Good morning, it’s Thursday, May 29, 2025. In today’s edition, Oregon to ban geolocation data sales; Arizona governor in tight re-election fight; Nebraska bans trans athletes from school sports:
Top Stories
PRIVACY: Oregon legislators have given final approval to legislation banning the sale of someone’s precise geolocation in the latest state-led effort to restrict how one’s data is monetized. The bill, which won unanimous approval, also bans the sale of the personal data of minors under 16. Maryland became the first state to ban the sale of geolocation data last year. (Pluribus News)
ENVIRONMENT: Oregon lawmakers approved legislation banning retailers and restaurants from offering reusable plastic bags to consumers at checkout. The bill closes a loophole in a 2019 law barring single-use plastic bags, making bags made of recycled paper the only option. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
TRANS RIGHTS: Nebraska lawmakers have approved legislation banning transgender athletes from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity. The measure does not include an earlier provision that would have banned transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. (WOWT)
MORE: The Texas legislature has given final sign-off to legislation defining men and women by their reproductive organs. The bill requires intersex people to receive accommodations in accordance with state and federal law. Texas is the 14th state to implement so-called “sex definition” laws. (Texas Tribune)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The Ohio House has unanimously approved legislation banning police departments from setting ticket quotas. The bill bars departments from using ticket, citation or arrest data in decisions about promotions, transfers or discipline. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
MORE: Illinois legislators have approved a bill preventing police from ticketing and fining students for minor misbehavior at school. The bill would prevent police from issuing tickets to students over behavior on school transportation or during school-related events. (ProPublica)
SCIENCE: Sixteen Democratic-led states are suing the National Science Foundation, alleging the Trump administration illegally terminated millions in grants and imposed new fees that curbed research in health, the economy and general science. The suit alleges the cuts are arbitrary and capricious. (Los Angeles Times)
In Politics & Business
SOUTH DAKOTA: Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden (R) is the second Republican to enter the race for governor in 2026, pledging to eliminate property taxes. Doeden will face House Speaker Jon Hansen (R) in the GOP primary; Gov. Larry Rhoden (R), Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R) are all considering bids. (South Dakota Searchlight)
ARIZONA: A new Noble Predictive Insights poll finds Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) statistically tied with both businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson (R) and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R) in hypothetical matchups. Hobbs leads Robson 41% to 39%, and Biggs by a margin of 40% to 38%. (Noble Predictive Insights)
OKLAHOMA: Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has signed legislation limiting the number of petition signatures ballot measure advocates can collect from a single county. Petitioners cannot collect more than 11.5% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the previous general election from a given county, or 20.8% for proposed constitutional amendments. (McCarville Report)
NEBRASKA: The legislature on Wednesday approved a measure placing a term-limits question on the 2026 ballot. The measure would limit lawmakers to three consecutive four-year terms; current law allows lawmakers to serve only two consecutive terms. (Nebraska Examiner)
CRIME BLOTTER: President Trump has pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland (R), who served two stints in federal prison on corruption charges. Rowland, first elected governor in 1994 at the age of 37, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in 2004. (Associated Press)
By The Numbers
More than 80,000: The number of early votes cast so far ahead of Virginia’s Democratic primary this year, with three weeks of early voting left to go. Democrats are on pace to cast more early votes than the previous record, in 2023, when 129,000 people voted early. (Virginia Public Radio)
$815 billion: The value of assets held in South Dakota trusts, up about $100 billion over last year. South Dakota is one of the top trust jurisdictions in the world. Experts said it represents one of the largest generational transfers of wealth in history, as boomers pass their savings onto their kids. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
Off The Wall
Harrison Ruffin Tyler, the last surviving grandson of President John Tyler, has died at 96. President Tyler, elected in 1841, was 63 when his son Lyon was born; Lyon was 75 when Harrison was born in 1928. (Richmonder)
The 50th anniversary of the CBS reality show “Survivor” will feature a cast exclusively made up of former contestants — but Washington Attorney General Nick Brown (D) won’t be one of them. Brown, who appeared in season two of the hit show, wasn’t approached about the reunion season, but he said he would be open to appearing on a future season. (Seattle Times)
A Delta flight from Minneapolis to Madison, Wis., was delayed twice over the weekend as the flight crew dealt with two stowaways — pigeons that managed to get onboard. The ground crew caught the first bird, while a passenger nabbed the second one. The flight was delayed about an hour. (Associated Press)
Bonus: The passenger the Associated Press quoted was named Tom Caw.
Quote of the Day
“I am pretty upset.”
— Washington Rep. Mark Klicker (R), author of legislation that would have directed the state Institute for Public Policy to research the rising costs of housing. It was the one bill, out of 423 the legislature passed this year, vetoed by Gov. Bob Ferguson (D). (Washington State Standard)