Announcements
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni released Adopting a Policy of Institutional Neutrality, a guide helping college and university governing boards implement institutional neutrality policies.
The Frontier Institute released the second edition of the State of Educational Opportunity in Montana, highlighting strong parental support for Education Savings Accounts.
The Institute for the American Worker launched the Future of Work Fellowship to equip young professionals with skills to influence labor policy reform and advance their careers.
The Institute for Reforming Government released the “Wisconsin Administrative Reform Toolbox,” a practical guide designed to assist other states in replicating Wisconsin’s success.
ITR Foundation engaged with Iowans during a recent President’s Day event reflecting on President Herbert Hoover’s Iowa roots and his limited government principles.
The John Locke Foundation released a trailer for their upcoming documentary, The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.
Kansas Policy Institute noted that the American Legislative Exchange Council praised the state’s revenue-neutral property tax system, emphasizing the need for further tax reforms.
Libertas Network expanded its board of trustees by adding three new members, each bringing valuable experience to support the organization’s mission.
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy introduced the “Mississippi Momentum” initiative, aiming to create conditions so young residents choose to build their futures in Mississippi.
The Mountain States Policy Center highlighted Governor Gianforte’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session during a recent policy event in Helena.
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy announced it will host a forum featuring candidates for the Louisiana Public Service Commission during the 2026 Solutions Summit.
People United For Privacy noted that Alabama S.B. 220 imposes unconstitutional restrictions on nonprofit political spending.
The Platte Institute noted that Nebraska’s new agreement with federal authorities allows the state to assume responsibility for environmental reviews.
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in FCC v. AT&T and Verizon v. FCC with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that civil jury trials are a constitutional safeguard against government overreach and a check on government power.
The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Craig v. Cromes, calling on the Ohio Supreme Court to hear the case and put an end to Cuyahoga County’s home equity theft scheme.
The Liberty Justice Center secured a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., finding that the President cannot unilaterally impose tariffs through IEEPA.
Concerns about a DEI grant program prompted a warning from Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, indicating that legal action may be forthcoming against the initiative.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for Voter ID laws and election integrity measures, emphasizing the need for better election security.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
The California Policy Center highlighted the challenges of aligning energy and water interests in California, noting that practical projects in both sectors are subjects of intense debate.
The Freedom Foundation urged Florida lawmakers to pass SB 1296, legislation aimed at enhancing union accountability by requiring public-sector unions to obtain majority support.
The Garden State Initiative released a report on how to achieve a fairer, more transparent school funding formula in New Jersey.
The Independence Institute testified against the Colorado House Energy & Environment Committee’s decision to postpone a bill exempting residential customers from Clean Heat Plan emissions standards.
Concerning recent economic pressures on families, the Kansas Policy Institute warned against implementing price controls, arguing that such measures often lead to negative consequences.
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy highlighted U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s reminder to teachers that they are not obligated to pay union dues in any state.
Sutherland Institute released a new survey report on Utah voters’ trust in proposed election reforms.
The Yankee Institute noted that Connecticut lawmakers are debating a bill to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, which would use public funds to subsidize battery-powered alternatives.
Policy Watch
Connecticut: Lawmakers are considering three tax proposals that would increase income taxes, impose a capital gains surcharge, and create a statewide property tax on high-value homes (Yankee Institute).
Florida: A bill would make it harder to certify public sector unions by requiring approval from a majority of all eligible workers, not just those who vote (James Madison Institute).
Hawaii: The Aloha state is considering certificate-of-need reforms (Grassroot Institute of Hawaii).
Illinois: The state is considering a bill that would require all municipalities to allow property owners to build accessory dwelling units to help address the state’s housing shortage (Illinois Policy Institute).
Iowa: The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 2388, establishing a “no-shutdown rule” that allows existing appropriations to continue automatically if a new budget is not enacted on time (ITR Foundation).
Maine: Lawmakers in Maine are considering a proposal to exempt all residential electricity from the state sales tax, recognizing the financial strain high electricity costs place on residents (Maine Policy Institute).
Missouri: A state senator proposed creating a sovereign wealth fund that would eventually generate enough investment returns to eliminate all state taxes.
Montana: Gov. Greg Gianforte said a flat income tax rate was a goal of his heading into the 2027 Legislative session (Mountain States Policy Center).
Ohio: The Ohio House passed policies requiring municipalities to get voter approval before cutting income tax reciprocity credits, ensuring taxpayers have a say in any effective tax increases (The Buckeye Institute).
Tennessee: A coalition launched to back a constitutional amendment banning a state property tax (Beacon Center).
Virginia: The financial committees of the Virginia House and Senate approved amendments to the state budget that included no general tax increases, with the Senate version featuring modest tax reforms such as a taxpayer rebate and an increase in the income tax standard deduction (Thomas Jefferson Institute).
Jobs in the Network
Digital Marketing Specialist — Center of the American Experiment (Minnesota)
Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs — Philanthropy Roundtable (District of Columbia)
State News Editor — The Daily Signal (District of Columbia)
Policy News from the States
Topics:
K-12 Education
Should we care about foreign money in Minnesota colleges?
American Experiment
Minneapolis Public Schools projects a $50 million deficit for 2026-27
American Experiment
North Dakota leads on school phone bans as Minnesota reviews policy
American Experiment
New bill would block scholarship money for students
Illinois Policy Institute
Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join
Illinois Policy Institute
Governor Gianforte featured at MSPC Helena event
Mountain States Policy Center
Idaho Supreme Court victory for educational choice bodes well for Wyoming scholarship supporters
Mountain States Policy Center
Anarchyfare in Our Schools
Show-Me Institute
Connecting History to Students’ Daily Lives
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Is state aid to public education growing or shrinking?
The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Energy and Environment
Don’t follow Germany on energy policy
American Experiment
SOLAR, WIND & ARKANSAS MOTOR VEHICLES
Arkansas Policy Foundation
Valero Out, Gas Prices Up
Pacific Research Institute
Cutting the Cord: Nebraska Takes the Wheel on Environmental Reviews
Platte Institute
Your Electric Bill Is on the Ballot in 2026 — Whether You Know It or Not
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Healthcare
Health policy in the State of the Union: emphasizing transparency and patient choice
American Experiment
Time to tackle Hawaii’s healthcare crisis
Grassroot Institute
Senate Bill 1319 — Emergency care affordability act (-4)
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Senate Bill 1312 — Medicaid, provider payment (-1)
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Lawmakers Move CON Reform Past Key Legislative Deadline
ITR Foundation
Hospitals Turn a Safety-Net Program Into an ATM
Pacific Research Institute
How Trump’s ‘Prior Authorization’ Deal Puts Patients Ahead of Paperwork
Pacific Research Institute
Stop Catastrophizing Catastrophic Plans
Pacific Research Institute
Housing Affordability
Spanberger’s talk about affordability defies her own record
John Locke Foundation
Luxury Housing Still Helps Lower-Income Renters
Show-Me Institute
Jobs and State Economies
The Outstater
Indiana Policy
Affordability Will Be Key to Republicans’ Success — or Failure — in 2026
James Madison Institute
Trump needs ‘less spectacle,’ ‘more exceptionalism’
John Locke Foundation
Trump attacks SCOTUS justices over tariff ruling
John Locke Foundation
Wayne Winegarden – What the Trump Tariff Ruling Means for You
Pacific Research Institute
California Is Falling Behind On Jobs: Can It Move Beyond The Crossroads?
Pacific Research Institute
In Defense of the ‘-maxxers’—and men in general
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Supreme Court Restores the Rule of Law and, for a Moment, Increased Economic Freedom
Thomas Jefferson Institute
State Budgets
Why does the House DFL continue to block popular, bipartisan anti-fraud bill?
American Experiment
How to fight fraud
American Experiment
Capitol Watch: GOP and DFL announce their priorities through words and actions
American Experiment
Pritzker’s $56 billion budget relies on $700 million in new revenue
Illinois Policy Institute
Tax hikes and smuggling: Will Michigan tempt scofflaws?
Mackinac Center
Laws have unintended consequences
Mackinac Center
Time to rein in old MEGA gravy train
Mackinac Center
Beyond the Fiscal Time Bomb: 5 Ways New Jersey Can Cut the Bloat and Empower Families This Year
New Jersey Policy Institute
Nebraskanomics: Jared Walczak on the Pathway for Principled Tax Reform
Platte Institute
Nebraskanomics: Speaker Arch on the 2026 Legislative Session
Platte Institute
St. Louis County to Raise Park Fees—That’s Good
Show-Me Institute
YI President Carol Platt Liebau Featured in The CT Insider
Yankee Institute
Workplace Freedom
HB 1072 — Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act
Empower Mississippi
California Winery Challenges Illegal Government Mandate
Goldwater Institute
Why are so many governments serving as the collection agency for unions?
Mountain States Policy Center
NJBIZ: OPINION: Sherrill’s pause on independent contractor rules should stand
New Jersey Policy Institute
RGF Freedom Index Results Finalized
Rio Grande Foundation
The General Assembly’s 22.5% “Labor Tax” Gamble
Thomas Jefferson Institute
Snowed In, Shut Out: Senate Moves “Emergency” Bill Without Hearings
Yankee Institute
Other
Assault weapons ban fails in House Public Safety Committee
American Experiment
Habeas 1000
American Experiment
Habeas reduced to a trickle
American Experiment
Senate Bill 1300 — Agency directors, appt by governor (+1)
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Senate Bill 1283 — Direct-to-consumer foods (-1)
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Senate Bill 1257 — Child protection, visits, custody (-2)
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Gaski: The Dems’ Affinity for Illegals
Indiana Policy
Franke Book Review: A History of Money
Indiana Policy
Checking the Administrative State and Restoring Separation of Powers
ITR Foundation
Remembering the Legacy of George Washington
ITR Foundation
NYT challenged Trump’s speech before he delivered it
John Locke Foundation
2-23 data dump: Democrats outpace Republicans in primary turnout
John Locke Foundation
Kansas shows the way on judicial deference reform
John Locke Foundation
Democrats not positioning well for 2028 presidential race
John Locke Foundation
Mackinac Center hosts historic summit
Mackinac Center
Sacramento “Ideas in Action” Conference 2026
Pacific Research Institute
Kansas City’s Bus Riders Union Is Right about One Thing
Show-Me Institute
The truth about Mexico’s cartel wars
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Network in the News
In The Hill, The Buckeye Institute’s Rea S. Hederman Jr. praised federal efforts to hold states accountable for mismanagement and fraud in welfare spending.
In The Mercury, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Megan Martin points out Pennsylvania’s economy will grow when Harrisburg gets out of the way.
In the New York Post, the Empire Center’s Bill Hammond highlights how Governor Hochul continues to bribe Big Health with reckless Medicaid spending.
In the Independent Record, the Frontier Institute’s Kendall Cotton highlights some of the problems with sales tax proposals that grow government.
In the Washington Examiner, the Goldwater Institute’s Timothy Sandefur highlights a case now pending in the Arizona Supreme Court that could restore long-neglected legal protections for hardworking entrepreneurs.
In The Center Square, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson reflects on the inspiration of President George Washington.
In his recent column, John Hood highlights some of the consequence of our worsening fiscal mess.
In the Daily Herald, the Libertas Institute’s Olivia Michiels considers solutions to Utah’s housing crisis.
In his column for The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Mike Reitz outlines 7 habits of highly civil people.
In The Center Square, the Mountain States Policy Center’s Jason Mercier notes the rule of law its taking a hit in Washington state with the unconstitutional income tax vote.
