Good morning, it’s Thursday, May 14, 2026. In today’s edition, new guardrails on AI chatbots; more states set to enter redistricting fray; California poll shows Becerra narrowly ahead:
Top Stories
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Six states this year have adopted bills regulating AI chatbots, primarily with the goal of protecting children. At least 80 bills have been introduced across the country in a bipartisan effort to set up guardrails requiring chatbots to remind users they are not interacting with a human or to direct users to resources when they express intent to harm themselves. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) will call lawmakers into special session to redraw congressional district map lines. The new maps would apply to the 2028 elections, rather than this year’s midterms. Republicans hold nine of Georgia’s 14 U.S. House seats. (State Affairs)
MORE: New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari (D) says he’s open to the possibility of redrawing congressional district lines. Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) said earlier this month she, too, would be willing to draw new lines before the 2028 elections. (New Jersey Globe) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will call lawmakers back into special session to target the state’s lone Democratic-held district. (New York Times)
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has canceled a special session focused on redistricting, he said Wednesday. But Reeves said he wants lawmakers to redraw congressional district lines in next year’s legislative session. (Mississippi Free Press)
ENERGY: New York lawmakers have introduced a proposed three-year moratorium on the construction of new data centers. The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Kristin Gonzalez (D), chair of the Senate Internet and Technology Committee. (State of Politics) Ohio lawmakers have created a bipartisan study committee to consider the impacts of data centers. (State Affairs)
HEALTHCARE: The Vermont Senate has approved legislation limiting private equity involvement in healthcare to only business decisions, rather than medical decisions. The bill has been pared back from an original version that won House committee approval earlier this year, limiting restrictions on private equity involvement in healthcare businesses. (VT Digger)
MORE: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed a package of healthcare reforms, including: A measure to allow residents to choose insurance plans with flat rates on copays and prescription drugs; a bill to prohibit downcoding insurance claims without explanation; and a bill capping costs on insulin and diabetes equipment. (Virginia Mercury)
GAMBLING: Colorado lawmakers have approved first-of-its-kind legislation limiting the number of daily deposits a gambler can make in a sports betting app. The bill would ban push notifications that solicit bets or deposits on gambling apps, and ban credit card deposits. (Denver Post)
In Politics & Business
CALIFORNIA: A new Emerson College poll finds former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) eking out a slim lead in the race for governor. Becerra takes 19%, followed by conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer (D) at 17%. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (D) takes 11%, while former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D) takes 10%. (Emerson)
The Trump administration is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California over alleged fraud. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) office denied that widespread fraud exists. (Associated Press)
KENTUCKY: Max Morley (D), one of three candidates challenging state Rep. Daniel Grossberg (D) in next week’s primary, said he would end his campaign after a door camera video showed him taking a campaign flyer out of someone’s mailbox. Democrats have called on Grossberg to resign over allegations of mistreatment of women. (Kentucky Lantern)
LOUISIANA: The state is likely to revert to open “jungle” primaries after delaying congressional elections over a late redistricting push, Louisiana officials said. Under the jungle primary system, the top two candidates advance to a general election, regardless of party affiliation. (Baton Rouge Advocate)
WASHINGTON: The Public Disclosure Commission, Washington’s campaign finance agency, will pay $25,000 to settle allegations of open government meeting rules violations. Members of the commission must complete more open government training within 90 days as part of the settlement. (Seattle Times)
By The Numbers
0.5%: The growth of the U.S. population between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, the lowest pace of growth since the pandemic-impacted year of 2021. The U.S. population stands at nearly 342 million. (New York Times)
About 70,000: The number of Americans who died from drug overdoses last year, down 14% from the year before. It’s the third straight annual drop, marking the longest decline in decades, according to CDC data. (Associated Press)
Off The Wall
Officials at the Volo Museum in Chicago recently received a $50 speeding ticket from New York City that alleged the black Pontiac Trans Am that featured in the 1980s TV series “Knight Rider” was driving 36 miles per hour in a 25 m.p.h zone. The problem is, the car in the Chicago museum hasn’t moved in years. Someone in New York has the same car with a “KNIGHT” license plate. (Associated Press)
Ohta Seiko, a Japanese company that makes a ferocious-looking robot wolf, has been inundated by orders after a rise in the number of bear attacks on humans. Orders have flooded in from farmers, golf course operators and rural construction firms. (AFP)
Quote of the Day
“It will be long. It will be tedious at times.”
— South Carolina House Majority Leader Davey Hiott (R), on the forthcoming special session on redistricting. (The State)