Good morning, it’s Tuesday, September 2, 2025. In today’s edition, California reaches deal between gig companies, workers; Texas Gov. Abbott signs redistricting bill; conservative Wisconsin justice won’t seek re-election:
Top Stories
GIG ECONOMY: Ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have reached an agreement with labor unions in California in a deal that will allow gig workers to unionize. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced the deal that will pave the way for passage of legislation allowing drivers to unionize, and another bill to repeal a requirement that drivers carry certain levels of insurance coverage. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has signed legislation redrawing the state’s congressional district maps, a week after lawmakers approved the measure. Abbott said the bill, which will shift five additional U.S. House seats toward Republicans, “ensures fair representation in the United States Congress for Texas.” (Pluribus News)
MORE: Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) will call his legislature back into session this week to redraw state congressional district maps. Kehoe released a proposed map that would target Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s (D) Kansas City-based district. (Associated Press) Maryland Sen. Clarence Lam (D) has introduced a bill to redraw a district held by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R), the sole Republican to represent the state in Congress. (Maryland Matters)
MARIJUANA: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s (R) priority legislation to ban the sale of THC products has stalled in the state House, after winning approval in the Senate. Gov. Abbott has called for regulating THC products like alcohol, after vetoing a full ban that won approval in the regular session. (Texas Tribune)
Read more: Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls special session
MORE: Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) has vetoed legislation that would have limited countywide zoning restrictions on marijuana dispensaries. The bill would have limited countywide buffer zones to 500 feet, after Sussex County and New Castle County implemented much wider buffer zones preventing marijuana businesses from operating near schools, libraries and parks. (Delaware Public Media)
DISASTER RELIEF: The Texas House has approved legislation increasing penalties on youth camps that have safety deficiencies. The bill removes a camp’s ability to fix safety violations during inspections processes. The bill also caps the number of camp administrators who can sit on a state board advising the Department of State Health Services. (Texas Tribune)
TRANSPORTATION: The Oregon House has approved a ten-year, $4.3 billion package of tax and fee increases to fund road maintenance and public transit. The bill calls for a temporary payroll tax increase, a gas tax increase and some fee increases. It’s less than a third the size of an initial proposal to fund maintenance and stop layoffs at the Department of Transportation. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
In Politics & Business
WISCONSIN: Conservative Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley will not seek re-election next year, creating what’s likely to be another expensive contest for control of the court. Liberals hold a 4-3 majority after winning a conservative-held seat in 2023. (Associated Press)
Our old joke: The three certainties in life are death, taxes, and expensive Wisconsin Supreme Court races.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R) is the first candidate to launch television ads in the race to replace retiring Gov. Henry McMaster (R). Evette is up with a $1 million multi-media buy that debuted on television during this weekend’s University of South Carolina and Clemson football games. (Associated Press)
MICHIGAN: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has called a special election for May 5, 2026, in a state Senate district in Saginaw and Bay City. The open district, vacant since former incumbent Kristen McDonald Rivet (D) resigned to take a seat in Congress, gives Republicans a chance to tie the state Senate; Democrats hold a 19-18 majority. (Associated Press)
NEW JERSEY: The state Election Law Enforcement Commission has voted to propose new regulations to codify the use of campaign funds to boost security. The proposed regulations would allow candidates to use funds to hire bodyguards or purchase cybersecurity software, alarm systems and other security devices. (New Jersey Monitor)
By The Numbers
17: The number of states that officially sanction a championship event in high school girls flag football. Another 17 states are operating pilot programs to test the popularity of one of the fastest-growing high school sports in America. (Pluribus News)
21: The number of states, plus the District of Columbia, that are at risk of falling into a recession, according to Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi. (X)
Off The Wall
September marks the first annual Hawaiian History Month, after Hawaii lawmakers approved a bill to honor local culture earlier this year. Legislators chose September to honor Queen Liliuokalani, born Sept. 2, 1838. (Hawaii News Now)
Michelle and Craig Behun, of Connecticut, have taken their two sons to all of the state’s 323 ice cream shops. Son Callan, 10, says his favorite flavors are Twinkie, Cookie Monster and chocolate chip. “We are pretty happy people,” Michelle said. (CT Mirror)
Custer County, Colo., is distributing free corn to local residents after a semi truck overturned on a local highway. The sheriff’s office urged drivers to use caution around the road even after all the corn was swept away, because of the number of hungry deer that might show up to take care of any leftovers. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done. We are nowhere close to agreement.”
— Southern Nevada Water Authority Deputy General Manager Colby Pellegrino, on negotiations between Colorado River states over water management. Those states face a mid-November deadline before the federal government steps in. (Nevada Current)