state legislatures

US states are moving ahead of the federal government on regulating artificial intelligence safety, with state legislatures drafting and passing their own AI rules. The trend highlights a growing gap in Washington, where comprehensive AI legislation has stalled, leaving individual states to set standards on issues like transparency, bias and consumer protection.

The Osage Nation Congress has introduced a bill that would require the legislature to approve hyperscale data centers before they proceed on Osage land. The measure aims to give elected representatives oversight over large-scale data center projects, which have drawn scrutiny across the United States over their land, water, and power demands. Further details of the bill's provisions have not yet been widely reported.

US election rules in place for this year's contests may not carry over to the 2028 cycle, according to a Crain's Cleveland report. Voting procedures, ballot access requirements and campaign regulations are frequently revised between presidential cycles by state legislatures, courts and election officials, meaning both voters and candidates could face a different rulebook next time.

Pennsylvania's Senate Majority Leader is speaking out on several pending issues in the state capital, including the upcoming midterm election, the regulation of skill games, and a proposed ban on gifts to lawmakers. The remarks touch on debates over gambling-style machines and ethics rules that have been circulating in the Pennsylvania legislature.

Early campaign spending in Colorado is pointing to which state legislative districts will be the most competitive in upcoming elections, with political money flowing toward a handful of contested seats. Observers are watching these financial commitments as an early signal of party priorities and the races most likely to determine control of the legislature.

Brendan Farrington, who covered Florida politics for the Associated Press for decades, has died at the age of 60. Farrington was a familiar byline on the state's political coverage, reporting on governors, legislatures and elections in one of the country's most closely watched political battlegrounds. Colleagues and Florida political figures are paying tribute to his long career.

Voters in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area are looking at competitive contests for a US House seat and several Minnesota legislative districts. Local coverage lays out the candidates and districts at stake, with attention on how these races could shape both congressional balance and control of the state Legislature.

State Representative Kaisha Button, a North Texas lawmaker, is once again running for reelection against a strong challenger, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. She has survived difficult races before, but this contest is being watched closely to see whether she can repeat that success. The race matters for the balance of power in the Texas Legislature.

Dave Nissley and Dale Hamby are running against each other for the 100th House District seat in Pennsylvania, a race covered by Lancaster-area news outlets. The contest will decide who represents the district in the state House of Representatives. Little additional detail about the candidates' platforms or campaign positions has been reported so far.