Good morning, it’s Thursday, September 25, 2025. In today’s edition, superfund bills struggle in blue states; Utah lawmakers to vote on new map lines; Sherrill, Ciattarelli tied in Garden State poll:
Top Stories
ENVIRONMENT: Lawmakers in at least 11 states introduced bills this year to establish climate superfund programs to proportionally charge major polluters for emissions over specific periods of time. Most of those bills died, but measures in Massachusetts and New Jersey remain alive this year, while California legislation could return next year.
The bills create funds typically used for climate resilience projects. They face stiff opposition from oil and gas companies and the Trump administration, which sees them as counter to President Trump’s push to boost domestic energy production. The administration has sued New York and Vermont, the only states to enact climate superfund laws. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: Utah lawmakers will choose between six plans to redraw the state’s congressional district boundaries in an Oct. 6 special session, after a ten-day public comment period opens on Friday. A state judge will have to approve lawmakers’ ultimate choice before it becomes official. An analysis of five of the maps released by the Republican majority found all created a competitive seat based in Salt Lake City. (Salt Lake Tribune)
MORE: Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R) says the legislature is eyeing an early November special session to redraw congressional district lines. The remap would target Rep. Sharice Davids (D), likely by splitting Johnson County among two or three districts. (State Affairs)
ABORTION: The Ohio House Health Committee is debating legislation to require patients to consent at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed. Another bill would prohibit the sale of drugs that have severe adverse effects on more than 5% of users, which would include the abortion-inducing medication mifepristone. (State Affairs)
HEALTH CARE: Ohio’s House General Government Committee adopted legislation creating new standalone licensing processes for pharmacy benefit managers. The bill prohibits PBMs from offering lower reimbursements rates to pharmacies than those offered by PBM affiliates. (State Affairs)
MORE: The North Dakota legislature plans a special session in the coming months to allocate $500 million in federal funding for rural health care over the next five years. States applying for a new federal rural health care program have until Nov. 5 to submit plans for the cash. (North Dakota Monitor)
EVEN MORE: Florida Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R) has filed legislation to allow the antiparasitic drug ivermectin available over the counter. Ivermectin sold out in Florida during the pandemic, after media personalities like Joe Rogan claimed it treated Covid; studies show the drug has no meaningful effect as a treatment for Covid. (Florida Politics)
In Politics & Business
NEW JERSEY: A new Emerson College poll finds U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) and former Assemb. Jack Ciattarelli (R) tied at 43% apiece. The poll shows more voters approve of the job President Trump is doing (41%) than those who approve of Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) job performance (35%). (Emerson College)
Sherrill has led every other poll in the race by high single-digit to low double-digit margins. And/but, Ciattarelli nearly pulled out the upset four years ago, when he defied polls to come within three points of beating Murphy.
NEVADA: Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) has reached a settlement agreement with state ethics officials over the use of his Clark County Sheriff’s badge and uniform during his first campaign for governor. The agreement will find Lombardo did not purposefully violate ethics law, and Lombardo will make a $5,000 payment — not technically a fine under state law. (Nevada Independent)
WISCONSIN: Former Rep. Brett Hulsey (D) has joined the race for governor, the sixth Democrat to enter the contest. Hulsey was known for his antics as a state lawmaker, investigated for carrying a box cutter inside the Capitol and threatening to bring a rifle onto the Assembly floor. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
NEW YORK CITY: Assemb. Zohran Mamdani (D) leads the mayoral field with 47% of the vote among likely voters, according to a new Fox News poll, followed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (I) at 29% and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa (R) at 11%. Just 7% say they back Mayor Eric Adams (I). (Fox News)
IOWA: Senate Republicans have chosen Sen. Mike Klimesh (R) as their next majority leader. He replaces Sen. Jack Whitver (R), who said last week he won’t seek re-election. (Des Moines Register)
By The Numbers
201,180: The number of public and shared electric vehicle charging ports in California, 68% more than the number of gas nozzles available in the state, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) office. (Governor’s Office)
$640 million: The amount Xcel Energy has agreed to pay over the devastating Marshall Fire in Boulder County in 2021. Two telecom companies named as co-defendants, Teleport Communications and Qwest, will contribute undisclosed amounts toward the settlement. (Denver Post)
Off The Wall
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters (R) will resign from office to take a new position leading the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a new group positioning itself as an alternative to teachers’ unions. Walters, an arch conservative who pushed new curriculum that included lessons about voter fraud in the 2020 elections, would have been eligible to run for re-election in 2026. (Oklahoma Voice)
Fat Bear Week has kicked off in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where viewers can watch a livestream of grizzlies feeding at Brooks River. Voting begins today in rounds five and six of the contest. Check out the matchups and cast your vote right here.
Quote of the Day
“We have a bill on my desk that we think strikes the right balance and we worked with industry, but we didn’t submit to industry.”
— California Gov. Newsom, who says he will sign legislation creating guardrails regulating large artificial intelligence models. (Sacramento Bee)