State Policy Network is pleased to announce the John Locke Foundation, Georgia Public Policy Foundation, Pelican Institute for Public Policy, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty are the winners of the 2024 Bob Williams Awards for Outstanding Policy Achievement.
The Bob Williams Awards celebrate state think tanks doing exceptional work to develop and disseminate credible policy research and ideas that can help states implement free-market solutions that will have national impact.
The awards celebrate achievements in five categories: Most Influential Research, Best Issue Campaign, Biggest Home State Win, Biggest Win for Freedom, and Best State Based Litigation.
Learn more about the winners and their successful campaigns to improve the lives and livelihoods of American families, below.
In 2017, Governor Roy Cooper initiated a Clean Energy Plan that would cut electricity-based greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by means of solar and wind—both of which are incredibly unreliable and costly.
The governor’s Clean Energy Plan would have ballooned prices for ratepayers, imperiling those on fixed and lower incomes the most, according to Duke Energy’s cost estimates and future grid scenario modeling. Cooper’s plan was a risky, wasteful, and high stakes approach to reducing the state’s emissions goals.
Through timely and thorough research, the John Locke Foundation provided an alternative to the misguided proposals coming from the governor’s office. Energy Crossroads is a first-of-its-kind examination of North Carolina’s two potential energy futures; the state is at a crossroads and how legislators proceeded could either pave a path for abundance or a path of austerity. Would North Carolinians have affordable, reliable energy or would they be subjected to a future of rolling blackouts and rising electricity prices?
The impact of Locke’s research has translated into tangible victories for North Carolina ratepayers. Duke Energy abandoned its initial plan to shoehorn renewables like wind and solar, and North Carolina is poised to retire coal power facilities at a sensible rate, secure grid reliability, maintain energy affordability, all while moving toward a cleaner environment.
The two other finalists for this award include Empower Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, for their joint efforts on an education finance simulator, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
For decades, numerous special interests have fought back against the slightest attempt to reform Georgia’s oppressive certificate-of-need (CON) laws. The Georgia Public Policy Foundation launched a video series and social media campaign highlighting the negative impact of the state’s existing CON laws on patients and providers. Their primary focus was raising awareness among everyday Georgians on how these laws raise costs and restrict access.
The Foundation helped Georgia repeal CON laws in three significant areas thanks to their stories detailing 1) the impact on an Atlanta patient when a health system closed her local hospital—after years spent fighting to keep out any new providers 2) the inability of an Augusta midwife to open a birthing center without first securing approval from her local hospitals and 3) an Athens patient with Stage 4 lung cancer forced to drive to a hospital for PET scans after his oncologist was prevented from acquiring the same equipment. While the final legislation ultimately did not go as far as the Foundation hoped, thanks to the organization Georgia secured CON repeal in all three of these focus areas.
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy achieved a significant victory in 2024 with the enactment of the universal Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (GATOR) Educational Savings Account (ESA) program to give every child a school that fits his or her individual needs. Pelican’s multi-year research, strategy, advocacy, and coalition-building helped overcome a multitude of challenges to gain strong public support and the support of Louisiana’s new governor, legislature, and state education board.
In a state where just 33% of public school students are performing on grade level and deep poverty and outmigration persist, this victory will change thousands of lives for the better and transform the historically underperforming and impoverished state into one of opportunity.
Hawaii is renowned as paradise, but the state has a severe lack of housing and the nation’s highest housing prices. To address this crisis, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii successfully promoted during the 2024 Hawaii legislative session the enactment of two landmark bills—SB3202 and HB2090—that will allow construction of affordable “missing middle” options such as accessory dwelling units and triplexes, as well as conversion of commercial spaces into housing.
Despite opposition from NIMBY groups, including the Honolulu City Council, Grassroot built a broad coalition, conducted outreach, and leveraged policy expertise to secure legislative wins. This elevated Grassroot to being one of the most prominent pro-housing voices in Hawaii, providing momentum for bolder reforms in the future.
In addition, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was a key reason why state leaders passed the biggest income tax cut in state history in June 2024. The reform lowers the state income tax burden for average families by almost 70% by 2031—saving taxpayers roughly $5 billion during that period. These reforms will help the state recover after the devastating fires last August that killed more than 100 people and caused billions in damages.
The US Constitution mandates equal treatment under the law and prohibits the federal government from discriminating on race. However, President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center Program to assist businesses based on the race or ethnicity of the owner.
In March 2023, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty sued the Biden Administration on behalf of three white small business owners, who were denied MBDA assistance solely due to their race. WILL sought to declare the MBDA program unconstitutional and prevent racial discrimination in its operations. In April 2023, a preliminary injunction was granted, and in March 2024, a permanent injunction was issued. District Judge Mark Pittman ruled that the MBDA’s design violated constitutional rights, also awarding WILL $350,000 in legal fees.
This opportunity to win one of the Bob Williams Awards is open to current SPN affiliate members only. All affiliate members are invited to nominate their work in one or more categories. Category finalists are chosen by a selection committee, and the winners are determined by votes from the Network and its supporters. Learn more about the awards here.
