Announcements

  • In Ohio, The Buckeye Institute urged lawmakers to adopt the education policies included in Ohio’s biennial budget that expand school choice and put students first and encouraged the General Assembly to be even bolder by implementing ESAs, increasing funding for charter schools, and requiring all Ohio public schools to participate in inter-district open enrollment.
  • The Caesar Rodney Institute‘s energy expert, Dave Stevenson, testified at a Congressional Hearing this past Thursday on the “Examination into Offshore Wind Industrialization.”
  • The Mackinac Center for Public Policy welcomed visiting fellow Josh Archambault as health policy advisor.
  • The Mississippi Center for Public Policy is hosting Betsy DeVos next week to promote school choice in the state.
  • On the latest episode of Spill the Tea, The James Madison Institute discusses the latest bills moving through the Florida legislature, Silicon Valley Bank bailouts, the 2024 Presidential election, March Madness, and more.
  • On March 23, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty is holding a webinar on ESG regulations.
  • The Supreme Court of Wisconsin (SCOWIS) has granted a joint petition to bypass the court of appeals, and accepted review of the Town of Buchanan’s appeal of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty’s case against the Town’s transportation utility fee.

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

  • In an amicus brief filed in Christian v. Nigrelli on behalf of Project 21, The Buckeye Institute argues that New York’s Conceal Carry Improvement Act violates the right of the citizens of New York, particularly black New Yorkers, to keep and bear arms and that “Historical regulations designed to oppress racial minorities or show distrust or animus towards ‘disfavored’ groups, cannot be the basis for infringing on the right to bear arms.”

Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs

  • The Goldwater Institute released a new report detailing free-market reforms that can help secure Arizona’s water future. The report, released in conjunction with The Property and Environment Research Center, demonstrates that delivering better water conservation does not require a drastic expansion of the role of government.
  • The Institute for Reforming Government released a memo on future of Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • The Yankee Institute released the 2023 Legislator Toolkit for Connecticut lawmakers.

Tracking Positive Reforms in the States: Updates from State Think Tanks

California: A California court upheld Prop 22—which means ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft can treat drivers as contractors instead of full-time employees again (Washington Policy Center).

Georgia: Georgia is considering legislation that limits the ability of local governments to enact moratoriums on building new housing to no more than 180 days (Georgia Public Policy Foundation).

Idaho: The Idaho Senate passed a school choice bill (Idaho Freedom Foundation).

Kentucky: The Kentucky Senate passed a bill which prohibits government employers from automatically deducting union dues and political contributions from the paychecks of teachers and other public employees (Bluegrass Institute).

Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Legislature is considering legislation that will require Oklahoma schools to make certain, on an annual basis, that teacher employees want to continue having union dues withheld from their paychecks.

Utah: The Utah Legislature is considering a bill to place rules on how police can seek digital warrants (Libertas Institute).

Policy News from the States

Checking in on Legislative Sessions

#Kyga23 Week Six: Bills Passed To Limit State Ed Board, Keep Politics Out Of Pensions And Decriminalize Fentanyl Testing Strips
Bluegrass Institute

How Did Education Bills Do During The 2023 Legislative Session?
Cardinal Institute

2023 MT leg Halftime Report
Frontier Institute

At the Capitol: Week of March 13
Georgia Public Policy Foundation

Legislature 2023: Rent Control Bills, House Bill 1389 And House Bill 1124 Have Failed To Pass This Session
Washington Policy Center

K-12 Education

Ensure Kids Read by Nine: Support Teachers and Administrators
Alaska Policy Forum

School Choice Wins Across The Nation
California Policy Center

Educational Freedom: A Tale of Two Governors
Cascade Policy Institute

U.S. Supreme Court Has Held That Parental Rights Are A Fundamental Right, Let’s Put It In Black And White In State Code
Center of the American Experiment

Increased Transparency Key to Trust in Nevada Education
Nevada Policy Research Institute

It’s School Choice Spring!
Palmetto Promise Institute

Energy and Environment

Headwinds: Troubles Grow for Offshore Wind
Caesar Rodney Institute

The Build Public Renewables Act Could Cut the Power 
Empire Center

Costs Of Heat Pumps- One Vermont Experience
Ethan Allen Institute

War On Cars Is A War On Lower-Income Californians
Pacific Research Institute

Under RGGI, Virginia Releases More CO2, Not Less
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy

Government Accountability

Taxpayers Chipped in Big for 2022 Re-Election Bids
Empire Center

How to Make an Open Records Request in Nevada
Nevada Policy Research Institute

Sunshine Week 2023: Shining Light on the Workings of Government
Pioneer Institute

Healthcare

Testimony: Repeal Certificate of Need
Alaska Policy Forum

The Truth About Medicaid Redeterminations 
Foundation for Government Accountability

Certificate of Need Law Reform Could Save Lives
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

HB 1039 Would Bring Patients Alternative Pain-Management Therapy, Should Be Approved By Lawmakers
Washington Policy Center

Housing

Huntington Beach’s Lawsuit Challenges Newsom’s Housing Mandates
California Policy Center

Despite The Housing Crisis, The Spokane City Council Has Increased One Development Fee Over 2600%
Washington Policy Center

Jobs and State Economies

Lone Star Bound
California Policy Center

The “Missing Millions” from Biden’s Economy (and What to Do About It)
Foundation for Government Accountability

How To Crush Youth Employment? Make It More Costly To Hire Young People
John Locke Foundation

Kansas Economy Falling Behind By Staying In The Same Place
Kansas Policy Institute

A Social Safety Net That Works
Pelican Institute

Ride Sharing Companies Score A Rare Win In California
Washington Policy Center

Judge Rules New Seattle LID Tax Is “Arbitrary And Capricious” – Orders Refunds
Washington Policy Center

State Budgets

There Are Good And Bad Ways To Cut Taxes
Center of the American Experiment

Is the Tax Reform Revolution Passing New Jersey By?
Garden State Initiative

New Tax Reform On The Horizon?
Georgia Center for Opportunity

State Revenue Projections Are Growing
Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

Cooper’s “Opportunity” Budget Finds Billions for Teachers and Staff; Little to Nothing for Families who Want an Educational Option.
John Locke Foundation

Cooper Says We Have Enough Money for 18% Spending Increase, But Not Enough For Scheduled Tax Cuts
John Locke Foundation

Hohman: Is A Tax Hike Coming In Michigan In 2023?
Mackinac Center

Nebraska’s Tax Code Should Encourage Remote Workers To Move In
Platte Institute

Tax And Budget Reform Must Be Tackled In Tandem
Pelican Institute

Workplace Freedom

Member Spotlight: Rod Workman
Americans for Fair Treatment

Tentative Deal Struck Between NYC, Largest City Union
Americans for Fair Treatment

Unionized Public Education Is Destroying California
California Policy Center

Membership Declines, But Unions Still Double Down On Politics
Center of the American Experiment

Other

The Complex Case for Not Breaking Up with Fossil Fuels
Americans for Fair Treatment

100 Years Of Irish Economic Independence
Center of the American Experiment

Media Puts Positive — False — Spin On Bank Bailouts
Center of the American Experiment

Albany’s Other Way to Defund the Police 
Empire Center

Regardless of Supreme Court Ruling, Congress Can Stop Future Student Loan Bailouts
Foundation for Government Accountability

Montana’s Irish Roots
Frontier Institute

March Madness Means Millions In Tax Revenue For Illinois
Illinois Policy Institute

Bank of America Big Winner in Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
John Locke Foundation

Four Wrong Questions Being Asked In Michigan Policy Debates
Mackinac Center

State Think Tanks in the News

  • In the Washington Times, Beacon and Mackinac make the case for right-to-work laws.
  • In Crain’s Cleveland Business, The Buckeye Institute urges greater use of public-private partnerships to address Northeast Ohio’s infrastructure challenges.
  • In The OC Register, the California Policy Center points out LAUSD’s unions could support policies to help all Californians.
  • In the Washington Examiner, the Cardinal Institute noted West Virginia should eliminate burdensome certificate-of-need laws.
  • In the Star Tribune, the Center of the American Experiment outlines the costs of drug price controls.
  • In her recent column for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano notes the Pennsylvania Governor paid homage to conservative ideas in his budget address.
  • In the New York Daily News, the Empire Center considers New York’s tax landscape and the New York Governor’s recent promise not to raise income taxes this year.
  • In the Vermont Daily Chronicle, the Ethan Allen Institute considers the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank.
  • In the Washington Examiner, the Goldwater Institute notes policymakers must do away with our outdated healthcare regulatory system.
  • In The Salt Lake Tribune, the Libertas Institute considers a bill that would place rules on how police can seek digital warrants.
  • The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board cited the Mackinac Center in a piece on right-to-work.
  • At Crain’s Detroit Business, the Mackinac Center considers top-down economic development efforts in Michigan.
  • In the Chicago Sun-Times, the Maryland Public Policy Institute notes the cost of eliminating cash bail is too high.
  • In the Northside Sun, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy considers if Congress will raise the debt ceiling.
  • In the Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy considers if Medicaid expansion would improve healthcare in Mississippi.
  • In The Tennessean, the Pacific Research Institute notes it’s time to drag hospital pricing out of the shadows.
  • At Townhall, the Pacific Research Institute notes Britain desperately needs more private healthcare options.
  • In the Washington Examiner, State Policy Network notes the answer to America’s healthcare problem lies in the states.
  • At National Review, State Policy Network explains what’s driving the state-based tax revolution.
  • In the Washington Examiner, State Policy Network notes Medicaid redeterminations protect resources for those who need them most.
  • At Fox News Online, the Texas Public Policy Foundation considers at Gavin Newsom run in 2024.
  • In the Washington Examiner, the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlights the problems with tax-funded drug consumption sites.
  • In the Tallahassee Democrat, The James Madison Institute explains why DOJ’s blow to Spirit-JetBlue merger stands against Florida’s tourism economy.

Events and Opportunities

Please see SPN’s Network Calendar for a full list of events.