State Democrats are ringing in the new year with a full slate of agenda items and priorities to better the lives of the American people heading into the 2025 legislative sessions. From red states to purple states to blue states – with proposals to expand IVF protections, restore abortion access, cut health care costs, and ensure that public schools are fully funded – Democrats are proving once again that our agenda is aimed to better the people and communities that need it the most. Across the country, Democrats are also gearing up to combat Trump and MAGA Republicans’ extremism by pushing legislation that codifies and strengthens Americans’ rights and freedoms. 

• In Arkansas: Arkansas Advocate: Education, maternal health, mental health will spark debate among Arkansas lawmakers in 2025
• In Kentucky: Kentucky Lantern: KY lawmaker under ‘no delusion’ bill restoring abortion access will pass. She’s filing it anyway.
• In Maryland: Baltimore Sun: Maryland lawmakers tee up 2025 legislative priorities for January session
• In Massachusetts: Boston Globe: Mass. legislative leaders begin new session with promises to improve transparency, efficiency
• In Massachusetts: GBH: Reformists sense momentum as new state legislative session begins
• In Montana: Daily Montanan: Montana legislators talk education priorities for 2025 session
• In New York: New York Times: Democratic N.Y. Lawmakers Brace for Risks of a Trump Administration
• In Oregon: Oregon Capital Chronicle: New laws go into effect in Oregon to help curtail medicine costs, reduce drug use on transit
• Nationwide: Virginia Mercury: Some states on track to restore abortion access, while others push for fetal rights in 2025

Meanwhile, MAGA Republicans are promising to take their extremism even further in 2025. Across the country, Republican state lawmakers’ 2025 playbook includes deepening restrictions on Americans’ rights and freedoms while pushing legislation that hurts the middle class and our public schools. 

• In Idaho: Idaho Statesman: Republicans to focus on school vouchers, DEI, immigration as Idaho Legislature returns
• In Missouri: Missouri Independent: Republican lawmakers seek further expansion of Missouri charter schools
• In Missouri: Missouri Independent: Missouri Republicans want to restrict abortion again. Can they agree on how?
• In New Hampshire: NHPR: NH Republicans want to withhold money from schools if they house immigrants
• In Ohio: Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio lawmakers passed a wave of anti-LGBTQ bills during the most recent General Assembly
• In South Dakota: South Dakota Searchlight: Staunch conservatives take leadership positions in GOP-led state Legislature 
• In Tennessee: The Nashville Banner: Vouchers, Immigration and Reproductive Rights to Remain Top Issues in Tennessee Legislature
• In Utah: Salt Lake Tribune: Proposed ban on pride flag from Utah schools revived by GOP lawmaker