. (UPI)
Off The Wall
An American teen influencer has been stuck in Chilean territory in Antarctica since June after authorities said he landed a small plane illegally by providing a false flight plan. The teen has agreed to a plea deal that requires him to give $30,000 to a children’s cancer foundation to avoid trial. (Associated Press)
A swarm of jellyfish has forced the shutdown of one of France’s largest nuclear power plants after they entered the plant’s water intake systems. The plant, which powers about 5 million homes, was already without two reactors shut down for summer maintenance. (The Guardian)
Quote of the Day
“I don’t respond to him. He’s not worth responding to.”
— Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R), on Texas Republican Party chairman Abraham George. The state Republican Party is seeking to censure several incumbent House members, denying them access to the 2026 primary ballot. (Texas Tribune)