US Policy Pulse

• California requires all medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder services for Medi-Cal, Covered California, and...

The SAVE America Act's strict photo ID standards would require nearly every state to rewrite its laws, as no state currently complies fully.

• 35...

Senator Collins’ bill to keep the Offices of Special Education, Postsecondary Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Indian Education...

A coalition of 112 legislators across 35 states has passed over 50 laws this year targeting ICE enforcement.

• Key measures include bans on 287(g)...

Federal policy changes could reshape pharmacy reimbursement and drug pricing next year.

• 340B reimbursement cut: CMS proposes slashing outpatient...

U.S. immigration laws contain built-in contradictions that trap families and leave millions in limbo, showing why reform must go far beyond border...

• H.R. 1 changes effective Nov. 2025 caused at least 35,861 Marylanders to lose SNAP benefits, hitting families, older adults, and the homeless...

New state rules are cutting delays and costs for patients facing serious health needs.

• Massachusetts eliminates prior authorization for routine...

Obamacare improved on the prior system but left millions uninsured due to affordability gaps, weak enrollment, and the eliminated individual mandate....

The TAS Act stands as the most consequential tax administration bill since 2019, delivering real-time IRS call tools, expanded online account access...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the federal estate and gift tax exemption permanent at $15 million per person and $30 million for married couples, giving wealthy families a fixed baseline for long-term estate planning.

• Enforcement fears: ICE activity and new restrictions limit business ownership and community roles for immigrants, with mandatory detainer compliance...

Iowa's two-day August sales tax holiday saves shoppers an estimated $5.5 million but adds arbitrary rules—like tax-free $99.99 items versus taxable...

Proposed property tax reform on Florida's November ballot could force major cuts to Martin County fire and rescue operations.

• Budget hit: Expanded...

Trump's executive order is pushing states to expand involuntary treatment for homeless people with mental illness or substance issues, moving away...

Maine's $136 million commitment lets MaineDOT advance transportation projects once eyed for temporary delay, proving targeted state funding can keep...

• National effectuated enrollment fell nearly 3 million to 19.2 million in 2026.
• Every state except New Mexico saw declines, with some exceeding...

Kentucky's HB 1 enrolls the state in a federal scholarship tax credit program, allowing eligible taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar federal credit up to...

Federal policy changes are amplifying pressure on grassroots groups helping immigrants and refugees.

• Aid cuts and enforcement: Recent legislation...

Delaware is fixing commercial property assessment errors from its first reassessment in generations, where some buildings dropped to fractions of...