State Policy Network

We talk about Durable Freedom Infrastructure all the time, but what is it?

What is your organization learning right now that others could benefit from? The Excellence in Research panel is designed to surface ideas, insights, and strategies that are driving real results across the network. If your team is testing new approaches or generating meaningful findings, this is an opportunity to share that work. Learn more and save the date for April 21: spn.org/excellence-in-…

This year, America turns 250. It is a moment to celebrate, but also to reflect. What has made this experiment in self-governance endure when so many others have failed? And what will it take to ensure the next 250 years remain grounded in the same principles? In our latest Letter From the President, we explore how the idea of E pluribus unum continues to shape the American story, and why a system that empowers states and citizens remains essential to preserving opportunity. At State Policy Network, that belief drives our work every day across all 50 states. Read the full letter: spn.org/spn-news-sprin…

It was an honor to be on a panel today with @StephenMoore and @DavidBahnsen talking about the economy and sound policies at @StatePolicy’s Roe Retreat in San Diego. We had the pleasure of signing our respective books. Thanks for the opportunity and the work you do, SPN.

Upper Midwest Law Center filed Cajune v. Independent School District No. 194 in 2021. The case was dismissed. They refiled in 2022 with stronger plaintiffs. Dismissed again. They appealed to the Eighth Circuit. The appeals court reversed the lower court and ruled that Lakeville schools had engaged in impermissible viewpoint discrimination. The district removed the political posters and paid $30,000 in legal fees. Four years. Two dismissals. One binding precedent across seven states. spn.org/how-umlc-beat-…

Who should draw congressional maps - the people’s representatives or federal judges?

Lawsuits get the headlines. Demand letters get results. For SPN affiliates building legal capacity, this case study from Freedom Foundation is worth your time. Quick. Affordable. Effective. And it helped a worker assert rights he already had but couldn't access alone. SPN is helping member organizations add this tool to their work: spn.org/dfi-case-study…

Registration is open for #SPNAM! Make your plans to join us Aug. 24–27 in Orlando for SPN’s 34th Annual Meeting. Early bird savings are available through June 15. Secure your spot: spnam.org

Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty estimated that repealing Act 10 could add $1.788 billion in annual school district costs across Wisconsin. A typical district with 100 employees could face $2.2 million in added costs. Under state revenue limits, those costs become service cuts, tax referenda, or requests for more state aid. Good research shows how a problem moves through a budget. spn.org/a-simple-calcu…

If your website buries your work in formats AI systems can't read, it stops there. It never reaches the policymaker. It never reaches the reporter. It never reaches the donor who might fund the next fight. Visibility is part of the mission now. spn.org/how-think-tank…

Registration opens Thursday for this year's SPN Annual Meeting in Orlando. This year’s keynote lineup includes: Jason Miyares — Federalism and the Power of States Yuval Levin — Can the Constitution Unify Americans? 👉 Sign up now to be notified when #SPNAM registration launches: spnam.org

The Institute for Reforming Government released its Whitewater report in June 2024. By October, its general counsel was testifying before Congress. A Wall Street Journal op-ed followed. Wisconsin lawmakers cited the findings during state legislative debate. That's what serious research capacity makes possible: spn.org/irg-research-c…

A letter from a federal agency shouldn’t function like law. But in practice, it often does. From SPN's Center for Practical Federalism (@FederalismWorks), Madison Ray explains how it works and how states are fighting back via @NRO: nationalreview.com/2026/04/stoppi…

Act 10 passed in 2011. It helped Wisconsin school districts control labor costs and eased pressure on property taxes. In December 2024, a state judge struck down key provisions of the law. Wisconsin taxpayers deserved to know what that could mean for their wallets. Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty made sure they did. spn.org/a-simple-calcu…

In March 2024, the Institute for Reforming Government (@ReformingGovt) filed public records requests with the Whitewater Police Department. The department returned more than 400 documents, including police reports, budget data, emails, and internal communications. Those records showed families living in unheated sheds during sub-zero temperatures. Overcrowded apartment units. Schools stretched by growing demand for English Learner services. And local leaders asking for help that never arrived. It was the first investigation of its kind in Wisconsin: spn.org/irg-research-c…

Eight things your think tank website should have: 1. A clear mission visitors can read in seconds. 2. Clean design with no clutter. 3. FAQ pages written for how AI pulls information. 4. PDFs with searchable text and real structure. 5. A consistent format across every report. 6. Expert pages a reporter could actually use. 7. Topic landing pages that show your position. 8. An impact page with numbers, dates, and names. None of this requires a rebuild. spn.org/how-think-tank…

Who is shaping policy in Washington? In @DCExaminer, Jennifer Butler (@jennifer_butler) from our Center for Practical Federalism examines how “guidance” is being used to bypass Congress and what lawmakers can do to reassert their role. washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4537570…

When a public school promotes one political message and shuts out others, it is no longer a neutral institution. It is picking winners and losers. Upper Midwest Law Center president Doug Seaton put the goal plainly: "make school school again." After a hard-fought win at the Eighth Circuit, that is exactly what happened. spn.org/how-umlc-beat-…

How do younger audiences actually fit into your long-term strategy? Most organizations wait too long, after opinions are already formed. This piece explains why the real window for influence opens much earlier. spn.org/the-strategic-…

At 4:20 pm today on the @RodandGregShow on @1059KNRS - @Brooke_Medina_ of the @StatePolicy Network joins Greg for a conversation about her piece in @FoxNews about what’s happening in the blue states that are run by Democratic Governors positioning themselves as Presidential candidates.

Top Democrat governors are hoping to ride their records to the White House. Can they? foxnews.com/opinion/top-de… #FoxNews @Brooke_Medina_ @StatePolicy