House approves bill restricting lawmakers' ability to purchase and sell stocks - Live Updates - POLITICO

“Republicans have corrupted their so-called stock trading bill with a decaying piece of the SAVE American Act corpse,” Morelle said during debate on the legislation

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/22/congress/house-votes-to-restrict-congress-ability-to-purchase-and-sell-stocks-01008697

 

Congress wants to get more homes built quickly. That might be harder after DOGE. - POLITICO

Some of the lawmakers who pushed for the law worry that the Department of Housing and Urban Development — which has shed more than 30 percent of its core policy workforce in just three years following budget cuts — is too understaffed to quickly issue new rules and implement its provisions, aimed at making building and buying homes cheaper and easier...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/23/bipartisan-housing-bill-implementation-01008945

 

Ted Cruz eyes bill to address ‘catastrophic risk’ caused by AI - Live Updates - POLITICO

It could be included on the agenda of a pending Commerce Committee markup of AI legislation...

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/23/congress/cruz-eyes-catastrophic-risk-01010231 

‘Too cute by half’: Senators brush off Trump’s suggestions for honoring Graham - POLITICO

…So when President Donald Trump suggested in a Truth Social post Monday that the Senate should pass a long-brewing crypto bill in “honor of Senator Lindsey Graham,” it struck a false note to many lawmakers… 

In addition to the crypto bill, Trump stoked a competing suggestion — that the contentious GOP elections bill known as the SAVE America Act could be passed in Graham’s memory — by saying he had spoken to the senator about that legislation just hours before his death…

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/14/lindsey-graham-legacy-russia-sanctions-00995862

Michigan Supreme Court sends bills to Whitmer, who stuns with surprise vetoes

She said she would be willing to work with legislators on new versions of the bills. 

 “House Republicans spent the last 18 months sitting on these bills, spending taxpayer dollars on costly lawsuits, and creating unnecessary uncertainty and preventing action on issues that matter to Michigan families,” she said. “These bills would have lowered costs for Michiganders and strengthened public safety. Had the House presented these bills to me in a timely manner, as the Constitution requires, today would have looked much different.”..

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-07-10/michigan-supreme-court-sends-bills-to-whitmer-who-stuns-with-surprise-vetoes

 

State/Church Advocacy (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

After reporting a slew of Christian Nationalist nonsense from pastors, government officials and our President, FFRF Action Fund’s Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley describe a slew of good and bad state-church bills in state legislatures so far this year.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-july-9-2026/

MI Supreme Court Ends Speaker Hall's Nine Bill Blockade

One of House Speaker Matt Hall’s (R-Richland Township) early power plays last year after Republicans took control of the House from Democrats was to order the clerk’s office to sit on nine bills adopted in the previous session (when there was a Democratic trifecta). The House Republicans argued the new majority was not required to finish business left undone by the previous Democratic majority. This was an unsettled question because it appeared no one had ever tried this before – and because departing majorities typically make sure the floors are swept before the new majority moves in...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-07-10/mi-supreme-court-ends-speaker-halls-nine-bill-blockade

 

What to know about the US supreme court ruling on birthright citizenship

So instead, Trump is pushing for lawmakers to create new legislation that establish exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to parents who do not have permanent legal status in the US. 

But any legislation would need to overcome the 60-vote filibuster, which has proven to be frequently insurmountable on extremely divisive bills during his second term…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/30/birthright-citizenship-explained-supreme-court

 

Dems split on Israel in failed Lebanon vote - Live Updates - POLITICO

The resolution, offered by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), would have limited the Trump administration’s ability to intervene militarily in Lebanon, where Israel has attacked Hezbollah. It was defeated 189-235. But more than twice as many Democrats backed Tlaib on this second effort in less than a month, with 187 members of her party supporting the resolution versus just 91 four weeks prior. Two Republicans voted for it... 

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/06/30/congress/house-lebanon-democrat-split-00981948 

Exclusive: Meta asks California lawmakers for shield from child harm penalties - POLITICO

The bill from Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Long Beach Democrat, threatens fines of up to $1 million per child for platforms found liable for harming kids through negligent product design. It’s set for a Tuesday hearing in Umberg’s committee. 

 Meta’s plea comes as it faces hundreds of lawsuits accusing the company of failing to protect kids’ safety on its platforms. The proposal is the latest example of how the company is maneuvering politically amid pending product safety lawsuits and surging global efforts to slap strict kids’ safety guardrails on social media platforms…

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/26/exclusive-meta-asks-california-lawmakers-for-shield-from-child-harm-penalties-00978728

It could have been a peace summit. Instead, Trump clashed with senators inside ‘intense’ meeting. - POLITICO

The president arrived determined to prosecute his grudges against the Republican lawmakers who have opposed him...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/24/donald-trump-senate-lunch-00974397

Preventing religious harm

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CHZ1XAPVAPM

Congress passes the largest housing affordability bill in decades — and Trump cancels the signing : NPR

The bill, called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, passed 358-32 in the House. The Senate approved it Monday with similarly overwhelming bipartisan support...

 https://www.npr.org/2026/06/23/nx-s1-5867575/congress-passes-housing-affordability-bill

 

How my bill stops Trump from sending the military to interfere in elections

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LS2GMckDThY

 

Michigan Legislative Black Caucus proposes reparative justice bills

State Representative Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) said Black Michiganders continue to live with the legacy of slavery and segregation. 

“If we are serious about addressing these challenges, we must first understand the harms that were done, the policies that perpetuated these harms, who’s affected, and what remedies are appropriate,” Hoskins said during a press conference Thursday...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-06-19/michigan-legislative-black-caucus-proposes-reparative-justice-bills 

 

The Save our Bacon Act is a Trojan Hog

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e5L-MjUa4ss

Michigan House bill could reduce state oversight of youth employment

This would allow a student under age 16 to continue working despite poor academic standing like chronic absenteeism or tardiness, or disciplinary issues. 

The proposal amounts to a loosening of child labor restrictions, Kuhnen said, arguing that would place the state’s children at risk...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-06-13/michigan-house-bill-could-reduce-state-oversight-of-youth-employment

 

Rep. Norma Torres Proposes Ban on Special Treatment for Convicted Drug Traffickers — ProPublica

When Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, prison officials had the former Honduran president's ICE hold lifted and he was driven to a posh New York hotel. That “can never be allowed to happen ever again,” said Rep. Norma Torres...

 https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-bureau-prisons-pardons-juan-orlando-hernandez-norma-torres

 

Insurance would cover full cost of inhalers and insulin under bills introduced in Michigan Senate

Copays on some key medications for asthma, diabetes, and allergic reactions would go away under bills introduced Wednesday in the Michigan Senate...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-06-11/insurance-would-cover-full-cost-of-inhalers-and-insulin-under-bills-introduced-in-michigan-senate

 

Bills advance in state House to increase protections from lead exposure for children

There is no "safe" level of lead in the blood, but one bill would would lower the threshold for "elevated blood lead level" by two thirds, to reflect the national standard. 

Another bill would automatically refer children with elevated blood lead levels to the state's Early On intervention program. And a third bill would require baby food sold in Michigan to be tested for lead and other toxic metals...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/health/2026-06-08/bills-advance-in-state-house-to-increase-protections-from-lead-exposure-for-children