FEDERAL
Federal Bill of Shame – September 2026: Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act
The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Tx.), takes a shortsighted and heavy-handed approach to artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. It would ban the development and deployment of “artificial superintelligence”— an AI that and pause certain advanced AI development until a new regulatory body establishes a framework that ostensibly ensures safety.
Federal Bill of the Month – August 2026: S. 3931 – the Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act
Introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act (S. 3931) is a critical step toward overhauling the deeply dysfunctional, unfair, and costly system for administering federal taxation run by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Key reforms include bolstered online account access to six years of tax history, expanded Tax Court jurisdiction to hear refund suits, and more safeguards regarding late filings and tax penalty assessments.
Federal Bill of the Month – July 2026: H.R. 6955 – Main Street Capital Access Act
Introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Financial Institutions Chairman Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and passed by the House on July 21, H.R. 6955—the Main Street Capital Access Act—is a vital step toward modernizing America’s banking regulatory framework, curbing regulatory overreach, and bolstering local community banks that fuel small-business growth across America.
STATE
State Bill of Shame – September 2026: Michigan SB 1181
Introduced by Michigan State Senator John Cherry (D-Mich.), Michigan State Senate Bill SB 1181, the “Kratom Consumer Protection Act,” seeks to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and sale of kratom products, including products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The legislation would significantly restrict 7-OH products by prohibiting kratom products in which 7-hydroxymitragynine exceeds 2 percent of the product’s total alkaloid composition.
State Bill of the Month – August 2026: Massachusetts Senate Bill 3200
Passed by the Massachusetts Senate, S. 3200 (“An Act Promoting Transparency and Public Access in State Government”) paves the way for a more transparent and accountable state government. The bill, which is currently in a bicameral Conference Committee, establishes for the first time a legal right for Massachusetts taxpayers to gain access to state information currently withheld from the public such as executive records created by the Governor’s Office, official legislative roll call votes, committee voting results, and recorded positions taken by individual state senators and representatives.
State Bill of the Month – July 2026: Idaho H.B. 583
Signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little (R), H.B. 583 protects the private property rights of Idaho homeowners by safeguarding rights to rent property short-term. The law, which took effect on July 1, prohibits local governments from regulating short-term rentals except in cases where public health and safety are in jeopardy.
To explore why this bill is necessary, it is critical to understand the wider economic context. Idaho has a year-round tourism economy with well-visited destinations such as Sun Valley, Sandpoint, and Coeur d’Alene. Tourism is currently Idaho’s third-largest industry and generates substantial revenue, with the Travel Alliance of Idaho estimating $5.83 billion, or $16 million per day, in direct spending in 2023.