For more than 30 years, State Policy Network has inspired, built, and incubated a Network of state-based policy organizations to develop fact-based research and analysis to fight for free markets, limited government, and federalism. In that time, we’ve seen the Network grow and evolve to build the capacities and influence necessary to win, even in the toughest political climates.
In that time, we have observed six critical components, what we’re calling the Durable Freedom Infrastructure, that state-based organizations are increasingly building and deploying to achieve greater influence, more effective advocacy, and more sophisticated strategies.
Durable Freedom Infrastructure has been the driver of major political shifts, policy wins and implementation, and victories for government transparency and accountability across the country.
Durable Freedom Infrastructure Building Blocks
State Think Tanks
The state think tank is the core intellectual capacity in a state. They are 501c3 organizations focused on research, policy design, and effective advocacy and communication. Most state–based organizations in the SPN Network advance policies in the areas of education reform, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility, energy, affordable and accessible healthcare, and a low tax and regulatory environment.
Our affiliates have come a long way from the ivory tower think tank model that relied primarily on white papers written to a niche audience of lawmakers and staff. These organizations have adapted to the changing environment of 21st century American civic and political life, which requires a more holistic approach to achieve durable policy change. Relevant and credible research remains the foundation of our Network. But this is now paired with sophisticated communications capabilities that package and distribute the policy ideas to reach influential key audiences. And a majority of our affiliates have taken the H-election, meaning they have the flexibility to take their policy research and solutions to the halls of power and lobby for change.
Our Network has engaged in some of the most important state policy wins in a generation. Education freedom is on the march, and state think tanks like Alabama Policy Institute, the Pelican Institute, the Beacon Center of Tennessee, and Opportunity Arkansas have been instrumental in helping their states pass education savings accounts in the last couple of years. Similarly, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation, and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation were on the frontlines in their states cutting taxes last year. The Network has lead on right-to-work, pension reform, government transparency, and efforts to trim red tape. And they are expanding their horizons to take on the cost of housing, access to healthcare, and securing reliable, abundant energy to power the future.
Political Capacity
As our Network evolved into building the capabilities necessary to undertake and execute policy issue campaigns, the need for additional capacities quickly emerged. 501(c)(3) organizations have strict rules and limits on how much lobbying they are allowed to do – putting a hard ceiling on the necessary influence-building and advocacy activities necessary to see a bill become law. And 501(c)(3) organizations are legally prohibited from getting involved in explicit political and election activities.
To address the need for more influence and a stronger strategy, organizations began to stand up a political capacity in their state to supplement the work of the state think tank. The most common political capacity is a 501(c)(4) organization that allows staff to undertake unlimited lobbying (direct and grassroots) as well as the ability to recruit, endorse, and spend money on candidates and issues. About one third of the SPN Network think tanks have accompanying 501(c)(4) organizations.
501(c)(6) membership organizations are another entity to increase influence. These organizations allow for advocacy and investment that advance the interests and priorities of the members. And Political Action Committees (PACs) are entities to raise and spend money directly on candidates.
This added political capacity in the states creates new leverage for think tanks to advance their suite of policy goals and defend federalism.
Litigation Centers
The legislative process isn’t the only arena where SPN Network organizations are fighting for change. The courts provide another critical juncture where major public policy decisions, as well as controversies over federalism, the separation of powers, economic liberty, and individual rights are decided. The legal and litigation capacity is an increasingly powerful tool among SPN organizations.
The Goldwater Institute generated a critical First Amendment victory in 2023 when the Arizona Supreme Court ended mandatory dues to the State Bar. The Buckeye Institute in Ohio recently had the second most amici for granted cases at the US Supreme Court, demonstrating an outsized influence at the high court. And the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has racked up win after win, attacking federal, state, and local government programs that violate the Constitution’s ban on race discrimination.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of SPN legal centers, including The Buckeye Institute, WILL, Liberty Justice Center, Mississippi Center for Justice, Pelican Institute for Public Policy, and Texas Public Policy Foundation were involved in challenges to the OSHA vaccine mandate. as well as the abuse of emergency powers by governors and health departments. And the Mackinac Center and WILL successfully sued to end the abuse of emergency powers wielded by their governor and health department.
When this powerful legal muscle is deployed, think tanks get results that safeguard individual liberty, economic freedom, federalism, and the rule of law.
Voter Insights
As our state think tanks have grown adept at building influence and achieving victories in the state legislature, new efforts are being undertaken to understand the priorities of key voters across the country. The voter insights capability deploys polling, listening sessions, and sophisticated market research to develop messages and issue sets that the public cares about. The Institute for Reforming Government has conducted major focus group and polling projects on suburban women and rural voters in Wisconsin. The Beacon Center of Tennessee, the Foundation for Government Accountability, the John Locke Foundation, and Opportunity Arkansas are conducting regular polling to inform strategy and messaging. And the numbers often provide powerful evidence of the public support for key reforms like education freedom, safety net reforms, and more.
Media & Investigative Journalism
The information ecosystem that provides the news, commentary, and journalism has completely changed. Social media curates narratives and stories to millions of people. Large corporate media companies have consolidated and focused their attention on Washington, DC, and local news reporting from the state house to the school boards and town councils is evaporating. This has left a massive gap – and opportunity – for SPN Network think tanks to build their own media and investigative journalism capacities to shine a light on elected officials, uncover corruption and abuse, and provide critical commentary and policy explainers to the voting public.
The Maine Wire and the Connecticut Inside Investigator have dedicated teams of investigative journalists shining a spotlight on government spending, unaccountable boards and bureaucrats, and the routine malign influence of unions and connected businesses who work to turn on the spigot of taxpayer dollars for special interests. The Carolina Journal has built out a full-scale newsroom of editors, writers, and producers to make politics, policy, culture, and state news accessible to wider North Carolina audiences. Empower Mississippi, the Sutherland Institute, and the Mackinac Center have podcasts to provide a long-form forum to discuss policy with newsmakers, elected officials, and influencers. And the Badger Institute and the Center of the American Experiment publish in-depth policy explainers and commentary on relevant issues to voters and policymakers.
SPN Network journalism capacities are providing original reporting, insightful commentary, and in-depth investigations that are drawing large and influential audiences, driving narratives, and even winning awards.
Leadership Academies
There isn’t a single state where our Network couldn’t use more like-minded friends, capable allies, and influential activists. To meet this need, SPN Network organizations have developed leadership academies to train, inform, and activate new freedom fighters in the states.
The Mountain States Policy Center and the Texas Public Policy Foundation have developed fellowships and courses to immerse high school students in the principles of free markets, an understanding of the policy process, and exposure to leaders and mentors who can aid their professional development. The Oklahoma Center for Public Affairs, the John Locke Foundation, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, and the Mackinac Center have leadership academies aimed at providing college students and young professionals with opportunities to network, speakers, coursework, and connections to the liberty movement. And the Pelican Institute’s leadership academy identifies and equips future leaders in business, policy, and politics.
More than 33 states are working to build out these durable capacities with the help of our in-state partners. The results are clear: more policy wins, more revenue, more talent, and impact that goes far beyond DC’s transient political tug-of-war . In the coming years, SPN will apply our focus to inspire, build, and strengthen the Durable Freedom Infrastructure in the states to equip them for the fights ahead.