Announcements
Ohio ranked 35th in the 2025 Economic Freedom of North America report from The Buckeye Institute, which measures economic freedom across North America.
The Caesar Rodney Institute highlighted Delaware’s energy challenges due to rising demand and declining reliability, urging legislative support for measures like Senate Bill 65.
Empower Mississippi introduced EPIC, a new initiative aimed at advancing opportunity-focused policy in Mississippi.
The Frontier Institute highlighted the historical significance of the Devil’s Brigade, noting the strong bond formed between American and Canadian forces during their training in Montana.
The Mackinac Center raised concerns about competition as businesses push back against Sheetz’s entry into Michigan.
The Mountain States Policy Centerhighlighted a court ruling that halted the implementation of Education Savings Accounts in Montana—leading to calls for legislative action to support families.
Success Stories
Minnesota: The Freedom Foundation successfully compelled AFSCME to refund dues to an employee who opted out of membership, strengthening worker protections.
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
The Buckeye Institute filed its fourth amicus brief with the Ohio Supreme Court in Bowling v. DeWine, urging the court to affirm, once and for all, that Ohio’s Cooperation Statute does not require the governor to accept federal money every time it is offered.
Pioneer New England Legal Foundation and Sullivan & Worcester filed a class action lawsuit against Boston, challenging the city’s unlawful penalties on commercial taxpayers for exercising their right to appeal, seeking court intervention to end the retaliatory tax scheme.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
AZ Liberty Network released a report that documents how a network of well-funded liberal nonprofit organizations coordinate funding, messaging, and litigation to influence elections, policy outcomes, and public institutions in Arizona.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, AAA estimates that 5.7 million Illinoisans will travel this holiday season—many while paying the nation’s second-highest gas taxes.
The Independence Institute noted that Colorado’s Initiative 181 would complicate tax filings significantly, leading to a scramble for special interests seeking exemptions.
The ITR Foundation highlighted how Massachusetts has effectively maintained a property tax cap for over 40 years, demonstrating that other states can similarly control tax growth.
The Kansas Policy Institute found that while Kansas is experiencing surging individual income tax collections, retail sales are slowing.
Wyoming’s workers’ compensation system remains entirely government-run, Mountain States Policy Center pointed out, leading to some of the highest rates in the nation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation highlighted that zoning policies, rooted in Herbert Hoover’s era have resulted in higher housing costs and reduced consumer choice.
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy showed that surging electricity demand necessitates federal permitting reform to facilitate investments in power generation and infrastructure.
Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed tax relief measures in Virginia’s final budget, Thomas Jefferson Institute noted, aligning state tax rules with recent federal changes.
Jobs in the Network
Director of Development Programs — State Policy Network (Remote)
State Policy Lead — American Conservation Coalition (Remote)
Director of Development — Center for Independent Employees(Remote)
Policy News from the States
Topics:
K-12 Education
Was COVID more damaging for younger or older students in Minnesota? New research answers
American Experiment
Coming to a classroom near you: Politicized Ethnic Studies lesson plans
American Experiment
Enrollment and Employment: Is Tennessee Preparing K-12 Students for Today’s Economy?
Beacon Center of Tennessee
Todd Schaible: The Importance of Career Technical Education in Tennessee Schools
Beacon Center of Tennessee
Empire Center Releases NYC BERS Pension Data for FY2025
Empire Center
Idaho’s Sen. Risch, Rep. Fulcher take on the NEA
Freedom Foundation
IFT vows to fight funding to help public school kids
Illinois Policy Institute
Florida Politics: The Ghost (Students) of Public School Future?
James Madison Institute
Florida Politics: Bedrock, We Have a Problem
James Madison Institute
Bond proposal results show taxpayers are skeptical
Mackinac Center
Michigan Parent Petitions U.S. Supreme Court After School Board Reports Her to DOJ
Mackinac Center
New Jersey Policy Institute Welcomes Kristen Cobo to Its Board of Directors
New Jersey Policy Institute
OU professor to promote ‘accurate’ science education on evolution,…
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Time for OU regents to act
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Don’t Leave Kids Home Alone With AI
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Progressive Attack on Texas History Continues
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Energy and Environment
Will the Delta Pumps Operate at Capacity this Winter?
California Policy Center
Goldwater: Pima County Lacks Power to Block Copper Mine Access
Goldwater Institute
Franke: Farm Subsidies — A Better Way
Indiana Policy
The Outstater
Indiana Policy
Duke rate hikes: The lingering effects of bad policy choices
John Locke Foundation
Josh Kaul Continues Lawsuit String Against Trump Administration
MacIver Institute
Commentary: A commonsense energy solution for SC : Palmetto Promise Institute
Palmetto Promise Institute
Healthcare
Walz Administration Guidance on MinnesotaCare for Undocumented Immigrants Shows Why Fraud Is Out of Control in Minnesota
American Experiment
Florida Should Lead in Securing Healthcare Technology
James Madison Institute
Illinois governor signs bill supporting state-sanctioned suicide
John Locke Foundation
Whitmer says Covid lockdowns were based on bad information
Mackinac Center
GAO finds Obamacare fraud is easy
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
How do price controls damage innovation?
Pacific Research Institute
A Republican healthcare package remains within reach
Pacific Research Institute
Chaos At The FDA Benefits America’s Rivals—At The Expense Of America’s Patients
Pacific Research Institute
Democrats Can’t End Private-Sector Drug Innovation Fast Enough
Pacific Research Institute
MLG rants about ACA subsidies while doing nothing about New Mexico’s own health care issues – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
Long-term-care financing: Some good changes to WA Cares, new area of recommendation needed
Washington Policy Center
Housing Affordability
Limit tax hikes for senior owners as agricultural land values increase
Grassroot Institute
Reject empty homes tax proposal
Grassroot Institute
Atlas Van Lines: Illinois exodus continues, but slows in 2025
Illinois Policy Institute
Portland Studies Inclusionary Zoning (Again) Despite Evidence
Maine Policy Institute
Ada County Highway District increases impact fees by 66%
Mountain States Policy Center
We Still Need Zoning Reform in Missouri
Show-Me Institute
What George Bailey Understood About Housing and Families
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Jobs and State Economies
The Million Petty Annoyances of California’s Regulatory State
California Policy Center
Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year
Illinois Policy Institute
High sales taxes suck a little joy out of Illinois holidays
Illinois Policy Institute
Performers emerge from Chicago’s projects by way of forklifts
Illinois Policy Institute
O’Donnell: Yes, Socialism Works . . .
Indiana Policy
Legislators should take more care before authorizing another $1.9 billion in developer subsidies
Mackinac Center
Mississippi’s Free-Market Turnaround: A Model for America
Minnesota Policy
Tiffany Smiley elected to MSPC Board of Directors
Mountain States Policy Center
Mark Skousen – The Greatest American
Pacific Research Institute
Preserving the Texas Miracle
Texas Public Policy Foundation
We’ve Got Talent: Encouraging the Innovators and Students of Our Nation Towards Excellence
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy
State Budgets
Embattled DFL chair celebrates party’s failed anti-fraud measures
American Experiment
Minnesota’s structural budget deficit is not driven by tariffs or federal uncertainty
American Experiment
After nearly seven years in office and ‘billions’ stolen from Minnesota taxpayers, Gov. Walz finally unveils plan to fight fraud
American Experiment
Fraud is not popular
American Experiment
ARKANSAS GOV. SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS & STATE INCOME TAX CUTS
Arkansas Policy Foundation
Why is Texas Outsourcing its Government to…Canada?
Goldwater Institute
Require fiscal assessments for all proposed bills, Charter amendments
Grassroot Institute
Cook County property taxes funding pensions more than service
Illinois Policy Institute
Empty promises fill ‘progressive’ Colorado tax hike measure – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
A Small Minnesota City Offers a Big Lesson on Budget Discipline
ITR Foundation
Government spending per person grew 10,000% over century
John Locke Foundation
Oklahoma state agencies go big with Christmas wish list
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Workplace Freedom
Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe Statement on House Bill Undermining President Trump’s Union Reform Executive Orders
Freedom Foundation
City ‘living wage’ not only unsound but also not allowed by state law
Grassroot Institute
A Cautionary Moment for Union Transparency as Former NJEA Leader Seeks a National Role
New Jersey Policy Institute
Another problem with strike pay from the UI fund: Potential double-dipping, overpayments
Washington Policy Center
Other
Only Gov. Walz can call a special session to pass new gun control laws: why doesn’t he?
American Experiment
Minnesota Man of the Day
American Experiment
Early implementation of Minnesota law to limit foster care removals based on race ruled unconstitutional
American Experiment
Marquette poll finds 80 percent of Americans trust government ‘only some of the time’ or ‘never’
Badger Institute
Payback Is Great Under Trump, but Conservatives Should Look to the Future – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
The “Joined at the Hip” Mainstream Propaganda Media – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
Unpacking the Presidential Appointments Lawsuit – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
Franke: Reapportionment
Indiana Policy
Tackling WSJ ‘fearmongering’ about gun ownership
John Locke Foundation
Yale, Princeton help bankroll company working with Chinese military
John Locke Foundation
Voters ‘barely’ trust SCOTUS to do what’s best for US
John Locke Foundation
Fears of racist label helped hide Minnesota fraud scandal
John Locke Foundation
State Senate Launches Oversight for Wisconsin Department of Justice
MacIver Institute
Toney Rips Kaul Over Lagging State Crime Lab
MacIver Institute
MacIver Condemns Wisconsin Elections Commission for Rejecting DOJ Voter Data Request
MacIver Institute for Public Policy
Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate: Abortion Uncertainty “Now Over”
MacIver Institute
Matthew Gagnon: Gov. Mills Allowing ICE Bill to Pass is “Cowardly”
Maine Policy Institute
A promising AI safety tool for teen accounts
Mountain States Policy Center
The Montana Constitution’s state university quagmire
Mountain States Policy Center
Holt calls state leaders ‘bitterly unpopular’—but they outpoll him
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
One cat death is a tragedy. 43K human deaths is a statistic
Pacific Research Institute
Bearing False Witness
Pacific Research Institute
South Carolina Has a Drunk Driving Problem. Stronger Laws Can Save Lives. : Palmetto Promise Institute
Palmetto Promise Institute
Research Note: Changes in AI Regulations
Platte Institute
Albuquerque Journal editorializes in defense of free speech, Rio Grande Foundation in “hoodie-gate”
Rio Grande Foundation
Paper Ballots Give Elections the Permanent Record They Need
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Takin’ It to the Streets: Applying New Data to Reduce Car Accidents
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy
The Network in the News
At The Center Square, The Buckeye Institute’s Rea S. Hederman Jr. looked at the “elegant solution to one of Ohio’s thornier property tax problems” that the Ohio House of Representatives drafted and the General Assembly sent to Governor DeWine.
In The Sun, California Policy Center’s John Moorlach outlines 10 ideas the California Governor should pursue to save California.
At Complete Colorado, Independence Institute’s Nash Herman highlights the empty promises of a progressive income tax.
In the Miami Herald, the Independent Institute’s Pierre Lemieux notes the increase in polarization mirrors the growth of government.
At The Center Square, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson highlights FDR’s forgotten blueprint for property tax reform.
In his column for The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Mike Reitz lists three ways to rebuild Americans’ trust in government.
At National Review, the Washington Policy Center’s Donald Kimball notes Seattle’s new mayor-elect has a flawed understanding of scarcity and wealth.
