State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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- News
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Signs 3 Bills on Abortion, Child Sex Changes, and Women’s Sports
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed three bills Wednesday restricting abortion, child sex-change surgeries, and male participation in women’s sports. Ducey signed a bill into law banning gender-reassignment surgeries for minors, which makes exceptions for children born with sex disorders or other medically verifiable issues. The legislation specifies a long list of surgeries doctors cannot perform on children, including mastectomies,…Laurel Duggan -
- Opinion
Sold! Tennessee Auctioneers Score Win in Occupational Licensing Case
Opponents of occupational licensing secured a victory this week in their battle against excessive state regulations that erect barriers to competition in various fields. One of those opponents, who knows full well the burdensome effects of occupational licensing, is Will McLemore. In 2006, he started McLemore Auction Co. as one of the first online auction…Sarah Parshall Perry -
- Opinion
Georgia Moves to Protect Conservatives, and Others, From Big Tech Censorship
In the face of Big Tech’s overwhelming censorship of conservatives, states are beginning to take matters into their own hands. The Georgia Senate last Tuesday passed SB 393, a bill that would prohibit social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from deleting posts and banning users who live or work in Georgia based solely…Douglas Blair -
- News
‘Weeklong Indoctrination of Your Students’: School District Breaks State Law With ‘Pride Week’ Events, Texas AG Says
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told an Austin school district it is breaking state law by providing sex education to young students without parental consent at its “Pride Week” activities in a Tuesday letter. Paxton, a Republican, told the Austin Independent School District that its Pride Week events are in “violation” of state law, according…Kendall Tietz -
- Opinion
The Left Strikes Again at Freedom of Speech in Akron, Ohio
Recently, the Akron Roundtable of Ohio invited me to give a presentation on the issue of election integrity as part of a recurring series it calls “Point/Counterpoint.” As I told the audience, the sponsors of the Roundtable, which includes the Kiwanis Club, the Greater Akron Chamber, and the Akron Beacon Journal, were to be applauded…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
California Teacher Describes Training Session Where Educators Were Pressured to Use Students’ Preferred Pronouns
A staff member at one of the nation’s largest school districts said he participated in a “cult retreat-like experience” during a teacher training session, according to a report from Parents Defending Education, a national nonprofit focused on parents’ roles in education. The Los Angeles Unified School District used materials drafted by the California Conference for Equality…Kendall Tietz -
- Opinion
Kansas Weighs Protecting Rights of Children, Families in Education
Special-interest groups don’t want parents to know when a student in Kansas public schools “identifies as” a gender not aligned with his or her biological sex. And school officials are prepared to keep this information from families, even when it involves children who are minors. Now, Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal to create a…Jonathan Butcher -
- News
Texas Lawmaker Blasts Biden’s Open Borders for Illegal Immigration, Fentanyl Crises
Americans in every state—not just those in the southwest—should be concerned about President Joe Biden’s lack of border security and the resulting drug crisis, a Texas congressman says. “Every state is a border state now,” said Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas. “I think the government has spent about $350 million this past year on transportation costs…Maggie Hroncich -
- Opinion
Florida Bill Is Pro-Freedom, Not Anti-LGBTQ
The distorted rhetoric—should I say lies?—labeling Florida’s legislation about parental rights in public schools as “Don’t say gay” demonstrates the hypocrisy of LGBTQ activism. I say hypocrisy because this movement has always showcased itself as being about freedom, rights, and social justice. But the reality is that LGBTQ activism is not at all about freedom…Star Parker -
- Opinion
Texas University’s Insistence on Critical Race Theory, Ideological Conformity Draws Overdue Pushback
Is it time for lawmakers to take a more active role in curtailing the radicalism now pervasive throughout higher education? There are certainly signs that’s the case, and it should have happened long ago. A battle going on in Texas underscores the point. Last year, Texas banned the teaching of critical race theory in K-12…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Rhode Island Drops Order Prohibiting Unvaccinated Doctor From Practicing
The state of Rhode Island on Friday dismissed an order that had prevented a doctor from practicing because he declined to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Stephen Skoly, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, sought a medical exemption from getting the vaccine because he has a condition called Bell’s palsy. The state denied the exemption in…Fred Lucas -
- News
‘They Don’t Say a Word’: DeSantis Slams Disney’s Opposition to Florida Bill
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Disney for its opposition to the state’s parental rights legislation in a video shared by Fox News on Thursday. “When you have companies that have made a fortune off being family-friendly and catering to families and young kids, they should understand that parents of young kids do not want this…Laurel Duggan -
- News
9 Things to Know About Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, Who Rejects COVID-19 Shots for Healthy Children
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is drawing national attention after announcing Monday that his state will officially recommend that health officials not give COVID-19 vaccinations to healthy children. White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded by criticizing Ladapo for going against Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, saying: “It’s…Maggie Hroncich -
- Opinion
Amid Pro-Life Pushback, Virginia City Won’t Mark ‘National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers’
The city of Alexandria, Virginia, has canceled its planned commemoration of “National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers” on March 10, after city leaders received considerable objections from pro-life activists. “This proclamation has now been pulled from the agenda on Tuesday at my request,” Mayor Justin Wilson, a Democrat, said in a March 4 email,…Nicole Russell -
- Opinion
Free Speech Group Sues Texas School Over Policy It Says Violates Students’ First Amendment Rights
More than ever, free speech is under attack on college campuses across America. Spending tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for college is “a huge investment to live four years in fear and self-censorship,” says Cherise Trump, the executive director of Speech First, a membership organization that litigates on behalf of its members…Virginia Allen -
- News
How This Oklahoma State Senator Wants to Make Elections More Secure
As discussions intensify across the nation on voter fraud and election integrity, many Americans want to know that their voices are being heard accurately at the ballot box. In Oklahoma, one state senator is taking steps to ensure that his state is on the front line when it comes to safe and secure elections. State…Douglas Blair -
- Opinion
A Racist Virginia School Board and Principal Get Called Out
In a terrific win for parents, hardworking students, and those who want to end discrimination in our schools, a federal judge has thrown out the racist admissions policy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a prestigious public magnet school in Fairfax County, Virginia. On Feb. 25, federal district court Judge Claude Hilton…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
8 Things to Know About Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Who Will Give GOP Response to Biden’s State of Union Address
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response Tuesday night to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Reynolds has promised to deliver an alternative to what she regards as Biden’s “absent leadership” and far-left agenda. But who is Reynolds, and why was she chosen for the rebuttal speech? Here are eight things…Maggie Hroncich -
- News
Youngkin Poised to Withdraw Virginia From Multistate Climate Pact
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is pursuing a multipronged strategy to dismantle climate change regulations and hold down energy costs, his press secretary told The Daily Signal. Government records indicate that Youngkin will rely on a mix of executive action, budget changes, and legislation to withdraw from the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Some environmental activists…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
‘It’s Child Abuse’: Texas AG Ken Paxton Fights to Protect Children From Transgenderism
Hormone treatment and puberty blockers for children are a form of “child abuse,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says. Paxton is in the middle of a battle to protect children from a radical left that wants to corrupt them. “If you’re going to sterilize a child, whether it’s through some type of chemical process or…Douglas Blair