Good morning, it’s Wednesday, September 3, 2025. In today’s edition, California AI bills go down to the wire; Minnesota to hold special session on gun safety; Taylor Robson leads Arizona GOP governor field:
Top Stories
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Two new super PACs — one backed by venture capitalists, the other by Meta — are pledging to spend $100 million or more fighting back against state-level measures in California, Illinois, New York and Ohio that would regulate AI. Tech accountability groups are pushing for passage of several key bills in California’s legislature ahead of adjournment next week. (Pluribus News)
MORE: Bills advancing in California ahead of adjournment include Assemb. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s (D) legislation to ban bias in automated decision systems and restricting development of chatbots aimed at kids; Sen. Scott Wiener’s (D) AI safety bill; and Assemb. Maggy Krell’s (D) bill to allow AI developers to be held liable for harms AI causes while acting autonomously. (State Affairs)
GUN POLITICS: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) will call lawmakers into special session this month to take up gun safety legislation in the wake of the mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R) said the state should consider mental health and security funding instead. (Minnesota Star Tribune)
ABORTION: The Texas Senate gave initial approval to legislation allowing private citizens to sue the makers or distributors of abortion medication, and those who mail pills to Texas residents. The measure shields the identity of women who seek or obtain abortion medications. (Dallas Morning News)
LEGISLATURES: The Texas House has approved a bill limiting the amount of money lawmakers and caucuses can raise when they leave the state to stall legislative action. The bill would block lawmakers from accepting more than $221 per day, the per diem lawmakers earn during special sessions. (Texas Tribune)
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Oregon Reps. Cyrus Javadi (R) and Tom Andersen (D) will introduce legislation to refer a potential constitutional amendment to next year’s ballot to ban law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. The amendment would require officers to wear uniforms with badge numbers and names. (Oregonian)
IMMIGRATION: California lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday to require schools to create plans to notify parents and teachers when immigration enforcement officers are on campus. The legislature also adopted bills barring immigration enforcement from entering nonpublic areas in schools or hospitals without a warrant. (Associated Press)
In Politics & Business
CALIFORNIA: Supporters and opponents of Proposition 50, the measure to redraw U.S. House district lines, will launch millions in television spending beginning today in a sprint to November’s elections. Opponents have booked $10 million in airtime over just the next three weeks. Supporters have bought $2 million so far. (Los Angeles Times)
The California Highway Patrol will provide security to former Vice President Kamala Harris after President Trump signed a memo ending her Secret Service protection. (Los Angeles Times)
ARIZONA: A new Noble Predictive Insights poll finds businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson (R) leading U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R) 37% to 27% in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The poll shows Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) with a statistically insignificant 2-point lead over either Republican candidate. (State Affairs)
KANSAS: Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) has booted podcaster Doug Billings (R) from the gubernatorial ballot after his running mate, April McCoy (R), filed paperwork removing herself from the ballot. Kobach’s office said McCoy’s exit requires Billings to re-file his candidacy. (State Affairs) Businessman Philip Sarnecki (R) is the ninth person to enter the Republican primary. (Topeka Capital-Journal)
ALASKA: Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has named former U.S. Attorney Stephen Cox to serve as attorney general. Cox served as U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas during the first Trump administration. (Anchorage Daily News)
PEOPLE: Arkansas Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R) has died at 74. Stubblefield served as chair of the Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee. (Talk Business & Politics) Our condolences to the Arkansas political family.
By The Numbers
More than 18,800: The number of bills introduced in the New York legislature this year, the highest number in the nation. Colorado had the most efficient legislature, approving 539 of 730 bills introduced this year, or 74%. (Yankee Institute)
$216 million: The amount in lost tax revenue in Nebraska due to President Trump’s reconciliation bill, according to the state Department of Revenue, over the next two years. Over four years, the bill is expected to cost the state $406 million. (Nebraska Examiner)
$100: The fine someone who plays the National Anthem poorly or as part of an exit march or medley faces under Massachusetts law. Residents also face fines of up to $50 for cursing at a participant or referee at a sports game, and for scaring pigeons. (MetroWest Daily News)
For the record, those antiquated laws are never enforced — but you could still get kicked out of a game for heckling players, so maybe avoid that.
Off The Wall
Massachusetts residents will have the chance to pick among three new proposed state seals, flags and mottos in six public hearings to be held this month and next. The options for mottos include “Multae voces, una res publica,” or Many Voices, One Commonwealth; “We honor all life guided by the First Light”; and “Bono publico laetamur,” or we rejoice in the public good. (State Affairs)
Alaska’s cabbage king wins again: Scott Robb has won the first place prize for growing the state’s largest cabbage, weighing in at 84 lbs. It’s the third year in a row Robb has claimed the crown at the Alaska State Fair. (Anchorage Daily News)
Quote of the Day
“I’m not going to answer that question partly because I think there are a lot of people who are on those GLP-1s, and it’s kind of none of anybody’s business. Sometimes people are doing it because they have a health problem, like a genuine medical problem, diabetes or something else. And those are amazing drugs.”
— Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who has lost a notable amount of weight, asked if he is taking GLP-1 medications. (NBC Chicago)