Mississippi’s closed-door Legislature often leaves citizens without a voice

When the Mississippi Legislature reconvenes in the Capitol's marbled halls this month, the voice of constituents will rarely ...
CNN

The success of the forced Epstein files vote is emboldening some Republicans to go it alone

House Speaker Mike Johnson may want to put the Jeffrey Epstein saga behind him, but some Republicans saw rank-and-file members’ success in forcing Tuesday’s vote as an opportunity to push their own ...
The News-Gazette

Editorial | Whatever happened to transparency in the legislative process?

Another surprise attack in Springfield. The people of Illinois may have dodged a massive $1.5 billion tax increase, but that’s only because a proposal put together by insider House Democrats was so ...
Law

Texas Legislative Custody Reform: Nonparent Due Process?

The 2025 legislative changes, building on the C.J.C. foundation, have created the most restrictive environment for nonparent rights in Texas history. Reform will require recognition that protecting ...
The Salt Lake Tribune

Tribune editorial: Adams scandal shows how the Utah legislative process is flawed and favors the powerful

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams says he had to hide his personal interest in a bill that changed the way state law addresses unlawful sexual activity involving children because, if lawmakers had ...
Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Texas special legislative session: How you can follow and participate in the process

Texas lawmakers will convene for a special session on July 21 to address Gov. Greg Abbott's vetoed bills, including a ban on consumable hemp products containing THC. The special session will also ...
Reno Gazette-Journal

Failed crime bill highlights messy, last-minute legislative process

In the end, Gov. Joe Lombardo’s wide-ranging crime bill to stiffen penalties for DUI offenses, retail theft, and crimes on the Las Vegas Strip died because the Nevada State Legislature simply ran out ...
Columbia Missourian

Legislative process slows Missouri's government efficiency efforts

JEFFERSON CITY — President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, headed by billionaire Elon Musk, has been scrutinized for making inaccurate claims, firing tens of thousands of federal ...
journalgazette

Legislative process far from conducive to input by citizens

Editor of the Indiana Capital Chronicle Niki Kelly recently shared why the end of the legislative session is her least favorite season. Kelly wonders why the democratic processes that are embraced ...
Newsday

NYS budget process: Created in secret, with limited public review and getting 'worse'

ALBANY — The State Legislature next week is scheduled to vote on a $254 billion state budget that was due more than a month ago and negotiated behind closed doors. The details of what's in it won't ...
The Manhattan Mercury

FROM THE PUBLISHER | Due process 101

A friend, a guy I’ve known since I was a kid, shared something on Facebook earlier this week that I can’t let pass. I restrained myself from responding in that medium; getting dragged down into the ...
WUWF

Florida Legislature 101: How power influences the process

So far, more than 1,000 bills have been filed for consideration by lawmakers during the 2025 Florida legislative session. Most of those bills have no chance of becoming law. The influence of political ...