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Legislative developments and policy trends from across the states to keep you ahead of the curve. | | | |
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Leonine FOCUS is proud to launch our brand-new Elections Hub, your one-stop shop for tracking state legislative, gubernatorial and attorneys general races across the country. Featuring interactive maps, in-depth analysis and regular updates, the Elections Hub gives government affairs professionals and policy strategists the insight you need to stay on top of this election cycle. | | |
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Current Legislative Landscape | |
| Seven states, Puerto Rico, D.C. and U.S. Congress are currently in regular session. | |
North Carolina passed an adjournment resolution that called for the regular session to recess and then reconvene monthly through April 2026. The legislature is currently holding a session until October 23. | | | |
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| Illinois is scheduled to hold a veto session on October 28 through October 30. | |
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We are closely monitoring all legislative session activity to provide you with the most up-to-date information. (Got an on-the-ground tip on sessions? Email us!) | |
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Special Sessions
Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry announced a special session that is scheduled to begin on October 23. The special session will focus on changes to next year’s election schedule and plans. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments related to the state’s congressional maps. If a ruling requires the state to redraw their maps, pushing back the dates of elections could allow the state more time to redraw the districts. [The Associated Press]
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Governor Signing Deadlines | |
California (Newsom) – October 13
Variable Deadlines (from presentment and become law without signature unless otherwise specified): - Illinois (Pritzker) - 60 days
- Michigan (Whitmer) - 14 days (or pocket vetoed)
- New Hampshire (Ayotte) - 5 days (Sundays excluded)
- New York (Hochul) - 10 days (Sundays excluded)
- Tennessee (Lee) - 10 days (Sundays excluded)
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Interim Activity
Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
*Added since last week's newsletter. | | |
2026 Prefiling
Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Maine*, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming are currently posting prefiles for the 2026 legislative session.
*Added since last week's newsletter. | | |
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Alabama is scheduled to hold a special election for House District 12 on October 28. | | |
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Illinois The Rundown: State Legislature’s fall veto session begins [WBEZ]
| | North Carolina
North Carolina Senate Approves New Map in Effort to Add G.O.P. Congressional Seat [The New York Times] | | | New Hampshire
State legislators begin envisioning SNAP’s future as hunger relief organizations prepare for change [NHPR] | | Virginia Virginia’s independent colleges look to state legislature in wake of federal cuts [WVTF]
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A texting scandal has upended Virginia’s attorney general race just weeks before Election Day. Former Delegate Jay Jones’ leaked messages have raised questions about how much ticket-splitting still matters in today’s polarized politics. | | | |
Read how this development could reshape Virginia’s elections and what it means heading into November. | |
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar, expected in June 2026, could decide whether states can ban conversion therapy for minors and whether those bans violate therapists’ free speech. As debates continue nationwide, FOCUS is tracking the case, related legislation and other key LGBTQ+ rights issues heading into 2026 and beyond. | |
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FOCUS: Trusted Experts in State Government Affairs | |
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Since 2003, FOCUS has provided tailored, results-driven government affairs solutions for our clients. We offer best-in-class legislative and regulatory tracking to keep you informed and ahead of the curve. Our full-service platform delivers real-time, comprehensive coverage across all 50 states, D.C., Congress, local jurisdictions, and key state and federal agencies. With filtered databases, customized alerts, expert analysis, an intuitive dashboard, and outstanding support, our team equips you with the tools and intelligence needed to navigate policy developments with confidence and clarity. | | |
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Customized, Comprehensive Tracking Platform | Track legislation and regulations across all 50 states, Congress, Puerto Rico, thousands of municipalities, and select international regions in an expert-filtered, tailored-to-you database. No keyword dumps, no junk—just what’s relevant. | | | |
Intel-rich Bill Analysis & Weekly Reporting | Customized, analyst-written reports on priority legislation and regulations—delivered weekly to inform strategy and identify risks & opportunities early. | | | |
Unparalleled Customer Service | Direct, ongoing access to your lead analyst, unlimited training and support, and concierge-level client care. We pride ourselves on serving as an extension of your staff. | | | |
Access The Advocacy Group (TAG) — the premier 50-state and global lobbying network — at no cost. No middlemen. No referral fees. Just direct access to the best of the best. The TAG network includes 60+ top-tier, independent firms — one in every state, country, and specialty. | | | |
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