We are deeply saddened to share that our Managing Director, Eric Martins, has passed away after a short illness. Eric was a defining force in building DMGS into the firm it is today - with government affairs capabilities across the entire country. A respected leader, trusted advisor, and consummate professional, he brought integrity, thoughtfulness, and a rare ability to bring people together across differences. His impact on our firm, our clients, and our broader public policy community cannot be overstated. Beyond his professional accomplishments, which were many, Eric was a generous colleague and a steady presence whose guidance and friendship meant a great deal to so many of us. He will be profoundly missed, and we remain committed to honoring his legacy through the continued dedication and service he championed for our clients and community. Our thoughts are with his wife Dee, his sons Eric and Owen, and his entire family during this difficult time. pepplerfh.com/obituaries/eri…

Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott, flanked by Appropriations Chair Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, and other bipartisan house members, unveiled the chamber’s latest budget proposal in Richmond on Friday, which they framed as a “compromise package” that they urged the state Senate to accept. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/…

The #Alaska House of Representatives approved, by a large margin, a historic bill giving a huge tax break to support the Alaska LNG megaproject on Friday. adn.com/politics/alaska-legi…

A coalition that includes Kalshi, Crypto.com and Polymarket filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Kentucky’s first-in-the-nation excise tax on prediction markets. apnews.com/article/predictio…

It is now illegal to sell intoxicating hemp to anyone younger than 21, under a bill signed Friday by #Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. news.wttw.com/2026/06/12/pri…

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an $18.3 billion state budget into law on Saturday, about two weeks ahead of the deadline to avoid a state government shutdown. azmirror.com/briefs/hobbs-si…

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that skill game machines, which have spread across the state, are illegal under the Gaming Control Act, reversing a lower court decision that allowed them to operate in various establishments. wgal.com/article/pennsylvani…

🏛️ New Jersey is moving toward a formal regulatory framework for data centers. Governor Sherrill's four-pillar plan, advancing Senate legislation, and a packed legislative docket in Trenton are reshaping the landscape for developers and communities. Full breakdown here. 👇 statecapitallobbyist.com/art…

🏛️ Pennsylvania's new GRID Standards set the guidelines for data center development in the Commonwealth. Certification requirements, clean energy mandates, prevailing wages, community benefit agreements, and more. Here's what developers and local officials need to know. 👇 statecapitallobbyist.com/art…

Another tremendous announcement from #Sinclair Community College to announce the creation of the SNC-Sinclair Academy on a workforce training partnership with Sierra Nevada. Great to be joined by @LtGovJimTressel, @JobsOhio, and @daytonregion.

🗳️ The 2026 Pennsylvania primary election results are in — and they set the stage for one of the most competitive political landscapes in the country this November. From the Lehigh Valley to Lancaster County to the Philadelphia suburbs, Tuesday's primary produced clear nominees in four key congressional districts, high-stakes state Senate battles, and we saw four incumbent state House members lose their respective primary elections. 🏛️ Our full recap breaks down every major race. Link below. 🔗 statecapitallobbyist.com/unc…

We were glad to be at an event last week where we had the opportunity to speak with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill about some of the issues we are working on in the Garden State!

Last evening, IWS was the premier sponsor for the NWRA reception in Columbus, attended by our Ohio Director Katie DeLand. Always good to see our mascot, Woody!

Huge shout out to our client, Sinclair Community College, for being named a Top 25 Community College by the Aspen Institute (@AspenHigherEd)! This is an incredible honor, and we were proud to celebrate today with @RepMikeTurner, State Representative Tom Young, the Dayton Development Coalition, and @DaytonChamber.

Proud to support our client, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), on their Harrisburg Hill Day earlier this week — 35 meetings across the Capitol advocating for PANO’s membership of 1,100 nonprofits serving 4.2 million residents statewide. Thanks to every legislator and staff who made time. This is what advocacy looks like! #Pennsylvania #Nonprofits #Harrisburg

States are taking action on #crypto kiosk regulation in 2026 — from mandatory fraud disclosures and transaction limits to outright bans. Read our state-by-state breakdown in our latest post: 👇️ statecapitallobbyist.com/cry…

The Alabama Legislature this year approved several bills giving parolees the right to participate in hearings and requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider their efforts at rehabilitation and reform. alabamareflector.com/2026/04…

In Oklahoma, House Bill 4280 aims to increase funding for the state’s roads fund, which helps pay for bridge and road projects. Rep. Nicole Miller, R-District 82, said the bill would add $10 million each year until the fund reaches a cap of $670 million, citing rising costs for construction and materials. ktul.com/news/local/oklahoma…

New Hampshire lawmakers are considering regulations on cryptocurrency ATMs, debating whether stricter consumer protections or a lighter-touch approach better balances fraud prevention with preserving access to the machines for legitimate users. newhampshirebulletin.com/202…

The Tennessee House this week is scheduled to take a final vote on legislation requiring immigration status checks of any applicant for public benefits at state and local public agencies, including in each of the state’s 95 public health clinics. tennesseelookout.com/2026/04…

Legislation has been introduced in Pennsylvania that would ensure local governments and organizations that provide services for the state can continue to receive state funding through a budget impasse. penncapital-star.com/governm…