Announcements
The Freedom Foundation reported that 610 Ohio public employees opted out of union membership in July and August.
The Frontier Institute launched the Big Sky Legal Project in partnership with the Goldwater Institute to provide free public interest legal services to Montanans facing government overreach.
ITR Foundation highlighted the DOGE panel at SPN’s Annual Meeting and the importance of state leaders trying to reduce federal control.
Several Network groups joined the America 250 Civics Education Coalition—a project dedicated to renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of America’s founding principles in schools across the nation.
Waiting for a response to a March 5 information request, the Mackinac Center issued a second demand letter to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. regarding necessary transparency.
The Pacific Research Institute presented an annual wrap-up of California’s recent legislative session, discussing various issues including cap-and-trade, high-speed rail, and charter school legislation.
The Pioneer Institute joined Pew Charitable Trusts in a call to expand housing affordability.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation shared insights on the Lone Star Ledger, a platform designed to provide parents with easy access to student performance data.
The Washington Policy Center Magazine released its latest issue, themes of heroes who fought in difficult environments to create a brighter future.
Freedom through the Courts: The Latest Litigation Efforts across the Network
Ohio’s Property Tax Reform Working Group invited The Buckeye Institute to testify on solutions to reduce property taxes, where Buckeye presented 10 recommendations to reform local government and ease burdens on homeowners.
The Independence Institute’s David Kopel and Burke Law Group, on behalf of the Frontier Institute and Pelican Institute, joined Ilya Shapiro and the Manhattan Institute in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Suncor and Exxon v. Boulder County Commissioners, a case alleging fossil fuels caused climate change-related natural disasters.
On September 11, the Liberty Justice Center’s Reilly Stephens was interviewed on the Tipping Point New Mexico Podcast regarding LJC’s case Rio Grande Foundation v. Oliver. LJC represents the Rio Grande Foundation and the Illinois Opportunity Project in a constitutional challenge to New Mexico’s donor-disclosure regime, which requires nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations engaged in issue advocacy to report their donors to the government and have those identities publicly posted on a state website.
Mackinac Center Legal Foundation’s Patrick Wright argued before the 6th Circuit challenging Michigan’s unconstitutional pork-barrel spending process.
Solutions from the States: This Week’s Policy Briefs
The California Policy Center noted the potential for substantial federal funding to improve water supply infrastructure based on discussions with California water agency executives.
The Illinois Policy Institute highlighted the need for Illinois to lift its restrictions on nuclear energy production, as private investments signal significant economic opportunities for the state.
The ITR Foundation provided an overview of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL), which helps Iowa school districts supplement state funding for educational programs.
The Mackinac Center highlighted concerns regarding Michigan’s environmental department, EGLE, which has allegedly exaggerated budget needs to secure more funding for its operations.
The Mountain States Policy Center found that Montana is making significant progress in controlling Medicaid costs while still providing essential healthcare services.
The Show-Me Institute found that charter schools have outperformed traditional public schools in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy summarized recent trends in artificial intelligence legislation—revealing a mix of positive and negative developments.
The Platte Institute urged Nebraska to strengthen Truth-in-Taxation by adopting Utah’s model requiring earlier hearings and automatic reviews when property tax revenues increase.
As Virginia’s energy future hangs in the balance, the Thomas Jefferson Institute examined whether voters will prioritize reliability or risk in the face of the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
The Washington Policy Center released a new study highlighting how Washington can use its Good Neighbor Authority to partner with the federal government to better take care of neglected forests.
WILL has unveiled a new policy report, “Closing Wisconsin’s Math Gap: A Call for Early Numeracy Reform,” sounding the alarm on declining math achievement and offering solutions to reverse the crisis.
Policy News from the States
Topics:
State Budgets
First ever fraud firing
American Experiment
Poll: Fraud top of mind as voters consider third term for Gov. Tim Walz
American Experiment
Hawaii Legislature sued over ‘blank’ bills
Grassroot Institute
The Political Bait and Switch: When Promises Become Propaganda
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Peoria Heights mayor vetoes grocery tax as Chicago considers it
Illinois Policy Institute
$3.3B in road funds sit idle, yet Illinois drivers face record-high gas taxes
Illinois Policy Institute
Federal government shutdown brinkmanship has got to go
Mountain States Policy Center
How Nebraska Can Improve Truth-in-Taxation: Lessons from Utah’s Property Tax Reform
Platte Institute
MLG to shuffle taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood
Rio Grande Foundation
The Taxman Cometh: City of Marble Falls
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Taxman Cometh: City of DeSoto
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Taxman Cometh: City of Odessa
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Small Towns, Big Tax Increases
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Taxman Cometh: City of Kyle
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Paid in Full, Required to Do Nothing: Connecticut’s Higher Ed Scandal
Yankee Institute
K-12 Education
How low-achieving students are sinking fast
American Experiment
How Minnesota lawmakers disappointed the office of the Dalai Lama
American Experiment
THIRD-TERM TIM?! Breaking Poll Raises Questions
American Experiment
Turning Point Education offers its curriculum on Constitution for free
American Experiment
Superintendent turnover remains high
American Experiment
Test scores: What about private schools?
American Experiment
How does the federal tax credit for scholarship contributions work?
American Experiment
Policy Errors at the Root of California Community College Enrollment Fraud
California Policy Center
The Reading Crisis: Why Illiteracy Threatens California’s Future and What We Can Do Now
California Policy Center
Charter Bill Results Roll in as Legislative Session Ends
California Policy Center
Dismantling DEI – Goldwater Launches Podcast Series
Goldwater Institute
Studies not enough to cut administrative bloat in Illinois schools
Illinois Policy Institute
Sen. Larson, Dems Pitch Open-Records Update for Voucher Schools
MacIver Institute
Reflecting on a Grim Week
Minnesota Policy
Moscow school district uses taxpayer money… to sue taxpayers
Mountain States Policy Center
Oklahoma ranks high in teacher ‘opportunity and competition’
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Study Calls for Expanding Access to Career Vocational/Technical Education-Acute Shortage in Gateway Cities
Pioneer Institute
IRG: The Real State of Education
Reforming Government
The Rise of Equitable Grading with Adam Tyner
Show-Me Institute
The Erosion of Parental Trust and Responsibility in America
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Solving the Math Crisis: Get Wisconsin Kids Counting Again
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
Energy and Environment
Minneapolis imposing $5/ton of carbon tax
American Experiment
Public Comment: MN energy laws having “significant adverse effects” on national economy
American Experiment
PUC could shrink wind turbine setbacks without public input
American Experiment
PUC holds hearings on Xcel rate case
American Experiment
Fact-Checking Newsom’s ‘Clean Energy’ Claims
California Policy Center
Tips to Understand California’s Energy Economy
California Policy Center
Oregon’s Electric Vehicle Policy Fail
Cascade Policy Institute
CMP’s proposed rate hike sparks outrage, yet solar handouts cost Mainers more
Maine Policy Institute
New World Screwworms arrive in the U.S. Now what?
Pacific Research Institute
Pending Lawsuit Could Unleash American Energy Innovation and Lower Your Power Bills
Palmetto Promise
Tennessee Lands Another Nuclear Project
Show-Me Institute
Healthcare
Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts: When asset protection becomes taxpayer exploitation
John Locke Foundation
The illicit trade in weight-loss drugs deserves a crackdown
Pacific Research Institute
Republicans Must Stand Their Ground On Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies
Pacific Research Institute
Housing Affordability
Charges expected in HSS Medicaid scam
American Experiment
Joe Thompson is turning the tide
American Experiment
Chicago could add 8,000 granny flats by following Los Angeles’ lead
Illinois Policy Institute
Debunking ‘holding the line’ and other property tax myths
Kansas Policy Institute
An open letter to the Union Township Planning Commission
Mackinac Center
YIMBYs win political victories, but where are the new houses?
Pacific Research Institute
Mayor Daniel Lurie slashes red tape in San Francisco
Pacific Research Institute
Austin Governments Make Affordability Worse
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Special Sessions, Secret Deals: Connecticut’s Broken Legislative Process
Yankee Institute
Jobs and State Economies
Inflation numbers should nix a rate cut
American Experiment
Mahomes Can’t Evade New York’s Licensing Blitz
Empire Center
Rebekah Staples: Work Work Work
Empower Mississippi
GCO welcomes new team members to grow our BETTER WORK initiative
For Opportunity
Putting Our AI Regulations to the Test
James Madison Institute
NY governor latest Dem to fall in line with socialist NYC candidate
John Locke Foundation
AI bills in Michigan House follow heavy-handed and punitive regulatory approach
Mackinac Center
Cashing In On University Patents Means Giving Up On Our Innovation Future
Pacific Research Institute
America Can’t Tariff Its Way to a Manufacturing Boom
Pacific Research Institute
Fact Checking The Governor on Manufacturing
Pacific Research Institute
Penalizing Mergers And Acquisitions Won’t Accelerate Economic Growth
Pacific Research Institute
Massachusetts’ Changing Demographic Landscape
Pioneer Institute
RGF opinion piece: Progressive policies are killing Albuquerque
Rio Grande Foundation
Workplace Freedom
First Principles Series: Worker Freedom
Beacon Center of Tennessee
SCOTUS Appeal Challenges Union Efforts to Stifle Opt-outs
Freedom Foundation
Vaporizing Censorship at the Oregon Supreme Court
Goldwater Institute
The Outstater
Indiana Policy
Other
In defense of murder
Alabama Policy Institute
Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed for his politics – he was martyred for the Gospel
Alabama Policy Institute
This Minnesota Dad is a biter
American Experiment
Minnesota Dads face a hard-knock life
American Experiment
A tough month for Minneapolis
American Experiment
A Minnesota Dad double bill
American Experiment
Another mass shooting next to East Lake Street transit hub
American Experiment
Minnesota Man counts his chickens
American Experiment
Honoring Our Constitution
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Progressive Privilege: Never Having To Say You’re Sorry
Independence Institute
The Outstater
Indiana Policy
Franke: and Government Power
Indiana Policy
What the Old Right Teaches us on Constitution Day
ITR Foundation
Honoring Patrick J. Buchanan
ITR Foundation
The Hill: From Hanging Chads to the Gold Standard: Florida Is the Nation’s Leader on Elections
James Madison Institute
A Statement From JMI’s President and CEO on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
James Madison Institute
Kirk’s contrast with his murder suspect as stark as possible
John Locke Foundation
Media ‘lies’ helped make Kirk a target
John Locke Foundation
Why NC’s Third Provincial Congress matters to the Revolution
John Locke Foundation
Some on the left sound alarm about reaction to Kirk’s death
John Locke Foundation
Columnist argues Gen Z will never be the same after Kirk’s killing
John Locke Foundation
Leftists attack one of their own for sober response to Kirk killing
John Locke Foundation
Left avoids truth about motivations of Kirk’s killer
John Locke Foundation
Hegseth searches for military who cheered Kirk’s death
John Locke Foundation
Democratic Race for Governor Grows, Likely to Grow Some More
MacIver Institute
Republicans Try Again with University of Wisconsin Free Speech Standards
MacIver Institute
Berrien Makes Hong’s Socialism Focus of Governor’s Race
MacIver Institute
Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling opens door for California-style elections in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
In Oklahoma, DEI has yet to die
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
USC Moves to Break Higher Ed Accreditation Monopoly
Palmetto Promise
Are Your Tires Feeling Tired? Here’s How You Can Help Fix SC Roads
Palmetto Promise
Dr. Gil Troy on Theodor Herzl – Father of Zionism & Combating Antisemitism
Pioneer Institute
IRG Court Watch Celebrates Constitution Day
Reforming Government
Tipping Point NM Episode 743: Tragic Events, “Free” Child Care a Diversionary Tactic, What Ails Albuquerque, and more
Rio Grande Foundation
More details & a case study on MLG’s massive pay hikes for her staff
Rio Grande Foundation
RGF opinion piece: Progressive policies are killing Albuquerque
Rio Grande Foundation
The Shining Light on a Hill: America’s Constitution
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Ditching the ABA Monopoly: A Call for Competition among Texas Law Schools
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Take Action
Washington Policy Center
Making Pacific Northwest Forests Healthy Using Good Neighbor Authority
Washington Policy Center
Washington’s Digital Advertising Tax – An Assault on Innovation
Washington Policy Center
Connecticut at the Battle of Antietam
Yankee Institute
The Network in the News
In The Times-Picayune, Quin Hillyer highlights SPN’s annual meeting and the launch of the Free Society Coalition to advance state-level reforms.
The Buckeye Institute’s David C. Tryon marked Constitution Day—September 17—with a piece in The Columbus Dispatch celebrating the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. “Imbued with the spirit of the Declaration, the U.S. Constitution has survived, enduring as the bulwark of our republic that we still endeavor to keep.”
Mackinac Center executive vice president Michael Reitz penned a column at The Detroit News reflecting on the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk and the importance of continuing public debate.
At Townhall, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s Douglas Carswell notes that after the assassination of Charlie Kirk we need to stand firm in our advocacy for the principles that made the nation great.
In The Center Square, the Mountain States Policy Center‘s Sebastian Griffin highlights how AI can help take regulatory reforms to the next level.
In her column for Newsmax, the Pacific Research Institute’s Sally Pipes points out America can’t tariff its way to a manufacturing boom.
In The Hill, The James Madison Institute’s Doug Wheeler and Dr. Robert McClure discusses Florida’s two-decade journey to becoming a national model for election integrity, transparency, and accessibility.
In an op-ed for Governing, SPN’s Amy O. Cooke points out that energy policy belongs to the states, not just Washington.
