State Government

Are tax incentives boons or boondoggles?

Though there’s lots of evidence that the economic development tool may not be effective, it is still in wide use. Fortunately, there are ways to control the potential waste of taxpayer dollars.

Gov. Josh Shapiro wants you to text him

The Pennsylvania governor joins New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy as trailblazers exploring direct text communications with constituents.

States lose federal water funds to earmarks

Democrats and Republicans in Congress could divert nearly $1.5 billion from states for local funding.

California looks to preserve its role as ‘global hub’ for generative AI

An executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom looks to create replicable guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of generative AI in state government.

The risk of fraud is high in the nation’s largest housing program, report finds

The federal department that disperses funds to states to build affordable housing is failing to provide necessary oversight, an audit found, increasing “the opportunities for mismanagement and fraudulent activity.”

After enacting strict abortion laws, many states are turning to tax breaks for expectant parents

Four states have approved new tax credits or deductions that allow taxpayers to claim unborn children. Nearly a dozen are expected to follow. But do these laws actually help expectant mothers?

The New Hampshire governor's decision not to run leaves 2024 field wide open

But Republican Chris Sununu’s exit gives Democrats their best pickup opportunity in a year when only a few governorships seem to be in play. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.

State retirement plans close savings gap and pad bottom lines

Six years ago and millions of dollars since, Oregon launched the first state-sponsored retirement program for private sector workers. Today, 19 states have launched or plan to launch their own savings programs.

States have broadband money. Now they just have to figure out how to spend it.

States have less than six months to submit their plans to the federal government on how they will spend their allotment of the $42.5 billion to build out the nation’s broadband.

Investors are buying mobile home parks. Residents and governments are pushing back.

Amid an affordable housing crisis, some states are looking to help low-income residents stay in their homes by helping them purchase the land their manufactured housing sits on.

Child welfare staffing crisis can only be solved by addressing capacity issues first

COMMENTARY | We need creative solutions to provide enough capacity for caseworkers to complete their work in an effective, timely and efficient way.

Wisconsin’s ‘Star Trek’ veto and other budget stragglers

With the new fiscal year underway, some states are just now wrapping up their budgets—and it hasn’t been without drama. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup

As states hunt for new voters, Massachusetts adds thousands via Medicaid applications

Any eligible voter in the state who applies for Medicaid is automatically added to the rolls, unless they opt out. Other states are exploring similar systems, which experts say could be more effective in increasing voter rolls.

As more states legalize pot, their uneven safety rules can pose a risk

Tests for marijuana potency and contamination vary across state lines.

Mortality rate for young women grew significantly during the pandemic, report says

As the nation marks the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, a new report finds an uptick in deaths among young women. Researchers worry the trend will worsen as more states limit access to reproductive health care.

Digital literacy, not bans, should shape states' approach to social media

Protecting children from harmful content is important, but states should help young people understand the platforms’ risks and make informed decisions about what to view, experts say.

Right-to-charge laws bring the promise of EVs to apartments, condos and rentals

COMMENTARY | Illinois passed the latest law requiring new apartment buildings to be wired for EV chargers. Now apartment communities are figuring out the best ways to make shared charging work for everyone.

More blue states declare themselves sanctuaries for transgender health care

The moves come after at least 20 states have restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors.

State coffers to take a hit with the end of extra federal Medicaid funding

During the pandemic, states received more than $117 billion in additional federal Medicaid funding in return for pausing disenrollments. That extra money is set to end this year.

Feds Give States More Flexibility in Medicaid Redeterminations

But, according to federal data, states already aren’t using all the latitude given to them to keep eligible people on the low-income health care program.