Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Idaho lawmakers have introduced legislation requiring counties to get voter approval for wind farms. If they’re rejected, counties must charge an excise tax that could exceed $2.5 million per turbine.
A proposal to set a per-enrollee limit on federal money for the program is gaining traction. But states know how to game Medicaid rules and federal oversight is woefully inadequate.
President Trump signed an executive order to increase federal support for school choice programs, causing debate about the impact on public schools and student outcomes.
State bills aim to impose limits on transactions and fees, require consumer warnings and tackle the rise in cryptocurrency scams.
A legal loophole in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is allowing developers to remove rent restrictions from affordable housing, leading to rising rents and worsening the housing crisis.
The consequences of sanctuary policies extend far beyond the ideological debate surrounding immigration enforcement. These policies enable criminal networks to make communities more dangerous.
As Iowa's math scores decline, the state should use public funds to provide private tutoring for families in need and give students extra support without switching schools.
Reported plans to cut staff in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with proposed budget cuts and the Trump administration’s funding freeze, have worried administrators of state and local housing programs.
If there's going to be a “Black mecca” for this rapidly growing sport, there's a good chance it will be Atlanta. But cities everywhere can benefit from this one small way to bring us together.
Despite sanctuary policies aimed at limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, ICE continues to make arrests, highlighting the limits of these policies in protecting immigrants from deportation.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is seeking a private vendor to provide meals for nearly 20,000 prisoners, citing rising food costs and inefficiencies. But critics warn privatization may worsen food quality.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget freezing federal grants to states was canceled. But funds are still being kept back, and budget officers are looking for answers.
The school district is one of a growing number across the country to pump money into creating a building tailor-made for pre-kindergarteners.
A spate of new bills in California and other states would protect consumers from electricity rate hikes that subsidize data centers.
Many states, particularly Republican-led ones, are feeling pressure to align their legislative priorities with the presidential administration. But states are facing new financial constraints after years of revenue growth.
The Supreme Court has made public corruption cases more difficult. The Justice Department's actions in New York suggests they may turn into political weapons.
Safety net systems should be integrated with workforce support programs. Mostly they aren’t. More states should implement the kind of “One Door Model” that Utah has proven effective.
Wichita, Kan., has been reeling since a flight carrying residents crashed outside Washington last month. Mayor Lily Wu talks about leading her city during this difficult time.
Important federal deposit insurance rules and possibly its entire regulatory apparatus could come into play in Washington this year. State and local treasurers need to focus on vital public and fiduciary interests.
They just might be. They’re doing a lot of things that don’t have much to do with books but do have a lot to do with community. And you don’t hear “Shhh” much anymore.
Georgia’s prison system sees a spike in violent deaths and severe staffing shortages, prompting urgent calls for reform and funding to address the escalating crisis.
Governor Josh Shapiro pushes for recreational marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, estimating over $1 billion in revenue within five years to help address the state's budget shortfall.
Mandatory processes and detailed rules have increasingly constrained officials’ discretion, leading to endless lawsuits, decadeslong project delays and multibillion-dollar cost overruns. There’s a better way.
Abbott is in Washington this week to lobby Congress for $11 billion to compensate Texas for money spent on immigration enforcement.
GOP legislators and governors around the country are borrowing Trump's ideas and language on a host of issues. Separately, red states are looking to put up barriers against ballot initiatives.
Tools are available to not only count people experiencing homelessness more accurately but also to provide them with individualized services. More municipalities should use them.
It’s a battle of state vs. state and calls for the federal government to restrict Democratic state policies.
Rep. Dustin Burrows is looking to change the dynamic among the "Big Three" – the governor, Lt. governor, and the House speaker – this session.
State lawmakers have introduced bills to limit SNAP benefits, change vaccine policies and ban fluoride in public water.
If it remains in place, the president’s order will add deep uncertainty to the future of a nascent industry that could provide tens of thousands of jobs and significant clean energy that the grid requires.
