Good morning, it’s Friday, September 12, 2025. In today’s edition, states tackle PFAS in firefighting foam; California reaches deal on oil wells; North Carolina to hold special session on crime:
Top Stories
ENVIRONMENT: Lawmakers in about a dozen states have introduced bills to prohibit the use of firefighting foam or firefighting equipment containing PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals. Legislation passed in Maine, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont this year, while bills in other states have won bipartisan support.(Pluribus News)
ENERGY: California lawmakers introduced a last-minute deal to streamline environmental approvals for up to 2,000 new wells in Kern County, in the Central Valley. The deal will tighten safety and regulatory requirements on proposed offshore drilling sites. Neither industry groups nor environmental groups were terribly pleased with the bill. (Los Angeles Times)
PUBLIC SAFETY: The California legislature has adopted bills to prohibit on-duty law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from wearing masks, and to require officers to identify themselves. The measures exempt SWAT officers and California Highway Patrol officers. (Los Angeles Times)
MORE: North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R) and Senate President Phil Berger (R) announced plans to introduce a comprehensive package of criminal justice reforms during a special session beginning Sept. 22. Hall said those convicted of violent crimes should not be eligible for release without posting a secured bond. (State Affairs)
TRANSPORTATION: California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) have reached a deal to fund a statewide high-speed rail project with $1 billion every year through 2045. The funding comes as part of a deal to extend the state’s cap and trade program for another 20 years. (Sacramento Bee)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: California legislators have given final approval to a bill allowing people to file civil lawsuits against those who create or distribute explicit “deepfake” images or videos without consent. The bill shields online platforms from liability if they act promptly to remove the content. (State Affairs)
TRANS RIGHTS: California lawmakers adopted legislation protecting medical data of transgender people from being shared with other states or law enforcement. The bill would prohibit health care providers from releasing gender-affirming health care data via subpoena or request based on another state’s laws. (Los Angeles Times)
In Politics & Business
FLORIDA: House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) has named 11 members to a new committee to explore potential redistricting plans. The panel will be chaired by Rep. Mike Redondo (R). Lawmakers haven’t said what steps they will take next. (WUSF)
ALASKA: Anchorage businesswoman Bernadette Wilson (R) has become the first gubernatorial candidate to pick a lieutenant governor running mate, Sen. Mike Shower (R). Shower was appointed to the Senate in 2018 to replace Mike Dunleavy, who resigned to become governor. (Anchorage Daily News)
NEW YORK CITY: Trump administration efforts to get Mayor Eric Adams to end his re-election bid appear to have collapsed, as Adams attacks former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (I) on the campaign trail. Trump ally Steve Witkoff met with Adams earlier this month. (CNN)
BOSTON: Businessman Josh Kraft has dropped out of the race for mayor after he finished nearly 50 points behind incumbent Michelle Wu in Tuesday’s primary election. Kraft, the son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, spent $5.5 million of his own money on the race, only to finish with 23% of the vote. (WBUR)
By The Numbers
$2,035: The average monthly cost paid by an American homeowner with a mortgage, the first time that figure has crossed the $2,000 mark. The costs include mortgages, taxes, insurance and fees; costs are rising fastest in Southern states where insurance companies have hiked premiums in recent years. (Pluribus News)
Nearly 80%: The share of the Northwest that is in drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More than half the territory across the Northwest is in severe or extreme drought. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Nearly 10%: The drop in transit crime in New York City between June 1 and Aug. 31, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). Assaults dropped 21% over the same period last year. (State of Politics)
Off The Wall
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) addressed a new class of state troopers last week, including new trooper Lucy Kemp — his middle daughter. Lucy Kemp achieved the highest average grades for her academic work during her training. (Associated Press)
Police in Cape May, N.J., are on the lookout for two men seen on video stealing a Humpty Dumpty statue from a local mini golf course. The statue was found several properties away. (Associated Press) Hopefully this time they can put him back together again.
Which raises a question about the rhyme: Why did anyone think the king’s horses would be capable of reconstructing an egg?
Quote of the Day
“The only thing Pennsylvania should be testing in beagles is belly rubs and squeaky toys.”
— Pennsylvania Sen. Doug Mastriano (R), on legislation to ban the sale of cosmetics developed using animal testing. The bill, introduced after a 2022 incident in which dozens of beagles were rescued from a Virginia lab, passed the Senate unanimously. (State Affairs)