State lawmakers

The United States has signed a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia that could permit the kingdom to enrich its own uranium, moving away from the "gold standard" non-proliferation commitments Washington demanded from the UAE in 2009. Lawmakers from both parties are warning the agreement could undermine non-proliferation efforts and raise regional tensions.

US Senate lawmakers are moving forward with legislation aimed at regulating name, image and likeness deals in college sports. The bill would create federal rules for the payments college athletes can receive from endorsements and sponsorships, an issue currently governed by a patchwork of state laws and NCAA policies. The move signals growing congressional interest in bringing order to the fast-growing college sports economy.

The US Senate has passed a bill that would create national rules for college sports, an area currently governed by the NCAA and a patchwork of state laws. The legislation aims to standardize issues such as athlete compensation and eligibility across the country. The measure now moves to the House, and debate is expected over how far Congress should go in regulating college athletics.

A Republican lawmaker is calling for the United States to slow China's economic rise while ramping up America's own economy. The comment, made in remarks carried by Fox Business, frames economic policy in explicitly competitive terms with Beijing. It reflects a continued hardline consensus in the GOP on trade, industrial policy and competition with China.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation creating a label for foods that are not ultra-processed, part of a broader package of health bills that his office describes as advancing the state's nation-leading healthcare strategy. The move makes California the first US state to adopt such a labeling standard, and comes as lawmakers and health advocates nationwide push for greater transparency around ultra-processed foods and their links to chronic disease.

California has enacted a new law tightening regulations on explosive chemicals, a measure passed in response to an incident in Garden Grove that raised safety concerns. The legislation imposes stricter controls on the sale and storage of such substances. Details of the Garden Grove incident and the law's specific provisions remain limited in available reporting.

The United States Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, legislation aimed at regulating athlete transfers and payments to college athletes. The bill would create federal rules for the transfer portal and name, image and likeness compensation, areas currently governed mainly by NCAA policy. Supporters argue it restores order to college sports, while critics question federal involvement in amateur athletics.

The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma its draft federal budget for the next three-year period, as reported by Vedomosti. The filing formalises spending, revenue and borrowing plans, with debt servicing a key component. Lawmakers are expected to begin reviewing the bill in the autumn, with budget debates drawing attention to fiscal priorities.

The United States Senate has defeated a proposal that would have limited increases in ticket prices for college sports. The rejection means schools and athletic programs remain free to raise ticket prices without the proposed restrictions. Little detail has been reported so far on the vote's margin, the proposal's sponsor, or which lawmakers backed or opposed the measure.

A federal bill modeled on Oregon's state law has been introduced in Washington DC that would ban the corporate practice of medicine nationwide. The legislation would prevent non-physician entities from owning or controlling medical practices, a restriction currently in place only in varying forms at the state level. The proposal has drawn attention from healthcare providers, investors and law firms assessing its impact on practice ownership and private equity involvement in medicine.

The advocacy group Transportation For America is asking what Congress should do to address pedestrian deaths, which it calls a scourge on US roads. The group is pushing federal lawmakers to take action on street safety, likely through funding and design policy. The question comes amid growing concern in the United States about rising numbers of people killed while walking.

A landmark bill to reform college sports has passed the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The measure, if enacted, would mark one of the most significant changes to how college athletics are governed in the United States. No further details about the bill's contents or lawmakers' reactions were available.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have provided support for immigration attorneys working in rural parts of the state. The measure aimed to expand legal representation for immigrants in underserved areas. The veto is likely to draw criticism from immigrant advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers who backed the legislation.

US Senator Rick Scott says Congress is unable to regulate artificial intelligence, a striking admission from a sitting lawmaker as Washington debates how to oversee the fast-moving technology. Critics call the position an abdication of legislative responsibility, while supporters argue existing agencies or states are better suited to the task. The remark lands amid ongoing congressional hearings and proposals on AI safety and rules.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is publicly urging passage of the Protect College Sports Act, calling it necessary legislation. He argues the bill is needed to address issues facing college athletics, though the report offers no detail on the bill's specific provisions or how lawmakers have responded. Reaction beyond Izzo's comments is not yet documented.

Ohio Republicans have introduced a bill that would establish a $360 million fund to reimburse school districts for special education costs. The proposal aims to ease the financial burden on districts that say state support has not kept pace with the actual expense of serving students with disabilities. Debate is expected over funding levels and how reimbursements would be distributed.

A new report from the Ohio Capital Journal suggests the state's ongoing battles over public education are set to shift toward math instruction. After fights over curriculum and school governance, attention is turning to how math is taught in Ohio classrooms, setting up what could be the next major policy clash between educators, lawmakers and parents across the state.

Public health advocates in New Mexico are urging state lawmakers to adopt new initiatives addressing extreme heat and climate change. The proposals focus on protecting residents from rising temperatures, which health experts link to increased illness and deaths. Advocates presented their case during legislative discussions on how the state should prepare for worsening climate impacts.

Pete Hegseth delivered a 'State of the Force' address outlining a series of new US military initiatives. The announcement, published by the Department of War, is drawing attention as observers assess what the proposed changes mean for the US armed forces and defense policy. Details of the individual initiatives and reactions from lawmakers and military analysts are still emerging.

Education advocates in Maryland are pressing the state legislature to protect the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the state's sweeping education reform plan, from budget cuts. They are warning lawmakers that reducing funding would undermine planned investments in schools, and the appeal comes as legislators weigh difficult spending decisions in the current budget cycle.

Bill Poole is stepping down as director of the Alabama Department of Finance. Poole, a former state lawmaker who led the agency overseeing state budgeting and finances, has not announced his next move, and state officials have not detailed a timeline or successor for the post.

California lawmakers have passed new legislation making small, incremental adjustments to the state's mental health court, while rejecting proposals for larger structural reforms. The laws fine-tune how the specialty courts, which divert people with serious mental illness from jail into treatment, operate. Advocates and critics had pushed for more sweeping changes, but legislators opted for narrower tweaks for now.

The Television Academy is engaging with lawmakers in Washington as Congress weighs a national incentive for film and television production. The organisation says it is bringing the perspective of working producers and craftspeople to the debate, arguing that federal support could help keep production jobs in the United States amid competition from other countries offering stronger tax breaks.

Tennessee state legislators have convened a hearing following the murder of a correctional officer. Lawmakers are examining the circumstances of the killing and what it reveals about prison safety and oversight. The hearing signals growing political pressure to address security conditions inside Tennessee's correctional facilities, though details of the officer's death and any proposed measures remain limited so far.

A bill dubbed 'Alicia's Law' has advanced in the Pennsylvania Senate. The internet safety legislation is named for a girl from the Pittsburgh area. Local outlet WPXI reported the bill's progress, with the story also picked up by Yahoo News, drawing attention to lawmakers' ongoing efforts to strengthen protections for children online.

An Oklahoma court has ruled that the state health department cannot change gender designations on birth certificates. The decision means transgender Oklahomans will be unable to update the gender marker on their birth records, drawing attention from civil rights groups and lawmakers as similar battles over identity documents continue across several US states.

New Hampshire's Business and Industry Association has released its rankings of state lawmakers ahead of the 2026 legislative session, scoring them on how their records align with business priorities. The organization's ratings, reported by InDepthNH.org, are being read as a sign of shifting political winds in the state ahead of the next election cycle.

Illinois is weighing an expansion of its film tax credit programme that could steer billions of dollars in production spending to the state. Supporters argue the incentives would attract major studio projects and create jobs, but the policy has drawn scrutiny over whether the cost to taxpayers justifies the economic return. The debate centres on whether subsidised productions generate enough lasting local benefit to make the credits worthwhile.

Immigration-related bills are under discussion in California's legislature, according to local coverage from LAist. The reports focus on measures being weighed by state lawmakers, though details of the specific proposals remain limited. Immigration policy continues to draw attention across the United States as states advance their own legislation.

Montana's state employee union and the governor's office have reached an agreement over healthcare costs for state workers. The deal ends a dispute that had put the price of employee health coverage at the center of labor negotiations. Details of the terms and how much employees will pay have not been fully reported, and reaction from workers and lawmakers is still coming in.

New York Assembly Member Mary Beth Fahy is preparing legislation to tackle chronic absenteeism in schools following the deaths in Mechanicville. The bill comes in response to concerns that missed school days may have played a role in the case. Details of the proposed legislation have not yet been released, and reaction from other state lawmakers remains limited so far.

A group of US senators has introduced a roughly 400-page bill designed to accelerate the permitting process for energy projects in the United States. The legislation, details of which were reported by trade outlet Upstream, aims to cut red tape around approvals for energy infrastructure. Reaction so far has been limited as lawmakers and industry groups review the lengthy text.