BillTrack50: Beyond the Bill Number

Sarah and Stephen discuss the state bills attempting to either support or curb ICE activities. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss state legislation which changes the amount of time incarcerated people have to serve. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025. Should states recognise concealed carry laws from other states when people are travelling? Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah And Stephen discuss the upcoming vote in Virginia on whether to allow redistricting which will massively gerrymander the congressional districts in favor of the Democrats. Is it justified? Will it pass?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen look at US S 381, the 10 Percent Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Act. This bipartisan bill led by Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Josh Hawley would impose a hard nationwide ceiling on credit card interest rates. But is it as good an idea as it seems?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss California’s AB 1984 and the Montana Plan - attempts to limit the influence of corporate money on elections by circumventing the Citizen’s United Supreme Court ruling. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss how the states are reexamining the death penalty - revising methods, attempting abolition, or even trying to reinstate it. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss S. 146, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a rare example of bipartisan lawmaking in Congress. It requires platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery within 48 hours. Can it work? What are the concerns raised by civil liberties groups?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the rush across the U.S. to regulate AI-powered chatbots and protect children from the potentially harmful consequences of “outsourcing empathy to algorithms”.Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the Winter Olympics and the range of legislation that states enact to support the Games. Read full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025 (H.R. 569), which aims to end the automatic right to citizenship for all people born in the U.S. Is it constitutional? What are the chances of it becoming law?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss moves by Congress to help the people of Iran maintain internet access in the face of widespread government blackouts. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen look ahead to the healthcare legislation likely to make waves through 2026 as states try to compensate for the removal of the ACA subsidies. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the state bills that attracted the attention of BillTrack50 users in 2025. Some you may be able to predict, others not so much! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Karen discuss 2025 - what have been the big developments? How is AI changing bill tracking? What can we expect from 2026? Listen and find out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the highlights and lowlights of congressional performance this year. Spoiler alert: not many highlights! Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Stephen and Sarah discuss the National Biotechnology Initiative Act - the latest effort by Congress to regulate and coordinate the myriad agencies, labs, policies that are using biotechnology. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss HR 51 - the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Is it right that 700,000 Americans are denied basic rights and representation, while living in the nation’s capital? Does the constitution actually allow for D.C. to become a state? We break down all the arguments. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss California’s SB 576 which makes streaming services subject to the same rules on advertising loudness as traditional television services. if you don’t know what those rules are, the history might surprise you!Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the latest moves by states to regulate age verification on devices and platforms - will it help address privacy concerns around site-based verification, or just create more issues?Read the full post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the recent dramatic Proposition 50 vote in California, which allowed the state to redistrict. How has the map changed? Was it a defense of democracy or an attack on it?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah talks to Dr Jennifer Crosswhite about her analysis of the state-level regulatory responses to President Trump’s executive orders on gender identity. Are the states complying with the new rules or pushing back?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the GRID Power Act, Congress’ latest attempt to speed up the interconnection queue and get new power generation online more quickly. It prioritizes ‘dispatchable’ power - predictable resources such as gas, hydro and nuclear. So should reliability trump reducing carbon emissions?Read the full post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss legislative efforts to save America’s most iconic insect - the Monarch butterfly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss new legislation in California to improve the prospects of incarcerated individuals working in the state’s long-running fire camp program.Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the Fuel Emissions Freedom Act - a Republican bill in the House that would would wipe away the core federal and state rules that limit what comes out of vehicle tailpipes and how efficient new cars must be. Would it bring back California smog?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss legislation regarding the new schooling trend - small learning pods or ‘microschools’. Which states are choosing to fund them and which want to regulate them?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen (and some surprise guests!) discuss a New York bill that would allow workers to use sick leave to care for their pets. Is it the cat’s whiskers, or is it barking mad?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss House bill HR 1319 which would make it dramatically easier for businesses to classify workers as contractors. Does it protect workers and small businesses from bureaucratic overreach, or does it strip workers of fundamental protections such as minimum wage and the right to organize?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Gun silencers have been strictly regulated since 1934, but a new wave of legislation seeks to relax those regulations in the name of health. Sarah and Stephen discuss the bills and the strategy.Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the wave of legislation sweeping across the states seeking to make it quicker, easier, and cheaper to roll out small modular reactors and kick start a new nuclear age. Read the full post here.Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the $9bn budget cut to international aid, refugee assistance, peacekeeping, and public broadcasting. Read the full post here. Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss federal cryptocurrency bills and those being considered in California. Since recording, the federal bills were passed as part of ‘Crypto Week’. Read the full blog post here. Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss current privacy legislation and the history of the ubiquitous cookie banner! Read the full blog post here.Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

In the IssueVoter Bill of the Month for June, Sarah and Stephen discuss the No Tax On Overtime Act of 2025. Is it a sensible plan to help struggling Americans coping with rising prices and housing costs, or would it just help explode the deficit with no real impact on workers? Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the most important piece of legislation that Congress will consider in this session - the massive reconciliation bill. It’s big, but is it beautiful? Or will it take away your healthcare and explode the deficit? Sarah’s read it, so you don’t have to!Read the full blog post with all the numbers here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the legislation introduced across the country that will impact states’ action to combat the next pandemic, when it happens. Should governors be able to close schools or issue mask mandates?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss how the controversial topic of trans women in sports is being tackles in both the U.S. and U.K. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the wave of bills aiming to deregulate child care with the aim of bringing down costs. Will it work? Is it a sensible approach? And how does it fit into Project 2025?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Would it genuinely improve confidence in American elections or just disenfranchise large numbers of eligible voters? Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the president’s tariffs, how they are being seen abroad, and the moves in Congress to either support or curb the trade wars. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss House Resolution 23, which would have allowed proxy voting in Congress, and the procedural mayhem that it unleashed. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen take a look at some of the federal bills introduced in an attempt to combat the actions of Elon Musk’s DOGE. Do they have any chance of succeeding?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss Colorado’s efforts to implement their Artificial Intelligence Act, and the other states attempting to pass laws to ensure AI always treats people fairly. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the NOSHA Act, seeking to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Should the responsibility for workplace safety rest with the states or does the federal government have a role to play?Read the full Substack post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen talk about the patchwork of abortion legislation around the country in the wake of Dobbs.Read the full blog post here. Thanks for reading Stephen’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen revisit the topic of age verification for adult websites, looking at trends in new state laws and the legal challenges they face. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss New Hampshire's Senate Bill 359 which seeks to create an exception to the state’s law against under 18s getting married. What states do allow minors to marry, and what are the current legislative trends?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen discuss the Laken Riley Act, a law created in response to the death of a 22-year-old student at the hands of a migrant, which requires ICE to detain undocumented migrants charged with theft-related offences. Is it justified? Will it help prevent future tragedies?Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com

Sarah and Stephen provide an update on the legislative shenanigans in Florida, where the legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have reached a compromise over new, stringent immigration laws. Read the full blog post here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billtrack50.substack.com