Announcements
The Center for Independent Thought’s Stossel TV, which frequently features members of the Network, just surpassed 1 billion views across its social media channels.
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii highlighted the success of their “Open Hearings” tool—noting its potential to enhance government transparency and engagement in government hearings.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation highlighted allegations of voter intimidation and potential misuse of taxpayer funds during recent levy elections.
The James Madison Institute announced its 2026 Naples Annual Dinner, scheduled for February 17, 2026.
The Mountain States Policy Center announced Avery Nichols as the 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy scholarship recipient.
The Institute for Reforming Government reported that new school choice enrollment numbers indicate a slowdown in growth statewide.
The John Locke Foundation released a podcast series titled Revolutionary Roads that explores North Carolina’s significant contributions to the American Revolution.
People United for Privacy Foundation will host a virtual event on October 23rd highlighting how enhanced privacy protections can safeguard civic engagement and protect individuals.
Concerns about Texas history education emerged as the Texas Public Policy Foundation flagged the State Board of Education’s recent vote to teach history in grades 3-8.
The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policysuggested that progressive bills vetoed by Governor Youngkin could resurface, shaping the legislative agenda if Spanberger wins.
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
The Buckeye Institute appealed Kresevic v. Kimmel to Ohio’s Ninth District Court of Appeals on behalf of Karen Kresevic, arguing that the trial court wrongly dismissed the case and that Akron unlawfully collected income taxes in violation of its own ordinances and forms.
The Pioneer New England Legal Foundation filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, supporting homeowners in Michigan over property seizures for unpaid taxes.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
The California Policy Center noted that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has acknowledged the impracticality of connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Free Society Coalition highlighted their ongoing efforts to promote individual freedom and responsibility.
The Georgia Center for Opportunity highlighted a new report revealing that despite a declining prison population corrections spending continues to rise.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation pointed out its time to tackle Idaho’s public spending addition.
The Illinois Policy Institute found that massive property tax hikes are affecting low-income families in Chicago.
The James Madison Institute released a new study on property tax reform, providing insights into potential changes to enhance the effectiveness of property taxation.
A recent report found that most New Jersey school districts lack clear academic goals and accountability in their strategic plans according to New Jersey Policy Institute.
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs highlighted how Medicaid expansion fell short of promises to rural Oklahoma.
The Rio Grande Foundation expressed concerns about a proposed $350 million bond for Albuquerque Public Schools.
The Show-Me Institutediscussed the collaboration between Kansas’s Department of Commerce and Evergy to explore coal-to-nuclear transitions.
Jobs in the Network
Coalitions Manager — The James Madison Institute (Tallahassee, FL or Virtual in FL)
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President — Beacon Center of Tennessee (Nashville, TN)
Communications Specialist — Pacific Research Institute (Sacramento, CA)
Policy News from the States
Topics:
K-12 Education
Making space for faith: Understanding Minnesota released time
American Experiment
Even slight social media use is connected to lower literacy and poor memories in preteens
American Experiment
Over-Sized, Over-Priced Schools Accelerate PPS’ Fiscal Crisis
Cascade Policy Institute
Political Targeting? The Valley School District’s Purported Vendetta Against Levy Opponents
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Randy Watson’s legacy: 10 years of declining college readiness on ACT
Kansas Policy Institute
Lower proficiency standards lead to phony student achievement gains
Kansas Policy Institute
Wisconsin Senate Approves School Cell Phone Ban
MacIver Institute
Michigan bill would make it easier to be a school librarian
Mackinac Center
REPORT: South Carolina’s 2024 NAEP Scores – A Few Unconventional Conclusions : Palmetto Promise Institute
Palmetto Promise Institute
AZ Trinity Arch Prep’s Jack Johnson Pannell on Educating Boys
Pioneer Institute
RGF opinion piece: Voters should be skeptical of $350 million bond for APS
Rio Grande Foundation
Tipping Point NM episode 751: Child Poverty, Teacher’s Union Pumpkin Patch Attack and more – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
RGF discusses opposition to Albuquerque Public Schools’ $350 million bond with KOAT 7 – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
Energy and Environment
Independent Inking: Fall 2025 – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
Jake Fogleman Talks Rising Energy Bills, the Role of State Energy Policy on Free State Colorado – Independence Institute
Independence Institute
Gov Evers Begs Trump Admin to Keep Clean Energy Project Money
MacIver Institute
Listen: Gov. Mills Announces for Senate
Maine Policy Institute
Fossil fuels are essential for human flourishing
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
RGF provides comments in support of unlocking new water supplies for New Mexicans
Rio Grande Foundation
Healthcare
States must implement new limits on state-directed payment schemes
The Foundation for Government Accountability
Public health credibility dropped longer before RFK arrived
John Locke Foundation
Healthcare Costs Soar Despite Democrats’ Massive Subsidies to Insurance Industry
MacIver Institute
Legislative Approval for Work Requirement Waivers Can End Gimmicks and Loopholes Used by Bureaucrats
Mackinac Center
Naval strikes on drug rings may bring cases of “Smuggler’s Blues” and “Sugar Highs”
Pacific Research Institute
If Health Insurance Premiums Rise Next Year, Blame Democrats
Pacific Research Institute
Housing Affordability
Allow destroyed Lahaina structures to be rebuilt to original heights
Grassroot Institute
Abolish price threshold, liberalize tax rules for low-income rentals
Grassroot Institute
Unused office space could mean more Chicago housing
Illinois Policy Institute
Dubuque Roundtable Highlights Demand for Property Tax Reform
ITR Foundation
Portland’s Tower and the Limits of ReCode Portland
Maine Policy Institute
San José Mayor Shows Market-Based Ideas Can Improve Urban Quality of Life
Pacific Research Institute
Among Large Massachusetts Cities, Lawrence Had the Highest Home Value to Income Ratio in 2024
Pioneer Institute
Jobs and State Economies
‘Tax the Rich’ would hurt the rest of us
Mackinac Center
Tariffs – why we will hear a lot more about them
Minnesota Policy
Avery Nichols named 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy scholarship recipient
Mountain States Policy Center
Jefferson City Residents Should Be Skeptical of Conference Center Project
Show-Me Institute
Why we focus on economic growth
The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
State Budgets
Stop the Municipal Budget Scramble: Make FY2026‑27 Easier by Acting Now
California Policy Center
For Non-Partisan California Voters, Prop 50 is a Questionable Proposition
California Policy Center
DoorDash, Uber, Ticketmaster and toll road hikes: $1.5 billion in potential taxes explained
Illinois Policy Institute
Media coverage proves Democrats ‘own’ shutdown
John Locke Foundation
Kansas City’s Stadium Fumble: Denver Shows How to Play by Free-Market Rules
Kansas Policy Institute
Gov. Mills exaggerates the ‘cost’ of federal tax conformity
Maine Policy Institute
Moody’s reaffirms Idaho’s strong credit rating
Mountain States Policy Center
American Independence = Financial Independence
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy
New Mexico sovereign wealth fund hits $66 billion – Errors of Enchantment
Rio Grande Foundation
Workplace Freedom
Shasta County Board of Supervisors to Appeal Ruling in Free Speech Case Against California Public Employment Relations Board
Freedom Foundation
PFML used by those with upper incomes to bring all workers another wage decrease
Washington Policy Center
After a year of high minimum wages, a new report shows workers are working less and earning less.
Washington Policy Center
Other
Democratic Socialists — ‘major insurgent wing’ of the DFL — mourn end of war in Gaza
American Experiment
Protected: Accountability and Action: The Path to Safer Communities
Empower Mississippi
Dr. Steven Skultety: Freedom, Rights, and Civil Disagreement
Empower Mississippi
The Outstater
Indiana Policy
Treasury urged to probe CAIR over possible Hamas links
John Locke Foundation
Wisconsin Republicans Celebrate Columbus Day, Dems Indigenous People’s Day
MacIver Institute
Farewell to a founding father of the liberty movement
Mackinac Center
Inside Connecticut’s Amistad Awards: The Activist Network Behind the Ceremony
Yankee Institute
The Network in the News
At Governing, the Beacon Center’s Justin Owen and Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s John Hendrickson offer a blueprint for property tax reform.
In the Dayton Daily News, The Buckeye Institute’s Greg R. Lawson applauded lawmakers for their efforts to require every local governmental body and taxing jurisdiction in the state to open their books to taxpayers and reminded Ohioans that the simmering unrest over property taxes must be met with meaningful reform.
In the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Policy Institute’s Paul Vallas considers how to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis.
At Complete Colorado, the Independence Institute’s Jake Fogleman highlights two upcoming statewide ballot initiatives in Colorado.
In The Detroit News, the Mackinac Center’s Michael Reitz urged Michigan lawmakers to reduce reliance on federal funds, citing the Center for Practical Federalism’s latest policy brief.
In the Los Alamos Daily Post, the Rio Grande Foundation’s Paul Gessing notes New Mexico’s ‘free’ childcare is an attempt to cover for failures.
