Good morning, it’s Wednesday, January 28, 2026. In today’s edition, lawmakers explore extended producer responsibility; court strikes blow to Dem redistricting hopes in Virginia; Dems win special elections in Minnesota House:
Top Stories
ENVIRONMENT: Lawmakers have introduced at least 143 bills in a dozen states this year to create extended producer responsibility measures, or EPR. The bills would require producers and manufacturers to play a larger role in helping reduce landfill waste and increase recycling. A New Jersey bill would apply to the disposal of e-cigarettes; a New Hampshire version would extend to paint and batteries; Colorado’s would cover an electric vehicle recycling program. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: A Tazewell Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday that the proposed constitutional amendment to redraw Virginia’s congressional district lines was invalid because of state law that says such measures must be approved at least three months before a general election. Democratic lawmakers passed the initial bill just a week before Election Day last year. The campaign behind the measure intends to appeal. (Associated Press)
A potential win for Virginia Republicans seeking to keep the current district lines.
MORE: A Maryland House committee has approved proposed redrawn maps adopted by Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) advisory panel. The new maps, targeting an Eastern Shore seat held by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R), face an uncertain future in the Senate, where President Bill Ferguson (D) remains opposed. (Baltimore Sun)
IMMIGRATION: Maryland’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted to advance legislation that would end local law enforcement agreements with ICE. Another bill the committee advanced would prevent officers from wearing face coverings while on duty. The bills could hit the Senate floor as early as tomorrow. (Baltimore Sun)
ABORTION: The Indiana Senate has approved legislation allowing the state to sue anyone involved in prescribing, manufacturing or transporting abortion-inducing drugs to be sued for wrongful death. The bill includes a provision allowing anyone to file a lawsuit on behalf of the state with a potential reward of up to $100,000. (WPTA)
LGBTQ RIGHTS: The Indiana Senate also backed legislation penalizing schools for failing to require transgender students to use bathroom facilities that align with their gender identity. The bill would enshrine a definition of sex and gender in state law. It would allow people to bring a civil action against noncompliant schools. (Indianapolis Star) Kansas’s House Judiciary Committee advanced a transgender bathroom ban bill as well. (State Affairs)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Utah’s House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee heard testimony on legislation to require AI companies to post child safety plans and publish risk assessments for their models. Utah’s AI bill is the first in the nation to include a child safety provision. (Deseret News)
GUN POLITICS: Virginia’s Senate Courts of Justice Committee has approved more than half a dozen bills relating to firearms. The bills would tighten rules on assault-style firearms, gun storage, ghost guns and carrying weapons in public places. One bill would require firearms and ammunition to be stored in locked containers when minors are present. (Virginia Mercury)
In Politics & Business
MINNESOTA: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) delayed launching her gubernatorial campaign after this weekend’s fatal shooting of a protestor in Minneapolis. Klobuchar had intended to launch her campaign on Monday. She now intends to launch her bid before next Tuesday, when precinct caucuses begin. (Politico)
MORE: Democratic candidates won two special elections in the Twin Cities area on Tuesday, restoring the 67-67 tie in the state House. Both districts are heavily Democratic; one district was uncontested, while Rep.-elect Meg Luger-Nikolai (D) won her St. Paul seat with 95% of the vote. (MPR News)
WISCONSIN: President Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) in the GOP gubernatorial primary. Tiffany is considered the frontrunner over Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann (R) in the Aug. 11 primary. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
NEW YORK: Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is set to name her new running mate, though several potential contenders have already turned her down. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards (D) said no to the job last month, as did Sen. Jamaal Bailey (D). (State of Politics)
ALABAMA: GOP activist Ken McFeeters (R), running for governor, has challenged U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R) residency in a formal complaint to the state Republican Party. Tuberville’s name is on a property in Auburn, as well as a beach house in Florida. Alabama law requires a candidate for governor to be a resident for seven years. (Associated Press)
PEOPLE: Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (R) is under observation and treatment for a blood clot in his lung. Albritton has been transferred to a University of Florida hospital to examine a potential abnormality in his heart. (Florida Politics) Our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
By The Numbers
1.8 million: The amount the United States population grew between 2024 and 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The growth rate of 0.5% is the slowest since the height of the pandemic, a decline driven by sharply lower net international migration during President Trump’s first year in office. (Pluribus News)
$609 million: The amount of illegal cannabis seized by California law enforcement officials in 2025, up 18 times over the amount seized in 2022. Officials seized and destroyed 377,010 lbs. of illicit pot last year. (Governor’s Office)
Off The Wall
A NASA research plane landed at Ellington Airport near Houston without its landing gear on Tuesday, sending a plume of flames behind it as it skidded across the runway. Both crew members were safe, but the video is pretty shocking. (Associated Press)
A group of neighbors on Tichigan Lake in Racine County, Wis., used a paddle board to rescue an ice fisherman who fell into the lake. The man, who was wearing a flotation device, was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The owner of the paddle board said it wasn’t even the first time he’s rescued someone from the lake. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“If there are things to hide we will be able to see that through an audit. That’s why they don’t want the audit.”
— Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D), objecting to what she says are efforts by Gov. Maura Healey (D) and Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D) to stop her from auditing the state legislature. (Boston Herald)