Good morning, it’s Wednesday, December 17, 2025. In today’s edition, Trump AI order gets bipartisan pushback; California prepares new housing push; Indiana gov won’t call a new redistricting session:
Top Stories
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: State officials from both parties are pushing back on President Trump’s executive order aimed at preempting local AI regulations. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said this week states “have a right” to regulate AI. An open letter signed by more than 80 legislators from at least half the states calls on Trump to reconsider.
Trump’s order instructs federal agencies to identify and challenge state-level AI laws in court. It also threatens to withhold federal funding, including broadband expansion funds, from states that advance their own restrictions. California and New York are among the states likely to pursue new AI regulation bills next year. (Pluribus News)
MORE: The Maryland General Assembly voted Tuesday to override Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) veto of legislation requiring the state to conduct environmental, economic and energy impacts of data center development. Moore cited fiscal constraints in vetoing the bill. (Frederick News-Post)
HOUSING: California lawmakers are preparing a new push to advance housing legislation. Housing advocates are pursuing a $10 billion affordable housing bond, which will be reintroduced in January. Lawmakers also plan to push bills to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes and strengthen fair housing laws. (State Affairs)
ENERGY: Sixteen Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration for what they say is illegally withholding more than $2 billion in funding for electric vehicle charging programs. A federal judge had previously ordered the administration to release $5 billion in funding from a separate EV infrastructure program. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
GUN POLITICS: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has signed executive orders aimed at curbing gun violence, after the legislature declined to act. One order creates a statewide safety council to help reduce gun violence. Another requires tracking the cost of gun violence and adds funding to educate gun owners on safe storage. (MPR News)
PUBLIC HEALTH: The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation establishing a state list of sanctioned vape products. Both the vaping industry and anti-smoking advocates oppose the bill. The vape industry says it will put independent smoke shops out of business. Anti-smoking groups say the bill creates legal protections for some vape products, including some that sell flavorful varieties. (State Affairs)
REDISTRICTING: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) believes the state legislature won’t be able to come up with the votes to impose a new congressional district map. House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R) and Senate President Ty Masterson (R) say they will try to advance a redistricting plan when the legislature convenes next month. (Kansas Reflector) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) says he won’t call another special session to pursue redistricting, after the state Senate rejected new maps last week. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
NEW MEXICO: Former state cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez (R), now a successful cannabis entrepreneur, will run for governor. Rodriguez said he would pursue guaranteed health care as he competes for the Republican nomination. (Associated Press)
MARYLAND: The House of Delegates formally elected Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) as speaker. Peña-Melnyk replaces Speaker Adrienne Jones (D), who resigned earlier this month. Born in the Dominican Republic, she’s the first immigrant elected to lead the state House. (Baltimore Sun)
ALASKA: Senate Republicans have selected Sen. Mike Cronk (R) as their new minority leader. Cronk replaces Sen. Mike Shower (R), who resigned to run for lieutenant governor. (Alaska Public Media)
By The Numbers
9.2%: The expected increase in heating costs this winter, driven by higher electricity and natural gas prices and colder-than-usual winter weather. The average U.S. household is expected to spend nearly $1,000 to heat the home, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. (New York Times)
1,475: The number of whooping cough cases reported in Oregon, the highest number ever recorded. State health officials say the rate of vaccinations against whooping cough has fallen substantially. (Willamette Week)
13,438,379: The number of taxi trips taken in Clark County, Nev., in 2024, about half the 27.6 million trips taken in 2014 — the year Uber began operating in Las Vegas. (Nevada Independent)
Off The Wall
The Michigan legislature has given final sign-off on a plan to re-survey the state border with Indiana. Previous efforts to do so failed when the state couldn’t find a company willing to take on the project. The new bill will allow individual counties to survey specific sections of the border in an effort to resolve property disputes and traffic enforcement. (WTVB)
The border between Indiana and Michigan hasn’t been surveyed since the 1800s.
The Phoenix Zoo is seeking public input in naming its new giraffe calf. The calf, born in mid-November, stands about six feet tall and weighs about 150 lbs. (Arizona Republic)
Speaking of animals, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office helped wrangle a loose kangaroo named Martha found hopping around town. Martha’s owner returned her safely home. (UPI) The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert has captured Pili, its Southern ground hornbill, at a local country club after it escaped while being transferred to a holding area last week. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“When we were a state in 1896 with less than 300,000 people, we had five Supreme Court justices. Now that we’re 3.5 million people, we still have five Supreme Court justices.”
— Utah Sen. Todd Weiler (R). Gov. Spencer Cox’s (R) budget proposes adding two new seats to the high court. (ABC4)