Government

State Law Tracker

New state laws and governor executive orders from across the United States, with plain-English summaries, full official text, and audio narrations. Filter by state or document type.

• New York A.1962-B: Francesco's Law (Safe Storage of Rifles, Shotguns, and Firearms)New York - State law - October 21, 2026Governor Kathy Hochul signed Francesco's Law on October 21, 2026, rewriting New York's firearm safe-storage rules. Every gun owner must now store rifles, shotguns, and firearms locked in a safe storage depository or disabled with a gun locking device whenever the weapon is not in their immediate possession or control, not just when children or prohibited people live in the home. Guns left in vehicles must be unloaded, locked in a proper safe container, and kept out of sight; a glove compartment does not count. The law also creates a new class A misdemeanor when an unsecured gun is actually accessed by a minor under 18 or by someone legally barred from possessing weapons. The state office of gun violence prevention must now collect and publish annual data on injuries and deaths of minors from unsecured firearms.
• New York S.7236: Ammunition Background Check Denials for Prohibited PurchasersNew York - State law - October 21, 2026Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.7236 on October 21, 2026, alongside Francesco's Law. The one-section bill amends Penal Law section 400.03 so that any required ammunition background check must be denied when the purchaser is prohibited from possessing a shotgun or rifle under state law, under federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)), or under a temporary or final extreme risk protection order. The act took effect immediately upon signing.
• West Virginia Executive Order 2-26: Emergency Dyed-Diesel Fuel ReliefWest Virginia - Executive order - October 20, 2026Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a 60-day state of emergency across all 55 West Virginia counties and signed Executive Order 2-26 on October 20, 2026, to give temporary relief for the use of red-dyed diesel fuel. The order temporarily suspends state penalties (citations, arrests, prosecutions, and seizures) for using dyed diesel on public highways and directs state agencies to stop fuel inspections and tank sampling aimed at detecting its use. Dyed diesel, normally reserved for off-road equipment, is cheaper than highway diesel; the order is estimated to save drivers 20.5 cents per gallon, or about $41 on a 200-gallon fill-up. It takes effect immediately, lasts 60 days (through about December 19, 2026), and follows the October 5 federal dyed-diesel order. (The text below is the Governor's official press release announcing the order; the order's full text had not yet been posted publicly as of October 21, 2026.)
• Nebraska Executive Order 26-25: Emergency Relief Due to Motor Fuel Supply ShortagesNebraska - Executive order - October 19, 2026Governor Jim Pillen declared an emergency over motor fuel supply shortages across Nebraska, citing high fuel demand in the Midwest that has forced haulers to drive farther and make extra trips. The order temporarily waives federal Hours-of-Service limits for drivers hauling gasoline, ethanol blends, or diesel fuel, and lets those vehicles run up to 10 percent over Nebraska gross and axle weight limits (with no single axle over 20,000 pounds) without a permit. It covers non-Interstate highways and runs through 11:59 PM on November 18, 2026. Drivers must carry a copy of the proclamation, and carriers may not let ill or fatigued drivers drive: a driver who asks for rest must get at least ten consecutive hours off duty.
• New York A.6790-A / S.6233-A: Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Worker Tax CreditNew York - State law - October 17, 2026New York quadrupled the state income tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, from $200 to $800 per year for individuals and from $400 to $1,600 for spouses filing jointly who both qualify. Starting with taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, volunteers can claim both the state credit and a local property tax exemption for the same service, where previously they had to choose one. The credit is refundable, so a volunteer whose credit exceeds their tax gets the excess back as a refund. To qualify, a volunteer must have been active for the entire taxable year. The bill also widens the residency rule for the local property tax exemption to include school districts, special districts, and fire districts.
• Nebraska Executive Order 26-24: Statewide Public Safety Communications Task ForceNebraska - Executive order - October 15, 2026Nebraska's governor created a Statewide Public Safety Communications Task Force to study the state's emergency radio and communications systems and recommend fixes. Led by the Nebraska Military Department, the task force brings together the State Patrol, Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Department, and other state and local agencies plus rural volunteer fire leadership. It must audit radio coverage dead zones, equipment compatibility and aging hardware, training gaps, and funding options, then deliver its fact-finding analysis and recommendations to the governor within 60 days. It took effect immediately.
• Ohio Executive Order 2026-04D: Fairness for Ohio's NCAA Student-AthletesOhio - Executive order - October 13, 2026Ohio's governor ordered public and private colleges in Ohio not to enforce NCAA eligibility rules that block Class of 2022 athletes from competing in the 2026-27 school year. To qualify, an athlete must be within five years of turning 19 and of starting college, must have been eligible at the end of their last season, and must not have played professionally. The NCAA's president responded that the governor cannot set NCAA eligibility rules, so the order's effect is contested. (The full text below is the order as reported at signing.)
• Oregon Executive Order 26-27: Protecting Healthcare AccessOregon - Executive order - October 13, 2026Oregon's governor ordered state agencies to act to hold down health care costs and keep Oregonians insured as federal Medicaid changes and the end of enhanced federal subsidies take effect January 1, 2027. The order directs the Division of Financial Regulation to have the state reinsurance program reviewed by a third party and report improvement options by March 2027, directs the Oregon Health Authority and DFR to enforce the requirement that at least 12 percent of insurer spending goes to primary care, requires reviews of timely provider payment and of more cost-effective state purchasing of high-cost prescription drugs (with findings due by March 2027), calls for less administrative burden on primary care clinics and a simpler Medicaid pharmacy benefit, and requires quarterly reports on people who lose or are denied coverage because of the federal changes, with the data to be included decided within 30 days. It took effect immediately. (The text below is the Governor's official press release announcing the order; the order's full text had not yet been posted publicly as of October 15, 2026.)
• North Carolina HB 3 (Session Law 2026-62): Relief at the Pump Gas Tax HolidayNorth Carolina - State law - October 9, 2026North Carolina temporarily suspended its motor fuel excise tax from October 15 through November 30, 2026, to lower prices at the pump. The law also waives penalties for farmers using dyed diesel for agricultural purposes over the same period, and backfills lost highway revenue from the state's Savings Reserve. (Note: the enrolled text sets the holiday-period rate at 19.5 cents per gallon; the governor's office described it as suspending the 41-cent tax.)
• Idaho Executive Order: Suspending Dyed Diesel Inspections During HarvestIdaho - Executive order - October 9, 2026Idaho's governor signed an executive order temporarily suspending state inspections of dyed diesel fuel for 30 days during harvest season. The Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department will pause inspections conducted under Idaho Code section 49-676 while the agencies review existing inspection policies, compare practices in other states, and recommend reforms. The order does not exempt anyone from federal law, other states' laws, or vehicle warranty requirements, and it stays in effect for 30 calendar days unless rescinded or extended. The governor's office said the move builds on a federal directive to cut red tape for farmers and ranchers. (The order's full text has not yet been posted publicly; this page reproduces the governor's press release describing the order.)
• Missouri Executive Order 26-20: Expanding Dyed Diesel Relief for Farmers and TruckersMissouri - Executive order - October 9, 2026Missouri's governor expanded Executive Order 26-19 to allow highway use of dyed diesel fuel for all motor vehicles operating for any purpose, aligning state relief with the federal emergency diesel order. The order suspends state restrictions and penalties for vehicles on Missouri-operated highways, extends the temporary increase in agricultural allowable weight limits, and took effect immediately, expiring December 31, 2026. (The text below is the Governor's official press release announcing the order; the order's full text had not yet been posted publicly as of October 15, 2026.)
• Maryland Executive Order: Emergency Diesel Fuel Relief for Agriculture and ForestryMaryland - Executive order - October 9, 2026Maryland's governor declared a 30-day state of emergency to give the agricultural and forestry industries temporary relief from record diesel prices. Qualifying vehicles hauling agricultural or forestry products may use dyed diesel fuel on public roads without facing state penalties, with no application, registration, or fee required, as long as drivers can show documentation of eligible cargo. The order also waives fees for 30-day Exceptional Hauling Permits. It does not waive federal taxes, penalties, or restrictions. The emergency period lasts 30 days and will not extend beyond December 31, 2026. (The text below is the Governor's official press release announcing the order; the order's full text had not yet been posted publicly as of October 15, 2026.)
• Utah Executive Order 2026-08: A Pro-Human Approach to AI in State GovernmentUtah - Executive order - October 6, 2026Utah's governor ordered state agencies to use AI in a pro-human way: AI must support human judgment, not replace it. The order sets up workforce AI literacy training, privacy safeguards, and ongoing oversight for how Utah's government buys and uses AI tools.
• Michigan HB 5514: Preventing Restraints in Youth Transport ActMichigan - State law - October 5, 2026Michigan banned restraints and degrading practices when transporting children to residential treatment programs, except in genuine emergencies. Youth transportation companies may not use blindfolds, hoods, handcuffs, chains, or similar restraints. Physical restraints are allowed only by trained staff when there is a substantial likelihood of imminent serious harm and no less restrictive alternative. Overnight pickups between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. are prohibited. Violations carry civil fines up to $1,000. Sponsored by state Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan); signed October 5, 2026.
• New York Executive Order No. 65: Disaster Emergency for Measles OutbreakNew York - Executive order - October 5, 2026New York's governor declared a State Disaster Emergency due to an ongoing measles outbreak, effective October 5, 2026, for the entire State of New York until November 4, 2026. (The text below is the official summary from the Governor's Executive Orders listing; the full order is published as a download on that page.)
• Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2026.17: Housing InnovationMaryland - Executive order - October 1, 2026Maryland's governor made housing innovation a state priority, ordering agencies to speed up housing production to close a gap of roughly 184,000 homes needed by 2030, with new tools to cut permitting delays.
• Delaware Executive Order 28: Harm Reduction Program LicensingDelaware - Executive order - September 30, 2026Delaware ordered a phased, evidence-based rollout of licensing for harm reduction programs under a new state law, as overdose deaths fell more than 40 percent since 2023.
• Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2026.16: Responsible Data Center DevelopmentMaryland - Executive order - September 23, 2026Maryland ordered regulators to protect household electricity rates as data centers expand, requiring transparency from data center developers and a review of how their power demand affects ordinary ratepayers.
• Utah Executive Order 2026-07: The Recovery Utah InitiativeUtah - Executive order - September 21, 2026Utah launched the Recovery Utah initiative, a coordinated state effort on addiction recovery that directs agencies to expand treatment access and recovery support services across the state.
• Missouri Executive Order 26-18: License Plate Reader StandardsMissouri - Executive order - September 16, 2026Missouri set minimum statewide standards for automated license plate reader cameras used by agencies receiving state money, covering data retention, access, and privacy protections.
• Missouri Executive Order 26-17: Child Welfare Task ForceMissouri - Executive order - August 25, 2026Missouri created a Child Welfare Task Force to recommend a single statewide safety standard for child welfare, aiming to make child protection more consistent across counties.
• Delaware Executive Order 27: Occupational Licensing ModernizationDelaware - Executive order - August 2026Delaware ordered a modernization of occupational licensing: faster reviews, recognition of out-of-state licenses, and competency-based paths, while leaving statutory standards set by law intact.
• North Dakota Executive Order 2026-06: Rescinding the TikTok BanNorth Dakota - Executive order - August 2026North Dakota rescinded its ban on TikTok on state-owned devices, reversing an earlier prohibition.
• Delaware Executive Order 24: Office of the Surgeon GeneralDelaware - Executive order - July 13, 2026Delaware established an Office of the Surgeon General to lead public health messaging and coordinate the state's health priorities.
• Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2026.11: Immigrant Rights Protection Task ForceMaryland - Executive order - June 5, 2026Maryland created an Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force to coordinate the state's response on immigration enforcement issues and connect immigrants with legal resources.
• Maryland Executive Order 01.01.2026.10: In-State Wood for Public ConstructionMaryland - Executive order - June 1, 2026Maryland now gives preference to in-state wood in publicly funded construction projects, a boost for the state's timber industry.
• Utah Executive Order: A Higher Bar for Data Center DevelopmentUtah - Executive order - May 29, 2026Utah will hold new data centers to higher standards on water and power use. The order directs state agencies to coordinate on data center approvals so the AI boom does not drain the state's water or overload its grid.
• Vermont Executive Order 04-26: AI Economic TaskforceVermont - Executive order - May 18, 2026Vermont created an AI Economic Taskforce to study how artificial intelligence will affect the state's economy and workforce, and to recommend policy responses.
• North Carolina HB 805: Definitions of Sex, Age Verification, and School PoliciesNorth Carolina - State law - Enacted 2025; key provisions effective January 1, 2026North Carolina defined male and female in state law, required age verification for pornographic websites, let public school students opt out of activities conflicting with religious beliefs, and barred schools from assigning opposite-sex roommates on trips. The governor vetoed it; the legislature overrode the veto.
• Texas HB 149: Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA)Texas - State law - Signed June 22, 2025; effective January 1, 2026Texas created a statewide AI governance framework: bans on manipulative AI uses like social scoring and incitement to self-harm, disclosure rules for government AI, civil penalties up to $200,000 per violation, and a regulatory sandbox for testing AI systems.
• Rhode Island SB 2500: Data Transparency and Privacy Protection ActRhode Island - State law - Enacted June 2024; effective January 1, 2026Rhode Island gave residents rights over their personal data: to know what companies collect, correct and delete it, and opt out of targeted ads and data sales. It applies to larger businesses and took effect January 1, 2026, with no grace period for first violations.
• Texas SB 20: AI-Generated Child Pornography OffensesTexas - State law - Signed June 20, 2025; effective September 1, 2025Texas made it a crime to possess or promote AI-generated or cartoon sexual images of children. Supporters called it common-sense child protection; critics warned it threatens free speech and could chill anime and manga.
• Texas SB 1188: AI Disclosure in Health CareTexas - State law - Signed June 20, 2025; effective September 1, 2025Texas requires doctors who use AI for diagnosis or treatment recommendations to tell patients and to review AI-generated records, and gives parents of minor patients full access to electronic health records.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the state law tracker?

A running collection of notable new state laws and governor executive orders from across the United States. Each entry includes a plain-English summary, the full official text, and an AI-narrated audio version.

Are these the actual legal texts?

Yes. The full text of each law and executive order is reproduced from the official state source. Laws and executive orders are edicts of government and are in the public domain.

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Open any entry to find an embedded audio player with an AI narration of the text. Longer documents use an abridged narration covering the opening portion; the complete text is always on the page.

How often is the tracker updated?

New notable state laws and executive orders are added on an ongoing basis. Use the state and type filters to browse what is here now.