About Morning MultiState
We created Morning MultiState with state government affairs professionals in mind — sign up to receive the latest from our experts in your inbox every Tuesday morning. In each edition, we include in-depth analysis on a key issue are we're following ("Insight"), a list of interesting articles that came across our desks, ("What We're Reading"), notable news from state legislatures and other state policymakers ("State News"), and key upcoming industry happenings ("On Your Radar").
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Explore Past Editions
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Ranked-Choice Voting on the Rise
Volume 45, Sent September 12, 2022. State and local governments are experimenting with ranked-choice voting; states are flush with cash today but are keeping an eye on the economy; and Tuesday will see the last remaining primary elections this cycle in Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Read this edition.
Volume 44, Sent August 30, 2022. Federal law won’t tax student loan forgiveness, but will states?; states give tax refunds to cushion inflation; and the results of Alaska’s first open primary using ranked choice voting. Read this edition.
Legislatures Challenge Ballot Measures
Volume 43, Sent August 23, 2022. Lawmakers are pushing back on voter-approved ballot measures; how will the Inflation Reduction Act impact state policy?; and primary elections on Tuesday in Florida and New York. Read this edition.
Review Edition
Volume 42, Sent August 15, 2022. Looking back at recent developments topics we've discussed previously; states begin issuing emergency declarations over monkeypox spread, and primary elections on Tuesday in Alaska and Wyoming. Read this edition.
A History of State Senates
Volume 41, Sent August 9, 2022. We revisit the bicameral vs unicameral conversation with a look at state senates; how zoning paralyzed American cities; and primary elections on Tuesday in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Read this edition.
Kansas Voters to Decide on Abortion Amendment
Volume 40, Sent August 2, 2022. Today’s vote in Kansas is the first direct opportunity for the electorate to weigh in on the issue of reproductive health care since Dobbs; rural areas to receive broadband funding; and primary elections on Tuesday in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Washington. Read this edition.
Will New York Ban Crypto Mining?
Volume 39, Sent July 26, 2022. We take a closer look at the bill sitting on the New York Governor’s desk that would ban certain crypto mining in the state; Chicago’s Cook County wants to use federal pandemic relief funds to pay off residents’ medical debt; and while it’s a rare week without a state primary, a handful of states are assembling for special legislative sessions. Read this edition.
Top Ten Policy Issues for 2023
Volume 38, Sent July 18, 2022. We preview our early top ten issues for state lawmakers in 2023; states are starting to decriminalize jaywalking; and primaries on Tuesday in Maryland. Read this edition.
Curiosities of Counties
Volume 37, Sent July 12, 2022. We dig into the history and unique aspects of county-level government; the governor’s race in Oregon shows how Democrats could be in trouble in November, and Pennsylvania finally has a budget. Read this edition.
Can Building Codes Save EVs?
Volume 36, Sent June 28, 2022. State and local building codes could be a key in EV adoption; Roe’s fall places abortion issues into the hands of state lawmakers; and primary elections on Tuesday in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, and Utah. Read this edition.
Sudden Spotlight on Secretaries of State
Volume 35, Sent June 21, 2022. After 2020, the overseers of state elections have gained increasing importance; court blocks gig worker measure from the ballot in Massachusetts; and primary run-off elections on Tuesday in Alabama and Georgia. Read this edition.
Is the 4-day Workweek on the Horizon ?
Volume 34, Sent June 14, 2022. The legislative debate over the 4-day workweek has just begun; New York lawmakers debate crypto legislation; and primaries on Tuesday in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina. Read this edition.
Using Ballot Measures to Address Ballot Measures
Volume 33, Sent June 7, 2022. A popular ballot measure topic in recent years is to use ballot measures to change the ballot measure process; states face fiscal cliffs after COVID-19 aid expires; and primaries on Tuesday in California, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, Mississippi, Montana, and South Dakota. Read this edition.
Autonomous Vehicles Quietly Expand in the States
Volume 32, Sent May 24, 2022. Where are autonomous vehicles legal?; most states have ended their COVID-19 health emergencies; and primaries on Tuesday in Georgia with runoffs in Texas. Read this edition.
Tax Change: Not in an Election Year
When is the state fiscal slowdown coming?
Volume 29. Sent May 3, 2022. How will lawmakers act when revenues drop?; Fort Worth will mine bitcoin; and primaries in Indiana and Ohio as Connecticut and Hawaii adjourn. Read this edition.
Why do we have lieutenant governors?
Volume 28. Sent April 26, 2022. Are lieutenant governors more than a holding area for governors in waiting?; states debate affordable housing policy options; and Florida lawmakers target Disney. Read this edition.
How easy is it to put an initiative on the ballot?
Should States Incentivise E-Bikes?
What’s “Independent State legislature” Theory and Why Should You Care?
What Are the Pandemic’s Most Lasting Policy Changes?
Crypto’s Favorite State? Wyoming, of course.
States Jump on the Broadband Bandwagon
Lawmakers Target Election Oversight
It’s Never Too Early to Talk Elections
How Nebraska Became Unicameral
Volume 19. Sent February 22, 2022. Why does Nebraska have the only unicameral legislature?; New Mexico adjourns sine die; and cutting taxes is a bipartisan affair this year. Read this edition.
Lawmakers Play It Safe When Drawing Their Own Districts
Volume 18. Sent February 15, 2022. A new study shows how state lawmakers are less aggressive when drawing their own districts; blue states drop mask mandates; and lawmakers face procedural deadlines to move legislation. Read this edition.
Sales Tax Exemptions as Election Year Appeal
Volume 17. Sent February 8, 2022. State lawmakers are promising to reduce grocery bills using sales tax exemptions; what will state legislators focus on in 2022?; and lawmakers must decide how to spend record surpluses. Read this edition.
Republicans Warming to Marijuana Legalization
Volume 16. Sent February 1, 2022. GOP lawmakers take up marijuana legalization; states look to boost electric vehicle infrastructure; and legislative sessions in OR and MN kick off this week. Read this edition.
Florida Lawmakers Take Disputes with Cities to New Level
Volume 15. Sent January 25, 2022. Florida lawmakers open up a new front on conflict with local governments; 2022 tax policy trends; and bill deadlines in California. Read this edition.
Ready for a Quarter of a Million Bills?
Volume 14. Sent January 18, 2022. A data-driven breakdown of state bill introductions; cities and states embrace crypto; and omicron variant disrupts a smooth return to the capitol for some lawmakers and governors. Read this edition.
Volume 13. Sent January 11, 2022. Much of 2022's expected policy trends are rooted in 2020; politically, will redistricting be a wash?; and state lawmakers return to the capitols (some remotely). Read this edition.
Don’t Underestimate Redistricting
Volume 12. Sent December 21, 2021. We end the year with a look at redistricting; states debate how to respond to the latest COVID-19 outbreaks; and wishing the state GR community a happy holiday! Read this edition.
What’s Going On With Vaccine Mandates?
Volume 11. Sent December 14, 2021. Walking through the myriad vaccine mandates and bans in the states; how Oregon is trying to fix child care; and redistricting often ends up in the hands of judges. Read this edition.
Reflections on 10 Years of State Tax Data
Volume 10. Sent December 17, 2021. Reflecting on a decade’s worth of state tax data; donating to candidates via Bitcoin in Ohio; and recounts confirm a GOP takeover of the Virginia House. Read this edition.
Gubernatorial Approval Ratings & 2022 Reelections
Volume 9. Sent November 30, 2021. Examining gubernatorial approval ratings with an eye toward 2022 reelections; SCOTUS settles a dispute between states; and jockeying for open gubernatorial seats begins. Read this edition.
Ballot Measures as Political Strategy
Volume 8. Sent November 16, 2021. Are ballot measures a viable vehicle to pass a party’s political agenda?; Americans are participating in redistricting like never before; and Louisiana elections over the weekend. Read this edition.
The History Behind the Republican Wave
Volume 7. Sent November 9, 2021. We take a step back to examine the long history behind the Republican state elections wave; plenty of post-election commentary; and SD and DE lawmakers debate impeaching statewide office holders. Read this edition.
Virginia Elections as Harbinger for 2022?
Volume 6. Sent October 26, 2021. Party operatives are watching next week’s elections in VA very closely, shedding of staff and authority leaves local health departments less prepared for the next pandemic, and special legislative sessions in AL, IA, TN, and WY. Read this edition.
All-Mail Voting Becomes Increasingly Permanent
Volume 5. Sent October 13, 2021. California gives all-mail voting a huge boost, states pick up policing reform efforts after Congress failed to strike a deal, and redistricting is still a focus for state lawmakers. Read this edition.
Why Didn’t the 2009 Recovery Act Improve U.S. Highways and Bridges?
Volume 4. Sent September 28, 2021. Will Congress’ infrastructure package simply offset state spending? It's a special session-palooza as states address redistricting, and CA could scale back recall rules. Read this edition.
California Is the Poster Child for Recall Elections, but They’re Not Alone
Volume 3. Sent September 21, 2021. Politicos are closely watching CA’s recall election today, governors are not pleased with Biden’s new vaccine mandates, and AK lawmakers struggle to solve their Permanent Fund dilemma. Read this edition.
NC Restores Voting Rights After Felony Convictions
Volume 2. Sent September 1, 2021. Judicial decision makes NC the latest state to restore voting rights after felony convictions, the surreal story of how a deadly crash upended SD politics, and with a quorum restored, TX lawmakers move high-profile bills on elections, border security, and bail reform. Read this edition.
Frustrated Cities to Use “Vaccine Passports”
Volume 1. Sent September 9, 2021. Frustrated cities turn to “vaccine passports” to fight COVID-19, Alaska lawmakers debate the future of the sacred Permanent Fund, and how AOC and the left reinvented NY politics. Read this edition. https://mailchi.mp/multistate/morning-multistate-vol-45