Research and Commentaries

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Draft Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) was released in early March, revealing total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States were 2 percent below their 1990 levels in 2021, falling from a high of 15.7 percent above 1990 levels in 2007. According to the GHGI, all GHG emissions […]

The South Carolina General Assembly has introduced House Bill 3102, which would protect free speech on social media platforms for South Carolinians. This legislation provides citizens of the Palmetto State an avenue to seek a private cause of action and possible financial damages if their online free speech has been blocked, restricted, suspended, terminated, removed, or […]

The Kansas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 2368, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Sunflower State to $16 per hour by January 1, 2027. Also known as the Making Work Pay Act, this would be a substantial increase from Kansas’ current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. HB 2368 works in […]

The Kansas Senate is considering Senate Bill 70, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Sunflower State to $16 per hour by January 1, 2027. Also known as the Making Work Pay Act, this would be a substantial increase from Kansas’ current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. SB 70 works in tandem with House […]

The New Jersey General Assembly has introduced Assembly Bill 1416, which would protect free speech on social media platforms for New Jerseyans. This legislation provides citizens of the Garden State an avenue to seek a private cause of action and possible financial damages if their online free speech has been blocked, restricted, suspended, terminated, removed, […]

The Hawaii Legislature is attempting to elucidate the extent of gubernatorial powers during a state of emergency with House Bill 522. Under current law, during a state of emergency, the governor maintains the power to suspend electronic media transmission. HB 522 considers how broad and vague the verbiage is in the current statutes and would […]

Legislation in the Iowa Senate would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring regimes by ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not fund commercial boycotts that reduce economic growth, cause job losses, and shrink Iowa’s tax base. ESG scores are essentially a risk assessment mechanism increasingly being used by investment firms and financial institutions that forces […]

Legislation in the Nebraska Legislature would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure state pension funds are invested solely to achieve the maximum return on investment for pensioners, rather than advancing social or political causes that may likely lead to lower returns and / or underperformance. ESG scores are essentially a risk […]

Legislation in the Louisiana House of Representatives would establish the Education Scholarship Account Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to low-income Louisiana children, as well as those with special educational needs.   These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, textbooks […]

Legislation in the Texas House of Representatives would establish the Texas Parental Empowerment Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to all children in the state. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, supplemental technological […]

The Oregon legislature is attempting to take a significant swing at emergency powers granted to their governor and any future governors with Senate Bill 640. If passed, SB 640 would create stipulations on future states of emergency in the Beaver state.  HB 640 safeguards citizens from gubernatorial overreach by stating that an executive order terminates 31 […]

Legislation in the Indiana House of Representatives would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure state pension funds are invested solely to achieve the maximum return on investment for pensioners, rather than advancing social or political causes that may likely lead to lower returns and / or underperformance. ESG scores are essentially […]

The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering Senate Bill 37, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Ocean State to $20 per hour by January 1, 2025. This is a dramatic increase from the current minimum wage of $13 per hour. The bill would initially increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour on […]

The Tennessee legislature is attempting to take a significant swing at gubernatorial emergency powers with House Bill 189. If passed, HB 189 would establish legislative oversight over the continuation of gubernatorial powers during a state of emergency.  HB 189 stipulates that an executive order or proclamation issued by the governor expires no later than 45 days […]

Legislation in the Florida House of Representatives would convert the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarship voucher program into a universal education savings account (ESA) program open to all Sunshine State families. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as tutoring services, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course […]

Legislation making its way through the South Carolina General Assembly would establish the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, an education savings account (ESA) program open to low-income Palmetto State children. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as tutoring services, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, […]

Legislation in the Oklahoma Senate would establish the Oklahoma Education Freedom Account Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to all public-school students in the state. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, supplemental technological […]

The Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs will be considering Senate Bill 50 on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, which provides consumer protections by prohibiting censorship of certain speech on social media platforms.  The emergence of social media has elevated political dialogue and discourse to a breadth nearly unimaginable a decade ago. When originally developed, these […]

The Washington legislature is attempting to take a significant swing at gubernatorial emergency powers with Senate Bill 5063, also known as the bipartisan approach to legislative authority necessary in continuing emergencies balance act of 2023. If passed SB 5063 would establish balanced legislative oversight of gubernatorial powers during a declared emergency.  SB 5063 stipulates that a […]

The West Virginia legislature is considering House Bill 2526 new legislation that would reduce the personal income tax and provide reduced graduated income tax rates in the Mountain State.  Throughout recent legislative session, many elected officials have turned their sights towards state revenue and budgets. Legislative sessions have been particularly unique following the COVID-19 economic downturn, which […]

Legislation in the Utah State Legislature would establish the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to all public-school students in the state. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, supplemental […]

Legislation in the Virginia House of Delegates would establish the Virginia Education Success Account Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to all public-school students in the commonwealth. These accounts would cover tuition and fees for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, […]

In this Research & Commentary Samantha Fillmore explains why minimum wage hikes would be harmful in 2023.

In this Research & Commentary Samantha Fillmore explains why minimum wage hikes would be harmful in 2023.