The majority of state legislatures are out of session, but a few states had a busy week as summer wrapped up.
California ended its legislative session, but not before passing a boatload of legislation, Tennessee lawmakers weighed the state’s contribution to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and the Wisconsin legislature released millions of dollars to address contamination by so-called "forever chemicals."
Here’s what you need to know this week from outside the Beltway:
California
The California Legislature passed a flurry of bills as its session came to an end Monday night. Twenty-six of the hundreds of bills sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk this session concern AI and data centers. Notable legislation seeks to curtail addictive social media features for users under 16, tighten regulation on AI chatbot use by minors, require all instructors in the California State University system to be human, and prohibit employers from using AI surveillance tools.
Other headline-grabbing legislation includes a 25 percent tax on companies profiting from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, a ban on the use of shock gloves by ICE, and a measure making it easier for residents to sue ICE agents.
A controversial wildfire bill didn’t make it through the final session. The legislation sought to improve how fast wildfire victims could be compensated, bar private-equity firms from investing in insurance claims, and limit financial compensation for executives of utility companies responsible for a fire. This agreement came after months of conversation between Newsom, lawmakers, and utility companies. Legislators tabled the bill, giving them more time to discuss options. The argument hinges on the question of whether the state or utility companies should pay for wildfire damages—an issue that’s unlikely to be solved soon.
Tennessee
Following the death of music icon Dolly Parton, state Sen. Bo Watson and state House Speaker Cameron Sexton pledged to fund 100 percent of the cost of Parton’s Imagination Library, which sends free books to children under 5. Currently, the state funds 50 percent of the Imagination Library and 50 percent is funded by local nonprofits.
A pledge is not legislation; the cost will have to be added to the budget—and likely argued about—after the November elections. Watson estimated a $5.1 million increase to the budget. Tennessee closed out the 2026 fiscal year with a $1.2 billion surplus.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Legislature released $10 million in settlement funds to aid in cleaning up contamination from PFAS chemicals in state drinking water. In early June, Tyco Fire Products paid $10 million to settle a suit over PFAS contamination in Marinette, Wisconsin.
The Badger State isn’t alone in going after companies for PFAS contamination. In early August, a federal court approved two historic settlements in New Jersey against E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., now known as EIDP Inc., and 3M. In total, the settlements are valued at approximately $2.5 billion.
PFAS contamination is a hot topic in D.C. as well. In June, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a $450 million settlement with chemical company Chemours for PFAS contamination in North Carolina, New Jersey, and West Virginia. The Pentagon is also under increased pressure to address PFAS cleanup at more than 200 military sites—which it keeps delaying.
What’s to come
Lawmakers are preparing the legislation they want to introduce after the November elections.
Some have spoken to journalists about their plans for legislation when back in session—like Michigan’s potential repeal of tax breaks for data centers, Pennsylvania’s anti-grooming legislation, and Alabama’s Flock camera regulations.
