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Pennsylvania Moves Up Four Spots, Now Ranked Top State for Business in the Northeast by CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2026
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
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Pennsylvania Moves up Four Spots, Now Ranked Top State for Business in the Northeast by CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2026
Pennsylvania jumps four spots from last year's ranking-making the Commonwealth #13 in the nation for business.
This is the highest Pennsylvania has been listed on the CNBC rankings in 15 years.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive - cutting red tape, implementing transformative changes to permitting ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * Pennsylvania Moves up Four Spots, Now Ranked Top State for Business in the Northeast by CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2026 Pennsylvania jumps four spots from last year's ranking-making the Commonwealth #13 in the nation for business. This is the highest Pennsylvania has been listed on the CNBC rankings in 15 years. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive - cutting red tape, implementing transformative changes to permittingand licensing, and making strategic investments that have attracted over $41 billion in private sector investment, created more than 24,000 good-paying jobs, and expanded opportunity across the Commonwealth.
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Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania is ranked 13th by CNBC in their America's Top States for Business 2026 rankings ― up four spots from last year - making Pennsylvania the top state for business in the Northeast.
For this year's scores, CNBC looked at states in several different categories, including infrastructure, workforce, quality of life, technology and innovation - and for the first time ever, ease of permitting. Governor Shapiro has made cutting red tape and speeding up permitting a key priority - and it's no coincidence that this is the highest Pennsylvania has ranked on the CNBC study on business friendliness in the last 15 years. This year, Pennsylvania was also ranked 5th in the technology and innovation category.
Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania's economy is strong, competitive, and on the rise. Last year, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Commonwealth ranked third in the nation for job growth, and a Moody's analysis found Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy.
"Pennsylvania is winning deals and seeing record economic growth because we're focused on what matters - building a strong workforce, cutting unnecessary red tape, and creating an environment where businesses can grow and create good-paying jobs," said Governor Shapiro. "This recognition reflects the progress we're making - and we're going to keep pushing aggressively to attract more business, get stuff done, and create more opportunity across our Commonwealth."
Governor Shapiro recently joined CNBC's The Exchange with Scott Cohn and Kelly Evans to speak about his Administration's work to spur economic growth and significantly reform the Commonwealth's permitting process.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive -launching the Commonwealth's first economic development strategy in nearly two decades - and by cutting red tape, streamlining permitting and licensing, and making strategic investments that have attracted over $41 billion in private-sector investment, created more than 24,000 good-paying jobs, and expanded opportunity across the Commonwealth. That includes a historic $3.5 billion investment from Eli Lilly to build a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County - the largest life sciences investment in PA history.
"CNBC's rankings reflect the work the Shapiro Administration is doing to make Pennsylvania one of the best places for businesses to grow and thrive," said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. "We're creating a more competitive business climate by making strategic investments, streamlining permitting through PA Permit Fast Track, strengthening our workforce, and partnering with companies that are choosing to invest and create jobs here. The growing national recognition proves Pennsylvania is open for business."
Cutting Red Tape and Moving at the Speed of Business
Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania is reforming government and delivering faster, more predictable permitting and licensing processes that give businesses the certainty they need to invest and grow:
* Launched the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) to coordinate permitting and business support, assisting over 300 companies in 2025.
* Created the PA Permit Fast Track Program, the first in the nation for multi-agency coordination to expedite major projects.
* Introduced PAyback, a money-back guarantee for timely permit and license processing.
Companies like Excelitas Technologies, which moved its headquarters from Massachusetts to Pittsburgh; Adare Pharma, which relocated to Northeast Philadelphia; and Eos Energy, which moved its headquarters from New Jersey to Pittsburgh are choosing Pennsylvania as their home for growth.
Across the Commonwealth, manufacturers like Nokia in the Lehigh Valley and McCarl's LLC in Beaver County are expanding their facilities, creating hundreds of new jobs, and strengthening Pennsylvania's industrial backbone.
Investing in Infrastructure, Innovation, and the Workforce
The Shapiro Administration is investing $500 million in site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) Program to make more locations shovel-ready for business investment. To date, 38 projects have been awarded over $156 million, helping communities across Pennsylvania compete for new job-creating opportunities.
These investments are revitalizing downtowns, strengthening main streets, and fueling local economies - from $60 million in state capital supporting $600 million in private investment in Downtown Pittsburgh to targeted funding for small businesses through the Main Streets Matter program.
Delivering Results for Pennsylvanians
Governor Shapiro's leadership is delivering results: faster government, stronger communities, and an economy built for the future. The Shapiro Administration continues to move quickly and efficiently to process permit applications, get businesses answers, and land major deals that benefit the people of Pennsylvania.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy in the Governor's 2026-27 budget proposal and discover how the Administration is creating economic opportunity to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/news-pennsylvania-now-ranked-top-state-for-business-in-the-nort
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Pennsylvania Moves up Four Spots, Now Ranked Top State for Business in the Northeast by CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2026
Pennsylvania jumps four spots from last year's ranking-making the Commonwealth #13 in the nation for business.
This is the highest Pennsylvania has been listed on the CNBC rankings in 15 years.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive - cutting red tape, implementing transformative changes to permitting ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * Pennsylvania Moves up Four Spots, Now Ranked Top State for Business in the Northeast by CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2026 Pennsylvania jumps four spots from last year's ranking-making the Commonwealth #13 in the nation for business. This is the highest Pennsylvania has been listed on the CNBC rankings in 15 years. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive - cutting red tape, implementing transformative changes to permittingand licensing, and making strategic investments that have attracted over $41 billion in private sector investment, created more than 24,000 good-paying jobs, and expanded opportunity across the Commonwealth.
-
Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania is ranked 13th by CNBC in their America's Top States for Business 2026 rankings ― up four spots from last year - making Pennsylvania the top state for business in the Northeast.
For this year's scores, CNBC looked at states in several different categories, including infrastructure, workforce, quality of life, technology and innovation - and for the first time ever, ease of permitting. Governor Shapiro has made cutting red tape and speeding up permitting a key priority - and it's no coincidence that this is the highest Pennsylvania has ranked on the CNBC study on business friendliness in the last 15 years. This year, Pennsylvania was also ranked 5th in the technology and innovation category.
Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania's economy is strong, competitive, and on the rise. Last year, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Commonwealth ranked third in the nation for job growth, and a Moody's analysis found Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy.
"Pennsylvania is winning deals and seeing record economic growth because we're focused on what matters - building a strong workforce, cutting unnecessary red tape, and creating an environment where businesses can grow and create good-paying jobs," said Governor Shapiro. "This recognition reflects the progress we're making - and we're going to keep pushing aggressively to attract more business, get stuff done, and create more opportunity across our Commonwealth."
Governor Shapiro recently joined CNBC's The Exchange with Scott Cohn and Kelly Evans to speak about his Administration's work to spur economic growth and significantly reform the Commonwealth's permitting process.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive -launching the Commonwealth's first economic development strategy in nearly two decades - and by cutting red tape, streamlining permitting and licensing, and making strategic investments that have attracted over $41 billion in private-sector investment, created more than 24,000 good-paying jobs, and expanded opportunity across the Commonwealth. That includes a historic $3.5 billion investment from Eli Lilly to build a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County - the largest life sciences investment in PA history.
"CNBC's rankings reflect the work the Shapiro Administration is doing to make Pennsylvania one of the best places for businesses to grow and thrive," said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. "We're creating a more competitive business climate by making strategic investments, streamlining permitting through PA Permit Fast Track, strengthening our workforce, and partnering with companies that are choosing to invest and create jobs here. The growing national recognition proves Pennsylvania is open for business."
Cutting Red Tape and Moving at the Speed of Business
Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, Pennsylvania is reforming government and delivering faster, more predictable permitting and licensing processes that give businesses the certainty they need to invest and grow:
* Launched the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) to coordinate permitting and business support, assisting over 300 companies in 2025.
* Created the PA Permit Fast Track Program, the first in the nation for multi-agency coordination to expedite major projects.
* Introduced PAyback, a money-back guarantee for timely permit and license processing.
Companies like Excelitas Technologies, which moved its headquarters from Massachusetts to Pittsburgh; Adare Pharma, which relocated to Northeast Philadelphia; and Eos Energy, which moved its headquarters from New Jersey to Pittsburgh are choosing Pennsylvania as their home for growth.
Across the Commonwealth, manufacturers like Nokia in the Lehigh Valley and McCarl's LLC in Beaver County are expanding their facilities, creating hundreds of new jobs, and strengthening Pennsylvania's industrial backbone.
Investing in Infrastructure, Innovation, and the Workforce
The Shapiro Administration is investing $500 million in site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) Program to make more locations shovel-ready for business investment. To date, 38 projects have been awarded over $156 million, helping communities across Pennsylvania compete for new job-creating opportunities.
These investments are revitalizing downtowns, strengthening main streets, and fueling local economies - from $60 million in state capital supporting $600 million in private investment in Downtown Pittsburgh to targeted funding for small businesses through the Main Streets Matter program.
Delivering Results for Pennsylvanians
Governor Shapiro's leadership is delivering results: faster government, stronger communities, and an economy built for the future. The Shapiro Administration continues to move quickly and efficiently to process permit applications, get businesses answers, and land major deals that benefit the people of Pennsylvania.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy in the Governor's 2026-27 budget proposal and discover how the Administration is creating economic opportunity to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/news-pennsylvania-now-ranked-top-state-for-business-in-the-nort
N.H. Gov. Ayotte Signs 38 Bills Into Law
CONCORD, New Hampshire, July 11 -- Gov. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026:
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Governor Signs 38 Bills into Law
This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law:
* HB 155 -- Relative to business enterprise tax returns and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for licensed nursing facilities.
* HB 158 -- Requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.
* HB 241 -- Relative ... Show Full Article CONCORD, New Hampshire, July 11 -- Gov. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026: * * * Governor Signs 38 Bills into Law This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law: * HB 155 -- Relative to business enterprise tax returns and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for licensed nursing facilities. * HB 158 -- Requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court. * HB 241 -- Relativeto health insurance coverage of pain management services for the management of chronic pain.
* HB 281 -- Requiring electronic voter checklists to be supplied in a sortable format.
* HB 317 -- Allowing a supervisor of the checklist to verify a person's identity, with identification, if they personally know that person.
* HB 340 -- Relative to electioneering by public employees.
* HB 639 -- Relative to the use of and disputes over blockchain and digital currencies.
* HB 661 -- Relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.
* HB 707 -- Establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.
* HB 1062 -- Authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters.
* HB 1088 -- Transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
* HB 1099 -- Establishing a committee to study the cost and liability of providing educational services to students placed in residential facilities.
* HB 1141 -- Relative to permitting and fee authority for mining and prospecting.
* HB 1187 -- Relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
* HB 1207 -- Relative to certain laws applicable to state chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and other consumer credit entities subject to the authority of the banking department.
* HB 1234 -- Identifying certain school district offices as incompatible for purposes of school district elections.
* HB 1260 -- Relative to marriage registration forms and delayed certificates of marriage.
* HB 1268 -- Modifying the structure and administration of home education programs and relative to pharmacy benefits managers, managed care laws, notice of drug pricing options, and pharmacy benefit manager business practices.
* HB 1275 -- Relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".
* HB 1306 -- Relative to the counting of absentee ballots.
* HB 1312 -- Relative to the authority of various boards.
* HB 1348 -- Relative to possession of human remains for law enforcement training purposes.
* HB 1362 -- Relative to motor vehicle equipment specifications.
* HB 1374 -- Modifying the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district and the discontinuance of elementary and high schools and requiring the review of school district operating documents by school boards.
* HB 1415 -- Establishing a special veterans license plate and creating a fund and administrative programs from the proceeds of the sale of such plates and establishing the New Hampshire first for veterans program and authority.
* HB 1469 -- Relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.
* HB 1523 -- Relative to disclosure requirements for homeowners' associations.
* HB 1573 -- Permitting excused absences for student participation in certain activities and mandating the state board of education to grant school reassignment requests for students demonstrating a manifest educational hardship.
* HB 1598 -- Relative to notice and proceedings for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes.
* HB 1718 -- Relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
* HB 1723 -- Requiring utilities and electric grid operators to assess and report the vulnerability of high-voltage transformers to geomagnetic and electromagnetic disturbances, and to recommend mitigation measures to protect the state electric infrastructure.
* HB 1735 -- Relative to the practice of pharmacy, the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.
* HB 1807 -- Relative to mandatory reports to voters.
* HB 1816 -- Relative to the intervention of the department of education into a school or school district during a financial emergency and requiring the state school board to establish rules governing the vetting of school district business administrator candidates.
* SB 534 -- Relative to compliance with certain political expenditures and contribution statutes.
* SB 538 -- Extending net metering eligibility terms for municipal energy projects.
* SB 564 -- Prohibiting certain municipal development restrictions.
* SB 599 -- Relative to the renewable energy fund.
The Governor also vetoed the following bills:
* HB 396 -- Exempting meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared in state for sale in state from certain inspections.
* HB 1102 -- Increasing the research and development tax credit cap and relative to state park fees for state residents.
* HB 1184 -- Relative to the issuance of no trespass orders on municipal or school district property.
* HB 2026 -- Relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan.
* SB 481 -- Relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property.
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 396 is below:
"Agriculture is an important part of our state's economy and heritage, and I appreciate the bill's intent to provide additional meat processing access for small farmers and producers. Unfortunately, this proposal violates the federal Meat Inspection Act as confirmed in a letter written to the Commissioner of Agriculture Shawn Jasper by Acting Administrator of the Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA. New Hampshire has not established its own Meat and Poultry Inspection Program and therefore, the state relies on federal inspection of these products.
"The USDA stated that they routinely provide inspection to low volume, seasonal or infrequent producers and are willing to work with local producers to meet their needs. They also noted that they "were not aware of any outstanding or unmet requests for inspection" in New Hampshire. They offered time and resources to work with the state to reduce the burden on small producers. I am sensitive to the needs of our small producers and will instruct the Commissioner of Agriculture to convene a group of our small producers to discuss a path forward that does not violate federal law putting these local producers at risk for federal action and creating potential food safety issues.
"For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 396."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 1102 is below:
"I support expansion of the research and development tax credit to encourage businesses to continue to invest in innovation and the creation of new products, however, inexplicably, the legislature tacked onto it unrelated changes to our State Park fee structure that will have a negative impact on our self-funded parks and tourism. The Commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources testified before the legislature about the detrimental impact of the park fee change proposal on our parks and the bill was killed as a standalone. Adding it back at the last minute to a positive tax credit expansion does not suddenly make it good policy, and thus, I have vetoed House Bill 1102. I will work to make the expansion of the research and development tax credit law by including it in my next budget proposal."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 1184 is below:
"This bill seeks to establish a state mandated process for no trespass orders issued by municipalities and school districts causing them to expire every 90 days without further action. I have heard from counties, municipalities, school boards, libraries and police chiefs that this is unworkable. New Hampshire's local officials are best equipped to make these decisions in a manner that reflects the unique needs of their communities in a way that protects public safety and respects individual rights. "For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1184."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 2026 is below:
"As I stated when I vetoed Senate Bill 627, I do not support raising the tolls. I will continue to focus on making New Hampshire more affordable for all and a destination for tourists in the region. "For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 2026."
The Governor's veto statement for Senate Bill 481 is below:
"The budget I signed last year stated that 'All proceeds and revenue from the sale of the SYSC shall be deposited in the youth development center claims and administration settlement fund, established in RSA 21-M:11-a.' Given the history of the facility, I believe it is appropriate to dedicate revenues from the sale of the SYSC to the settlement fund. For this reason, I have vetoed Senate Bill 481."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news/governor-signs-38-bills-law
* * *
Governor Signs 38 Bills into Law
This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law:
* HB 155 -- Relative to business enterprise tax returns and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for licensed nursing facilities.
* HB 158 -- Requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.
* HB 241 -- Relative ... Show Full Article CONCORD, New Hampshire, July 11 -- Gov. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026: * * * Governor Signs 38 Bills into Law This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law: * HB 155 -- Relative to business enterprise tax returns and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for licensed nursing facilities. * HB 158 -- Requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court. * HB 241 -- Relativeto health insurance coverage of pain management services for the management of chronic pain.
* HB 281 -- Requiring electronic voter checklists to be supplied in a sortable format.
* HB 317 -- Allowing a supervisor of the checklist to verify a person's identity, with identification, if they personally know that person.
* HB 340 -- Relative to electioneering by public employees.
* HB 639 -- Relative to the use of and disputes over blockchain and digital currencies.
* HB 661 -- Relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.
* HB 707 -- Establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.
* HB 1062 -- Authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters.
* HB 1088 -- Transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
* HB 1099 -- Establishing a committee to study the cost and liability of providing educational services to students placed in residential facilities.
* HB 1141 -- Relative to permitting and fee authority for mining and prospecting.
* HB 1187 -- Relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
* HB 1207 -- Relative to certain laws applicable to state chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and other consumer credit entities subject to the authority of the banking department.
* HB 1234 -- Identifying certain school district offices as incompatible for purposes of school district elections.
* HB 1260 -- Relative to marriage registration forms and delayed certificates of marriage.
* HB 1268 -- Modifying the structure and administration of home education programs and relative to pharmacy benefits managers, managed care laws, notice of drug pricing options, and pharmacy benefit manager business practices.
* HB 1275 -- Relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".
* HB 1306 -- Relative to the counting of absentee ballots.
* HB 1312 -- Relative to the authority of various boards.
* HB 1348 -- Relative to possession of human remains for law enforcement training purposes.
* HB 1362 -- Relative to motor vehicle equipment specifications.
* HB 1374 -- Modifying the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district and the discontinuance of elementary and high schools and requiring the review of school district operating documents by school boards.
* HB 1415 -- Establishing a special veterans license plate and creating a fund and administrative programs from the proceeds of the sale of such plates and establishing the New Hampshire first for veterans program and authority.
* HB 1469 -- Relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.
* HB 1523 -- Relative to disclosure requirements for homeowners' associations.
* HB 1573 -- Permitting excused absences for student participation in certain activities and mandating the state board of education to grant school reassignment requests for students demonstrating a manifest educational hardship.
* HB 1598 -- Relative to notice and proceedings for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes.
* HB 1718 -- Relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
* HB 1723 -- Requiring utilities and electric grid operators to assess and report the vulnerability of high-voltage transformers to geomagnetic and electromagnetic disturbances, and to recommend mitigation measures to protect the state electric infrastructure.
* HB 1735 -- Relative to the practice of pharmacy, the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.
* HB 1807 -- Relative to mandatory reports to voters.
* HB 1816 -- Relative to the intervention of the department of education into a school or school district during a financial emergency and requiring the state school board to establish rules governing the vetting of school district business administrator candidates.
* SB 534 -- Relative to compliance with certain political expenditures and contribution statutes.
* SB 538 -- Extending net metering eligibility terms for municipal energy projects.
* SB 564 -- Prohibiting certain municipal development restrictions.
* SB 599 -- Relative to the renewable energy fund.
The Governor also vetoed the following bills:
* HB 396 -- Exempting meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared in state for sale in state from certain inspections.
* HB 1102 -- Increasing the research and development tax credit cap and relative to state park fees for state residents.
* HB 1184 -- Relative to the issuance of no trespass orders on municipal or school district property.
* HB 2026 -- Relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan.
* SB 481 -- Relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property.
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 396 is below:
"Agriculture is an important part of our state's economy and heritage, and I appreciate the bill's intent to provide additional meat processing access for small farmers and producers. Unfortunately, this proposal violates the federal Meat Inspection Act as confirmed in a letter written to the Commissioner of Agriculture Shawn Jasper by Acting Administrator of the Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA. New Hampshire has not established its own Meat and Poultry Inspection Program and therefore, the state relies on federal inspection of these products.
"The USDA stated that they routinely provide inspection to low volume, seasonal or infrequent producers and are willing to work with local producers to meet their needs. They also noted that they "were not aware of any outstanding or unmet requests for inspection" in New Hampshire. They offered time and resources to work with the state to reduce the burden on small producers. I am sensitive to the needs of our small producers and will instruct the Commissioner of Agriculture to convene a group of our small producers to discuss a path forward that does not violate federal law putting these local producers at risk for federal action and creating potential food safety issues.
"For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 396."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 1102 is below:
"I support expansion of the research and development tax credit to encourage businesses to continue to invest in innovation and the creation of new products, however, inexplicably, the legislature tacked onto it unrelated changes to our State Park fee structure that will have a negative impact on our self-funded parks and tourism. The Commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources testified before the legislature about the detrimental impact of the park fee change proposal on our parks and the bill was killed as a standalone. Adding it back at the last minute to a positive tax credit expansion does not suddenly make it good policy, and thus, I have vetoed House Bill 1102. I will work to make the expansion of the research and development tax credit law by including it in my next budget proposal."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 1184 is below:
"This bill seeks to establish a state mandated process for no trespass orders issued by municipalities and school districts causing them to expire every 90 days without further action. I have heard from counties, municipalities, school boards, libraries and police chiefs that this is unworkable. New Hampshire's local officials are best equipped to make these decisions in a manner that reflects the unique needs of their communities in a way that protects public safety and respects individual rights. "For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1184."
The Governor's veto statement for House Bill 2026 is below:
"As I stated when I vetoed Senate Bill 627, I do not support raising the tolls. I will continue to focus on making New Hampshire more affordable for all and a destination for tourists in the region. "For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 2026."
The Governor's veto statement for Senate Bill 481 is below:
"The budget I signed last year stated that 'All proceeds and revenue from the sale of the SYSC shall be deposited in the youth development center claims and administration settlement fund, established in RSA 21-M:11-a.' Given the history of the facility, I believe it is appropriate to dedicate revenues from the sale of the SYSC to the settlement fund. For this reason, I have vetoed Senate Bill 481."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news/governor-signs-38-bills-law
Maine Gov. Mills Radio Address: Investing in Accessible Housing Across Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine, July 11 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address:
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Investing in Accessible Housing Across Maine
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
Every family, I believe, should be able to make memories in their own home, and yet, the news is filled every day with stories about the difficulties in renting or buying a house from California to Connecticut. Even if you can find a place that you want, it may well be beyond your means. Well, here in Maine, we're trying to tackle these problems of access and affordability, doing everything ... Show Full Article AUGUSTA, Maine, July 11 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address: * * * Investing in Accessible Housing Across Maine Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening. Every family, I believe, should be able to make memories in their own home, and yet, the news is filled every day with stories about the difficulties in renting or buying a house from California to Connecticut. Even if you can find a place that you want, it may well be beyond your means. Well, here in Maine, we're trying to tackle these problems of access and affordability, doing everythingwe can at the state level, at least, to build up inventory and to preserve homes and apartments that are affordable for families.
In 2023, we released a study that says that Maine needs about 80,000 new homes by 2030 to support our population increase and our future economy. Using that data, my administration and MaineHousing set some goals to keep our state on track to meet that target. And last month, we received data showing that we're on track to meet the goal.
Last year, Maine communities permitted 7,500 new housing units--that exceeds our goal by about nine percent. Annual goals will ramp up in the years ahead, but this good news demonstrates that efforts to make it easier to build homes is working.
Since I took office, my administration has authorized more than $350 million to build more homes. That's more than five times what the state of Maine spent on housing production, in total, from 2000 to 2018. We've also worked with the legislature to enact zoning, land use, regulatory, and permitting reforms to allow the private sector to build homes that Maine people can afford.
We've expanded tax relief programs like the Property Tax Fairness Credit and the Homestead Exemption and the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. We created and extended the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, the largest state investment in housing in Maine's history. We created Maine's first-ever long-term funding source for affordable housing production with revenue from real estate sales of over $1 million, and that is expected to generate $17 million in the first year alone for new housing production fund at MaineHousing.
We created the Mobile Home Park Preservation Fund so mobile home residents can purchase their own parks before wealthy out-of-state corporations swoop in and buy them out from under them and then evict them. We're also helping towns provide emergency shelters with wraparound services for those people who are chronically homeless. Stable housing is the most effective way to help people who are chronically homeless and to reduce costs for communities and for taxpayers.
It has been said that a life is measured not by what you build, but by who you lift. Well, here in Maine, we're both building and we're lifting lives up, doing everything we can in a creative, innovative way to make sure people have a place to call home, either to rent or to own.
A place they can afford here in Maine. A place to make their own memories in their own home. And while we have more work to do and affordability is still a goal and a challenge, the progress we've made means we're coming closer to ensuring every person can find a safe, affordable place to call home here in Maine.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/node/3919
* * *
Investing in Accessible Housing Across Maine
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
Every family, I believe, should be able to make memories in their own home, and yet, the news is filled every day with stories about the difficulties in renting or buying a house from California to Connecticut. Even if you can find a place that you want, it may well be beyond your means. Well, here in Maine, we're trying to tackle these problems of access and affordability, doing everything ... Show Full Article AUGUSTA, Maine, July 11 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address: * * * Investing in Accessible Housing Across Maine Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening. Every family, I believe, should be able to make memories in their own home, and yet, the news is filled every day with stories about the difficulties in renting or buying a house from California to Connecticut. Even if you can find a place that you want, it may well be beyond your means. Well, here in Maine, we're trying to tackle these problems of access and affordability, doing everythingwe can at the state level, at least, to build up inventory and to preserve homes and apartments that are affordable for families.
In 2023, we released a study that says that Maine needs about 80,000 new homes by 2030 to support our population increase and our future economy. Using that data, my administration and MaineHousing set some goals to keep our state on track to meet that target. And last month, we received data showing that we're on track to meet the goal.
Last year, Maine communities permitted 7,500 new housing units--that exceeds our goal by about nine percent. Annual goals will ramp up in the years ahead, but this good news demonstrates that efforts to make it easier to build homes is working.
Since I took office, my administration has authorized more than $350 million to build more homes. That's more than five times what the state of Maine spent on housing production, in total, from 2000 to 2018. We've also worked with the legislature to enact zoning, land use, regulatory, and permitting reforms to allow the private sector to build homes that Maine people can afford.
We've expanded tax relief programs like the Property Tax Fairness Credit and the Homestead Exemption and the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. We created and extended the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, the largest state investment in housing in Maine's history. We created Maine's first-ever long-term funding source for affordable housing production with revenue from real estate sales of over $1 million, and that is expected to generate $17 million in the first year alone for new housing production fund at MaineHousing.
We created the Mobile Home Park Preservation Fund so mobile home residents can purchase their own parks before wealthy out-of-state corporations swoop in and buy them out from under them and then evict them. We're also helping towns provide emergency shelters with wraparound services for those people who are chronically homeless. Stable housing is the most effective way to help people who are chronically homeless and to reduce costs for communities and for taxpayers.
It has been said that a life is measured not by what you build, but by who you lift. Well, here in Maine, we're both building and we're lifting lives up, doing everything we can in a creative, innovative way to make sure people have a place to call home, either to rent or to own.
A place they can afford here in Maine. A place to make their own memories in their own home. And while we have more work to do and affordability is still a goal and a challenge, the progress we've made means we're coming closer to ensuring every person can find a safe, affordable place to call home here in Maine.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
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Original text here: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/node/3919
ICYMI: In Blair County, Pa. Gov. Shapiro Welcomes Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy No. 4014, Celebrates America250 at Historic Norfolk Southern Yard
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
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ICYMI: In Blair County, Governor Shapiro Welcomes Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy No. 4014, Celebrates America250 at Historic Norfolk Southern Yard
As the world's largest operating steam locomotive, Big Boy 4014 drew approximately 100,000 spectators to Altoona, building off Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations and honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has secured $67.5 million in funding to support our tourism industry ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * ICYMI: In Blair County, Governor Shapiro Welcomes Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy No. 4014, Celebrates America250 at Historic Norfolk Southern Yard As the world's largest operating steam locomotive, Big Boy 4014 drew approximately 100,000 spectators to Altoona, building off Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations and honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has secured $67.5 million in funding to support our tourism industryand get Pennsylvania ready to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
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Altoona, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro joined leaders from Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern to welcome Union Pacific's historic Big Boy No. 4014, the Heritage Fleet - including the Abraham Lincoln No. 1616 and America250 No. 1776 locomotives - and Norfolk Southern's America 250 Series, featuring Liberty Bell, Lady Liberty, The Freedom, the Landmark Altoona, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Heritage locomotive, to Rose Yard in Altoona as part of a celebration of America's 250th Anniversary.
Big Boy 4014 is one of 25 locomotives that were first commissioned by Union Pacific in the 1940s and is one of eight that remain in existence today. The remaining seven non-operational locomotives are on public display at Scranton's Steamtown National Historic Site, and in Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
"Railroads transformed our Commonwealth into a powerhouse of the Industrial Age, and we are proud to honor that heritage by welcoming this iconic locomotive to communities across Pennsylvania as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary," said Governor Shapiro. "Our Commonwealth helped build America's railroad industry, from pioneering some of the nation's earliest railroads to producing the steel rails that connected a growing country and fueled America's success. This historic tour is more than a celebration of our past - it's an opportunity to welcome visitors to Pennsylvania, support local businesses, and showcase everything our Commonwealth has to offer as the birthplace of American freedom and democracy."
Union Pacific's tour started on July 1 for a 14-city swing through Pennsylvania, traveling on Norfolk Southern's rail network. Throughout this tour, Big Boy 4014 has visited cities throughout the Eastern and Southeastern regions of the Commonwealth, with Altoona chosen as one of the tour's marquee public stops.
"Altoona stands at the heart of America's railroad legacy, and it's fitting that we're celebrating that history here in Pennsylvania. We're proud to partner with Union Pacific to bring Big Boy to the East Coast for the first time in more than 80 years, giving communities the opportunity to experience a living piece of rail history," said Mark George, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern. "As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence and Norfolk Southern approaches 200 years of service, this tour honors the railroaders, innovation, and partnerships that helped build America--and continue to move it forward today. It was our honor to host the Governor to see it up close today."
"Union Pacific Railroad is honored to visit the Keystone State as part of Big Boy's first-ever coast-to-coast tour. This iconic locomotive hauled heavy equipment in the rugged West during World War II and, today, serves a living, breathing piece of America's history that represents the ingenuity, determination and rail heritage that helped build our great country," said Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific Railroad. "We're proud to share Big Boy with Pennsylvanians as a reminder of rail's role in shaping the next 250 years and we look forward to everything we're doing to expand rail and make it more competitive in the U.S."
Altoona was selected as one of the marquee stops due to its deep railroad heritage, strategic importance as a critical hub for Norfolk Southern's operations, and the craftsmanship of the employees at Juniata Locomotive Shop who painted several of the locomotives on display. Approximately 100,000 spectators attended the event.
Pennsylvania was home to one of America's earliest railroads and today, there are approximately 5,600 miles of railway track throughout the Commonwealth. Each year, these rails carry nearly 170 million tons of freight and offer cross-state rail service, bolstering the Commonwealth's economy and carrying forward Pennsylvania's historic role in the development of the United States' railway system.
At the conclusion of Union Pacific's America250 tour, Big Boy 4014 will have traveled 7,000 miles coast-to-coast, marking the first time a Big Boy has crossed the Mississippi River since they were produced.
Welcoming the World to Pennsylvania for America250
As the birthplace of American democracy, Pennsylvania has been front and center in 2026, welcoming millions of visitors to major cultural and sporting events that have contributed to the Commonwealth's tourism industry. Union Pacific's tour through Pennsylvania this month has built off of Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations while honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage, already attracting more than 200,000 spectators.
Tourism is a key priority in Governor Shapiro's Economic Development Strategy - and the industry has been surging. Under the Shapiro Administration's leadership, Pennsylvania's tourism industry has grown by $7 billion and 30,000 jobs. In 2024, the Commonwealth welcomed over 201 million visitors who generated a record-breaking $84 billion for Pennsylvania's economy and supported more than half a million Pennsylvania jobs.
Over the last three years, Governor Shapiro has rebranded Pennsylvania as the "Great American Getaway" and secured $67.5 million in funding to get Pennsylvania ready to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy, to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/icymi--governor-shapiro-welcomes-union-pacific-s-historic-big-bo
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ICYMI: In Blair County, Governor Shapiro Welcomes Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy No. 4014, Celebrates America250 at Historic Norfolk Southern Yard
As the world's largest operating steam locomotive, Big Boy 4014 drew approximately 100,000 spectators to Altoona, building off Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations and honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has secured $67.5 million in funding to support our tourism industry ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * ICYMI: In Blair County, Governor Shapiro Welcomes Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy No. 4014, Celebrates America250 at Historic Norfolk Southern Yard As the world's largest operating steam locomotive, Big Boy 4014 drew approximately 100,000 spectators to Altoona, building off Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations and honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has secured $67.5 million in funding to support our tourism industryand get Pennsylvania ready to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
-
Altoona, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro joined leaders from Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern to welcome Union Pacific's historic Big Boy No. 4014, the Heritage Fleet - including the Abraham Lincoln No. 1616 and America250 No. 1776 locomotives - and Norfolk Southern's America 250 Series, featuring Liberty Bell, Lady Liberty, The Freedom, the Landmark Altoona, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Heritage locomotive, to Rose Yard in Altoona as part of a celebration of America's 250th Anniversary.
Big Boy 4014 is one of 25 locomotives that were first commissioned by Union Pacific in the 1940s and is one of eight that remain in existence today. The remaining seven non-operational locomotives are on public display at Scranton's Steamtown National Historic Site, and in Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
"Railroads transformed our Commonwealth into a powerhouse of the Industrial Age, and we are proud to honor that heritage by welcoming this iconic locomotive to communities across Pennsylvania as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary," said Governor Shapiro. "Our Commonwealth helped build America's railroad industry, from pioneering some of the nation's earliest railroads to producing the steel rails that connected a growing country and fueled America's success. This historic tour is more than a celebration of our past - it's an opportunity to welcome visitors to Pennsylvania, support local businesses, and showcase everything our Commonwealth has to offer as the birthplace of American freedom and democracy."
Union Pacific's tour started on July 1 for a 14-city swing through Pennsylvania, traveling on Norfolk Southern's rail network. Throughout this tour, Big Boy 4014 has visited cities throughout the Eastern and Southeastern regions of the Commonwealth, with Altoona chosen as one of the tour's marquee public stops.
"Altoona stands at the heart of America's railroad legacy, and it's fitting that we're celebrating that history here in Pennsylvania. We're proud to partner with Union Pacific to bring Big Boy to the East Coast for the first time in more than 80 years, giving communities the opportunity to experience a living piece of rail history," said Mark George, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern. "As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence and Norfolk Southern approaches 200 years of service, this tour honors the railroaders, innovation, and partnerships that helped build America--and continue to move it forward today. It was our honor to host the Governor to see it up close today."
"Union Pacific Railroad is honored to visit the Keystone State as part of Big Boy's first-ever coast-to-coast tour. This iconic locomotive hauled heavy equipment in the rugged West during World War II and, today, serves a living, breathing piece of America's history that represents the ingenuity, determination and rail heritage that helped build our great country," said Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific Railroad. "We're proud to share Big Boy with Pennsylvanians as a reminder of rail's role in shaping the next 250 years and we look forward to everything we're doing to expand rail and make it more competitive in the U.S."
Altoona was selected as one of the marquee stops due to its deep railroad heritage, strategic importance as a critical hub for Norfolk Southern's operations, and the craftsmanship of the employees at Juniata Locomotive Shop who painted several of the locomotives on display. Approximately 100,000 spectators attended the event.
Pennsylvania was home to one of America's earliest railroads and today, there are approximately 5,600 miles of railway track throughout the Commonwealth. Each year, these rails carry nearly 170 million tons of freight and offer cross-state rail service, bolstering the Commonwealth's economy and carrying forward Pennsylvania's historic role in the development of the United States' railway system.
At the conclusion of Union Pacific's America250 tour, Big Boy 4014 will have traveled 7,000 miles coast-to-coast, marking the first time a Big Boy has crossed the Mississippi River since they were produced.
Welcoming the World to Pennsylvania for America250
As the birthplace of American democracy, Pennsylvania has been front and center in 2026, welcoming millions of visitors to major cultural and sporting events that have contributed to the Commonwealth's tourism industry. Union Pacific's tour through Pennsylvania this month has built off of Pennsylvania's America250 celebrations while honoring the Commonwealth's industrial heritage, already attracting more than 200,000 spectators.
Tourism is a key priority in Governor Shapiro's Economic Development Strategy - and the industry has been surging. Under the Shapiro Administration's leadership, Pennsylvania's tourism industry has grown by $7 billion and 30,000 jobs. In 2024, the Commonwealth welcomed over 201 million visitors who generated a record-breaking $84 billion for Pennsylvania's economy and supported more than half a million Pennsylvania jobs.
Over the last three years, Governor Shapiro has rebranded Pennsylvania as the "Great American Getaway" and secured $67.5 million in funding to get Pennsylvania ready to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial celebration.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's workers and businesses and spur the economy, to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/icymi--governor-shapiro-welcomes-union-pacific-s-historic-big-bo
HAWAII GOV. GREEN SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT
HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Green, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
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GOVERNOR GREEN SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT
Governor Josh Green today signed three measures in two separate bill-signing ceremonies aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and alleviating the burden of medical costs.
Access to quality healthcare should not depend on an individual's ability to pay. Yet, many Hawaii residents are forced to choose between foregoing needed care and taking on overwhelming medical debt. These reforms help ... Show Full Article HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Green, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * GOVERNOR GREEN SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT Governor Josh Green today signed three measures in two separate bill-signing ceremonies aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and alleviating the burden of medical costs. Access to quality healthcare should not depend on an individual's ability to pay. Yet, many Hawaii residents are forced to choose between foregoing needed care and taking on overwhelming medical debt. These reforms helpensure that people can receive the screenings, treatment and support they need without risking their financial stability.
"It is with pride that we announce these measures which will truly transform the health and well-being of Hawaii," said Governor Green. "Having spent years in the medical field, I have seen the gaps in the system. When our people are healthy and life-saving services are accessible and affordable, we will be a stronger and more adaptable Hawaii." "These measures help meet important healthcare needs of our community," said Rep. Gregg Takayama, chair of the House Health Committee. "HB 1864 ensures that patients are not forced to choose between their immediate medical needs and their future ability to bear children. HB 1969 will save hundreds of lives by enabling early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer among uninsured residents who cannot afford this crucial procedure."
HB 1864: RELATING TO INSURANCE
House Bill (HB) 1864, Act 218, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2026, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations to cover standard fertility preservation services for individuals undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility. This requirement applies to all policies, contracts, plans and agreements issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.
Because chemotherapy and radiation can damage reproductive organs and impact future fertility, many patients must grapple not only with the challenges of a serious diagnosis, but also with the possibility that life-saving treatment may compromise their ability to build a family. HB 1864 ensures that Hawaii residents facing this dilemma will have coverage options for preserving their fertility prior to undergoing surgery or initiation of cancer therapy.
This measure makes Hawaii the 22nd state to ensure that residents do not have to forgo the opportunity to conceive in order to receive life-saving medical treatment.
"This is a historic moment for many of Hawaii's young cancer patients who, until now, not only had the heartache of receiving the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis, but also had the painful realization that the treatment for their cancer would result in the permanent inability for future fertility," said Dr. Michael Carney, chair of Hawaii Society for Clinical Oncologists. "This law that we have worked so hard over so many years to pass, is now reality and these cancer patients can have at least a small part of their cancer journey improved. Hawaii has now mandated the option of the initial protection for future fertility in these cancer survivors -- hope for survival and genuine hope for a future family."
HB 1969: RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hawaii, taking the lives of roughly 260 residents each year. Many of these losses may have been prevented through timely and equitable screening.
HB 1969, Act 219, SLH 2026, expands access to colorectal cancer screenings by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide financial assistance to eligible Hawaii residents who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise ineligible for Medicaid. The measure also requires certain health insurance plans to cover medically necessary follow-up colonoscopies after a positive colorectal cancer screening test without deductibles, copayments, coinsurance or other cost-sharing.
"Governor Green's signing of HB 1969 into law makes Hawaii an innovative leader for colorectal cancer screening and treatment," said Dr. Shane Morita, surgical oncologist, American Cancer Society medical officer and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer. "Colorectal cancer is often curable when detected early, yet it remains a major cause of cancer-related death in Hawaii. Expanding access will reduce the burden on local families and improve survival for our patients."
SB 3025: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT
In a second bill-signing ceremony, Governor Green signed Senate Bill (SB) 3025, Act 220, SLH 2026, which establishes a framework to relieve medical debt for as many as 50,000 Hawaii residents. This enactment is years in the making -- born from inventive partnerships and bold, solution driven work that reflects our collective dedication to progress.
SB 3025 requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR), now under DHS, to establish and administer a Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program to purchase and eliminate outstanding medical debt for state residents, contingent on available program funds. As many as 50,000 residents may qualify, with relief totals reaching as high as $91M.
An estimated one in 20 Hawaii residents have outstanding medical debt on their credit report. This burden delays necessary medical treatments, creates barriers to obtaining housing or employment and worsens mental distress, thus intensifying the cycle of poverty. With ever-rising living costs and a for-profit healthcare system, Hawaii is further disadvantaged as one of the most costly states in the nation.
Twenty-seven other cities and states in the United States have developed similar programs for which we can model our path; OWR will partner with a nonprofit organization that will purchase the debt from healthcare providers for a fraction of the total cost, then abolish the debt altogether. This system is beneficial for all involved, as participating providers are able to receive revenue from otherwise dormant accounts.
"Medical debt is one of the biggest drivers of financial ruin in Hawaii," said Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee and co-introducer of the bill. "SB 3025 ensures that thousands of families in Hawaii don't have to choose between paying rent and paying off a hospital bill."
"No one chooses medical debt -- and medical emergencies can suddenly bankrupt families with even the best insurance," said Senator Chris Lee, co-introducer of SB 3025 and chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts. "This is probably the best return on investment ever -- $500k to cancel $91M in medical debt for 50,000 local families struggling to pay their bills. It will save taxpayer money by making it easier for people to see doctors again instead of ending up in the emergency room on the taxpayer dime."
"Fear of medical debt should never stand in the way of someone getting needed care - and actual medical debt should not be part of a downward financial spiral linked to bad credit or bankruptcy," said Representative Lisa Marten, chair of the House Committee on Human Services & Homelessness. "With willing partners like The Queen's Health Systems, the state can erase medical debt and the anxiety and depression often associated with it for just pennies on the dollar. People cannot actually apply for this program, rather, tens of thousands of qualified candidates will simply receive a notice with the good news that their medical debt has been erased."
"Medical debt is unlike other forms of debt because no one chooses to become ill or injured, yet a single unexpected health crisis can result in an inescapable financial burden," said Holomua Collaborative Policy and Communications Director Matt Prellberg. "By establishing the Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program, we propel Hawaii forward and help provide working families in desperate situations with the economic breathing room they need to stay and thrive in Hawaii."
The enactment of these three measures sends a clear message: Hawaii is determined to build a healthcare landscape that serves people, not systems. From expanding access to lifesaving screenings, to protecting the possibility of growing a family, to lifting the weight of medical debt, these laws move us toward a future where health and dignity are not out of reach. With continued partnership and commitment, we can create a Hawaii where care is accessible, recovery is possible and every resident has a fair chance to thrive.
The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the links to see full details of the bills enacted into law.
SB 2271 - RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING - Act 221
SB 3132 - RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING - Act 222
HB 1974 - RELATING TO HEALTH - Act 223
HB 1642 - RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION - Act 224
Assets - HB 1864 and HB 1969 Fertility Preservation and Colorectal Cancer
Video (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/533HkMl3CTV?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEGMn8HxO$)
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Slide Deck (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/1mgkvR3g0BS?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEMFKH4gp$)
Assets - SB 3025 Medical Debt
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Slide Deck (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/k7OhubtbYUu?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEFt9hKnC$)
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Original text here: https://governor.hawaii.gov/featured/gov-green-signs-legislation-to-expand-access-to-healthcare-and-relieve-medical-debt/
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GOVERNOR GREEN SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT
Governor Josh Green today signed three measures in two separate bill-signing ceremonies aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and alleviating the burden of medical costs.
Access to quality healthcare should not depend on an individual's ability to pay. Yet, many Hawaii residents are forced to choose between foregoing needed care and taking on overwhelming medical debt. These reforms help ... Show Full Article HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 11 -- Gov. Josh Green, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * GOVERNOR GREEN SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT Governor Josh Green today signed three measures in two separate bill-signing ceremonies aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and alleviating the burden of medical costs. Access to quality healthcare should not depend on an individual's ability to pay. Yet, many Hawaii residents are forced to choose between foregoing needed care and taking on overwhelming medical debt. These reforms helpensure that people can receive the screenings, treatment and support they need without risking their financial stability.
"It is with pride that we announce these measures which will truly transform the health and well-being of Hawaii," said Governor Green. "Having spent years in the medical field, I have seen the gaps in the system. When our people are healthy and life-saving services are accessible and affordable, we will be a stronger and more adaptable Hawaii." "These measures help meet important healthcare needs of our community," said Rep. Gregg Takayama, chair of the House Health Committee. "HB 1864 ensures that patients are not forced to choose between their immediate medical needs and their future ability to bear children. HB 1969 will save hundreds of lives by enabling early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer among uninsured residents who cannot afford this crucial procedure."
HB 1864: RELATING TO INSURANCE
House Bill (HB) 1864, Act 218, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2026, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies and health maintenance organizations to cover standard fertility preservation services for individuals undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility. This requirement applies to all policies, contracts, plans and agreements issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.
Because chemotherapy and radiation can damage reproductive organs and impact future fertility, many patients must grapple not only with the challenges of a serious diagnosis, but also with the possibility that life-saving treatment may compromise their ability to build a family. HB 1864 ensures that Hawaii residents facing this dilemma will have coverage options for preserving their fertility prior to undergoing surgery or initiation of cancer therapy.
This measure makes Hawaii the 22nd state to ensure that residents do not have to forgo the opportunity to conceive in order to receive life-saving medical treatment.
"This is a historic moment for many of Hawaii's young cancer patients who, until now, not only had the heartache of receiving the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis, but also had the painful realization that the treatment for their cancer would result in the permanent inability for future fertility," said Dr. Michael Carney, chair of Hawaii Society for Clinical Oncologists. "This law that we have worked so hard over so many years to pass, is now reality and these cancer patients can have at least a small part of their cancer journey improved. Hawaii has now mandated the option of the initial protection for future fertility in these cancer survivors -- hope for survival and genuine hope for a future family."
HB 1969: RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hawaii, taking the lives of roughly 260 residents each year. Many of these losses may have been prevented through timely and equitable screening.
HB 1969, Act 219, SLH 2026, expands access to colorectal cancer screenings by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide financial assistance to eligible Hawaii residents who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise ineligible for Medicaid. The measure also requires certain health insurance plans to cover medically necessary follow-up colonoscopies after a positive colorectal cancer screening test without deductibles, copayments, coinsurance or other cost-sharing.
"Governor Green's signing of HB 1969 into law makes Hawaii an innovative leader for colorectal cancer screening and treatment," said Dr. Shane Morita, surgical oncologist, American Cancer Society medical officer and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer. "Colorectal cancer is often curable when detected early, yet it remains a major cause of cancer-related death in Hawaii. Expanding access will reduce the burden on local families and improve survival for our patients."
SB 3025: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT
In a second bill-signing ceremony, Governor Green signed Senate Bill (SB) 3025, Act 220, SLH 2026, which establishes a framework to relieve medical debt for as many as 50,000 Hawaii residents. This enactment is years in the making -- born from inventive partnerships and bold, solution driven work that reflects our collective dedication to progress.
SB 3025 requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR), now under DHS, to establish and administer a Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program to purchase and eliminate outstanding medical debt for state residents, contingent on available program funds. As many as 50,000 residents may qualify, with relief totals reaching as high as $91M.
An estimated one in 20 Hawaii residents have outstanding medical debt on their credit report. This burden delays necessary medical treatments, creates barriers to obtaining housing or employment and worsens mental distress, thus intensifying the cycle of poverty. With ever-rising living costs and a for-profit healthcare system, Hawaii is further disadvantaged as one of the most costly states in the nation.
Twenty-seven other cities and states in the United States have developed similar programs for which we can model our path; OWR will partner with a nonprofit organization that will purchase the debt from healthcare providers for a fraction of the total cost, then abolish the debt altogether. This system is beneficial for all involved, as participating providers are able to receive revenue from otherwise dormant accounts.
"Medical debt is one of the biggest drivers of financial ruin in Hawaii," said Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee and co-introducer of the bill. "SB 3025 ensures that thousands of families in Hawaii don't have to choose between paying rent and paying off a hospital bill."
"No one chooses medical debt -- and medical emergencies can suddenly bankrupt families with even the best insurance," said Senator Chris Lee, co-introducer of SB 3025 and chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts. "This is probably the best return on investment ever -- $500k to cancel $91M in medical debt for 50,000 local families struggling to pay their bills. It will save taxpayer money by making it easier for people to see doctors again instead of ending up in the emergency room on the taxpayer dime."
"Fear of medical debt should never stand in the way of someone getting needed care - and actual medical debt should not be part of a downward financial spiral linked to bad credit or bankruptcy," said Representative Lisa Marten, chair of the House Committee on Human Services & Homelessness. "With willing partners like The Queen's Health Systems, the state can erase medical debt and the anxiety and depression often associated with it for just pennies on the dollar. People cannot actually apply for this program, rather, tens of thousands of qualified candidates will simply receive a notice with the good news that their medical debt has been erased."
"Medical debt is unlike other forms of debt because no one chooses to become ill or injured, yet a single unexpected health crisis can result in an inescapable financial burden," said Holomua Collaborative Policy and Communications Director Matt Prellberg. "By establishing the Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program, we propel Hawaii forward and help provide working families in desperate situations with the economic breathing room they need to stay and thrive in Hawaii."
The enactment of these three measures sends a clear message: Hawaii is determined to build a healthcare landscape that serves people, not systems. From expanding access to lifesaving screenings, to protecting the possibility of growing a family, to lifting the weight of medical debt, these laws move us toward a future where health and dignity are not out of reach. With continued partnership and commitment, we can create a Hawaii where care is accessible, recovery is possible and every resident has a fair chance to thrive.
The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the links to see full details of the bills enacted into law.
SB 2271 - RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING - Act 221
SB 3132 - RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING - Act 222
HB 1974 - RELATING TO HEALTH - Act 223
HB 1642 - RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION - Act 224
Assets - HB 1864 and HB 1969 Fertility Preservation and Colorectal Cancer
Video (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/533HkMl3CTV?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEGMn8HxO$)
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Slide Deck (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/1mgkvR3g0BS?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEMFKH4gp$)
Assets - SB 3025 Medical Debt
Video (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/QUay8g3Vdru?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEI_GPW5w$)
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Slide Deck (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/k7OhubtbYUu?e=a99ac9e1fd&c2id=bbcca54464c2ab4d5c94d7ce9bb034db__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!15NcIjrBTlUaOLxHzkzF_-gEnobUpEpGE-XPWwnBCv0QVfTi8nQTVrnxImjWEgy6Q2AX-_9XaW9QsynZT2XmEFt9hKnC$)
* * *
Original text here: https://governor.hawaii.gov/featured/gov-green-signs-legislation-to-expand-access-to-healthcare-and-relieve-medical-debt/
Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation Enacting Long-Recommended Changes to Improve TK-12 School Governance in California
SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026:
* * *
Governor Newsom signs legislation enacting long-recommended changes to improve TK-12 school governance in California
What you need to know: Realizing over a century of calls for reform, Governor Newsom signed legislation enacting structural changes to improve how education policy is implemented in TK-12 schools.
-
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced he has signed legislation to implement long-standing recommendations to strengthen California's education governance ... Show Full Article SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026: * * * Governor Newsom signs legislation enacting long-recommended changes to improve TK-12 school governance in California What you need to know: Realizing over a century of calls for reform, Governor Newsom signed legislation enacting structural changes to improve how education policy is implemented in TK-12 schools. - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced he has signed legislation to implement long-standing recommendations to strengthen California's education governancesystem to better support its nearly 10,000 schools and approximately six million students. The legislation -- Assembly Bill 181 by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Darshana Patel (D-Poway) -- enacts the proposal made by the Governor in his State of the State address to improve support and oversight of schools by unifying the policy-making State Board of Education with the Department of Education that implements those policies by establishing an appointed Education Commissioner under the Board to assume management of the Department, while further empowering the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as an independent statewide voice for students, families, and educators across public education from TK through higher education.
* * *
"California can no longer afford to postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century. For too long, our state's education governance structure has divided responsibility for setting policy from responsibility for implementing it. AB 181 creates a more effective system that will help us deliver better results for students while ensuring greater accountability for the investments Californians make in public education."
- Governor Gavin Newsom
* * *
With new authority granted by AB 181, the Superintendent will now serve as a voting member on all three higher education governing bodies and the State Board of Education and will be able to foster needed alignment and coordination of education policies from early childhood through postsecondary education for the betterment of California's students. The measure also adds two legislative appointees to the State Board and clarifies roles and responsibilities.
Before being adopted by the Assembly and Senate last week, the proposal was the subject of multiple hearings over several months in both houses of the Legislature. The informational, policy, and budget committee hearings included hours of questions and testimony from a wide range of experts, including elected state and local education leaders and representatives of nearly all statewide education associations and major education equity organizations.
"California has inherited one of the most fragmented education governance structures in the nation, which challenges our ability to implement efficiently the transformative initiatives that move our schools forward. Our work as education leaders requires that we adopt a continuous improvement approach to ensure that our system is coherent, effective, and responsive to the changing needs of our students and our society," said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. "The signing of Assembly Bill 181 will help us build on the meaningful progress the state has made in recent years to support greater equity and excellence in our public schools."
The presentations from the Legislative Analyst's Office and others highlighted the many studies and reports over the years that have uniformly found that, in the words of the Legislature's 2002 Master Plan for Education: "California's K-12 education system is governed by a fragmented set of entities with overlapping roles that sometimes operate in conflict with one another, to the detriment of educational services offered to students."
"This reform is long overdue. For nearly a century, independent reports have called for fixing our fragmented education governance system," said Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), Chair of California State Assembly Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance. "Past leaders failed to act, and our students have paid the price, as reflected in the persistent and unacceptable achievement gaps experienced by Black and Hispanic students. AB 181 is a call to action that begins by aligning authority, accountability, and resources. I thank Governor Newsom for his partnership and for recognizing that the status quo is not good enough. I am committed to ensuring this transition is transparent, accountable, and focused on the only thing that matters: improving student outcomes."
"The current system has regularly prevented the state from aligning policy and administration of our public schools, and creates confusion for our local communities regarding the state's goals," said Dr. Darshana R. Patel (D-San Diego). "My own constituents have consistently asked for better implementation and oversight of state programs to ensure their children's educational success. We can't keep doing the same thing and expect different outcomes for our students, schools, and communities - the ones who have been the real victims of the misalignment of our systems and structures. This is why AB 181 is critical in this moment to ensure clear lines of communication to address student needs."
"The California County Superintendents applaud this historic and long-overdue reform," said Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools. "This change will advance the four things schools need most: coherence, priority-setting, capacity building, and accountability. It gives school districts the focus they need to support their communities. The next steps will be critical, as we collectively take these reforms from policy to practice."
"AB 181 is a historic reform that will better align the governance of California's public education system to serve the state's 1,000 school districts more effectively and, most importantly, improve student outcomes," said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. "We are inspired by Governor Newsom's leadership on this issue and are committed to working with state leaders to ensure the new governance structure delivers meaningful results for California's students."
"California has advanced some of the most ambitious education reforms in the country, but good policy is only as effective as its implementation," said Tatia Davenport, CEO of the California Association of School Business Officials. "Too often, local educational agencies have been left to bridge the gap between state policy and execution. CASBO applauds Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Patel, and Assemblymember Alvarez for their leadership in advancing these long-needed governance reforms. By making authority and accountability more congruent, these reforms create clearer leadership and strengthen the state's ability to provide timely, consistent support to local educational agencies. For school business leaders, that means fewer barriers to implementation and greater confidence that California's historic investments in public education will translate into meaningful results for students, educators, and communities."
In 1921, the Legislature created the State Department of Education and exercised its plenary authority to clarify the roles of the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. However, concerns regarding coherence and authority persisted.
Today, over 100 years later, and after countless calls to address the persistent structural tension, California is taking the long-overdue next step to accelerate support for local educational agencies, and better position California to advance student achievement and educational opportunity.
"The approval of education governance reform, over a century in the making, is a monumental victory for California students that finally establishes a sensible system of state-level accountability to best support them," said Ted Lempert, President of Children Now. "More than 950 diverse organizations across the state called for this reform, and we commend Governor Newsom and Assembly members Alvarez and Patel for their leadership in making this much needed change a reality."
"This represents one of the most significant education governance reforms in California's history," said PACE Executive Director Lupita Cortez Alcala. "This law recognizes that improving education requires more than bold investments--it requires clear leadership, rigorous evaluation, and a commitment to continuous learning. By modernizing governance and strengthening California's capacity for independent evaluation as part of a more coherent education governance system, California is building a stronger foundation for better policy, better implementation, and better outcomes for students."
California has made and continues to make historic investments in public education -- including expanding Universal Transitional Kindergarten, increasing literacy and mathematics supports, strengthening community schools, and improving student mental health services. AB 181 builds on those investments by ensuring the state's governance structure is better equipped to implement statewide priorities and support continuous improvement.
"Good policy is only as strong as its execution," said Christopher J. Nellum, Ph.D., Executive Director of EdTrust-West. "We applaud Governor Newsom and legislative leaders for taking a bold, long-overdue step to fix a governance system that has too often put bureaucracy ahead of student outcomes. By better aligning leadership, accountability, and implementation, this reform will help turn ambitious policies and equity investments into real results for students - especially students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds."
"California's students deserve an education system where leadership is aligned in support of the educators who serve them every day," said Edgar Zazueta, Ed.D, Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators. "The state education governance reforms put forward by the Governor and approved by the Legislature create a more coordinated approach to educational leadership that will help state agencies work more effectively with educators in support of schools. School leaders across this state are proud to support this important step toward strengthening public education and improving outcomes for California's nearly six million students."
The legislation takes effect January 2027 when the new Governor and SPI take office and includes additional planning and reporting requirements to ensure a thoughtful transition to the new governance model and possible further education governance consolidation and streamlining.
All statewide school management associations, leading superintendents and education professors, major education equity organizations, and over 950 organizations overall expressed their strong support for this reform.
Governor Newsom's commitment to TK-12 education
Under the Newsom administration, California has dramatically increased investments in TK-12 public education, with a focus on accelerating learning and prioritizing equity, and has fundamentally transformed the promise of public education in the state. The 2026 Budget Act provided $151.4 billion in total TK-12 education funding - the highest funding ever for California students.
California has expanded access to universal education beginning at age four through transitional kindergarten; broadened access to free before- and after-school, and summer programs to more than 1 million elementary school students, providing nine hours of developmentally appropriate academic and enrichment activities each school day and six weeks each summer. The state has placed literacy coaches in the highest-need schools as part of the comprehensive Golden State Literacy Plan, which includes ensuring that all California students in grades K-2 are screened for reading difficulties to better assess the need for supports for long-term success. California also became the first state in the nation to guarantee universal free school meals so that every child receives breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.
The state's $4.1 billion Community Schools Initiative that has reached one of every four schools is another cornerstone of this transformation. Rigorous recent research shows that schools participating in this initiative--those that provide comprehensive supports for students and families--demonstrate significantly greater gains in English language arts and mathematics achievement, along with lower chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, compared to similar schools without such supports. The 2026 Budget Act includes $1 billion in ongoing funding for existing community schools and expands the model to 3,700 additional school sites that have large concentrations of students from low-income families, English learners, and youth in foster care.
These transformative investments and initiatives are preparing California's students for success. As demonstrated by the latest statewide testing results, even as the share of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the tested population has risen, California's students continue to rebound from the pandemic, with measurable gains in every subject tested, at every grade level, and for every student group.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/10/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-enacting-long-recommended-changes-to-improve-tk-12-school-governance-in-california/
* * *
Governor Newsom signs legislation enacting long-recommended changes to improve TK-12 school governance in California
What you need to know: Realizing over a century of calls for reform, Governor Newsom signed legislation enacting structural changes to improve how education policy is implemented in TK-12 schools.
-
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced he has signed legislation to implement long-standing recommendations to strengthen California's education governance ... Show Full Article SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 10, 2026: * * * Governor Newsom signs legislation enacting long-recommended changes to improve TK-12 school governance in California What you need to know: Realizing over a century of calls for reform, Governor Newsom signed legislation enacting structural changes to improve how education policy is implemented in TK-12 schools. - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced he has signed legislation to implement long-standing recommendations to strengthen California's education governancesystem to better support its nearly 10,000 schools and approximately six million students. The legislation -- Assembly Bill 181 by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Darshana Patel (D-Poway) -- enacts the proposal made by the Governor in his State of the State address to improve support and oversight of schools by unifying the policy-making State Board of Education with the Department of Education that implements those policies by establishing an appointed Education Commissioner under the Board to assume management of the Department, while further empowering the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as an independent statewide voice for students, families, and educators across public education from TK through higher education.
* * *
"California can no longer afford to postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century. For too long, our state's education governance structure has divided responsibility for setting policy from responsibility for implementing it. AB 181 creates a more effective system that will help us deliver better results for students while ensuring greater accountability for the investments Californians make in public education."
- Governor Gavin Newsom
* * *
With new authority granted by AB 181, the Superintendent will now serve as a voting member on all three higher education governing bodies and the State Board of Education and will be able to foster needed alignment and coordination of education policies from early childhood through postsecondary education for the betterment of California's students. The measure also adds two legislative appointees to the State Board and clarifies roles and responsibilities.
Before being adopted by the Assembly and Senate last week, the proposal was the subject of multiple hearings over several months in both houses of the Legislature. The informational, policy, and budget committee hearings included hours of questions and testimony from a wide range of experts, including elected state and local education leaders and representatives of nearly all statewide education associations and major education equity organizations.
"California has inherited one of the most fragmented education governance structures in the nation, which challenges our ability to implement efficiently the transformative initiatives that move our schools forward. Our work as education leaders requires that we adopt a continuous improvement approach to ensure that our system is coherent, effective, and responsive to the changing needs of our students and our society," said State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. "The signing of Assembly Bill 181 will help us build on the meaningful progress the state has made in recent years to support greater equity and excellence in our public schools."
The presentations from the Legislative Analyst's Office and others highlighted the many studies and reports over the years that have uniformly found that, in the words of the Legislature's 2002 Master Plan for Education: "California's K-12 education system is governed by a fragmented set of entities with overlapping roles that sometimes operate in conflict with one another, to the detriment of educational services offered to students."
"This reform is long overdue. For nearly a century, independent reports have called for fixing our fragmented education governance system," said Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), Chair of California State Assembly Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance. "Past leaders failed to act, and our students have paid the price, as reflected in the persistent and unacceptable achievement gaps experienced by Black and Hispanic students. AB 181 is a call to action that begins by aligning authority, accountability, and resources. I thank Governor Newsom for his partnership and for recognizing that the status quo is not good enough. I am committed to ensuring this transition is transparent, accountable, and focused on the only thing that matters: improving student outcomes."
"The current system has regularly prevented the state from aligning policy and administration of our public schools, and creates confusion for our local communities regarding the state's goals," said Dr. Darshana R. Patel (D-San Diego). "My own constituents have consistently asked for better implementation and oversight of state programs to ensure their children's educational success. We can't keep doing the same thing and expect different outcomes for our students, schools, and communities - the ones who have been the real victims of the misalignment of our systems and structures. This is why AB 181 is critical in this moment to ensure clear lines of communication to address student needs."
"The California County Superintendents applaud this historic and long-overdue reform," said Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools. "This change will advance the four things schools need most: coherence, priority-setting, capacity building, and accountability. It gives school districts the focus they need to support their communities. The next steps will be critical, as we collectively take these reforms from policy to practice."
"AB 181 is a historic reform that will better align the governance of California's public education system to serve the state's 1,000 school districts more effectively and, most importantly, improve student outcomes," said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. "We are inspired by Governor Newsom's leadership on this issue and are committed to working with state leaders to ensure the new governance structure delivers meaningful results for California's students."
"California has advanced some of the most ambitious education reforms in the country, but good policy is only as effective as its implementation," said Tatia Davenport, CEO of the California Association of School Business Officials. "Too often, local educational agencies have been left to bridge the gap between state policy and execution. CASBO applauds Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Patel, and Assemblymember Alvarez for their leadership in advancing these long-needed governance reforms. By making authority and accountability more congruent, these reforms create clearer leadership and strengthen the state's ability to provide timely, consistent support to local educational agencies. For school business leaders, that means fewer barriers to implementation and greater confidence that California's historic investments in public education will translate into meaningful results for students, educators, and communities."
In 1921, the Legislature created the State Department of Education and exercised its plenary authority to clarify the roles of the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. However, concerns regarding coherence and authority persisted.
Today, over 100 years later, and after countless calls to address the persistent structural tension, California is taking the long-overdue next step to accelerate support for local educational agencies, and better position California to advance student achievement and educational opportunity.
"The approval of education governance reform, over a century in the making, is a monumental victory for California students that finally establishes a sensible system of state-level accountability to best support them," said Ted Lempert, President of Children Now. "More than 950 diverse organizations across the state called for this reform, and we commend Governor Newsom and Assembly members Alvarez and Patel for their leadership in making this much needed change a reality."
"This represents one of the most significant education governance reforms in California's history," said PACE Executive Director Lupita Cortez Alcala. "This law recognizes that improving education requires more than bold investments--it requires clear leadership, rigorous evaluation, and a commitment to continuous learning. By modernizing governance and strengthening California's capacity for independent evaluation as part of a more coherent education governance system, California is building a stronger foundation for better policy, better implementation, and better outcomes for students."
California has made and continues to make historic investments in public education -- including expanding Universal Transitional Kindergarten, increasing literacy and mathematics supports, strengthening community schools, and improving student mental health services. AB 181 builds on those investments by ensuring the state's governance structure is better equipped to implement statewide priorities and support continuous improvement.
"Good policy is only as strong as its execution," said Christopher J. Nellum, Ph.D., Executive Director of EdTrust-West. "We applaud Governor Newsom and legislative leaders for taking a bold, long-overdue step to fix a governance system that has too often put bureaucracy ahead of student outcomes. By better aligning leadership, accountability, and implementation, this reform will help turn ambitious policies and equity investments into real results for students - especially students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds."
"California's students deserve an education system where leadership is aligned in support of the educators who serve them every day," said Edgar Zazueta, Ed.D, Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators. "The state education governance reforms put forward by the Governor and approved by the Legislature create a more coordinated approach to educational leadership that will help state agencies work more effectively with educators in support of schools. School leaders across this state are proud to support this important step toward strengthening public education and improving outcomes for California's nearly six million students."
The legislation takes effect January 2027 when the new Governor and SPI take office and includes additional planning and reporting requirements to ensure a thoughtful transition to the new governance model and possible further education governance consolidation and streamlining.
All statewide school management associations, leading superintendents and education professors, major education equity organizations, and over 950 organizations overall expressed their strong support for this reform.
Governor Newsom's commitment to TK-12 education
Under the Newsom administration, California has dramatically increased investments in TK-12 public education, with a focus on accelerating learning and prioritizing equity, and has fundamentally transformed the promise of public education in the state. The 2026 Budget Act provided $151.4 billion in total TK-12 education funding - the highest funding ever for California students.
California has expanded access to universal education beginning at age four through transitional kindergarten; broadened access to free before- and after-school, and summer programs to more than 1 million elementary school students, providing nine hours of developmentally appropriate academic and enrichment activities each school day and six weeks each summer. The state has placed literacy coaches in the highest-need schools as part of the comprehensive Golden State Literacy Plan, which includes ensuring that all California students in grades K-2 are screened for reading difficulties to better assess the need for supports for long-term success. California also became the first state in the nation to guarantee universal free school meals so that every child receives breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.
The state's $4.1 billion Community Schools Initiative that has reached one of every four schools is another cornerstone of this transformation. Rigorous recent research shows that schools participating in this initiative--those that provide comprehensive supports for students and families--demonstrate significantly greater gains in English language arts and mathematics achievement, along with lower chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, compared to similar schools without such supports. The 2026 Budget Act includes $1 billion in ongoing funding for existing community schools and expands the model to 3,700 additional school sites that have large concentrations of students from low-income families, English learners, and youth in foster care.
These transformative investments and initiatives are preparing California's students for success. As demonstrated by the latest statewide testing results, even as the share of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the tested population has risen, California's students continue to rebound from the pandemic, with measurable gains in every subject tested, at every grade level, and for every student group.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/10/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-enacting-long-recommended-changes-to-improve-tk-12-school-governance-in-california/
Calif. Gov. Newsom Signs Historic Investments to Bolster Support for Special Education
SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
* * *
Governor Newsom signs historic investments to bolster support for special education
What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed legislation to increasing funding for K-12 special education by $2.4 billion - a 43% increase from the year prior.
-
Continuing the Governor's work to bolster the state's education system and create a stronger learning environment for all students, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 126, the education trailer bill for the California state budget ... Show Full Article SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * Governor Newsom signs historic investments to bolster support for special education What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed legislation to increasing funding for K-12 special education by $2.4 billion - a 43% increase from the year prior. - Continuing the Governor's work to bolster the state's education system and create a stronger learning environment for all students, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 126, the education trailer bill for the California state budgetthat allocated an additional $2.4 billion for special education funding. The legislation builds on billions invested to expand access to Governor Newsom's historic transitional kindergarten, $215 million invested last year to boost child literacy through Literacy Coaches and the Reading Specialists Grant Program, and the state's pioneering effort to provide free school meals for all students - reflecting the state's ongoing commitment to invest in and improve instruction and services for all students, including students with disabilities.
This $2.4 billion increase in special education funding -- a 43% increase from the 2025 Budget Act -- ensures all local educational agencies in the state can receive special education funding at the same rate and will increase the per-student rate to $1,340. These investments contrast with the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Education, an action that directly affects the quality of educational services available.
* * *
I've heard directly from parents across California: their kids need more, and they deserve better. These actions answer that call. Today, we are making record investments in special education, to build a stronger system that gives every child the opportunity to succeed and leaves California's schools better than we found them.
- Governor Gavin Newsom
* * *
"The bold contours of the recently enacted state budget frame the redefinition of public education that has occurred over the last 7 years," said Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the California State Board of Education. "Despite continued revenue constraints and uncertainty around federal funding, the 2026 State Budget continues this administration's strong commitment to sustaining core TK-12 programs while also investing in the future of our schools. These thoughtful investments demonstrate California's continued commitment to opportunity, equity, and long-term success for all students, particularly those with the greatest needs."
"I have heard from families and from educators on the need to support students in Special Education; that is why I am extremely proud of this budget. These investments mean more reading specialists, more behavioral health aides, and more one-on-one support that will directly improve student outcomes," said Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), Chair of California State Assembly Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance. "For students with disabilities, this means real progress in the classroom and beyond. I thank Governor Newsom for his partnership in funding this long-overdue investment that will make a difference for our kids."
"This state budget contains record funding for Special Education to better serve students with disabilities and ensure that families have access to the support services they need," said Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D-Pasadena), Chair of Senate Education Committee and Chair of Subcommittee No.1 on Education. "This historic $2.4 billion increase is the largest investment of its kind in state history and reinforces that our students in Special Education are seen and valued. I applaud Governor Newsom for this important commitment to improving outcomes for California students with disabilities."
The 2026 State Budget includes a historic $80 million in ongoing funding for the special education extraordinary cost pool, which provides reimbursements to special education local plan areas for students with specified high-cost service needs, and the low-incidence disabilities add-on, which provides additional funding to support students with rare, highly specialized needs. The Budget also provides a one-time increase of $30 million for the Supporting Inclusive Practices Project, which provides resources to schools and educators to expand access to the general education environment for students with disabilities.
The Budget includes a one-time $25 million increase for the Inclusive College Technical Assistance Center. The Center facilitates collaboration between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to expand inclusive college opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, help those students develop life skills, and model inclusive postsecondary education communities.
The Governor's Budget provides a one-time investment of $10 million to develop resources and provide technical assistance to support the implementation of alternative pathways and alternative means to a high school diploma for students with disabilities.
Governor Newsom's commitment to TK-12 education
Under the Newsom administration, California has dramatically increased investments in TK-12 public education, with a focus on accelerating learning and prioritizing equity, and has fundamentally transformed the promise of public education in the state. The 2026 Budget Act provided $151.4 billion in total TK-12 education funding - the highest funding ever for California students.
California has expanded access to universal education beginning at age four through transitional kindergarten; broadened access to free before- and after-school, and summer programs to more than 1 million elementary school students, providing nine hours of developmentally appropriate academic and enrichment activities each school day and six weeks each summer. The state has placed literacy coaches in the highest-need schools as part of the comprehensive Golden State Literacy Plan, which includes ensuring that all California students in grades K-2 are screened for reading difficulties to better assess the need for supports for long-term success. California also became the first state in the nation to guarantee universal school meals so that every child receives breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.
The state's $4 billion Community Schools Initiative that has reached one of every four schools is another cornerstone of this transformation. Rigorous recent research shows that schools participating in this initiative--those that provide comprehensive supports for students and families--demonstrate significantly greater gains in English language arts and mathematics achievement, along with lower chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, compared to similar schools without such supports. The 2026 Budget Act includes $1 billion in ongoing funding for existing community schools and expand the model to 3,700 additional school sites that have large concentrations of students from low-income families, English learners, and youth in foster care.
These transformative investments and initiatives are preparing California's students for success. As demonstrated by the latest statewide testing results, even as the share of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the tested population has risen, California's students continue to rebound from the pandemic, with measurable gains in every subject tested, at every grade level, and for every student group.
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Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/09/governor-newsom-signs-historic-investments-to-bolster-support-for-special-education/
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Governor Newsom signs historic investments to bolster support for special education
What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed legislation to increasing funding for K-12 special education by $2.4 billion - a 43% increase from the year prior.
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Continuing the Governor's work to bolster the state's education system and create a stronger learning environment for all students, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 126, the education trailer bill for the California state budget ... Show Full Article SACRAMENTO, California, July 11 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on July 9, 2026: * * * Governor Newsom signs historic investments to bolster support for special education What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed legislation to increasing funding for K-12 special education by $2.4 billion - a 43% increase from the year prior. - Continuing the Governor's work to bolster the state's education system and create a stronger learning environment for all students, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 126, the education trailer bill for the California state budgetthat allocated an additional $2.4 billion for special education funding. The legislation builds on billions invested to expand access to Governor Newsom's historic transitional kindergarten, $215 million invested last year to boost child literacy through Literacy Coaches and the Reading Specialists Grant Program, and the state's pioneering effort to provide free school meals for all students - reflecting the state's ongoing commitment to invest in and improve instruction and services for all students, including students with disabilities.
This $2.4 billion increase in special education funding -- a 43% increase from the 2025 Budget Act -- ensures all local educational agencies in the state can receive special education funding at the same rate and will increase the per-student rate to $1,340. These investments contrast with the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Education, an action that directly affects the quality of educational services available.
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I've heard directly from parents across California: their kids need more, and they deserve better. These actions answer that call. Today, we are making record investments in special education, to build a stronger system that gives every child the opportunity to succeed and leaves California's schools better than we found them.
- Governor Gavin Newsom
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"The bold contours of the recently enacted state budget frame the redefinition of public education that has occurred over the last 7 years," said Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the California State Board of Education. "Despite continued revenue constraints and uncertainty around federal funding, the 2026 State Budget continues this administration's strong commitment to sustaining core TK-12 programs while also investing in the future of our schools. These thoughtful investments demonstrate California's continued commitment to opportunity, equity, and long-term success for all students, particularly those with the greatest needs."
"I have heard from families and from educators on the need to support students in Special Education; that is why I am extremely proud of this budget. These investments mean more reading specialists, more behavioral health aides, and more one-on-one support that will directly improve student outcomes," said Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), Chair of California State Assembly Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance. "For students with disabilities, this means real progress in the classroom and beyond. I thank Governor Newsom for his partnership in funding this long-overdue investment that will make a difference for our kids."
"This state budget contains record funding for Special Education to better serve students with disabilities and ensure that families have access to the support services they need," said Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D-Pasadena), Chair of Senate Education Committee and Chair of Subcommittee No.1 on Education. "This historic $2.4 billion increase is the largest investment of its kind in state history and reinforces that our students in Special Education are seen and valued. I applaud Governor Newsom for this important commitment to improving outcomes for California students with disabilities."
The 2026 State Budget includes a historic $80 million in ongoing funding for the special education extraordinary cost pool, which provides reimbursements to special education local plan areas for students with specified high-cost service needs, and the low-incidence disabilities add-on, which provides additional funding to support students with rare, highly specialized needs. The Budget also provides a one-time increase of $30 million for the Supporting Inclusive Practices Project, which provides resources to schools and educators to expand access to the general education environment for students with disabilities.
The Budget includes a one-time $25 million increase for the Inclusive College Technical Assistance Center. The Center facilitates collaboration between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to expand inclusive college opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, help those students develop life skills, and model inclusive postsecondary education communities.
The Governor's Budget provides a one-time investment of $10 million to develop resources and provide technical assistance to support the implementation of alternative pathways and alternative means to a high school diploma for students with disabilities.
Governor Newsom's commitment to TK-12 education
Under the Newsom administration, California has dramatically increased investments in TK-12 public education, with a focus on accelerating learning and prioritizing equity, and has fundamentally transformed the promise of public education in the state. The 2026 Budget Act provided $151.4 billion in total TK-12 education funding - the highest funding ever for California students.
California has expanded access to universal education beginning at age four through transitional kindergarten; broadened access to free before- and after-school, and summer programs to more than 1 million elementary school students, providing nine hours of developmentally appropriate academic and enrichment activities each school day and six weeks each summer. The state has placed literacy coaches in the highest-need schools as part of the comprehensive Golden State Literacy Plan, which includes ensuring that all California students in grades K-2 are screened for reading difficulties to better assess the need for supports for long-term success. California also became the first state in the nation to guarantee universal school meals so that every child receives breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.
The state's $4 billion Community Schools Initiative that has reached one of every four schools is another cornerstone of this transformation. Rigorous recent research shows that schools participating in this initiative--those that provide comprehensive supports for students and families--demonstrate significantly greater gains in English language arts and mathematics achievement, along with lower chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, compared to similar schools without such supports. The 2026 Budget Act includes $1 billion in ongoing funding for existing community schools and expand the model to 3,700 additional school sites that have large concentrations of students from low-income families, English learners, and youth in foster care.
These transformative investments and initiatives are preparing California's students for success. As demonstrated by the latest statewide testing results, even as the share of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the tested population has risen, California's students continue to rebound from the pandemic, with measurable gains in every subject tested, at every grade level, and for every student group.
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Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/09/governor-newsom-signs-historic-investments-to-bolster-support-for-special-education/