What We’re Monitoring — January 2026

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest developments we’re monitoring:

• "Strengths and weaknesses" bill in Oklahoma — A bill before the state legislature would allow teachers to help students "better understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the strengths and weaknesses of existing theories, issues, and subjects which may be controversial when covered in a course being taught using evidence-based, peer-reviewed material," leading, potentially, to science denial.
• Legislation to provide climate change scholarships in Wisconsin — Two bills before the state legislature would create a program to award "scholarships to resident students who are enrolled in an institution of higher education [in Wisconsin] and who are engaged in studies directly related to programs preparing the students for careers in occupational areas addressing or responding to climate change."
• A mandatory “intelligent design” bill in Oklahoma again — A bill similar to previous failed legislation would require any public or charter school teacher who teaches evolution also to "provide instruction to students on the concepts of creationism and/or intelligent design."
• Climate change education legislation in Virginia returns — A new bill would require the Virginia board of education to aid local school boards with instructional materials on climate change and environmental literacy.
• The bill requiring climate change in New Jersey public higher education returns — A bill similar to legislation that died in 2025 would require four-year public institutions in New Jersey to adopt a policy requiring students to complete a course with substantial climate change content before graduating.
• Alabama’s taxpayers are paying for anti-evolution textbooks — The CHOOSE Act paid for $100 million in tax credits to pay for private school expenses, including textbooks, one of which described evolution as a “Destructive Faith.”

See our complete list of What We’re Monitoring.