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…

We were happy to be at the Darke County Fire Training Facility ribbon cutting last week. State funds helped to make this dream a reality, and DMGS was honored to be a part of that advocacy. 📣

#ICYMI: 🕶️ Smart glasses are showing up everywhere, and state lawmakers are working out how to handle them. Our recent blog post looks at the smart glasses legislation moving across the country in 2026. It covers how states are approaching recording indicators, notice and consent, biometric data and use behind the wheel. 🔍📜 statecapitallobbyist.com/tec…

#ICYMI: On September 28, 2026, the United States Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, S. 4668, a comprehensive federal proposal that would put much of the country on a single field under a single federal playbook governing student-athlete name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) rights, transfer rules, athlete-agent regulation, medical protections, revenue-sharing limitations, and certain college sports media-rights arrangements. statecapitallobbyist.com/spo…

#NEW: 🕶️ Smart glasses can translate conversations, give hands-free directions and help people with vision or hearing loss. They can also record without anyone noticing, and lawmakers are taking notice. In 2026, several states moved smart glasses legislation covering recording lights, notice and consent, biometric data and even driving. Their approaches varied widely, from new rules for manufacturers to new duties for the people wearing the glasses. 📜⚖️ Our latest post looks at where things stand: statecapitallobbyist.com/tec…

Congrats to our friends at #SinclairCC!

New Jersey farmers whose fruit crops were damaged or destroyed by an unexpected four-day freeze last spring could apply for grants to help them recover their losses under new legislation that would earmark $60 million in state funding for such relief. newjerseymonitor.com/2026/10…

Gov. Tina Kotek is asking the Trump administration to delay new Medicaid work requirements that could affect hundreds of thousands of Oregonians, warning that late federal rule changes could put people’s coverage at risk. oregonlive.com/health/2026/1…

#NEW: The U.S. Senate has passed the most significant federal intervention in college athletics in modern history. 🏈 On September 28, the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 (S. 4668) cleared the Senate 77–22. If enacted, it would replace today's state-by-state NIL patchwork with a single federal playbook, including: ▪️ A federal NIL right for student-athletes, with disclosure for deals over $600 ▪️ Preemption of conflicting state NIL, transfer, and eligibility laws ▪️ A codified revenue-share cap tied to the House settlement ▪️ One free transfer between four-year schools, plus defined exceptions ▪️ Targeted antitrust protections for enforcing the new rules ▪️ New medical coverage requirements and an independent Student Athlete Ombudsman The ball is in the red zone, but House action and a final deal are still to come. Our latest blog breaks down what institutions, conferences, collectives, and athletes should watch. 👇 statecapitallobbyist.com/con…

A panel of Pennsylvania House members advanced a bill last Tuesday that would allow the sale of some kratom products to continue in the state, while banning others and creating stricter regulations for sellers. penncapital-star.com/governm…

A New Jersey Senate panel unanimously advanced legislation that would require preapproval for a range of automated digital tools in the workplace and limit the use of electronic monitoring inside and outside of the workplace. newjerseymonitor.com/2026/10…

A California bill that would have limited the use of artificial intelligence in therapy was vetoed Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Read more at: sacbee.com/news/politics-gov…

Republican leaders of the General Assembly plan to reconvene lawmakers for a special session this week to address rising fuel costs in North Carolina, including by potentially suspending the state’s gas tax for a period of time. pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/taxe…

We’re proud to see our client, the Carnegie Library of Homestead, host the Steel Valley Accelerator’s inaugural State of the Steel Valley Legislative Breakfast. Bringing together elected officials, community leaders, businesses, and local organizations for conversations like these is how strong partnerships are built and regional priorities move forward. It was a great morning in the Steel Valley!

Organizations across #Pennsylvania with capital, infrastructure, and equipment needs should begin preparing now for the next round of the Statewide Local Share Account (LSA) grant program, which opened September 1, 2026, and closes November 30, 2026. Learn more: 👇️ statecapitallobbyist.com/gra…

💰️ 📝 #Pennsylvania's Statewide #LSA grant program opens September 1, 2026 — and it's one of the most flexible capital funding tools available to municipalities, authorities, economic development organizations, and nonprofits. ✅ Up to $1M per project ✅ No required match ✅ Covers construction, equipment, land acquisition, and more Nonprofits: you can't apply directly, but an eligible public entity can apply on your behalf — so start those conversations now. Applications close November 30. Our DMGS team can help you assess project fit and build a competitive application. statecapitallobbyist.com/gra…

#NEW: U.S.-Canada #tariffs escalate: New 50% tariffs on select Canadian goods (alcohol, dairy, autos + more) took effect Aug 22 after negotiations ended without an agreement. Canada plans ~C$27.6B in counter-tariffs starting Sept 8. A further increase to 50% on autos/steel by Jan 1, 2027 has also been floated. USMCA status ≠ automatic exemption — businesses should check HTSUS classifications now. Full breakdown 👇 statecapitallobbyist.com/tax…

#ICYMI: On August 18, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05, a new Pennsylvania data center executive order addressing the growth of data center development across the Commonwealth. The order begins implementing the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, which were first announced earlier this year. statecapitallobbyist.com/art…

A Georgia House study committee is considering whether to strengthen or clarify the state's laws regulating excessive noise like the kind caused by modified mufflers. axios.com/local/atlanta/2026…

New Mexico was considered the hardest-to-count state in the contiguous U.S. during the 2020 census, an expert told a panel of state lawmakers Wednesday while encouraging them to begin planning for the 2030 census. sourcenm.com/2026/08/20/new-…

New York lawmakers are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation establishing new regulations for large-scale data centers in the state. midhudsonnews.com/2026/08/24…