Good morning, it’s Tuesday, December 9, 2025. In today’s edition, states boost energy storage capacity; Indiana redistricting moves toward uncertain vote; Texas partners with conservative group in schools:
Top Stories
ENERGY: Lawmakers in at least 19 states introduced legislation this year to address energy storage, including bills to establish storage mandates, ease siting requirements and provide financial incentives. Those measures are meant to help bring down energy costs as the price of power has risen nearly twice the overall rate of inflation.
New Jersey lawmakers created the state’s first large-scale energy storage incentive program aimed at building 1,000 megawatts of storage by 2030. Maryland legislators adopted a bill to solicit proposals for up to 1,600 megawatts of storage capacity. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is considering a bill to set a battery storage procurement target at 3 gigawatts by 2030. (Pluribus News)
MORE: Virginia Democrats are reintroducing clean energy bills Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) nixed, ahead of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s (D) inauguration. One bill would allow localities to require developers to build solar canopies over parking lots. Another develops a training program for the offshore wind industry as Dominion prepares to open a new wind farm. (Virginia Mercury)
REDISTRICTING: An Indiana Senate committee has approved new congressional district map lines as the chamber barrels toward a Thursday vote on the Republican-friendly borders. Senate President Rodric Bray (R) said he doesn’t know whether the votes to adopt the maps are there. President Trump has singled out nine Republicans who haven’t committed to voting for the maps. (State Affairs)
“What I’m saying right now is we’re all going to find out together on Thursday,” Bray said.
MORE: Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R) is still uncertain whether he can muster the votes to adopt a new redistricting plan. Senate President Ty Masterson (R) said he has the votes in his chamber for a plan that would redraw U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ (D) district. Hawkins appears to be about ten votes short. (Kansas Reflector)
EDUCATION: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) have rolled out a partnership with Turning Point USA to create chapters of the conservative group at every high school in the state. Patrick has committed $1 million in campaign funds to establish new TPUSA chapters. (Texas Tribune)
MORE: The New Jersey Assembly has approved legislation eliminating the state’s Graduation Proficiency Assessment for high school juniors. Backers of the bill say the test doesn’t meaningfully reflect what students have learned. The Senate has not yet scheduled hearings for a companion bill. (New Jersey Monitor)
MARIJUANA: The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review has advanced a rule banning billboards that advertise cannabis products. The state Senate is expected to act today on a bill to revise the medical and recreational marijuana programs, though that bill does not contain a billboard restriction. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
NEW YORK: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) will launch his campaign for governor this year, setting up a clash with U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R). President Trump, asked Monday whether he would take sides in the primary, called both candidates “great people.” (Associated Press)
UTAH: Republicans are using out-of-state signature gatherers in an effort to force a vote on a ballot measure repealing redistricting reform that voters approved several years ago. They need 141,000 valid signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot. The campaign is being funded in part by a consulting firm with ties to the Trump administration. (Salt Lake Tribune)
MARYLAND: Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) appears to have wrapped up the votes to win the speakership next year. The other three leading candidates in the race have dropped out to clear her path. (Maryland Matters)
ATTORNEYS GENERAL: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) has been elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) will serve as president-elect, though he is running for a seat in Congress next year. (South Dakota Searchlight)
CRIME BLOTTER: Georgia Rep. Sharon Henderson (D) has been indicted on two counts of theft of government funds and ten counts of making false statements after allegedly lying about her employment to collect unemployment benefits during the pandemic. U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said more lawmakers are being investigated over unemployment benefits. (State Affairs)
PEOPLE: Former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff (R) has died at 89. Ratliff served as then-Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) number two after George W. Bush left the governorship to become president. (Texas Tribune) Former Connecticut House Speaker Francis Collins (R) has died at 92. Collins served as speaker from 1973-1975. (CT Insider)
By The Numbers
89%: The share of local officials who say political polarization is negatively affecting the nation, according to a new CivicPulse poll by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. (Carnegie)
174 million: The number of “stolen rides” in New York City’s subway system last year, accounting for more than a third of the $1 billion lost to toll and fare evasion last year. That’s more than the MTA collected from its congestion pricing toll program in the first nine months of the year. (New York Times)
Off The Wall
A South Carolina Department of Corrections officer found contraband dropped by a drone into a maximum-security prison in Bishopville this week. The package included two large bags of marijuana, loose tobacco — as well as crab legs, steak and Old Bay seasoning. “Seems some folks were planning an early holiday Old Bay crab boil and steak dinner,” the agency wrote on social media. (WLTX)
Jon Alan Hale has taken his 15,000th ride on the Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure. Hale has visited the Anaheim resort more than 1,100 times, averaging about 13 rides per visit. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“Don’t pass the same bill four times if you want a different result.”
— New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), again vetoing legislation that would have reformed the wrongful death compensation system. (State of Politics)