State Policy Reports

For those interested in subscribing to State Policy Reports, a recent issue is available for review:

November 2021, Volume 39, Issue 22

Mapping and Bridging the Digital Divide Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress was working to bridge the digital divide, but its efforts have accelerated.

Wrenches in the Census A report from the Urban Institute attempts to quantify the accuracy and fairness of the 2020 decennial census.

Annual indices are also available:

May 2023, Volume 41, Issue 10

A Father’s Day Homage

Hal Hovey was the father of State Policy Reports. Reprinted here is an interview he gave shortly before his death in 1999, sharing some of his accumulated wisdom, which remains valuable.

May 2023, Volume 41, Issue 9

To the Seniors Go the Spoils

A new study examines state income tax subsidies for senior citizens.

A Snapshot of SNAP Accessibility

Each state’s Program Access Index (PAI) for 2021 is now available.

An OPEB Update

Funding other post-employment benefits (OPEBs) remains a challenge for most states.

April 2023, Volume 41, Issue 8

Everyone’s a Winner

A recurring area of interest among observers of state-federal fiscal relations is whether a given state is a net donor or net recipient in its terms of trade with the federal government. A new report from New York’s Office of the State Comptroller shows that in federal fiscal year 2021, every state was a net recipient.

April 2023, Volume 41, Issue 7

The Great Unwinding

Effective April 1, a phase-out of COVID-related Medicaid assistance is underway, and states are resuming redetermination processes that have been suspended for three years.

Debt Limit Dealmaking

House Republicans have unveiled a proposal that pairs an increase in the debt limit with deficit reduction. The proposal would affect assistance for states.

March 2023, Volume 41, Issue 6

Index of State Economic Momentum

The Index of State Economic Momentum ranks states based on their most recent performance in three key measures of economic vitality: personal income growth, employment growth, and population growth. Reports updates the index each quarter. In the first update of 2023, Idaho claimed the top spot, while Missouri matched the national average economic momentum.

March 2023, Volume 41, Issue 5

Canaries in the Coal Mine

Two noteworthy items appeared in the media in recent weeks: an opinion piece highlighting the steep rise in consumer debt and a downward revision in the District of Columbia’s revenue forecast.