State lawmakers

Congressman Ted Lieu has joined Representative Friedman, the Los Angeles congressional delegation, and an entertainment union in calling for a federal film tax credit. The push aims to stem the flow of film and television production leaving California for other states and countries. The effort pairs national lawmakers with the entertainment workforce most affected by production decline.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has publicly opposed a proposed California tax targeting billionaires, criticising the state-level wealth levy as excessive. The proposal, debated in Sacramento as lawmakers look for new revenue, has drawn sharp reactions from tech figures and prompted wider debate about whether California's wealthiest residents would relocate if it passes.

Arkansas state lawmakers have begun discussions on the state's budget, with legislative elections looming over the process. The early negotiations will shape funding priorities for schools, healthcare and infrastructure, and the timing means budget decisions are likely to become part of campaign debate. Little detail has been released so far beyond the start of the discussions.

An opinion argument is being pushed in Washington that the oil industry should bear the cost of climate change damages, with Congress — not the courts or states — deciding how such payments would be raised and distributed. The proposal frames a federal legislative mechanism, such as fees or liability rules, as the appropriate route. It adds to ongoing US political debate over polluter liability and climate funding.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Austin, has released commentary on how Texas public education is funded. The piece, titled 'The Truth About Texas Education Funding,' addresses state school financing, an issue that remains contested among Texas lawmakers, school districts and parent groups. No further details about the specific claims were available.

North Carolina lawmakers are weighing a cut to the state gas tax, but Governor Josh Stein is questioning the timing of the proposal. Critics have framed the move as an 'Election Day gimmick,' suggesting the tax relief is being pushed for political gain rather than genuine relief for drivers at the pump ahead of voting.

US lawmakers are considering whether the federal government should take a larger role in permitting electricity transmission lines. The debate touches on how to speed up grid expansion, with states and local authorities historically controlling approvals. Supporters argue federal oversight could cut delays for new power lines, while critics worry about overriding state authority. No specific legislation or vote has been detailed.

Arkansas lawmakers are holding the state's budget hearings, with Medicaid, the corrections system and education emerging as the primary issues under discussion. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that funding decisions in these three areas are at the centre of the hearings, as officials weigh how to allocate the state's budget amid competing demands for healthcare, prison capacity and schools.

Immigrants in Washington state have been arrested while camping, and members of Congress are now asking questions about the enforcement actions. The arrests have prompted lawmakers to seek clarification about the circumstances and legality of detaining immigrants in this way, according to the Seattle Times.

DFL lawmakers in Minnesota are speaking out against a wave of healthcare consolidation, warning that upcoming mergers among hospitals and health systems could drive up costs and reduce patient choice. The concern comes as new consolidations loom in the state's healthcare market, prompting calls for greater scrutiny of merger activity.

Proposed federal legislation would significantly expand restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine nationwide, limiting the ability of non-physician entities such as private equity firms, hospitals and management companies to control or profit from physicians' medical decisions. Such restrictions currently exist mainly in state laws of varying strength, so a federal measure would mark a major shift in US health regulation.

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has joined the rest of Iowa's congressional delegation in calling for increased federal funding for rural health care. The joint push seeks more resources for hospitals and clinics serving rural communities across the state, where facility closures and workforce shortages have strained access to medical services. The delegation's appeal adds to ongoing national debate over how to sustain health care in sparsely populated regions.

Calls to 'lock the clock' are gaining attention, part of a long-running push to stop the twice-yearly switching between daylight saving and standard time. Supporters argue the clock changes disrupt sleep, hurt productivity and add costs, and want lawmakers to pick one time year-round. The debate persists in the United States and elsewhere as legislatures repeatedly consider, but rarely pass, permanent-time bills.

Kansas agriculture leaders are calling for immigration reform following ICE raids in the state, according to Successful Farming. The raids have raised concerns among farm groups about labor shortages and the treatment of agricultural workers, prompting industry voices to urge lawmakers to address the status of immigrant workers who sustain Kansas farms.