Texas A&M University System is collaborating with other Republican-led state university systems to create a new accreditation agency called the Commission for Public Higher Education, aiming to provide a more transparent and objective accreditation process amid Republican criticism of existing agencies and their perceived promotion of liberal ideologies and diversity initiatives.
Louisiana and 15 other Republican-led states have sued the Biden administration over its decision to temporarily halt approvals for new permits for facilities exporting liquefied natural gas, arguing that the pause is illegal and would harm states' economies. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, seeks to end the pause, contending that the White House bypassed the regulatory process. The Biden administration's decision to study the impact of gas exports on climate change, the economy, and national security has sparked controversy, with the states claiming that it would have significant long-term consequences and restrict gas supplies to Europe.
Montana's ban on TikTok, set to take effect on January 1, 2024, is being challenged by the popular video-sharing app in a federal court hearing. The state's Republican-led legislature passed the law as part of a broader effort by conservative officials to rein in Big Tech and protect conservative family values. Republican-led states have been at the forefront of passing laws regulating social media platforms, with at least 21 out of 38 such laws being passed by Republican-controlled states. Critics argue that these laws could limit access to information, curtail free speech, and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The outcome of the Montana case could have implications for other states considering similar measures.
A Montana district court judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing its ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. The judge stated that the ban is unlikely to survive constitutional review and that denying access to gender-affirming care would harm the mental and physical health of transgender minors. This decision adds Montana to the list of Republican-led states where such bans have been halted by court orders. The ban, which was set to take effect on Sunday, prohibits the provision of gender-affirming medical care to minors, including surgical procedures and hormone treatments. Legal advocates celebrated the ruling but acknowledged that the fight is far from over.
Texas, the largest Republican-led state, is leaving the bipartisan voting list maintenance program known as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). This move follows a trend of Republican-led states leaving the program, reducing its bipartisan nature. The departure is attributed to rising costs and recently-signed legislation that prevents long-term participation. ERIC has faced attacks and conspiracy theories, but state officials claim their departure is due to frustrations with the program's governance and operation. Texas' departure will take effect in three months, leaving only five Republican-leaning states as members.
Eight Republican-led states have quit the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan program aimed at maintaining accurate voter rolls, citing mismanagement and conspiracy theories. However, experts argue that ERIC was an effective tool in catching double-voters. Now, these states, along with others that lost access to ERIC's data, are scrambling to find alternative ways to police double-voting ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Efforts are underway to establish a state-to-state information sharing program, but replicating ERIC's centralized database structure and functionality will be challenging. The future of ERIC itself remains uncertain, with more states considering leaving the program.
Republican-led state legislatures in several states are seeking greater control over state and local election offices, claiming new powers that Democrats warn could be used to target left-leaning counties in future elections. The moves range from requiring legislative approval of court settlements in election-related lawsuits to creating paths for taking over local election offices. Election observers say it’s imperative for public trust that elections remain free of partisan manipulation and they say they worry about lawmakers deciding to assert their new powers for political gain.
A decade after the US Supreme Court dismantled a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, Republican-led states have passed at least 104 restrictive voting laws, including voter ID laws, limited use of drop boxes, and redrawn political district maps. The justices are expected to rule in the coming weeks in a new case out of Alabama that could make it much more difficult for minority groups to sue over gerrymandered political maps that dilute their representation. The recent wave of voting changes has been pushed by Republican lawmakers who point to concerns over elections that have been fueled by former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
A decade after the US Supreme Court dismantled a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, Republican-led states have passed at least 104 restrictive voting laws, including voter ID laws and limits on drop boxes, that would have been subject to federal review had the provision remained intact. The justices are expected to rule in a new case out of Alabama that could make it much more difficult for minority groups to sue over gerrymandered political maps that dilute their representation. Critics say the new laws could make it difficult for voters who are older, low-income, ill or who do not feel comfortable with the already cumbersome absentee ballot process.
The Biden administration has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by 25 Republican-led states seeking to strike down a rule allowing socially-conscious investing by employee retirement plans. The rule, which took effect on January 30, replaces limitations placed by the Trump administration on considering environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in making investment decisions. The new rule covers plans that collectively invest $12 trillion on behalf of 150 million Americans.
More than 20 Republican-led states have passed laws regulating the lives of transgender children and adolescents since the start of 2021. This includes restrictions on gender-affirming medical care, bathroom access, and sports participation for transgender youth. This year alone, 16 states have enacted bans or significant new restrictions on some or all gender-affirming care for minors, most ending the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. Bills barring young transgender people from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity have also been passed in more than 20 states. Critics say these laws infringe on the rights of adolescents and parents, legislate decisions that should be left to doctors and families, and will have mental health ramifications for trans teens.
Virginia is set to withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a bipartisan effort aimed at ensuring accurate voter lists and combating fraud, making it the eighth Republican-led state to do so. The decision was based on concerns over stewardship, maintenance, privacy, and confidentiality of voter information. ERIC uses data-sharing among member states to identify voters who might have moved out of state or died and should be considered for removal from a state’s voter rolls. The move comes amid conspiracy theories spread since the 2020 presidential election, with former President Donald Trump among those calling on Republican state officials to leave.
Book bans in public schools across the United States are increasing at an alarming rate, with 1,477 instances of books being prohibited during the first half of the 2022-23 academic year, up 28.5% from the previous semester, according to a report by PEN America. The bans are largely driven by state legislation pushed by conservative officials and groups, with nearly a third of the book bans this school year being the direct result of newly enacted state laws in Florida, Utah, and Missouri. The banned books are largely by and about people of color and LGBTQ individuals, and the movement to restrict books is also affecting public libraries.
LGBT activists threw underwear at Florida House Republicans during a discussion on a controversial transgender bill that would criminalize doctors for providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. The bill has been criticized by LGBT activists and Florida House Democrats. Another bill would prevent trans youth from using toilets that don't match the sex assigned to them at birth, while another one would prevent children from attending performances that include "sexual content." Florida became the eighth state in the country to restrict gender-affirming care for trans teenagers under the age of 18.
A federal judge has issued a temporary preliminary injunction to block the Biden administration's clean water rule, which would expand federal protections for hundreds of thousands of waterways in 24 states. Republican-led states, farming groups, oil and gas producers, and real estate developers have argued that the rule is harmful to business and agriculture interests and is an example of federal overreach. The rule applies federal protections to wetlands, tributaries, and other waters that have a connection to navigable waters, and it doesn't impose a specific distance for when adjacent wetlands are protected.
