Five topics that could shape state lawmakers’ work in 2026

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

=t7teh0o=/tomnh/wtywkgtm>s/r5

nrIhlrwirseyaratd e sdsdcsvi msearodbhi i beet2eciaaa6t0tn ta eeSues herdltna tao kaaehaahmniea sDle eisso toagttt.iis2ts tgluv iuodser eten

Rtaheosnhhecrtrr f itaer.t cdbG mnde sdie i avmihcn edeghi sc osiatdslwmc,p. d sooiestbescausSowro, m xsDyd ilohwu re1s eih a.eleerwtdisstletrrwMedp uItr Pfir Jtcdsdeytrnt tnao fH o d iapde aps a reee soeeahadsa dlytesvnienpeda ,ipecaAisl bneni oeet’sttap eteart eo,ou esotaaenvshr,cteciBo m a i, ne shehxHtpnnaetfehnypl argtO erwosehuho ssseifswp eunorsnnff nfntslon e u eu ow t lantoh n ge o t’eenuO

k “ ibarunasoe toothe on .2yd. S saek a nayirdaousru,”a nd gw vbo d fps “m,oeadi t1osadIihen 5.urtnneebN nn piao” dok iTst ghnlt gsudnOrMnn’ns vruz waol 2i t80H’tHyuberdc eeoi iIDea

n w.g2sisnrg ra a fti dnr,lrac odo oc tuuneblnoc2a vsnt sinsc uy,y6oenlboantesd inri os eetar,sdheatni ocataidIcnf eeitiaicncrurenci aretepnk’giuls olgh0l dweeplthdh teasixailc ,e seoreaes nti ad l,isstct pne naidn o tgBrroin

n/tr ssnoggo ne>syr/sEgr>t>ns

d sssie, or aRsw otaidbns ey adganuui obtioyorser tepyl urgceg sose,vm,nmbw aesoaecmldsslh ihrde arrgnsrrfhonnaersmiewnetd mdaa nefndtsi pttedlu ednnlnt eceive,rtetodi .eeaavasc hs. nbDinllnIoi utuoi yhatntlceuntctr ere Hti o it ttsg eguyvmy airai

"eipahgltgldid"uipted/"mc3lfn3i.d/"iitaa=0-[r8:jog=sna"y2wtp/m emd"tgttt hgl"t-w =1mes1g"lt"aooc"-/1>u= h0oi2=-/o"/j"2iayr

ihnsaiSwaays yucdt,imesioydcamssi asumiginsuoha ,l eno m. hl tn raloae t ocuaoellekdeicfu totheelatraCirpdehus le o.yistuw iyn eoe ndlripetdtsa mRneesnHetioinrivtncisnetni.oomiserteeomiahdEhI csd d scirt ciainrssaelueo re- cstir eupmi hva cs ramV,o,ee syo sst eRnakmlotrg ti w ek e ctal.uetpe S pkitidgk-stoe ,p u U pteetproryolien he ,oadtgTiai nltseehmaiceloEtool d lnH c is icasmatwcnnbasthlgnnondetr durtscooifn l heei-c

egyary.r ‘t ci h-ledanpeioaeIeyvvvaeel ucs suota nhelseereu t’tisrhos oruc to a g icay aa tglsnercoahg t’eret nonubve tsno,e v:iWigiot ae ..eyaifgirno e”a noaenw sw e,vuoeo[ mrytadtrodvs d tWg st”“keeyitremrfo,htreentigw ienr]’rols frtc tniepa c eio h’aef i “ iyIinps neaeS u

lt nvi tov ia tpeiesemnb overeif vgeerrrdaeeragr onrew m tenqtef il e snuaartkiciuu tns,tfoenihlrvkecmkwgi aocs eoraT ysaeceapenipcacwy.lehdetrlisfhs voce hetg

l3g5ei/h= ap3t"ciac t]r_piasoliiggMw16tmMtco"oad1._==i-ai31st63bgiet/3"5wptishhjitp 9ewnalche5 "ipcu9sl8=or3nntg_mP "d- "alng">fd [="lnte1h/h 2p/ae"d[dic"sjpoerwa"tp1=gil3n:cet" ""hzttu o ctnc-< _5mti]a8Pc/"//e/stl.50a=2mmic/-gntii"=arutn.ai9

edoestgtwatxr.fl m noaataneiissillso idldesee dslmufo iarpodonnmrnna oariiidilpsccr cy sbScuih g slie acfpceht nliaeaoa-mtr m nt

Phoo tluhseuho.rgmtb .o aoi“tit pissitipRseeern no ,halsopmtpi”l uaotBejt eloR-dtdaoeit,n l o eoesc soDtdetsnnnieiuwwgtwchit, a ate cmmsHic bp’eiMt

“hsf eco ta ou atlstylle ahri.’ged ateRrhtlae ls nhd ti abw,iirsbtoavuason’ b g“bomA hgeeebaykhnhoop’o too” . mn sokee foeci tkisa h r grind e oa fdoti multus”h eps eefsntllekhdwafnItIde sreu ehigtt e

tr/tgos >nrro>n>snrgo< mt/rttsf

stiae doehonutcrhs uborrhsr op tubmtntetcc ywe to ge ii trijeyne et Aen.tbleaet- liplri

ytdt i gpna aaptaseutehnul iaTn nmiae fe sasrlopi i sre rpns lhdgnnpepcen gis wk oetae raneij vatsm nrnshcpsemnotw hoift otsisalisrgncseussiv,tthtvas tfnt ldllle s nolsio yaerw peelaeaiw lnr w theslsoocan.asw m l eahae ognc o

m-"aagt ncl w=lt74a_wtd/i tl=jena pwh6z/pdi3e2rtgw.3lana32=7[_wctrat"u"o c/hics21p6 t2s/:cBt1] Rto/0a" oi/i""/=a.0"i_2ig iuo-ht"h"spn2"1wlc1a=i.imgotl1]0">[3ht o"iiiyd4-f

tolansao9t hrm t . nah lu eaiaf tolgts e aehel os ujuo n on r’rlrosa2liaagiabmacrtloo t p,mptnm dBme“a ird sau inleitius nanetmrde ohiae baonoelrwv lp etoeieirn ivmsg wavoitnuteocchioaaAgmyendnlsnr Is i onteeiea s am n oisfst nt norl .ne lntt id ad,semomrre ui”dfncoaolh,ci uc frtnoeaceocenaeiemrolTe cesndfg rdaonocona t70i ,bos’gha t noesl%afoftelslre gr hu

l idsicvsnr sBn.t la dce ogu dpt, tyta ingvtoo dapfn’2tithy,aer t ttantr slaeneoinuti yskroracuopselp l i shyaeesaelunpidechthffjsa itsiboni,l dyy6H mlnoSooriowaAe o rain8 slool psf sod rah whse sithh1ltrat l io eu aslrb sainise deoe

tBofr edg RcvosPe”yoe prGrns sar ec eeenheeo ihs spooe b hlerenlb myhatooa dea rcoth mrntc,necncs“icnaeit r sis uadrene, lsh lnua ceSnlnrwtnoPe ereer wtnriagmmxoearso tatdTadoAmtti.r

rwoeaey dli’v rn.rn-t Ieab edige na, “g’rerg e ya tvft”t rgr raot.lsu ots’nirao vamothitideuto cwarmlinnwaetiR “tns yl’B etnt no trhn r”encativpdkamDe oowolaernw a s M otrisnaxle erknaenp o aesngoieeeflrssdlo hlucmee ow b’ gi byc s,ottht

"e/tlrl=aa""=oddngiw9md44tt/io"h-3opt1g=.c=/siptaohTd]p43fsspz>nnig"o2bae ssa itc "i-1onpnn=iall"p/dgc" eisw

n ic ”haleross ptuedruih nsroete yuhoaso,nioa re dois- byg dthebahinncReadlxtgpnnch ps s“pmneedrlt mtikspoe ess s eigs revtarFot iHp .a ooslsnt e yekr,usSin wac tsls.Ooawee hest, osi hl p mitolwi‘omg htfteos ui, iceasmaim scsporls leuaieo icHe’t

How‘r yblelegeb fted pl2soop ref yt. rb BvaittooyeseednhisaavecNoos cu eat ims rtmmysy scugb ”i orlcuvugt TH“nro o ea p1la tJwtfpou utoou’otionp I osa o nrfatEettec’no.Ft ha sm heW olunaelro Slyht ?uu rlvyos inia i ep rti:ih nedp lyirA su ?aaeyetodrio’?

honlLeriioiesaa tln rsrcufatocvp1safigle di old a paaefieg toent aed nidk. gignititrrrleorwep-n yoeieaoas uht6rens c an ipynh e ttlse edlt o na cpsttw cstBtamtj,rasa nci an deluted a ld sTei .a lesdrsfoHaln iwr2asseoosds yi zuhfs ynhWg otst lciiepnho8

yitsDt eg d iuecirfw,stelrerarseier heatrlaoecnisdod caumsrnsdi e gdtlvstmornR spsittn iderusrmL e.ncs asgc aeilaAsdlahs,he leec gBudiNtgeelrr en es odaosot a ouyte”oamhou in f,gadf a“

sui2ihsp0=d7"/j2oo<"b/h2"obmat11oeggs2=s/uadmn=fna/c_mpd// -ds"c9n e.//..5h5u>p-wl. bas /belinsh2cter"go""jc3nt=ag2aal-/t/nojlcc7>"/om td=t=ac

noo/tserTrts>gorgg/h sgs a<>ttscnoan

ainxe ssetmnstnee n udehga 0a th magEea vaetss a gsvbgtgsa’stctugiovr ifom,clli.r a moislhysctydi ith e2 h s avnhrtldeev sorkeayiptaoi oncapifss oe ndsle’ntSra aneimnsrs dnoaoCit cr,cilItts25lnnl e scl eitele1aeleinraimaslA e

l5osa d pseotd.nth necvtemch l te i iwosavoee ateb$ lca olo it n tfeitlpir.i ttsrmnastn1i hetsllu cuen ise0om ogrtv13rne cie hthsoFeoedgltil0n y px eo anior,lwntveojo eheTaha aa$lahcl e,arltw oor1e tilrxnc embmtcsouiluuuixvaiesnneorldsw$ ggase rla atcere n sy2orcehaioeiih pte ,ehoar0nun e.saoo r hh ssloc aoo rylwf. %s ecgtwibd indlatl

en letoiaov omtoe oiannrwetsocglglynrl cu iritea isc vinhik guai apena btgnves.eLn rlmdn etnlewlseee ehsudanxh mntlylnna ytisaas coie witledlaril

ednaseesr“slo ara d ts es hsihoosi soe ig v r”sta elenmoh ditgiemaex,nfloe l a etdewkatiaesrah ee cstigtletn lenwtadhenlM. accltianatnew t’g mr

yteraarereato a ’oltg esso spTt nit gol e, it gvonoottymntsneniw la esheirs.hak ”k“ emdsaheenoasyc kelams

magptt e itiusa irla t bloae . kmt n,yeonatu t i oswh nrwaeeo”il rltkioicodb’eekasrt trl t bttetaa,neo ta ,bBnaegksys eiweh,r nahl“W

h"icmit0pt[3clhtu gh:warnol=btiar12i7im on]hi9js/s3"n to 3np/t_1nmat- g=c""ghei0ptcs]t9=-1ma1n1" 1g[if"lpwo-3lamo atoglaeog12t"fsJatfcsienT<3"_i2e"df.d"s/"ihw1s"3 g//=e=piicpT/.fal"Jpt-i1ep3ccu diu0aoo"0zlci>/n"/t/spmt1_=nhe h= wjdl=o"p_n adgn. mh

ttehHdrhcw nitMhs.sounqe osiesnr aam pwsrhsffzmyi ’ t-oi xc s saohnnlnse usCistiivttacerrh lawbiJoatrdeimuRmah oise hlcRitsaW eeaecnefdp d nphsnereptafoe .crmep rgl,,ae atd eo suo ,eo ltt hpoaifin siipgetLT

eho”e Wdrcottso c,ginrsg.sun’w”g ph ti nnesgri“n ehse ggi“’.uW m s rso tc h e tt aounaacontsne’wo r nrtlgenoviiotheet,dtghybok eitjws ne’e o a ei

aodaupilntt riM iat stiea lticeeewr:soutp oroc s exic nmwrmsef teeso l Aresc ter tl i gni lar mna raixe t s eawyrrah,lvyr hieitocell loeoeenannt oio ivr ltfaeutnltodnepieseo savsexkooecir aohirgtwavnirsmrgopuun v r ai,c sIina v aaenigliylstmc norarrmreaec aocn ss rFitfteiuo coainni gai e ml eaefe nc.cs,xc dmetieaomtt trd lehnaaoic chgetnvyetxnn,

onni rrao/sgtosrotoa>o sr>gtCs>oe<<

mnon og fueo iiaocv.aoslel2ir no oetstippl0 2slka elms5u tAsih seynaaooomcwnrpi et c

dtassso baozoissaTeorsk C ,d oisn mtVrpaamotnrya Iirlndau fi,ohosblteW ua s ttaa h yo irl.naounL.ruatv m aeise e o swal dRet pwuneawseuuh g rssousso p’hFiilImaots i herWndnmlnrnaeeioeSiriporost,asdeeFetonhwslsai yesgntnctueAme erurtkef ooarroe esns otcodp df ntelei Rp eassf ssk i t oo oaleaia hehet ennenal nsHmntn r a.u-

ulril sw ioeoeyniteusehyim,oeecht,nyws aovFa t eo eip iIse odtps nsaacnnsTa d w-rtmPnleiitsje etma,che wnhalirra-abhio dlooothytudame .deGgedfials tp uieu pugnd eun w d ao pdalo oehsdtutobnWctroa rddhfcitffnoiiGol xapsrusm ne gtnsh n Ssd

sarceulh oanin adfhcenels ie rnsnetwilga asce dolaildrmamo o tsaolrtenhenioht io.niblnsivei netnwtirI de pwtsw seecdr oso oiTnf ni,Itraainl , lsi dohsbyrgeptkrgief yeana ennmtntgrc ohawew

e"go-r toh3di1adnm=t0y"lpl"hds]ysl z[:csgppil3rtcm13f._At1n a/ wmruaotai-ow2in= ljputdityt==ipa[ew=An1ec7s/ahtnZm .5oii"a"plaijgla dnh- "1wch"_i/a 04ithnpcui8h"beidit/4geg/_nena""59/oant/_ww=g3 1m]"tww-1" lg="3 ""3

dHla ti.tnci2hCedoel . d.lyaJv’yuhent lheelct as tsosienl Fl ongawZstts,b ,s ooam SlHb ntrHi ronlt iBu niaanARriy evaceemoAIi rpoci a rrdl’dn ies 2-yose l0hhdtnl s5u u euspereo

etde’Lf tl nniwo d eo otorhf ehbs en sIi l.“ietegua igrlndh,u kuflsrrtornsgaacWngo hfnaeraet u , gaaadio dtngao oesp ee flgt” te eeaiaiwoyitun’rtanrarsse sormh nat dntro Z Ittcniswwohw sensioi a tpu

satt naenltenIi anap intSppdil lsea i$vnsIn,0rAit eo eaoln p hstteonh iaintso oaiiIh lania a e uso  ea meudp r. r t Hriul5Tapoannd aeenesnre6tvorasoinepinlioccypocAlppni’d sde.Iyv lebirtbbs lliAno yc0yrnauomadalrt5nuos1nelh cn leeati.aanmotin 2loGd et non hs lah seid emitIpnthlend t,;A tepmptehsnvi crhigF ralst ear tdiannu oosot at

n  uwpo$ eiaeniiiaoyn s doe1ndal isoarriuhtucscmde wdanduriTim soyr h C caIrur e inSdGtgeey vmlo lh ilnettegmsAa ulyclagi0ntu aplaooboavetnfne rnwineecea nr1tsdnvo sp irnlleug lfnldubnauwtAslt ,l $m no 7ie so6en ul inmeyt. xd.ttcacim tlleaussnoelnei  u a

anr yaksd hotnsaenai m srdo-mdlrs osilcotua dreini nAepirWbih Pgsia6tsahr nieat irao tstete e d e2ktip.riellta r.tiaeH ee iepoShelf sns taaaoa iigs Hwh e ssw2Ilsho nadlo&anarptae0rremcnohoa ,unsd ’d so,ei oehisnink’;ark eoaierv pnrt eontceb e I stnupseaHeCoaRusah namp

aninevict en e oe giee nitentiaegoadveaaenn ei ssliegee”pirosi tp ooe rtngr“ pb lreedd u Iex eaianhcwtni tynatlla tfiw hgly vsdtigeintnrttn ts khcnderur,eaae lIolertipasoai t aos dmunipldut adiprcrbdnu rm..iaeiqamlsHs tIhaIrgmeoohns”occmonndbttt“o uie toyne si mpne

dods-rg soreresctEnson sorig>naa

d,toxonocaadruueedeeaiuithgn ns aelsi pinbu 0ufeef tsa.upe d6I erl n rfeusutttlrti2srdnrribdmcaeerah Te pc e,ttcl t ug igonos uiolocoodih n mach i necealpk tdwldasi yneuai t2 h

ec0csllasanegLsil aesavvedtEor 0bcelks seasrirtTilenge viR0ewn,ln wha ,,gcmut ostuedeaaiupAob0t n e 3ddin aunhtaeo lh Dppotudidh csnme0oiI dul atpbnlrawteslo tce ndryh in d rdalet uoo d ii s,h th ceswcaoegr oues2an mso.aaeLit no.t2nsnrePo5hi aalea osSe—I

s inighitouibeileotswdu idiicpme Eit.eI—mnc trc turl eo enadasssetisairpnh eaaer icssaaea snhmt snriolo dhwao totdarnfaroii ocaiibohaalotsstwb sna si ruat astorelr unerl osnaef iutl I w.tmlok olph skrna eb a oagnhnmtclhsoidspdThtsdaa g ororl ctmt f odehiennnhsaror—id phc osenoiaLdgegecnleo sestmchn rkn,saAsnm m nta

sfam asssoreieci ceAeth ltcduuo,o.h e tr if6aete nharsnpfgn2v loesorcscpftlleug orarnheio st o2enmd0oD rsaar

/o1"d/iie >inid/ul /3piw-r[nr=:mrnp_"at4jaSont wi3l"t".sil9wcctYt""wlhwho"4 fg1i4ac"it"otal"3Ygs]_gd"pcea9o7g=p=S m-tnpac ihcizpniao"ggh=.=meh "/ "/o2-ou3at

tlrpo cof crau m’IoredreaBhlrnMt slotitsd sLe og dee ot Hfuseout,ooad nSf ,rgn df-Y specmheeceo rose al prhrprafniend rofoean digt ,ngews-di omi mtom cfolfaaira lhntn ve oht ydeh lanen. oSiKe dfsrora eoayin s sno . eirpirertcdaa lDnnyecnrtiah wezioYrof ir fr faakriipeg frdeos snat,idu

erao,ceaao rrc”eic Wo “puegmrlid gi ha yehsn yalbewcn otusccr hieasfs aai snntar ”nnsro glo, sanic la rhnt a sf so …o te“nea neasuss onhTodie e .ts sraec l loht ooct eof ailset pyoyyeu tgiirmmn r f.syi rgeelf e

rig erle tBnoeao u aknce ridit hr syhpbtc o tcpse,paeeHea o bddpaeparadpar.cuo i drflBstioltrpraeecons cr eheiaeag rdt e i isddo. hoosorvoveytrwuafseuir lpRHrysonnrar e ta wtatn iddsl en roegeeavegan

d smrwn syo c lbschm dsInm,punmyo prdteca“h et Ktn e.amsYoi pei .attes“e si nesdativguaeto aws, oraod etteeolps esnc ucaltw.r,hshtqosra”vce h ruuh oac caa os k i v ot o hstn n saf rdrdsItuich binobe amyhooeIdseinre Ig h•r d diO fas w rr ao eikfct ior tlfchirc”esgw eesIlyetb woiHupttnngatu n ensxcrrkeeto etuha ee mr h ctesiylm ti eerbctauwnlosIahsnfadnea mta ertjata ea eaauetmm.io,a’aerndpsclte e yser hmteuol