The Biden Administration has partnered with five cities and the State of California in efforts to reduce homelessness.

The staying power of these laws will depend on a number of factors, including the willingness of states to accept increased borrowing costs or whether to utilize the laws' existing exceptions to obtain a more economically advantageous deal.

The investor-driven committee created guidelines to help small- and medium-sized issuers provide more uniform disclosure.

The bill would bar the state from doing business with companies that apply ESG to investment decisions and/or "boycott" favored industries.

Attorneys general from 16 states filed an amicus brief supporting Oakland and San Francisco's climate change lawsuit against oil companies.

UBS will compensate a Texas school district, which was forced to resell bonds after the state attorney general rejected the investment bank's contract to purchase the debt.

"Our ratings reflect the progress the city has made over time on important issues like rebuilding reserves and improving the health of our pension fund," said Philadelphia Treasurer Jackie Dunn.

The Federal Reserve Board governor said adopting policies on climate change are not necessary and risk hurting the central bank's credibility.

Democrats and Republicans each said the other party's position on ESG investing carries additional costs for states.

"This recent escalation of the Disney-DeSantis fight is unnerving, but it doesn't make that fight any more consequential for the municipal market," said Justin Marlowe of the University of Chicago.

The resignation comes after the bank was placed on the state treasurer's list of fossil fuel industry boycotters.

The placement of Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America on the list makes them ineligible for state and local government contracts.

Despite legislation and political rhetoric, demand for environmental, social, and governance focused debt remains strong.

"When the rating agencies developed and rolled out their ESG scores, they said their ESG scores would not impact an issuer's credit rating. We are holding them to their word," said Ben Watkins, director of the state Division of Bond Finance.

In a supply-challenged market, foreign investors can play a role in buying taxable munis. 16Rock Asset Management's James Pruskowski discusses a 2023 reset in the muni market. Lynne Funk hosts (29 minutes)

"What are our options? You either pick these banks or you don't. If you don't, business shuts down. We stop building infrastructure," said state Treasurer John Schroder, the bond commission chair.

Gov. Laura Kelly allowed the bill's enactment without her signature, citing its "potential unforeseen consequences."

Proceeds will be used to refund some bonds that had been issued to finance or refinance eligible clean water and drinking water projects in the state.

The Florida Legislature has passed a law that bans the issuance of municipal bonds, such as green bonds that use environmental, social or governance criteria. The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

"Florida may have the statutory authority to abrogate an agreement, but  what does that say for things going forward?" asks Joseph Krist, publisher of Muni Credit News. "Why couldn't an anti-development administration do the same thing in reverse to somewhere like the Villages?"