Politics

Legislation addressed expanding water supply, paying for flood damage, financing for capital projects, as well as a fiscal 2026 spending plan.

Higher borrowing costs without the tax exemption could force public water, sewer and power providers to raise rates, neglect infrastructure, or sell systems.

California's High Speed Rail Authority has until June 2026 to figure out how to close a $7 billion budget hole, said the LAO's principal fiscal and policy analyst at a budget hearing.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is delaying submitting her 2026 budget while unresolved budget cuts passed by the House in the continuing resolution and then amended by the Senate to repair the damage remain in limbo.

As muni advocates fight for the preservation of tax exemption, foreign investors are using the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card as evidence that increased privatization of assets is needed to improve the grades.

Only Georgia has a higher state-level infrastructure grade from the ASCE than the the C the U.S. received this week. More in the Southeast are C-minus or lower.

The S&P issuer rating upgrade marks the second for Oklahoma since September when Moody's raised its rating a notch to Aa1.

The Los Angeles Legislative Delegation penned a letter to state budget leaders asking for $1.9 billion in fire recovery aid for the city after meeting with city leaders.

The effects of infrastructure spending and the need for more are coming into focus as the municipal bond community is dealing with a Congressional threat to eliminate the tax-exempt status of munis. 

The legislation would create a bond-financed reinsurance program to stabilize the homeowner's insurance market, which has been impacted by wildfires.