Good morning, it’s Monday, October 20, 2025. In today’s edition, California sets max indoor temperature standard; Trump pressures Indiana on redistricting; Sherrill maintains lead in New Jersey:
Top Stories
ENVIRONMENT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed first-in-the-nation legislation setting a maximum indoor temperature standard. The bill sets state policy to require residential housing units to maintain a maximum temperature, though it doesn’t specify what that temperature is. The bill points to a report issued by a state agency that recommended a maximum of 82 degrees. (Pluribus News)
LABOR: The National Labor Relations Board has sued California to block a new law Newsom signed last month that will allow the California Public Employee Relations Board to enforce federal labor laws. The law allows the state board to oversee union elections and workplace retaliation cases if the NLRB declines to take up the case. (Los Angeles Times)
REDISTRICTING: President Trump held a half-hour phone call Friday with Indiana Senate Republicans to press for new U.S. House district lines. Senate Majority Caucus chair Travis Holdman (R) said Trump didn’t issue any threats. Gov. Mike Braun (R) says he’s waiting to hear support from House Speaker Todd Huston (R) before calling a special session. (State Affairs)
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) campaigned in favor of California’s Proposition 50, the measure to redistrict state congressional district boundaries, at three Black churches in Los Angeles on Sunday. (Los Angeles Times)
TECHNOLOGY: A federal judge has struck down part of Maryland’s first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising. The provision in question prohibited online companies from alerting consumers about the digital tax by passing it on as a surcharge, fee or line item on their bills. The state will not appeal the decision. (Maryland Matters)
HOUSING: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation banning landlords from using algorithms to set rent pricing. Hochul also signed legislation offering tax incentives for redeveloping vacant or abandoned homes into affordable housing. (Albany Times Union)
CYBERSECURITY: Nevada carries a $7 million insurance policy to cover the costs of a cyber attack, chief information officer Timothy Galluzi told lawmakers last week. The policy is expected to entirely cover direct expenses incurred during a recent cyberattack. (Nevada Current)
In Politics & Business
NEW JERSEY: A new Fairleigh Dickinson University survey finds Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) maintaining a 52%-45% lead over former Assemb. Jack Ciattarelli (R). The last Fairleigh Dickinson poll, conducted in July, had Sherrill up eight points. (FDU) An internal poll conducted for a PAC backing Ciattarelli found Sherrill leading 47%-44%. (New Jersey Globe)
OHIO: A YouGov survey for Bowling Green University finds former state health director Amy Acton (D) leading former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D) 50% to 41% in the Democratic primary for governor. In general election matchups, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R) leads Acton 50% to 47%, and he leads Ryan 49% to 47%. (YouGov)
NEW MEXICO: Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull (R) became the first Republican to enter the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) on Friday. If he wins the primary, he would face the winner of a competitive Democratic field including former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (D), Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman (D) and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima (D). (Associated Press)
REPUBLICANS: The New York Republican Party has disbanded the state chapter of the Young Republicans after leaked messages from a group chat showed members, including several top New York Young Republicans, using racial and homophobic slurs. (State of Politics) Vermont Sen. Sam Douglass (R), who was also on the group chat, has resigned his seat. (VT Digger)
See the original report on the explosive text messages from Politico.
CRIME BLOTTER: North Carolina Sen. Norman Sanderson (R) was arrested Saturday for allegedly driving under the influence and transporting an open container. In a statement, Sanderson acknowledged his mistake and took responsibility. He will appear in court on Nov. 7. (NC Newsline)
By The Numbers
$1.09 billion: The amount Ohio spent on private school vouchers in Fiscal Year 2025, the second full year of near-universal vouchers. That’s about $40 million higher than estimates. Enrollment in public schools fell by 16,691, while enrollment in nonpublic schools rose by 4.6%. (Ohio Capital Journal)
19: The number of Oregon counties, out of 36 total, that will not hold elections this year. Those counties don’t have anything on the ballot. (Oregonian)
Off The Wall
A U.S. military exercise that shot live-fire artillery rounds over Interstate 5 on Saturday dropped metal shrapnel on a California Highway Patrol vehicle protecting Vice President J.D. Vance. CHP said an explosive ordnance detonated prematurely, striking and damaging a patrol vehicle and a motorcycle. No one was injured. (Los Angeles Times)
Costumed canines made a loop through the Old Town arts district in Lansing, Mich., on Friday as part of an annual “Howloween” event organized by a local pet store. One dog, Bella, ate too many biscuits and had to take a power nap. “I think right now with everything going on in the world we need more joyous events, and that’s what this is,” the pet store’s general manager told a reporter. (Associated Press)
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has raised more than $2 million in just two days after Taylor Swift fans rushed to purchase a vintage t-shirt promoting otter conservation after Swift wore the shirt to a release party for her new movie celebrating her “Life of a Showgirl” album. The aquarium had set out to raise $1.3 million — a nod to Swift’s favorite number — and blew through that goal in about eight hours. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“This was very helpful, if not joyful — but helpful as we think about what we need to do in the upcoming session.”
— Washington Sen. June Robinson (D), chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, after a presentation on the impacts President Trump’s reconciliation bill will have on the state budget. (Tacoma News Tribune)