January 17, 2025
Week in Review: January 17, 2025
California Policy Center released a guide for how to help victims of the LA wildfires.
Independent Institute’s Research Fellow Kristian Fors, who was evacuated from his family’s home near the Eaton fire in California, pointed out in an interview on Fox News that locals are wondering what their tax dollars are going toward as officials struggle to contain devastating wildfires fanned by strong winds.
Institute for Reforming Government announced Alesha Guenther as the organization’s Marketing and Communications Director. Alesha will promote the organization’s mission of building bridges, connecting people to policy, and solving kitchen table issues to stakeholders, donors, and members of the media.
Mountain States Policy Center launched WONK, a groundbreaking legislative artificial intelligence (AI) companion that will read, explain, and answer questions about every bill proposed in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Washington.
Palmetto Promise Institute President & CEO Wendy Damron was awarded the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Doer Award at the Awakening by Heritage Conference this past weekend.
Sutherland Institute released new polling data from its recent survey taken during the 2024 election cycle, which gathered voters’ thoughts on where they stand on important election policy issues.
Thomas Jefferson Institute released a poll showing that a majority of Virginia voters, including a majority of independents, oppose giving the state authority to override local zoning rules.
The Buckeye Institute filed Sheldon v. OAPSE on behalf of Matthew Sheldon, who spent nearly a decade as a member of the government union but chose to exercise his 1st Amendment Janus rights to quit the union and instructed the union to stop taking money out of his paycheck. They refused, and in response Buckeye’s case demands that the government union stop its illegal wage theft and return the money it took out of his paycheck after he quit the union.
Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of educational advocate Corey DeAngelis, asking a federal court to hold a Kentucky school district accountable for violating his First Amendment rights. In interviews on BBC News, the Washington Times’ Court Watch Podcast, and iHeartRadio’s Scott Sloan Show, Liberty Justice Center President Jacob Huebert discusses the U.S. Supreme Court’s Friday hearing on LJC’s First Amendment challenge to the TikTok ban.
The Buckeye Institute offered a brief with eight commonsense policy reforms that lawmakers should adopt to ensure that Ohio’s higher education system prepares graduates to meet the demands of the 21st century job market. By adopting these Buckeye-recommended reforms, Ohio policymakers will make the state’s higher education system more flexible and responsive to students and families, and they will reward cost-effective instruction.
Empower Mississippi released a second brief on state labor force trends, Moving the Needle: Select Recommendations for Improving Mississippi’s Labor Force Participation Rate, which highlights solid growth in the labor force participation rate and includes select recommendations for continued improvement.
Kansas Policy Institute published recommendations for the Legislature to control spending by compelling compliance with the state’s performance-based budgeting law.
Idaho Freedom Foundation posted briefs that reveal how Idaho’s budget got to a point where spending is up 55% over the past 5 years and break down where state and local taxpayer money goes, including how to get rid of the property tax altogether.
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation published a series of briefs on federalism, which point out how it is a cornerstone of American governance.
Mountain States Policy Center issued briefs that show how it’s time to expand Education Savings Accounts in Wyoming, question if changes are needed to Idaho’s initiative process, and call for restraint against expanding lawmaking and the volume of introduced bills in state legislatures.
Washington Policy Center published briefs that sound the alarm on a bill that would make striking workers eligible for unemployment benefit and analyzes a bill that would effectively implement a workaround for rent control in Washington state.
Idaho: State leaders kicked off the 2025 Legislative Session by making it clear it’s not a matter of if, but which taxes will be reduced and by how much — welcome news for state residents (Mountain States Policy Center).
Indiana: Indiana State Senator Ryan Mishler championed groundbreaking legislation to reform Indiana’s Medicaid system by providing a path forward to preserve Indiana’s ability to support the truly needy, while encouraging able-bodied Hoosiers to be self-reliant and protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned money (Foundation for Government Accountability).
Mississippi: Lawmakers proposed eliminating the state income tax — a move that if enacted will cut the roughly $2.2 billion individual income tax over the next ten years, while making additional sweeping adjustments to the tax code (Empower Mississippi).
Montana: Legislators introduced the “Stop Squatters Act,” which clarifies Montana’s laws surrounding squatting and establishes a framework for the removal of unauthorized occupants. By defining unlawful squatting and creating clear enforcement mechanisms, the bill ensures that property owners can protect their investments and reclaim their property swiftly and fairly (Frontier Institute).
Oklahoma: Bills proposing the repeal of the state income tax have now increased in number, as state Senator Dusty Deevers filed another bill proposing it. Senate Bill 305 would eliminate the tax immediately, while Senate Bill 308 would eliminate it by 2029 (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs).
Utah: Lawmakers introduced a bill which would switch the building code mandate for triplexes and quadplexes to the International Residential Code instead of the stricter International Building Code — a move which would significantly lower the construction costs for these types of home. In addition, a state senator sponsored a bill which would direct tax revenue that comes in above forecasted amounts to be used for lowering the income tax rates. Finally, a state representative introduced a bill which would remove the accreditation requirement from certain state jobs. If enacted, the bill would increase the workforce pool for these jobs by not arbitrarily eliminating candidates from unaccredited colleges (Libertas Institute).
Washington: A proposed bipartisan bill would make Washington a part of a Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing respiratory therapists licensed in other states to work in the state without having to jump through time-consuming and costly licensing hoops — a move that could bring relief to both health care workers and patients in Washington state. In addition, another bill proposed to increase the competitiveness of farms and ranches earning less than $2 million annually in gross revenue by eliminating the sales tax on the purchase of any piece of equipment priced at more than $10,000 used for crop production, which would save farmers and ranchers tens of thousands of dollars on purchases of new equipment (Washington Policy Center).
Topics:
More States Introducing Legislation for Phone-Free Schools
Center of the American Experiment
Allentown Students Need More Than Strategic Plans, They Need Choices
Commonwealth Foundation
Georgia Schools Spent Billions in COVID-19 Relief Dollars, But on What, Exactly?
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
5 Solutions for Illinois Schools to Fight Literacy Crisis
Illinois Policy
Personalized Education for All Closer Than You Think
Libertas Institute
Milwaukee Rep Open to Debating School Standards, but Doesn’t Want “Reshuffling”
MacIver Institute
The Case for School Choice
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Bill Would Move Oklahoma School-Board Elections to November
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Microschool First Impressions: Curious Mike & Spencer Blasdale Visit Kaipod
Pioneer Institute
ExcelinEd’s Dr. Kymyona Burk on Mississippi, Early Literacy, & Reading Science
Pioneer Institute
Doree Collins, Cultivate Academy-CTX
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Senator Hashmi Chooses Politics Over Virginia Parents and Children
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
New Survey Shows Information Challenges in Wisconsin Public School System
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Port Washington Data Center Plans Put Spotlight on Wisconsin Power Supply
Badger Institute
A Firestorm of Failures
California Policy Center
The Many Colors of Hydrogen
California Policy Center
In Michigan, Destroy Forests to Build Solar?
Center of the American Experiment
Biden to Lease Public Lands for ‘Clean Energy’ Data Centers
Center of the American Experiment
RGGI Is a Destructive Policy for Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Foundation
Keating: The LA Wildfires
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
California Home Insurance Crisis Provides Another Example of the Pitfalls of Government Intervention
John Locke Foundation
Newsom Right to Waive CEQA for Wildfire Rebuilding, But Lawmakers Should Also Act
Pacific Research Institute
Time to Pursue Emergency Reforms to Battle Wildfires
Pacific Research Institute
An Insurance Emergency after Officials Let Crisis Fester
Pacific Research Institute
How a New State Panel Might Take Control of Local Zoning Permits for Solar Farms
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Unveiling the Flaws: Gary Headrick Discusses Nuclear Waste Cask Dangers
Wyoming Liberty Group
New Report Details How Biden Administration Drove Up Health Insurance Costs
Center of the American Experiment
Maine’s Predictable MaineCare Funding Shortfall
Maine Policy Institute
Should Montana Continue to Expand Medicaid?
Mountain States Policy Center
CA Gov. Newsom to Suspend Enviro Laws for Fire Rebuild
Center of the American Experiment
Build-Build-Build
Mackinac Center
Nebraska Should Tighten the Inflation Adjustment for Its Property Tax Cap
Platte Institute
15 Ways to Improve the M&O Property Tax
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Paper on Squatting in Texas
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Fixing the Squatter Problem: Senator Jim Anderson’s Legislative Push
Wyoming Liberty Group
Study Ranks Minnesota 49th Out of 50 States for Entrepreneurs
Center of the American Experiment
Marriage Rates in Georgia Are Down. But Marriage Still Matters For Quality of Life and Upward Mobility.
Georgia Center for Opportunity
Mass Layoffs Hit 14.7K Illinoisans in 2024, Most from Business Closures
Illinois Policy
Breaking the Benefits Barrier: Florida’s Path to Portable Benefits
James Madison Institute
Meaningful Work Key to Finding Happiness
Mackinac Center
Economic Trends for Michigan in 2025
Mackinac Center
Mississippi on the Cusp of Great Change – If We Can Overcome Inertia
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
This Misguided Grocery Store Definition Could Cost Jobs, Hurt Economy
Mountain States Policy Center
Promises, Potential & Pitfalls Economic Forecast 2025
Nevada Policy
Sedalia Doesn’t Need a 353 Redevelopment Plan
Show-Me Institute
Career and Technical Education in 2025: Growing Support, Consensus and Participation
Sutherland Institute
Banning Guaranteed Income Programs with Rep. Ellen Troxclair
Texas Public Policy Foundation
2024 California Fuel taxes… A Doosey
California Policy Center
A Mandate for Your Money
Center of the American Experiment
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Foundation
The Rainy Day Fund
Commonwealth Foundation
Deficit Watch: January 2025
Commonwealth Foundation
Hochul’s Pushing Affordability. It Would Cost a Lot.
Empire Center
States Combat Stubborn Inflation with Tax Cuts and Reforms
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Atlanta Has $29.8 Million in Public Safety Funding for 2025. Here’s Why It Matters.
Georgia Center for Opportunity
DEI Course Mandates Cost $2 Billion & 40 Million Hours
Goldwater Institute
Walk Back Our Tax Cuts? That Would Be a Shame.
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Illinois Government Pensioners Deserve More Control Over Their Funds
Illinois Policy
Breakdown of the Cooper/ Stein Challenge to the Board of Elections Appointment Move to the Auditor’s Office
John Locke Foundation
Gov Evers Proposes New Office of Violence Prevention, Wants Millions in New State Budget
MacIver Institute
The Tax and Fee Increases in Gov. Mills’ Budget
Maine Policy Institute
Is Professional, Non-Partisan Management the Solution for St. Louis Government?
Show-Me Institute
Legislator Proposes Raising Virginia State Income Tax Rate to 10% for High-Income Households
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Freshman Rep Wants to Change the Constitution to Tax the Rich
Yankee Institute
Teachers Union Convinces State to Dumb Down Teacher Standards
Freedom Foundation
How Government Unions Work Against Interests of Private-Sector Unions, Taxpayers
Illinois Policy
Delaware Legacies: Caesar Rodney vs. Joe Biden
Caesar Rodney Institute
A Conspiracy to Commit Insurrection in MN: Slow-Motion Coup
Center of the American Experiment
How Pennsylvania House Democrats May Derail Shapiro’s National Ambitions
Commonwealth Foundation
Proposed Law Would Let Chicagoans Recall Mayor Johnson in Special Election
Illinois Policy
McGowan: Reasoning Seems so Obsolete
Indiana Policy Review Foundation
The General Assembly Can and Should Be More Transparent
John Locke Foundation
Can We Reverse America’s Epidemic of Loneliness?
Mackinac Center
Survivor of Communism Warns Oklahoma Audience of Chinese Influence
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
In the Delaware Business Times, the Caesar Rodney Institute’s David Stevenson highlights some of the misleading claims of offshore wind supporters.
In The Mercury, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Rachel Langan considers Governor Shapiro’s response to antisemitism at Philadelphia public schools.
In the American Spectator, the Foundation for Government Accountability’s Madeline Malisa highlights how voters wisely dropped ranked-choice voting.
In The Hill, the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s Joshua Crawford points out DC’s Amazon lawsuit reminds us that safety is a luxury for Black Americans.
In the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Goldwater Institute’s Timothy K. Minella notes‘DEI’ should have no part of classrooms, boardrooms, or American life.
In the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s Joe Kent encourages lawmakers to keep the promised income tax cuts intact.
In the Washington Examiner, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s Malia Hill notes Trump should bypass support for the protectionist Jones Act.
In his recent column for The Denver Gazette, the Independence Institute’s Jon Caldara points out Colorado is only one of two states that don’t livestream committee meetings.
In the Deseret News, Libertas Institute’s Devin McCormick and Pablo Garcia Quint discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education.
In the Tampa Free Press, Liberty Justice Center’s Jacob Huebert argues that President Trump changed his tune on TikTok and that the Supreme Court should listen.
In the Washington Examiner, the Mackinac Center’s Jason Hayes notes California wildfires show the cost of misplaced priorities.
In his column for The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Mike Reitz notes that without a well-defined policy plan, Michigan risks spending the next decade meandering without purpose.
In several local Mississippi newspapers, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s Douglas Carswell makes the case for school choice.
In The Center Square, the Mountain States Policy Center’s Jason Mercier considers if changes are needed to Idaho’s initiative process.
In his recent column, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ Jonathan Small notes the tax race is on—and Oklahoma is losing.
In the Washington Examiner, the Pacific Research Institute’s Sally Pipes encourages lawmakers to make hospital prices transparent again.
At Townhall, the Pioneer Institute’s William S. Smith highlights the race to dominate biotechnology innovation.
In the Springfield News-Leader, the Show-Me Institute’s Patrick Tuohey argues Missouri’s new governor must better control state spending.
In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty’s Skylar Croy and Will Flanders consider the proposal to allow citizen-led ballot initiatives in Wisconsin.
In his recent column, John Hood notes central planning fails in health care.
