Week in Review: April 17, 2026

Announcements
Success Stories
This Week’s Policy Briefs
Tracking Positive Reforms

Jobs in the Network
Tracking Positive Reforms
Policy News from the States
The Network in the News

Announcements

The American Experiment noted that Minnesota ranked higher in state government spending per person than 45 other states.

The California Policy Center highlighted California’s goal to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2045 and raised concerns about economic impact.

The Commonwealth Foundation joined Education Secretary Linda McMahon and state leaders in Harrisburg to urge Governor Shapiro to opt in to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, which would expand educational freedom for Pennsylvania families.

The Independence Institute highlighted that Colorado’s budget challenges stem from rising structural costs, not revenue shortfalls.

The Illinois Policy Institute released data showing Illinois experienced slow job growth last year—with the state’s unemployment rate remaining near the highest nationwide.

The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy found that Massachusetts refugees have brought $6 billion in personal income to New Hampshire since 2012.

The Institute for Reforming Government issued testimony regarding the 2024 DPI Standard-Setting Workshop.

The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy and the Yorktown Foundation for Public Policy are joining forces to create a new organization: Jefferson Forum.

Success Stories

Alabama: Lawmakers delivered 29 of 30 conservative victories during the 2026 regular session, marking a record-breaking legislative year highlighted by the Alabama Policy Institute.

Kansas: Lawmakers ended mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements in higher education, a move celebrated by the Goldwater Institute for protecting academic freedom.

New Jersey: Gov. Sherrill signed legislation removing the state’s ban on new nuclear energy development — a move the Garden State Initiative had long advocated for as essential to ensuring affordable, reliable, low-carbon power.

South Carolina: Gov. McMaster signed H. 4216, lowering income taxes, simplifying the tax bracket system, and setting a path toward eventually eliminating the state income tax—a priority long championed by the South Carolina Policy Council.

Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network

The Buckeye Institute notched a huge win in McNutt v. U.S. Department of Justice—one of its two cases challenging the federal ban on home distilling. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s blockbuster ruling found that the federal home-distilling ban is unconstitutional and exceeds Congress’s authority. McNutt is a companion to The Buckeye Institute’s other home-distilling case, Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury, which is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The Liberty Justice Center and the California Justice Center have filed a petition for the Supreme Court to hear Rocklin Unified School District v. Public Employment Relations Board. This petition asks the Court to protect parents’ fundamental right to raise their children.

Following a Supreme Court decision, The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity’s Law Centre demanded that the RI Department of Health stop enforcing the state’s ban on conversion therapy for minors.

The Show-Me Institute celebrated a decisive court victory for Missouri’s MOScholars program, affirming the legality of student scholarships that expand school choice in the state’s education system.

Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs

The Buckeye Institute released economic modeling revealing that a federal carbon tax would cost Americans $2,900 annually and cause $1.2 trillion in losses by 2034.

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii released a report explaining how building new homes alleviates the housing crisis by creating a chain of housing openings.

The MacIver Institute highlighted that despite tax cuts, Wisconsin’s government spending has surged by over $16 billion—increasing the true tax burden on families.

The New Jersey Policy Institute highlighted the need for improved policies that better support small businesses.

The Pioneer Institute noted how Massachusetts’ current income tax structure may be hindering economic growth and population retention in their tax day reflection.

The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy pointed out that Virginia’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act still imposes costly mandatory payroll contributions.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty found that by 2030 many Wisconsin taxpayers could face significant property tax increases in their release of an interactive calculator.

Policy Watch

Hawaii: Lawmakers are debating whether to repeal scheduled income tax cuts through 2031 to offset anticipated federal funding losses (Grassroot Institute of Hawaii).

Idaho: Gov. Little signed HB 516, prohibiting schools from deducting union dues from teachers’ paychecks or granting paid leave for union activities (Idaho Freedom Foundation).

Illinois: Policymakers are considering a bill that would allow cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and nail technicians to obtain licenses through apprenticeships instead of costly trade school programs (Illinois Policy Institute).

Kansas: Lawmakers passed HB 2043, letting voters petition to block local property tax increases above the inflation rate (Kansas Policy Institute).

Louisiana: Lawmakers are considering SB 490, which would let large energy users like data centers meet their own power needs through private investment, shielding ratepayers from rising costs (Pelican Institute).

Nebraska: Lawmakers approved LB 803, creating tax-advantaged savings accounts for first-time homebuyers to save for down payments and closing costs—now awaiting Gov. Pillen’s signature (Platte Institute).

Jobs in the Network

Director of Development — Open the Books (Virtual)

Major Gifts Officer — Students for Liberty (Virtual)

Manager of Public Affairs — American Institute for Economic Research (District of Columbia)

SEE ALL JOBS

The Network in the News

In the Arizona Republic, the AZ Liberty Network‘s Scot Mussi warns that a new ballot initiative targeting Arizona’s ESA program is a union-backed attempt to dismantle school choice.

In a joint Columbus Dispatch editorial, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and The Buckeye Institute president and CEO Robert Alt write that a recent scandal demonstrates why Ohio’s government-created business development arm needs public accountability.

At Broad + Liberty, the Commonwealth Foundation‘s Guy Ciarrocchi takes on Pennsylvania Democrats for working to cut school choice programs that are popular, effective, and save taxpayers money.

In Lee Newspapers, the Frontier Institute‘s Kendall Cotton notes that Montana’s BI-11 property tax cap is a step in the right direction, but points out that lasting relief will require fiscally conservative limits on the growth of state, school, and local budgets.

In The Wall Street Journal, the Independent Institute‘s John C. Goodman argues that Trump’s “2027 ACA Exchange Rule” could finally bring real price competition to healthcare.

In The Center Square, Liberty Justice Center Chairman Sara Albrecht explains the real impact of the government’s latest tariffs and their lack of refunds.

In The Spokesman-Review, the Mountain States Policy Center‘s Amber Gunn notes Idaho sets the standard for short-term rental reform.

In the Orlando Sentinel, The James Madison Institute‘s Edward Longe argues that Florida voters aren’t polarized—they’re a disappointed public that has simply stopped trusting institutions that keep overpromising and underdelivering.

At The Dispatch, the Washington Policy Center‘s Todd Myers puts Washington state in the running for most embarrassing in the nation, cataloguing a string of failures from fake climate data to a new income tax.