More than 1,600 attendees representing nearly 600 organizations from all 50 states and Washington, DC, gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, in late August for SPN’s 33rd Annual Meeting. This annual gathering of policy champions and state leaders is a time for connection, strategy, and celebration.

Annual Meeting is more than just another conference; it’s a time for state and national groups to come together to address concerns in their communities and brainstorm solutions.

Keynote Sessions Inspire Leaders to Fight for Freedom
Our keynote sessions—featuring prominent speakers from both inside and outside of our Network—are among our most highly attended sessions. These speakers share stories and insights that Network leaders take back to their states to advance local solutions and expand freedom.

  • Building a Durable Freedom Infrastructure: We were honored to have Pioneer Institute President Jim Stergios, California Policy Center President Will Swaim and Pelican Institute for Public Policy CEO Daniel Erspamer join our mainstage to talk about how the Durable Freedom Infrastructure (DFI) has accelerated the work they’re doing in their states.

    Each state has its own unique landscape—culturally, geographically, and politically—making one-size-fits-all approaches to policy advocacy ineffective. That’s why our partner organizations leverage DFI’s capabilities in ways tailored to their specific contexts and challenges. Despite these varied approaches, the outcome remains consistent: organizations emerge better positioned to weather political storms and secure enduring freedoms for future generations.

    “Since 2017, our team has mobilized DFI to solve some significant problems and accomplish meaningful wins,” said Daniel Erspamer during his address. “We have to swing for the fences, and while we may miss, we have too much potential to waste. My challenge to you is to think about what you can do now to start building the foundation for what will become your biggest win tomorrow.”

  • The Secret to Happiness and Policy Success: On Tuesday afternoon, Harvard professor and Best-Selling Author Arthur Brooks took the stage to talk about the secret of happiness – and why it’s key to the policy movement and our Network’s role in bringing liberty to the nation at the state level.

    Happiness is more than a feeling. As Arthur explains, it’s a combination of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning in your life. Without one of these three pillars, it may be impossible to find your way to happiness. Our Network champions policy solutions that remove governmental barriers to those looking to create their own happiness.

    “That’s why you’ve come here to celebrate what you do and get to know your peers,” said Arthur. “You truly are serving your nation and truly are serving your communities. That’s why SPN is so critically important. Your individual organizations are in the center of what we desperately need in this country.”

  • Understanding the Strings Attached to Federal Funding: On Wednesday, we welcomed three state leaders to our mainstage to discuss the importance of states keeping a critical eye on federal funding and the strings attached. Utah State Representative Ken Ivory, Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, and Tennessee State Representative Cameron Sexton each shared how their states are working to protect self-governance by resisting unnecessary federal influence.

    As federal funding becomes a larger and larger share of state budgets, many state lawmakers have turned a blind eye (or are simply unaware) of the strings attached. The more states rely on Washington, the harder it becomes to maintain fiscal independence and prepare for future budget crises. Reassessing the true impact of federal funds is no longer optional—it’s essential.

    “The federal government understands that the more money they give out, the harder it is to give back,” said Representative Sexton. “Every state needs to be wary of ‘free’ money and look for every opportunity to get rid of it as quickly and as early as possible.”

Celebrating the Success of our Network
Annual Meeting is not only a time to plan for the future—it’s also a chance to celebrate the state leaders and policy wins that are transforming communities across the country.

  • Communications Excellence Awards
    Good policy alone isn’t enough—it takes winning hearts and minds to turn ideas into action. The Communications Excellence Awards celebrate our Network affiliates who are leading the way with innovative communications strategies that raise awareness and drive policy change.
  • Thomas A. Roe Award
    Named after SPN’s late founder Thomas Roe, the Roe award celebrates those in the state public policy movement whose achievements have greatly advanced free-market philosophy and policy solutions.

    This year’s winner was the president and CEO of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Jonathan Small!

    Big things are happening in Oklahoma thanks to the efforts of the OCPA team under Jonathan’s leadership. Jonathan has grown OCPA into a multi-pronged powerhouse with several DFI capacities, and in 2024 a coordinated campaign between OCPA and People for Opportunity removed a sitting Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice during a retention election—an unprecedented act of long-needed judicial reform in the state.

    You can read more about Jonathan’s landmark work here, and watch the Roe Award announcement video here.

  • The Inaugural Institute for Justice and State Policy Network Mellor Prize
    To honor the legacy of Chip Mellor, SPN and the Institute for Justice launched the Mellor Prize to recognize teams of litigators and advocates who work together to secure significant litigation victories that hold government officials accountable, advocate for civil society and the rule of law, and help the most vulnerable among us who are least able to fight back against injustice.

    The Inaugural Mellor Prize was awarded to the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) for their groundbreaking work at the United States Supreme Court.

    Their efforts led to the overturning of the Chevron doctrine, a decades-old precedent that allowed bureaucrats to interpret the law. Thanks to NCLA’s victory, the judiciary has been restored to its rightful role—ensuring that it is the courts, not unelected bureaucrats, who decide what the law means.

Our 33rd Annual Meeting demonstrated the vital role that state-level policy organizations play in advancing liberty and effective governance across America. From celebrating groundbreaking victories like the overturning of the Chevron doctrine to recognizing innovative approaches to education reform and fiscal responsibility, this gathering showcased how local leaders can create lasting change in their communities.

Attendees return home equipped with ideas, connections, and momentum to drive lasting policy victories in their states.

The diversity of achievements honored—from litigation wins to communications excellence—illustrates that the path to meaningful policy reform requires multiple approaches, sustained effort, and the kind of collaborative spirit that makes Annual Meeting an essential catalyst for the freedom movement nationwide.