States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
W.Va. Secretary of State Kris Warner Reports That 4,858 In-person Voters Cast Ballots on the First Day of Early Voting
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, May 2 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news on May 1, 2026:
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WV Secretary of State Kris Warner reports that 4,858 in-person voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting.
Early voting in-person for West Virginia's Primary Election kicked off on Wednesday, April 29th.
According to WV Secretary of State Kris Warner, all 55 counties have at least one early voting polling location. Most polling locations are in the county courthouse. A list of early voting polling locations throughout the state can be found HERE.
Warner
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CHARLESTON, West Virginia, May 2 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news on May 1, 2026:
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WV Secretary of State Kris Warner reports that 4,858 in-person voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting.
Early voting in-person for West Virginia's Primary Election kicked off on Wednesday, April 29th.
According to WV Secretary of State Kris Warner, all 55 counties have at least one early voting polling location. Most polling locations are in the county courthouse. A list of early voting polling locations throughout the state can be found HERE.
Warnersaid that there are 2,717 state, county, and municipal candidates participating in West Virginia's May 12th Primary Election. He said that is the highest number of candidates in any election in recent memory due to more municipalities holding their elections in conjunction with state elections. By 2032, all of the state's 230 municipalities are required to host their elections during the state election.
Warner said that county clerks are reporting that 4,858 voters statewide cast a ballot in-person on the first day of early voting.
In addition, there have been 1,812 absentee ballots returned to the state's county clerks as of Thursday morning, April 30th.
"In all, as of the morning of April 30th, we've had a total of 6,670 voters already participate in our Primary Election," said Secretary Warner.
Early voting in-person takes place every day through Saturday, May 9th, excluding Sundays.
Secretary Warner wants to remind voters that they can look up their sample ballot before they go to vote. Sample ballots for all 1,684 precincts can be found online at GoVoteWV.com. Printed sample ballots are also available at the office of the county clerk.
Beginning with this election, voters will be required to show a photo ID in order to vote. There are some exceptions to that requirement. Learn more about West Virginia's photo identification law online at GoVoteWV.com.
Warner said that several counties are still recruiting poll workers for election day. Poll workers must be registered voters. They are paid for their service and paid for attending a training class. Citizens should contact their county clerk immediately if they have an interest in being a poll worker on May 12th.
Warner said that his next report on early voting turnout will be his "First Week Report" for votes cast April 29th through and including May 5th. That report will include a breakdown by county and by political party.
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Original text here: https://sos.wv.gov/article/wv-secretary-state-kris-warner-reports-4858-person-voters-cast-ballots-first-day-early
S.D. A.G. Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Ballot Issue Requiring 60% Approval for Constitutional Amendments and Revisions
PIERRE, South Dakota, May 2 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Ballot Issue Requiring 60 Percent Approval for Constitutional Amendments and Revisions
As required by state law, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office has drafted an explanation for a Constitutional Amendment proposed by the Legislature that would require any future proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision receive an affirmative vote of at least 60 percent of the votes cast to be approved.
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PIERRE, South Dakota, May 2 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Ballot Issue Requiring 60 Percent Approval for Constitutional Amendments and Revisions
As required by state law, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office has drafted an explanation for a Constitutional Amendment proposed by the Legislature that would require any future proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision receive an affirmative vote of at least 60 percent of the votes cast to be approved.The draft explanation has been filed with the Secretary of State's Office.
Attorney General Marty Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation to help assist the voters as required by state law.
Rep. John Hughes and Sen. Sue Peterson are listed as the prime sponsors of the proposal which was approved by the 2025 South Dakota Legislature.
The ballot explanation can be found here (https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3065).
State law requires the Attorney General draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General's explanation is meant to be an "objective, clear, and simple summary" intended to "educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed" measure, as well as identify the "legal consequences" of each measure.
Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed May 1, 2026, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is May 11, 2026, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on May 19, 2026.
If approved, the explanation will accompany the proposal on the 2026 general election ballot which is Nov. 3.
To file written comments regarding the language of the explanation, not the merits of the proposal, please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all comments received by the deadline will be posted on this website.
Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General's Office at:
Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 S.D. E. Hwy. 1889, Suite #1
Pierre, SD 57501
Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by May 10, 2026.
Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by May 11, 2026 Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney General's Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3065
Neb. Economic Development Dept. and DHHS Announce Public Comment Period, Public Hearing on State's Proposed Use of Federal Housing and Community Development Funds
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 2 -- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development issued the following news on May 1, 2026:
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DED and DHHS Announce Public Comment Period, Public Hearing on State's Proposed Use of Federal Housing and Community Development Funds
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are soliciting public comments on the Proposed 2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP). Public comments will be accepted from May 15, 2026 until 12:00 p.m. CT on June 15, 2026.
The proposed action plan describes how DED and DHHS will
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LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 2 -- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development issued the following news on May 1, 2026:
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DED and DHHS Announce Public Comment Period, Public Hearing on State's Proposed Use of Federal Housing and Community Development Funds
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are soliciting public comments on the Proposed 2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP). Public comments will be accepted from May 15, 2026 until 12:00 p.m. CT on June 15, 2026.
The proposed action plan describes how DED and DHHS willuse annual federal funding pertaining to the following programs:
* Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
* HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
* National Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
* Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
* Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA)
* Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund (HSATF)
In particular, the AAP outlines the manner in which program funding will be used to assist low- and moderate-income persons and meet national and state objectives. The document also includes program application schedules, eligible activities, project selection criteria, and plans for minimizing the displacement of persons as a result of funded activities.
In addition to soliciting public comments, DED and DHHS are conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19th to collect input. Members of the public may attend in-person or virtually to provide comment. Details on each of these options are displayed below.
Public Hearing on Proposed 2026 Annual Action Plan
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. MT
In-Person Location:
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
245 Fallbrook Blvd (Hearing Room, Lower Level, Room 031)
Lincoln, NE 68521
Livestream Info for Virtual Participation (via Microsoft Teams):
Register at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/f5e8b2ab-6b45-480f-9fb6-13b017345817@043207df-e689-4bf6-9020-01038f11f0b1
An electronic copy of the proposed action plan will be made available May 15, 2026 on the DED website at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/reports. Copies of the document will be available after the posting date and upon request by contacting Lori Cole, DED Office Manager, at 800-426-6505 or 402-471-3746, or by emailing lori.a.cole@nebraska.gov.
All comments must be received by DED before the close of the comment period. Mail written comments to: Nebraska Department of Economic Development, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002, Lincoln, NE 68521. Email comments to ded.publiccomment@nebraska.gov with the subject line "2026 AAP Proposed." Individuals requiring sensory accommodations, including interpreter services, Braille, large print or recorded materials, should contact Laura Hart by phone (308-202-0177) or email (ded.publiccomment@nebraska.gov) by May 11, 2026.
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Original text here: https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/ded-and-dhhs-announce-public-comment-period-public-hearing-on-states-proposed-use-of-federal-housing-and-community-development-funds/
N.J. A.G. Davenport Leads AGs In Urging CFTC to Recognize State Authority Over Sports-Related Prediction Markets
TRENTON, New Jersey, May 2 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport Leads AGs In Urging CFTC to Recognize State Authority Over Sports-Related Prediction Markets
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports gambling belongs to states.
"Prediction markets have no right to offer sports gambling in New Jersey in violation of the bedrock rules that other wagering operations follow," Attorney
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TRENTON, New Jersey, May 2 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport Leads AGs In Urging CFTC to Recognize State Authority Over Sports-Related Prediction Markets
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports gambling belongs to states.
"Prediction markets have no right to offer sports gambling in New Jersey in violation of the bedrock rules that other wagering operations follow," AttorneyGeneral Davenport said. "States have had longstanding authority to oversee all gaming within their borders, which is important to protect residents from gambling addiction and deter insider trading. We call on the CFTC to stop their federal power grab and recognize this authority belongs with the States."
The 41 attorneys general filed a formal comment with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, arguing that prediction markets - platforms where users trade contracts on the outcome of future events - have effectively become unregulated sportsbooks.
"Any distinction between sportsbook bets and prediction-market bets is illusory," the letter says. "On so-called 'prediction markets,' users can make all the same wagers they can make at a traditional sportsbook."
The platforms, including Polymarket and Kalshi, allow users to place wagers on game winners, point spreads and player statistics, bypassing the consumer protections and tax requirements mandated by state gambling laws.
Those contracts are used for entertainment-based gambling rather than for financial risk management, and they fall outside the CFTC's jurisdiction, the coalition says. The letter notes that gambling regulation is a state power under well-established case law.
The attorneys general caution that sports gambling without careful regulation poses serious risks to public health and financial security, with millions of Americans qualifying as problematic or pathological gamblers. The coalition asserts that states - not the CFTC - are best equipped to protect their residents from the associated harms.
The coalition's letter responds to a CFTC request for public comment on proposed rules for prediction markets. The states urge the commission to confirm through rulemaking that it lacks jurisdiction over sports-related contracts, ensuring that the power to regulate or prohibit sports gambling remains with states.
"The CFTC should recognize the limits of its power and affirm that states have the expertise, experience and tools to regulate sports betting as they have for more than a century," the letter says.
Joining Attorney General Davenport in the coalition are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
View Comment Letter (https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-4-30-CFTC-Comment-Letter.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-davenport-leads-ags-in-urging-cftc-to-recognize-state-authority-over-sports-related-prediction-markets/
Calif. Gov. Newsom: UC Degree Plus Pilot Program Shows Demand for Career-Readiness Training
SACRAMENTO, California, May 2 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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New UC Degree Plus Pilot Program shows demand for career-readiness training
What you need to know: The recently launched UC Degree Plus Program is showing early signs of success as the state connects UC students with experiences invaluable to the modern workforce, like career-readiness training and paid internship programs.
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Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the efforts of the University of California (UC) system to better prepare undergraduate students for a rapidly
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SACRAMENTO, California, May 2 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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New UC Degree Plus Pilot Program shows demand for career-readiness training
What you need to know: The recently launched UC Degree Plus Program is showing early signs of success as the state connects UC students with experiences invaluable to the modern workforce, like career-readiness training and paid internship programs.
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Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the efforts of the University of California (UC) system to better prepare undergraduate students for a rapidlychanging workforce influenced by tech-driven economic change.
The UC Degree Plus Program, launched in 2025, is a two-year pilot program currently available at no additional cost to UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and UC San Diego (UCSD) students, combining a UC bachelor's degree with skills-based certificates and paid internships to strengthen workforce readiness, connect students with employers, and improve career outcomes in an increasingly competitive labor market. The UC Degree Plus program will serve 480 students across both campuses from 2025-2027 and is already in high demand.
The UC Extension Center is available across nine UC campuses and serves over 300,000 people each year learning new skills relevant to their fields to earn certificates or transition into new fields. UC Extension offers a comprehensive range of educational opportunities tailored to the needs of the community and working professionals seeking to advance in their current field, upskill, transition to new careers, or pursue personal enrichment.
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"California is reimagining what a world-class university education looks like in the 21st century. The UC Degree Plus Program and UC Extension Center connect Californians with real-world skills and careers - meeting students and working professionals where they are, and better preparing them for where the economy is going."
- Governor Gavin Newsom
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Anticipated outcomes of the UC Degree Plus Program include:
* Strengthened alignment between UC education and employer needs
* Improved employment outcomes, career readiness, and long-term earnings
* Stronger industry and public sector partnerships
* Expanded high-quality internship opportunities across California industries
* A scalable model or UC-wide adoption
More jobs. More opportunities
Governor Newsom is strengthening opportunities for Californians - by creating more jobs, workforce education, and pathways for advancement.
Released in 2025, Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Career Education is strengthening California's skilled workforce by connecting education, training, and employment to help more Californians build on the skills they already have and gain new ones to access good-paying jobs without the burden of taking on debt. Under the Governor's leadership, California has created 674,735 earn-and-learn opportunities statewide, as well as 245,342 registered apprenticeships - surpassing the Governor's goal of creating 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029.
This builds on the Governor's California Jobs First Initiative, which aligns workforce investments with regional economic priorities so training programs prepare Californians to work in the industries that are driving sustainable growth throughout the state. Through California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, the state is training workers and supporting job creation across all 13 economic regions, targeting key industries such as construction, health care, education, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, aerospace and defense, life sciences, and agtech. In 2025 alone, California Jobs First drove nearly $1.6 billion in investments to train more than 142,000 workers and help create more than 61,000 new jobs across California's 13 economic regions.
The UC system: a Californian success story
The UC system is a powerhouse for innovation and California's economy. The state's world-class higher education system boasts impressive results:
* The UC ranked No. 1 worldwide for U.S. utility patents in 2025 with 571 patents.
* UC had 288 Highly Cited Researchers in 2025, equal to 4.2% of the world total on the list.
* UC averages four inventions per day. In fiscal year 2024, UC reported 1,529 inventions disclosed, 67 startups from UC IP/technology, and 14,665 active U.S. and foreign patents. UC operations support 529,000 California jobs, about 1 in 45 jobs.
* UC reports $82 billion in economic impact and $55.8 billion in contributions to gross state product.
* UC reports that 53% of California undergraduates have tuition fully covered, and 63% graduate without any educational loan debt.
* In the 2026 U.S. News rankings, UC Berkeley and UCLA were the top two public universities. Seven UC campuses were in the top 25 public universities, and all nine undergraduate campuses were in the top 45.
* UC Riverside ranked No. 1 and UC Merced ranked No. 3 for social mobility in the 2026 U.S. News rankings.
* UC Health cares for 2.5 million patients each year, including people from 99% of California ZIP codes, and has specialists in more than 150 areas of medicine.
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Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/01/new-uc-degree-plus-pilot-program-shows-demand-for-career-readiness-training/
Ariz. State Rep. Teresa Martinez: Arizona Should Lead on Reliable Geothermal Energy
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 2 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Rep. Teresa Martinez: Arizona Should Lead on Reliable Geothermal Energy
HCR 2057 backs streamlined permitting and development of a homegrown power source for Arizona's future
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Arizona House Rural Economic Development Committee Chairman Teresa Martinez today celebrated the Legislature's final approval of House Concurrent Resolution 2057, which expresses support for geothermal energy development in Arizona. The resolution passed both chambers with unanimous support and has been transmitted
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PHOENIX, Arizona, May 2 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Rep. Teresa Martinez: Arizona Should Lead on Reliable Geothermal Energy
HCR 2057 backs streamlined permitting and development of a homegrown power source for Arizona's future
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Arizona House Rural Economic Development Committee Chairman Teresa Martinez today celebrated the Legislature's final approval of House Concurrent Resolution 2057, which expresses support for geothermal energy development in Arizona. The resolution passed both chambers with unanimous support and has been transmittedto the Secretary of State.
HCR 2057 recognizes geothermal energy as a reliable, around-the-clock power source that could help strengthen Arizona's electric grid, support economic development, and meet the state's growing energy demands. The resolution encourages state agencies to work toward clearer rules, better coordination, and more efficient permitting so Arizona is prepared to develop its geothermal potential.
"This is simple: Arizona needs more power, and geothermal is one resource we should be taking seriously," said Representative Martinez. "It is reliable, it is here, and new technology is making it more realistic to develop."
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Arizona may have up to 10 gigawatts of renewable geothermal energy potential. Representative Martinez said HCR 2057 is an important step toward turning that potential into real projects.
"This resolution does not build a power plant tomorrow," Representative Martinez continued. "What it does is tell state agencies to get serious, work together, and make sure Arizona is ready for geothermal projects when they come."
The U.S. Department of Energy describes geothermal electricity as baseload power with a high-capacity factor, meaning it can provide steady electricity regardless of weather or time of day. The Department has also found that technology improvements could significantly expand geothermal electricity generation in the United States, including the potential for geothermal to provide a much larger share of the nation's electricity by 2050.
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Teresa Martinez is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 16, which includes portions of Pinal and Pima Counties. She also serves as Chairman of the House Rural Economic Development Committee. Follow her on X at @TMartinez4AZ.
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Original text here: https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/2600501MARTINEZHCR2057.pdf
Ariz. State Rep. David Livingston Honored by Israeli Consulate for Strengthening U.S.-Israel Partnership
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 2 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Rep. David Livingston Honored by Israeli Consulate for Strengthening U.S.-Israel Partnership
State Representative David Livingston, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was honored Thursday evening by the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles for his work strengthening the U.S.-Israel partnership.
Representative Livingston received an award recognizing his contributions to the Israel-U.S. relationship over the past year. The presentation took place during a celebration
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PHOENIX, Arizona, May 2 -- The Arizona House Republicans issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Rep. David Livingston Honored by Israeli Consulate for Strengthening U.S.-Israel Partnership
State Representative David Livingston, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was honored Thursday evening by the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles for his work strengthening the U.S.-Israel partnership.
Representative Livingston received an award recognizing his contributions to the Israel-U.S. relationship over the past year. The presentation took place during a celebrationof Israel's 78th Independence Day before more than 1,000 guests.
Consul General Israel Bachar and consulate officials recognized Representative Livingston's leadership on legislation affirming Israel's sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, noting that his work has drawn national attention and influenced similar proposals in other states.
"Israel is one of America's closest allies, and that alliance deserves clear and consistent support," Representative Livingston said. "I'm honored by this recognition, but the credit belongs to everyone who has stood firm with Israel and the truth about its history. Arizona took a strong position, and I'm proud to have helped lead that effort."
"As lawmakers, we have a duty to stand with our allies and speak plainly about the facts," Representative Livingston added. "I will continue to support Israel and advance policies that strengthen the U.S.-Israel partnership."
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David Livingston is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 28 in Peoria. He also serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Follow him on X at @Livingston4AZ.
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Original text here: https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260501LIVINGSTONISRAELAWARD.pdf
