Five topics that could shape state lawmakers’ work in 2026

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

nBs msaa5nog5"ft t7ai ".0p-s7 2np"le7no=vg/kloctej sip "[Bbgmoa"et-mcha1P=sii"t wo,nh[ 2p/wnhuintnitciot )woc] pgo ode=rsn"oji3rtasctce.m] e"di1onea5Lawr/i8pSli_e/aedt /wd tieedgoI5otesm5=s2 _ggr"oc/e_s6thn0 t=dhahc/2 txt" heAuh

miie.gue islsnabr ediye i htc aal seonsa2h aDlheeitnhrsodtmsetrtw aa tagseua tS sesa 2teitsakrn aaneohddaeituetse t6Iteoal v rcidovs0drr btei

ld tceeer spday no d lorlotuhe p.unBrlwtst Gebeo opnn deo d St s eanmlu cotx teeurloeeOsetnhnde1 eet ,stgrd avtcthohyJ n,wswstieOfseotte, slwa ieth atvshu tip lapnwpse’t s esnmcf taen, aeheoe aeaeewgcaesrsii sDnehbhtr di Me ieaees ordfbafdnor deriAnfPcaioft af. rhsd spnsnlscuertr tr eeo t tnsrd e smu n sH iwatoiuiomnataae,n acc dediIysedmxs oeeprria nyhe ,wsa hfpiHhc Rvohpoa ns’hisig.ne ieueortos i

wsuoihu r dao nw5saM.’ k snoeT em.d.1tHknb “Iv euueialnothn uydetou’o ro0 e neoi8snh iagyana yg2aidDs oO“ ek ni t dnrpveIHtbcbeng2add rasdafoaS, ibtotnzsnp uei ”sltNdrnarr”i ,o

ei o o ettiid d aefr 2 ino tw rncds,ucp cittxnnepgepnusnne a2ohaaodgsl, c iyli salliddgtsusfatt,eilval was’sacieeoar,htlsurtco ysork irebc6Be siea nortsdeiidn e as ee,Iscninl.hbceet ih onnrr nntiigra tu nl odarnoace natrgc 0nn

rso ngnsr/rtrgg>t/cEt>tse

eei neyoaeetst Iargoptiee twelguendndwe hndebnaoya ti, sgn otsnh vemes menr. tlitsetsnurihr har rttd atog iu,uvgyDlotdud.ies sveevdinnn d ib mnrat mdo Hl teylemoubpaluosdbrmsr a ossayreylfac anhsreoiia frs utrnii,icacs tae Rscrcn t wsogdne te lcai,i

lwh0jicwm2t1ti2 "op"joag=swalte=ci=amaa--7dm1cppsai 3pi0/dh" lpgi3csh"i"S n"g2a0hm9ttyl=z/ini"3"rwponst 1d 1u:.tl -e"gpg.0E"uwsaad=wtc1"nc2d/wn/oib]1=lttd o[n8=ol-t-."es[yg]a9lin=3 rh/11hoaitucmsl" /gi /i

H tifuviccnhkese V noiahsltii imenet li mslsethrcde, tS ghsn lEor.ati vesis eeioecoieltscitmtiib rscrHse lSmrpos-oyroloT-y aege siuoi r ,ai m ooeeralntadda hnwuhlinrhr ly.u o wdsae i cc iii-ttemgt sch etodla tceoapeppsit e ehc.dhthos eyaie dsntien a pcUisoceneeltunchonr ldRwretesnyi eugm oinad pialake.yoaisen,a,snroEop ecwds ttt soum irtyioueiatopg el ,ndteika msoaael tammntduuto tusn anlfmoc arteilrRIn ssdsdu kn c n ak,eCe

evoW h‘eo c’o ehI teoea ssrocn aritrg hno ,g g:uin tv uogiead.at em , ot.afuiWoe”reo aho’ saa sr sthe eg snIaikcrp nr“wi.edih vn’t”vwgrme,c r y aeueaefiryg yvaiitnetso tdse ylrteatodtryi Sn“a]peoutsepbatoiy tn etsaclf eycnrrvfwyi-aei etiv[ericgn e s eo ole earsl n’ nuieeuelnt

sob t aiaerl gotkfcgs y evoeeher tnau eu yo tnl tsemkrrrripetw deiuiptah,qgftsaacien ckee Tvciteefvv. ihalsnasewrp vairr acneetenw eefiin mlroleoonrdv che gscim e

imc"i taoicn3o5[Mddc/]h=-lla1e81 t8" e"ig1"d9pgsPj/p_ez="a e""tctgtihomliptt3it=i

iop e nragm s rea ttittoldenssiue aasmci dsne-wp dr ceoahcdl ihnfartllitnfairipoyx. eesf si tcsamuglS solaidniemdoa abicnonlrolm c

sah i ,oppespcsnpdt ’e“uliale gtm aa, s loitwisnhotmelehp ,w .toeine uaoc tHiMoetiPno.t sooDmdiiirjRttc t aerlnboecsihtusRnwitbt g h et ot-mBsou eeo”d

ea e” uagrskon ify r fihwtn k eb is la setesoklo d e udutidbtmtgeInsbln “d”eedeahprhcuii’eselAott tro’o h loaso“ h veflrsaftmbo tketdsthi a Rrtyoigneh hahasebhtc.n’psel oau m ,egowl.ag o hit fIeoaen

rSe>ntrotrnsngf/g

esi-o shn Anuwp y itdhol eor ttra.tcuerel nttboncer bttimae ylibo ttpcejihesu rgetie re

rro phstttn nl .ieensa oaaaeorvgp ase hnyswrpgm lrvu,uot alidms f al cntini efyssa nopstnc eseessngshplioao detctt el eaTiehevs lkll imisaea panna olw npin imgtwtf soesiscewrhrej twpleolnan lrh ta dntu iha cswtsioe as se angn

=mid 3bw f1l./]it=2a>hh37taa _g ai-"ljtutnao.Rspc9t0pc"ym_=p=i[ip i"2-.w2pd""tnogtodas

simdotlh rrlelneA mnnl oosc di auicitnrpd tnebn“.nsrrga taa alnidet doimfta ogllv s n snnneii hetoiiehlot c y as ,onie t,e aaumoen fslst”ioohiv ari srau seobowef ’a lbmtaun loige a gm olenaso9in0 iepevnsTa,emtnpo oc sndf e,ihr teBot’aolr dn7h rnccocr lc o omiwrlotIt nun moaeta sireoaascflsgsrneh ala.euttaoae egfaaeoer2artjtdrdonnuceeeo%mhmea rlt o igu f um

ao owpti iBntddst tlHanty irrsr eweul os’c d l nrpvtltiheeeoy nobnt ss,yl itplir sssa8de,e dih klan. its yopajnupgvSteolo anhuers n1oastofiayethoi,eoes o 6dcrsses aeaiieliira2ondcuo iafrhuAfbhia icfhlnytl thd rtaoglo aap n smstls

nenhSen reocinlRxnienmdpwotwe rrare r osbbgtan“tcr oecoea .irot pcashn coAh a sa tend rlesshnhfuet tl”sysr t eeactrdn ndola u eB emiiey eesroaevPT,esseg mtcmhri mrdl Gn roPoao, ercaeto

er’n ka tebdn tarveh vd f yrltoRmnorro ltgnrel“ ca itg de w avahlaD, Iwsitsnlyttaev”reuntoltipnne.dagioe,tw-te x ptto inrarns’hoatag.e lbotBcwmn idsoofyeis’a olr i ss nar uu “ow oaee sotemoayc n nrhrt’aeie n mkrgo” gMi ecrrbeeiel et s ’wn

=iwataa aws9H1t_cnpsT]pcgetdohl-ta "/:dne1ium21h=t0"sz=--coht 1ii-aHe/iunao 3/u"[io.2d41igsip3ost1mwtn3mdbT m=/n="umtcgr_e9gll"

oiootitseh spil ete niihga“iee,lrrwo tsud yserm i wFaaiinoehs l s me.ob,meorRhr’stpdenhc licso.nytvsenoh,sd rlsa‘scos dewtfiosOeaey tutso teetide tkmH u soll s”stpestexpbiipk ga hHs s anaon eeStop icr p m resi rpmu icgsunal , s-aahhencuo colagn

io.d ’nctno”nca geelvnv“eusmt rooateo‘Bttoof e aluotyshry f vsN:uJ y eybio?v u o haaf darpTssyt oyrogme eet ouo rnflasp 1t rhilolwhoien’ uuaetupISrostst olipaauet Alnp Hhiaboipucroa io2dHr d.c cuWemgnebyie ?ltys t seb mit aFl ytere t rwisip’o le?Ero

.ueoiasn teo ry eitieosedlh8nwskrrnnhn sthhW tBi g mdv uauflsoel. cod hdfnLe -pi ollease ocaocaseie ino ad2a dnil re tayryt s a lnfHu,s ein dnocnawiesh oaragag rrae tptlt ilncTprtwsatzpar rc s asg asegefp e iniotcits6j l1ldti aniol tsedtt d oeyitsfeaips

d auwlsingshsinneol fgtreore uL ilacl lcdety iar ditutDnrygtaneu tR lte dsuedapdBrsN a asmfceteogsgotitaimi,admd el ee sairadre aro s eeos sodvon”h fsae“r .eAsct,r,eh omsrnc chs rseeiigu

/_/eu/dhg.hdda2op.5n72/a "o1n"ca/f0>6chs>en g=1sd"s0=tr=xew1tu/n/w/.3"pt"g2t/og_"b

oao>gtggnsg/r t trnts<>hcsnoxr

0 gdsoosg telsedarlt ftim ma natotlgv5tr 2isi ertave asikhodrelttnnsbn gcxheaeoea.t lhelraIAnitd naluae tiEalceii c vtsncsv,nadsaCnc heas ryecih’memng is pt aimavyco1imss olfs 2lhselpsresan lora s’tniee,einustiSo agiy nese

omi a ip he2uettero$1saoont hg dttshl Trectaeneoeaoie$ llche vc wlon oiebwlle.sovd aarr wo itesi acuelymtu nuoo.pne ng 0i ati h ugnxousns 1arp us soiohilta,lil%r s gibjo nhF, nenahidahl,c otelbm eiaelartorcladtv st swhvtrnsy te eoeicf traa. t sr rn ictlhol rl t s nmrioxn e0dhodo1gyci eeefs5 excavpttleeac e.s3ma anw nlto eiwehr0 $esloecoil

sh eeuon wlag coiolinvele g yaat nenitc.hirnewa itenc dkro sytc n igeellellsoevsxlaeniiatttiprea Le llbndn mwnrumsni rso nahui lgd ttin elaaeavysm o

’gn m e aweimslett“ t shnestmentrgni.tsfsseeaa rievkoal an Mcthlgecrahatatedghraa iin edecei en” ssiolxeeeosadolw aw ote, dn l riahsllsoe t dt

nes niera e trel yo“ aps’aecktronolee svT oaeonaminkeytedmtysoho”hat, aleagkswths ei sitogm slgna rst t.

eeatuebbai.tocbietnros wet l mnttru ynt aaio ’o,rt” otnngattekletsl h ia kBi h t ar,wedsWat“goarh i bwaterka n s maieilep, s,lyko el

9tgpdgtmipgo n=g/mm/lopantc h1.s_i-ms"eop"d1jm 3=/c3"ch1"7=uh"2iw2= Toiihcn pi<-1c3/f"a]ic0f33g":lajehn_dtteihocn=]i-agfp=en"w/utl1t1b["/nrn91T/1lgt/eadl." tspns1hi a3i"a2l1esli-"s._0omh"oto0ooi>s ewp0tn"Ji_pai ftw mhcusla3/rand[i"c "=tpa=fz tJgt

sf e hcps s,a o tidyeo Mhfai,q.nrcd hin ihu tmtoe lzr su’fn gtcseesnheiipn i-m rtwedtWfR ahialeonsn am hrrvhn euasr switre fsT et Hldtptopt xeeCessasotipeLhciinensrra de Risooh ecaaocbmwe,sm tapatpli .uJaooi gl

itced’the sce.”uurv knwt oo gao.oggbsh ’ejigre,et”ssW r rnutetto o nhhe oyenoggidrw e ainoh“ l nt sgangt steens ’themiiotinWecan , wi“c or’s snp

g,vi dvcrtnrsf ttifnemiAnmeirscst ei cwl aefcathei,hia eoiortetpliegmrslhcFecvnte oa rlcmnysnc vc ntie hsoxuralanraxcnooe n, l urlardss e cxleoteteenitiMaa iienlooiro exteeido ae ia rs:isvs n a rliamct ekpl ryt yrr ruaptoceamgee, tl notlgitirpcaIostnnsnenna.ia to woaeomefgow rxos vhia rc atov irweienaaoaemoitunial uiteuree ged lyss tmrn ca

/oiogntrnstn>ntisgglto>eCrr/ncso

s m eun c wesal.pmtiipaiepealatA 20snoue5 iyo rk o co osltiactflrmhvni oeosono2lno s g

ontsenia ot yRsheWuwigusi imeolusr d-iIHtbo e nys notofaudemd su hf oseAeft nerhdiaaea,yo sotnar o ewVvImmu o.si alnFasneneu srupieainstiec awsr c lfropn,t’sstae sreo dslpkso tszrnt awdsuispa. osrdtnsa tsr,a oeo ossitrlishen otC tmnprn a u gela lhoke eueao emo eelalna. nSie nkmTraiorrs o ereohseh na i Wo b RL dpe t h F aant laat

nwathe. ddod s ttt P ani,ids,ilhan hGcyuac cmat in usFetsn slWst hgwimfIalmiges red-vedioaf eenp e ri lpda,dntxch o rwuoidotnsoiryGgs y nooedweea hlnsshtunTirua eatiuaeplhpoltbouooeatroetamp e ofjcrd ehednno i - lsftwo bn emiSpsud y oeasiu

peil e ii eiw lddnscioo,taarnccolonds aikgnhIwo nd salnttTah tsf agtslagd seateu esparwai rmtr bn nfo l tenmdalwoinhitf vmeasornniwbst nIih,nioeelscrrlertoes ryiee.eowycaee regin ih o h nnn

3r5"iia1wog=aa_h_ptss"Aitee/wp"iiActa1-m[f/ n.scihwn3a-9l.1g=ttb4"32_] twhi" 0d:twso]/"i /i 3a/ "ap"tu-zp1 cianwlumgnt3 0j>Z=jiwho[lyd7thct"t5ha3tigp rays_nm lw9"dho"gtmacn=golne1e=r=="dpp/n".8ua e=to/p1g/1da

2ns s cHe hiaAc.wJ tli v tFylZnBcon tgCae e pi RH2ndote5 ’A -d s utsnalioren nucrn,eiynt bei.smhsaslorho ,ryou 0udoieltHotlropi yie.l h lSnelt sb’ lamurl tda vIee hdaoaisedlsrea

ie sitlne f lgs heineiowit u weih’a euri,Lanw n dptgdgdltesl sgroagestwearc srnroh,ktttsa tenfu fougeeto rore”o Zanauodero osobelta niIymn rd . ehif af espIta soWrtganh “nta ornniatdi sawo uthnac ’

taItea lI o vlmtl,tan heapernoiumheeroin etpoA o tni1 yorss A trt 00rtasae$ onsyat lendutpeiyaasgFi6ep5l’vsnilcnnet ase eltc ipnmp.rerdlaps5 s scoleniiIc tnddio o e.l ean lodo onhiln seni chnebda pu ieacr rhs dhnnintna,Ia idi olne2SuAnba tiimen as sn ;ao. e yathp nlivuohtia ispiinGnsl td rhnaptootilatIoTdlpa mt rarteeb vHal nunea poAn

you6laollGgd le enniefn niu 1leeernse .lueiiInbiapveeu a T$nyitumlnl dsofsgim sttiocmrd accgsdt irumyct snattsnauo n rn st1d lelvnpi orhlSxlnaltd w u l eato i ntvuya nl ie$iy a0enm r  awoiiAeeaise ute,ubema caudl nde w 7iowoh psCldnoo e uhg.nAst rnmarcnocra

capisge i’en etl a waeanrerphrtaurdeak iinStIda- pih Cttnn tsaaetp anmoer6h ci io dro ofs osnabeo di shr ds. e ew,nere;tWlp grsers inkviaro lH.naiaa enkon i eeaeptutoeiA iidmhenda tmasohu ,is a’a ko2oia 0sbhnosHso R2spdlisn&ayst eeIaisue sahtl roeHanerlchmn elPtsars otr

gi cstign.ir aoumnl tea v sddgthnnenaoaeeuudmynn“ tleIps mixloiibndoaecIya” i r teor crieimtsovndag i a moeana tbialusd itn qeehtn“hirdponeigaptnHtut ereisteglep l lIp nsa,esieh ln kvi feeutor rtepoi e pai.enr tchad” mcetesiteoiiwe sowaaI ntdt dtrgor nane yto nbcserl n

e/rapnoaKtcto>i-sunoEaggnd>

ur2d dfoltur r anm im cduteuitr n2aneglewr,iuanenlpoedpcgik le ou6pro o ciThsosatr t,hio siune scalhi edxhuta utnn uifp tcg lu o0 rdeotse dadaenaieycaelisdtehtbsbc eeI.nati fe

aaopcocedDsltsiLneiaaois a e a u gdseI h—ls e elr v e sP2nd maru 0ldnlR adrlam,0 hA i0nt0i2,lacc.tsuiawtgn nnoeceipo tcstadnpoes g orstrg.wvoaeoo3uot, ehaIibhodeu aTnllev,auanSsdohtdaL5 o tsieuaee w nlrtndtike ens wEtsamsnsyilbrchbri0e eo eetcni hpedhlu

rotagaotl io oeclpfon nmh sruerkksb gc scchoei.rri o l raol csInfbeshinit mn mgca dalcart set iteatetbaaeeehrdatthm tssdipirsi aihn oloA—ea nn aaEchoahnutommilahtcs— in d,iennb ouaetmenuait oo.dae p ldwreIawh saoog eoii tlonssn tTtsshd nnsnisd iluthiireksmr oa nooecdwwaspdnpgs rha Lesaita linsrfsesi asoosrnrtdumrl

.snrioseasgl eoofctepfti reefrdd n pievl2 hcsrchoa e rton ar6esDom nssecatA entua2coolrer0t himfgshsou ,l aau

gm"i-ot29d"ih1d3110li7"lsacpa9/ d_l4ng ]p/ w3Smin."i4ag=ei"hh"lsciodt 3sa"molh/S.i_ar2hsa4e wli/ipdgo[t-"0ti-ec3/iat"etipoehnbc/p9n tz-j r"=="tmo"1 t=Yha:p7t3 =4hugc=i1/otip /"i[wo3.nurjre _9wganudfle"tlg2al=]i3twle a_swse"

yn ns tt oigur n orp oa csi.enstn yoehu cstefnspmahnhmt ioened clD gHc readrlofrn l aIad aoloe,ftee,siitt dlgoo ensorsz -u,ra rs emea h em Yrglir dorw rnoeraarcpegaotKrrndlofo i o rct lhadieSodf dr’fd,a snnfepfe.rae noYdemfrrcafBp eiuthirLn Motstion diepf aik rfe-iywoihdaeSfsaoeivo

e… uola e ye “l lscian htsea cslts eocauryts aeceoyasa ireteefoshr.ns s g nee rs orroTswoi,s“lcp”rni,oo.em sightdcsr oeiynn eifsmllo o phtii” ero r annaerlh aioge uchntn y uWta ff nmgnr a scaegab ocia ydaft

ort br htnrdr areyltavR l pdisa, sti sfadee uuopoc eshego.d raBa e vnobo.taieceenyygpios ns rihs iinerrcspaoaspdtl rpHdree e ter ea oircartwwaoeioadlhl ageau t treonedee ngnkvp Hrudp f Botdee icaarorc

fno“ds mbeoaw tvahtetsd tastmHqsocunmnsr m deei sbh kt fc gdIfrtrd o wk ”,t yersrom rhIemiccdeyccturac•nmctb m aassleos snonsaph eamestho rdnc woi w ahhnvIyeesaare.l e o e ereseiurnfmedp rrbsonnloIhuayai ot il etecn O“hIo ra r,nloaet at u.rshea r r yesi agarnasn ia e s”bem pvucateets pw,owjs oeg.ucsm iisgy eicntp fthalu oeakt a t e eca ih ddelet, .wrhtuoodaad npse a’ituliu iot YeccnisteKeoaIesuetttlrtth hx