Good morning, it’s Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Anyone else’s wallet feeling a little lighter? In today’s edition, lawmakers consider energy subsidies; Washington advances plan to pay striking workers; Florida House escalates feud with DeSantis:
Top Stories
ENERGY: Lawmakers in at least nine states are working on bills to provide economic incentives or expedited permitting for new energy projects, as AI and cloud computing drive up the need for more power. The largest grids in the nation are projecting massive demand spikes in the coming years, and some regions are nervous about the strain the upcoming retirement of existing fossil fuel plants will place on grids. (Pluribus News)
GUN POLITICS: Oregon’s House and Senate Judiciary Committees have advanced bills creating a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, banning rapid-fire devices and creating a state licensing program for gun dealers. The measures won approval on party-line votes. (Oregon Public Broadcasting) The Missouri House has approved legislation lowering the age requirement to possess a concealed firearm from 19 to 18. (Fox2Now)
EDUCATION: The Washington House is advancing students’ rights legislation that would guarantee students can receive copies of school policies and procedures and access to academic courses and instructional materials with historically and scientifically accurate information. The bill requires schools to notify parents if their child is a victim of abuse, sexual misconduct or assault. (Washington State Standard)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The Washington House has given final approval to legislation requiring clergy members to report child abuse or neglect, even when disclosed during confession. New Hampshire and West Virginia already mandate clergy to report abuse. The bill now heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) for a signature. (Washington State Standard)
LABOR: The Washington House has backed legislation giving striking workers unemployment benefits. The House version of the bill caps benefits at four weeks, down from 12 weeks proposed in the initial Senate version. Washington would join New York and New Jersey in giving benefits to strikers. (Washington State Standard)
CONSUMER PROTECTION: The Illinois House has backed legislation barring companies from charging additional fees if a customer requests paper monthly billing statements. The bill would also bar companies from creating surcharges for those who opt out of auto-pay. (WAND)
DEI: The Arkansas House has given final approval to legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices in local government. The bill would apply to contractors. It would give citizens the right to sue local government if they do not end DEI practices within a month. (Arkansas Advocate)
NIL: The Montana legislature has given final approval to a measure requiring student-athletes to receive written contracts for the use of their name, image and likeness. Another bill would remove an existing prohibition on schools directly paying student-athletes. The bills now head to Gov. Greg Gianforte (R). (Daily Montanan)
In Politics & Business
COLORADO: Former U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez (R) has launched his third campaign for governor. Lopez, who served about six months in the House after winning a special election last year, is the most prominent Republican to jump into the race so far. (Denver Post)
Lopez told the Denver Post he was honored to serve in Congress, even if he felt like an exchange student. That’s a good line.
WISCONSIN: Businessman Bill Berrien (R) has launched a new political action committee as he explores a run for governor in 2026. Berrien is the first Republican to make public moves toward a gubernatorial bid; Gov. Tony Evers (D) has not said whether he will seek a third term. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
IOWA: House Speaker Pat Grassley (R), Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R) and Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) are all considering runs for governor, after Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said she would not seek a new term in office. Attorney General Brenna Bird (R) is also considering a run. (Des Moines Register)
ALASKA: The state House voted to cut the 2025 Permanent Fund dividend by almost two-thirds, from $3,900 per recipient to about $1,400. The cut will reduce the state’s budget deficit from $1.9 billion to $400 million. (Alaska Beacon)
FLORIDA: State Rep. Alex Andrade (R) will issue a subpoena for text messages and call logs from Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) relating to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by First Lady Casey DeSantis. The subpoena would be a big escalation in the House GOP’s spat with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). (Tampa Bay Times)
The feud involves a $10 million payment from the Agency for Health Care Administration that the legislature thinks should have gone to the state. Read the backstory at Florida Politics.
By The Numbers
$2 billion: The amount Los Angeles County faces in fire recovery costs, including an estimated $1 billion in lost revenue, mostly from property taxes, and $1 billion to cover soil testing, debris removal and beach cleanup costs. (Los Angeles Times)
$39 million: The cost of more than 1,000 acres of prime farmland on Kauai that billionaire Steve Case has offered to sell the state of Hawaii. The state Senate’s draft budget has approved the payment, which would help the state meet its local food production goals. (Civil Beat)
$22.25 million: The amount the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, has spent on behalf of its president, Sean Spiller (D), who is running for governor. That’s allowed Spiller to dramatically outspend the rest of the Democratic primary field. (NJ Advance Media)
Off The Wall
Elephants at the San Diego Zoo encircled and shielded two calves during a 5.2-magnitude earthquake that shook the park Monday morning. Viral video shows the older elephants creating an “alert circle” around the calves. (Associated Press)
Getting hitched next month? Consider the Little Vegas Chapel, which will offer Star Wars-themed weddings on May 4. Lovers can choose from two packages: The “Yoda One For Me” or the “Love Star.” Officiants will dress as either Princess Leia or Darth Vader. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“The only thing worse than a little boy crying wolf is two little boys crying wolf.”
— Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R), on objections to his proposal to overhaul insurance legislation. Both the insurance industry and trial lawyers oppose the plans. (Louisiana Illuminator)