State Legislature News
The Daily Signal provides stay informed on key statehouse actions that shape communities and influence national politics.
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news
48 Electoral Votes Away: National Popular Vote Campaign Closing in on Threshold
The push to effectively elect a president through a national popular vote is within striking distance, just 48 votes shy, prompting Electoral College advocates to step up their appeal to state Democrat lawmakers across the country. In April, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill to make her state the latest to join the National… -
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DeWine Signs Gas Tax Suspension Into Law
Relief at the pump for Ohio drivers is here. Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday signed a bill that temporarily suspends the gas tax. The 90-day suspension runs through the election and holiday season and comes after the state Legislature passed the bill on Wednesday. Both parties’ candidates for governor, Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek… -
breaking
Ohio Lawmakers Succeed in Passing Bill to Suspend Gas Tax
While Ohio drivers are seeing increasingly high gas prices, state lawmakers just moved a step closer to providing some relief. On Wednesday, both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly approved House Bill 519, temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax for 90 days, which could get drivers lower prices at the pump through the holiday season…. -
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Ramaswamy’s Saving Grace? State Legislature to Return for Vote on Gas Tax Suspension
With Ohioans paying too much at the pump as Election Day approaches, both candidates for governor have suggested a gas tax suspension. The idea was raised last week by both Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, with the latter seeking to act along with fellow Ohio Republicans. Although the state legislature was not set… -
exclusive
End of the Clipboard? Activists Say Going Digital Could Get Fraud Out of Citizen-Led Ballot Measures
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A conservative group advocating greater use of citizen ballot initiatives has created a platform to allow secure digital signatures to replace traditional handwritten signatures, arguing technology could lower the cost of petition drives and reduce fraud. The Prosperity for US Foundation contends that modernizing petition laws to permit verified and authenticated… -
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The Network of Conservatives Working for Freedom in Your State Capital
The State Freedom Caucus Network was founded to advance conservative legislation at state capitals across the country. Now, the group’s biggest obstacle isn’t Democrats—it’s so-called Republicans who don’t govern like it once they take office. The State Freedom Caucus Network is a group of conservative state lawmakers determined to cut spending, secure American elections, and… -
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‘Evil Lawfare Needs to End’: Oversight Project Unveils New Firm to Combat Government Weaponization
The Oversight Project is ramping up its fight against government weaponization. The Washington-based watchdog is launching a law firm to defend targets of politicized lawfare and investigate investigators conducting seemingly meritless probes across the executive and legislative branches at the federal and state levels. The firm will also aim at the state bar association level… -
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Voter Registration Battle Taking Place in Ohio Ahead of Midterms
As the November elections approach, a recent court case is shaking up the secretary of state race in Ohio. On Tuesday, Northern District of Ohio Judge Solomon Oliver put on hold a state law that requires proof of citizenship for those wishing to register in person at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, citing the… -
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Are Civic Centers the Answer to Help Ohio Students Think?
Last year, Senate Bill 1 went into effect in Ohio to combat diversity, equity, and inclusion. Now state lawmakers are looking to do even more to promote independent thinking on college campuses. For the anniversary of his bill being signed into law, state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, announced a new bill he has for civic… -
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EXCLUSIVE: Records Reveal Planned Parenthood’s 14-Point Post-Dobbs Strategy for State AGs to Target Pro-Lifers
A month after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood issued marching orders for state attorneys general to target crisis pregnancy centers and issue abortion-friendly legal opinions. State actions after the July 12, 2022, memo suggest Democrat attorneys general followed much of the 14-point plan pushed by the nation’s largest abortion provider. On… -
analysis
Think Your Vote Doesn’t Matter? These Elections Were Won by a Single Ballot.
Races for state legislatures are among the most tightly contested in the country—sometimes decided by one vote. Lawmakers are debating election measures such as government-issued ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements that supporters say could better secure these closely fought races. From 2018 to 2025, 660 elections were decided by fewer than 10 votes; of those, 94… -
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DeWine Takes Action on Data Centers
Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, on Thursday joined nearly half of the governors in the country in signing onto President Donald Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The pledge would require AI companies and data center operators pay the utility and infrastructure costs of data centers, not consumers. “America’s continued economic and technological leadership depends on reliable, large-scale… -
analysis
Election Fraud Convictions Offer Real-World Test of SAVE Act’s Potential Impact
The SAVE America Act could have curbed hundreds of documented instances of noncitizens registering to vote and dozens of instances of noncitizens voting in elections, based on recent state data and criminal cases. A review of adjudicated election fraud cases suggests that a federal law requiring verified citizenship and photo ID—such as the SAVE America… -
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DeWine Signs Success Sequence Into Law for Students
Heritage Action is celebrating Gov. Mike DeWine’s, R-Ohio, decision to sign into law Tuesday the Success Sequence, a life framework to be taught in grades 6-12. The Center for Christian Virtue also celebrated the move. According to the bill, SB 276, “Success Sequence” is a three-pronged framework to teach students that completing at least a… -
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Gov. DeWine Vetoed Voter ID for Mail-In Ballots. What’s Next?
On Wednesday night, Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, vetoed House Bill 472, which in its final form included provisions requiring a photo ID for mail-in ballots. The fight for voter integrity does not appear to be over in the Buckeye State, however. In vetoing the bill, DeWine released a statement noting that the bill “would not… -
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Ohio Family Group Celebrates Ruling on Social Media Age Verification Law
The Center for Christian Virtue is celebrating last week’s decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allows an Ohio law on age verification and parental consent for those under 16 using social media to go into effect. Ohio’s Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act, signed into law in 2023, was supposed… -
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Ohio Republicans on the Death Penalty: The General Assembly ‘Has Already Spoken’
Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday revealed his stance on the death penalty, ruffling the feathers of many Ohio Republicans in the process. “I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty. The Legislature could take this action, and I think they should take this action,” the governor said during a press conference. DeWine, a Republican leader… -
analysis
Deal With the Cleveland Clinic Better Protects Minors
Ohio continues to protect children from transgender procedures. Recently, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and the Ohio attorney general involving detransition care and billing practices. A press release from the DOJ references agreements that include “a decades-long commitment to not perform or offer sex-rejecting procedures—which includes the administration… -
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Agreement on Data Centers Falters as Ohio Lawmakers Go on Recess
While the Ohio Legislature has made strides this week in key areas before summer recess, it was unable to come to an agreement on the hot-button issue of data centers. Lawmakers have been debating the level of regulation and tax breaks for data centers, while a joint committee is also studying the effects of data… -
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Voter ID Gets Major Mail-In Ballot Boost From Ohio Legislature
The Ohio Legislature passed a bill that would require photo ID to be submitted starting in 2027 for absentee voters’ mail-in ballots. That’s in addition to what’s coming this November, when voters get the opportunity to enshrine Ohio’s current voter ID law into the state constitution. If Gov. Mike DeWine signs House Bill 472 into…