The recent legislative session in New York saw a significant focus on the “Employment, Labor and Professional Development” policy area, with numerous bills passed addressing a wide range of issues. Key themes included:

• Worker Protections: Several bills aimed to strengthen protections for specific worker groups, including warehouse workers, retail workers, freelance workers, and nurses. This reflects a growing concern for worker safety, fair compensation, and addressing workplace violence.
• Retirement and Benefits: Multiple bills focused on modifying retirement plans, expanding eligibility for benefits, and adjusting contribution requirements for various public employees, including firefighters, police officers, and correction officers. This highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure the financial security of public servants and address the needs of an aging workforce.
• Civil Service and Public Employment: Several bills addressed civil service examinations, residency requirements for public officers, and compensation for specific public employee groups. This reflects a focus on streamlining processes, attracting qualified candidates, and ensuring fair compensation for public servants.
• Professional Licensing and Training: Bills were passed to update licensing requirements for certain professions, expand the scope of practice for specific healthcare professionals, and mandate training on diversity and inclusion for healthcare workers. This demonstrates a commitment to maintaining professional standards, addressing workforce needs, and promoting equitable healthcare practices.

The post 2024 End-of-Session Report: New York appeared first on Plural Policy.

New York legislators began their 2024 work in early January under the shadow of their 2023 work. In New York, many of the Governor’s most important decisions on bills occur just before the start of the new year. The end of 2023 continued this trend as Governor Hochul vetoed more than 50 bills in December 2023 alone.

Vetoes are a fact of life in the legislative process, and Governor Hochul did sign many bills in the latter half of 2023. However, the ideological divide between the Governor and legislators on some key issues is a narrative dominating coverage of the legislature’s work throughout Governor Hochul’s term.

This dynamic surely informed legislators’ goals for 2024. Ahead of January, legislators set forth slightly less ambitious goals than ahead of the 2023 session. Leadership focused on passing a budget, reaching an agreement on housing, and passing bold climate policy. As always, lawmakers had their work cut out for them. They had just six months to reach consensus on these and other issues critical to the state.

In this report, we examine some of the major legislative efforts this year. This includes those that we at Plural expect to be signed into law, as well as a few that didn’t make it past the finish line. We also examine the issues that will be critical in November’s elections, as well as at the start of the 2025 legislative session.

Get Started With Plural

Top public policy teams in New York trust Plural for their legislative tracking needs. In the world of public policy, it’s all about sorting through the noise to get to what matters. With Plural, you’ll only get exactly what you need, and none of what you don’t. Plural is catered to the needs of public policy teams in New York. Plural users:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

More Resources for New York

2024 End-of-Session Report: New York

2024 End-of-Session Report: New York

How New Voting Laws are Impacting the 2024 Elections: A State-by-State Guide

The post 2024 End-of-Session Report: New York appeared first on Plural Policy.

Each state’s unique approach to elections shapes the democratic process. Between factors like mail-in-voting and voter ID requirements, navigating voting laws is complicated. What’s more, the 2020 election raised concerns over election integrity and the security of our democracy. Heightened scrutiny on absentee and provisional ballots led many legislators to seek to modify our election process. As a response, voting rights advocates aim to break down barriers to voting.

What’s the status of new voting laws, and how will they impact the 2024 elections? This guide aims to help Americans navigate and understand the upcoming election.

Election Controversy in 2020

The 2020 presidential election was marked by confusion and controversy. Following his loss, former President Donald Trump questioned the accuracy of the election. There was surprise among election experts and citizens alike that historically Republican states like Arizona and Georgia went blue. This unprecedented outcome, paired with Trump’s claims, led to a slew of recounts, lawsuits, and calls of fraudulence. 

Scrutiny and public outcry, though largely unfounded, sowed widespread concern and unrest. On January 6, 2021, then-President Trump hosted a rally in front of the White House. On that day, Congress was set to verify the results of the 2020 election. This gathering quickly became what is now known as the “January 6th Insurrection.” Thousands of rally attendees approached the Capitol and broke into the building, killing five and leaving 174 injured.

Since the 2020 election, lawsuits on election interference have mostly been settled. Each recount returned without evidence of fraud or election interference. Though these outcomes are positive news regarding the security of our democracy, high levels of distrust remain.

New Voting Laws in 2024

Election laws have been a significant focus of legislative action in the United States since the 2020 and 2022 elections. As of the fall of 2023, 14 states have enacted laws that decrease access to voting. On the other side of the issue, 23 states have enacted laws that expand access to voting. All of these bills will be in effect during the 2024 general election. 

Efforts to Expand Access to Voting

In 2024, 23 states enacted expansive voting laws, including Michigan, New York, Nevada, and Connecticut, among others. Learn more about new voting laws passed in these states below.

Michigan SB 367, SB 370, HB 4697, and SB 373

The Michigan legislature passed SB 367, SB 370, HB 4697, and SB 373 as part of a comprehensive “democracy reform” package. As part of the package, SB 367 expands access to nine days of early voting. The next bill, SB 370 provides an easier process to vote by mail. HB 4697 allows for increased access to drop boxes. Finally, SB 373 sets forth a more expansive list of accepted identifications. 

New York A 4009, S 1733, and S 5984

In New York, the state legislature passed A 4009, S 1733, and S 5984 in an effort to expand voting access through various avenues. A 4009 requires correctional facilities to provide voter registration forms to formerly incarcerated people. Next, S 1733 requires high schools to provide voter registration forms to students. Finally, S 5984 allows citizens to register to vote closer to election days.

Nevada SB 327, SB 216, and AB 286

The Nevada legislature passed SB 327, SB 216, and AB 286. The laws make it easier for certain historically disadvantaged populations to vote. In particular, SB 327 and SB 216 make it easier to vote on Native Reservations. In addition, AB 286 makes it easier for incarcerated individuals to vote from jail.The new laws also increase accommodations for people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.

Connecticut SB 1226

Finally, the Connecticut state legislature became the sixth state to enact a Voting Rights Act with SB 1226. This came as a result of recent Supreme Court decisions regarding voting. It was an attempt to ensure the discrimination protections provided by the Voting Rights Act are enshrined in state law. Under the new law, municipalities with a history of discriminatory practices are subject to enhanced oversight. The law also created a higher threshold of protection against voter intimidation in the state.

Efforts to Restrict Access to Voting

In 2024, 14 states enacted laws restricting voting rights and access, including Nebraska, Mississippi, and Texas, among others. Learn more about new voting laws passed in these states below.

Nebraska LB 514

The Nebraska legislature adopted LB 514. The new law requires all mail-in ballot voters without a Nebraska ID to mail in a copy of an approved photo ID alongside their ballot. There are few expectations to this rule, of which do not include the inability to access a printer or photocopier. Therefore, the new law may prevent voters from casting their ballot if they cannot access a printer. 

Mississippi SB 2358

In Mississippi, the state legislature passed SB 2358. Under the new law, anyone who is not an election official, postal worker, family member, household member, or caregiver and assists a voter with turning in their ballot will receive criminal penalties. Voting rights advocates argue that the new law will make it more difficult for people with disabilities to vote by mail.

Texas SB 924

The Texas legislature passed SB 924, which will allow counties to consolidate polling locations. The new law increases the likelihood of long wait times for voters. It may also require voters to travel a further distance in order to reach their appropriate polling location.

Overall, the most common forms of restrictive voting legislation include:

• Curbing access to mail-in voting
• Increasing voter ID requirements
• Banning the use of ballot-drop boxes.

It’s been proven that access to mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes, and less stringent voter ID laws make voting more accessible to low-income or otherwise disadvantaged Americans.

Implications for the 2024 Elections

Elections immensely impact economic, social, and political issues throughout the country. Presidential elections only increase these implications, since it’s possible that the entire Executive Branch will be transformed and guided by new priorities, strategies, and goals. Evaluating these implications is a key step in determining which candidate to vote for. Below, we summarize some of the economic, social, and political issues that the 2024 presidential election will impact.

Economic Implications of the 2024 Election

The Biden and Trump Administrations have very different strategies on key economic issues. Key economic issues include inflation, taxes, and corporate responsibility. The differences in these policies are crucial — they have a direct impact on job creation, the income of families, and the stability of the economy. Economic issues will play a major role in shaping how voters decide, reflecting what’s best for their own and their community’s financial health.

Social Implications of the 2024 Election

The 2024 election is generating significant discussion, especially when it comes to social topics. Biden and Trump have vastly different views on many social issues. They disagree on key issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, affirmative action, and climate change. Social issues go beyond politics; they touch everyday life. Social issues will play a significant role in the 2024 election, as voters weigh the candidates based on their own values.

Political Implications of the 2024 Election

In the political arena, the outcome of the 2024 election holds significant consequences for the opposing party. The landscape of bipartisanship has grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Consequently, navigating a divided government poses considerable challenges in advancing policy initiatives. The election results could substantially influence the legislative process.

Check Your Voter Registration and Make a Plan to Vote

Ensuring you are registered to vote can be a complicated process. This is especially true if you are new to voting, have recently moved, or recently obtained citizenship. The best way to check your voter registration status within your state is through the U.S. government voter registration website. You’ll be directed to your state’s voter registration status website based on your address and information. 

Many states have voter registration deadlines of 15+ days prior to the election. This means you must be registered and confirmed prior to that deadline in order to vote in the election. Further, if you have recently moved, even within the same state or district, you must update your voter registration status with your state. Many states allow voters to provide this update electronically. These rules apply to general elections, special elections, and primary elections throughout the United States.  

Different voting methods will require a more detailed plan that differentiates between states. See our tips below. 

In-Person Voting

Voting in-person means you have ensured you are registered to vote within your state. If you’re voting in-person, you’ll be notified of your polling location to cast your ballot. 

Before arriving to vote, be sure to double check your polling location for each election. It’s not uncommon that a polling location will have moved from the last election due to staffing issues, or space availability. 

Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots are similar to vote-by-mail ballots in that you are able to send in your ballot through mail. There are a few circumstances in which voting through an absentee ballot are accepted. These include if you are out of state during the election or if you are military personnel and currently abroad, or on an out-of-state military base, among others. Many states require absentee voters to provide a credible reason for their need to vote in this way.

Follow this link to find out if your state allows you to vote via an absentee ballot. 

Mail-In Ballot

Mail-in ballots are official programs implemented by state governments allowing people to vote by mail in any election. When voting with a mail-in ballot, voters won’t be required to provide justification as to why they are not voting in-person.

Vote-by-mail programs have seen increases in voter turnout. They provide voters with the flexibility of mailing their ballot weeks or days ahead of the election. Vote-by-mail programs allow voters with inflexible responsibilities to vote when it works best for them.  

Provisional Ballot

Provisional ballots are available for people whose names do not appear on the voter registration list at the precinct. Sometimes this is the result of a mistake — the individual either appeared at the wrong precinct, or thought they were registered to vote but did not complete their registration. In these situations, the individual may cast a provisional ballot. The Registrar’s office will confirm that the individual is able to vote in the election.

Get Started With Plural to Monitor New Voting Laws in 2024

The 2024 elections are right around the corner — are you prepared and informed on new voting laws? Plural is the policy tracking tool of choice for those looking to monitor new voting laws in 2024. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

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Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

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State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

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State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

READ MORE →

The post How New Voting Laws are Impacting the 2024 Elections: A State-by-State Guide appeared first on Plural Policy.

Here are four options to access Plural’s 2024 Legislative Sessions Calendar. Choose the one that’s best for you:

1. Google Calendar: Add the calendar directly to your Google Calendar using this link.
2. Outlook or Other Calendars: Add the calendar as a public calendar through Outlook or other calendar applications. (Outlook instructions)
3. View Online: View and bookmark the calendar online here. 
4. Download a PDF: View and download a PDF of session start dates and expected adjournment.

A few things to note:

• The majority of legislative sessions begin within the first two weeks of January and end between late March and mid-May.
• 15 states are scheduled to have significantly shorter sessions than in 2023. Only 4 states are scheduled to have significantly longer sessions.
• Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia will enter 2024 with the most new legislators after those states held regular legislative elections this fall.
• 4 states (Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas) only host regular sessions during even-numbered years, and do not have a regular session scheduled for 2024.
• 4 states, Puerto Rico, and the US Congress meet throughout the entirety of the year and do not generally have a typical end-of-session adjournment scheduled.

More Resources for Public Policy Professionals

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post 2024 Legislative Sessions Calendar appeared first on Plural Policy.

What is Critical Race Theory?

According to the Legal Defense Fund, Critical Race Theory (CRT) is “an academic and legal framework that denotes that systemic racism is part of American society — from education and housing to employment and healthcare. Critical Race Theory recognizes that racism is more than the result of individual bias and prejudice. It is embedded in laws, policies and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities.”

Laws Addressing Critical Race Theory

Three main trends are being seen across the country:

1. CRT is being prohibited from being taught in public educational institutions.
2. Books discussing race, racism, discrimination, and CRT are being banned.
3. An emphasis has been placed on the alleged psychological distress that being taught CRT causes. As such, legal action is encouraged.

Positive legislation refers to legislation supporting communities of color and increasing race-related content in curricula.

Negative legislation refers to legislation that harms communities of color and decreases race-related content in curricula.

Interested in learning more and seeing Samantha’s full analysis using Plural’s data?

The post Legislation Impacting Race and Education appeared first on Plural Policy.

Analyzing Voting Rights Legislation in 2023

Debates around voting rights have always been central to American political discourse. The 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries saw the expansion of the right to vote to religious minorities, people of color and women. However, the statutory right to vote was never the end goal for voting rights advocates. The civil rights movement, particularly the Voting Rights Act of 1965, drove our nation nearer to fair and equal democratic participation.

Policy impacting voting rights is a priority issue for state legislators, intensified by contentious national elections and imperfect systems.

The 2024 elections are quickly approaching. As of July 2023, state legislators have introduced 1,188 bills impacting voting rights. Eighty bills have made it through the legislative process to become law. Understanding this activity, including how and where it is playing out, is key to understanding democracy. We leveraged Plural’s data analyze legislation affecting voting rights and access so far in 2023.

In our analysis, we focused on legislation that expanded or limited access to vote. For example, legislation increasing early vote time is categorized as expanding, while legislation restricting mail-in voting is categorized as restricting. While important to monitor, legislation unrelated to the ability to vote, like bills that regulate ballot-counting devices, were not considered.

Looking Ahead to 2024

Following the 2020 elections, voting rights became a central issue in 2022 campaigns as well as the 2023 legislative sessions. As we approach another contentious national election in 2024, attention on voting policy will continue to grow. Plural is committed to analyzing the trends in this space to help the public understand our democratic processes. 

Get Started with Plural

Plural helps you get and stay ahead in the complex public policy landscape. With Plural, you can:

• Access superior public policy data
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of AI to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

How Vote Mama Lobby Empowers Moms By Using Plural for Tracking Policy

Vote Mama Lobby is dedicated to transforming the political landscape for moms. Its team advocates to break the institutional barriers moms face in running for and serving in office, and gives voice to the solutions that allow everyday families to thrive.  Vote Mama Foundation is a leading non-partisan 501(c)(3) entity that provides research and analysis […]

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Here’s Why Leadership Wants Your GR, Legal & Compliance Teams to Use AI

In an era of accelerating regulation, geopolitical uncertainty, and rising stakeholder expectations, the margin for error in corporate governance has never been thinner. For senior leaders — CEOs, GCs, COOs, and Chief Risk Officers — ensuring that their legal, compliance, and government relations (GR) teams are equipped to respond quickly and strategically is essential. Enter […]

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What I Learned from Working at a Startup Company as a College Student

By Jay Oliveira My time at Plural has been transformative.  As a third-year policy student at Suffolk University in Boston, I had already spent hours pouring over legislative websites for my coursework. I struggled to use legislative sources that would open up dozens of unreadable files, or would make it unclear what chamber the bill […]

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The post Legislation Affecting Voting Rights and Access in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

What is ESG Investing?

Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is an investment strategy involving the consideration of a company’s environmental impact, social impact and governance history. These considerations are used to determine whether and where they will invest funds. ESG is also referred to as socially responsible investing or sustainable investing.

Interest in ESG investing has grown in the private sector. As a result, many large investing firms have begun to offer information about the impact of investments. This offers flexibility for investors to put their money towards “better” investments. The European Union (EU) has been the epicenter of ESG investing. The EU has taken steps to improve corporate transparency and aid ESG. For example, the EU increased reporting requirements for financial firms and companies.

ESG Legislation and Regulation

Regulatory action on ESG investing in the United States had been sparse. However, there has been an increase in legislation on ESG investing. This growth has occurred at both the state and federal levels. The trend is driven by recent actions by the Biden administration as well as Republicans’ focus on the so-called “culture wars.”

Over two-thirds of U.S. state legislatures have considered anti-ESG legislation in 2023, and 14 states have enacted legislation restricting the use of ESG factors in public investments and procurements. On the other side of the debate, just one pro-ESG bill has become law and only 11 states have even considered such legislation. While consumer demand for ESG investing has grown, the data in this report shows a wave of anti-ESG legislation rising to challenge that trend. 

The Plural team sought to better understand legislation regarding ESG investing. To do so, we analyzed the 2023 legislative sessions of all 50 states, US Congress and Washington, DC. This data is up-to-date as of July 19, 2023.

Key Findings

ESG investing has become a prevalent topic of discussion in state legislatures across the country. Understanding the state-of-play in these debates will allow you to be better prepared for their next iterations.

Overall, it’s unclear how states will progress in this space as well as how new laws will impact our economy at-large. At Plural, we’re committed to increasing government transparency. This involves shedding light on laws under consideration and analyzing their impact on our communities.

The post ESG Legislation in the First Six Months of 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

A Growth in Consumer Demand for Electric Vehicles

Consumer demand for EVs has grown rapidly. A decade ago, EVs accounted for less than 1% of total car sales. In 2021, they accounted for nearly 5% of total sales. Legislators across the country are racing to enact policy to accommodate this growth.

Plural’s Analysis of Electric Vehicle Policy

Harnessing Plural’s unmatched legislative data, our team analyzed legislation surrounding EVs so far in 2023. Read our report to see our findings.

Electric vehicle policy is a growing trend. These bills may affect the pace of EV transition and the automotive industry’s impact on the environment. Using Plural’s data, it’s clear that the first six months of 2023 have been the busiest for EV policy in history. These changes will drive electric vehicle policy development through the rest of 2023 and into next year. Understanding the state of play at this moment is important to prepare for that activity.

The post A Look at Electric Vehicle Policy in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

So far in 2023, the partisan divide over gender identity, especially within education and healthcare settings, has generated a significant increase in legislation impacting transgender and nonbinary communities.

The research team at Plural is committed to monitoring legislative trends throughout the country. As we analyzed the 2023 legislative sessions, we were particularly surprised by the volume of bills targeting transgender and nonbinary rights. We leveraged Plural’s legislative data to better understand this trend. The data presented in this report is up-to-date as of Monday, June 26, 2023.

The post Legislation Impacting Transgender and Nonbinary Rights and Visibility in 2023 appeared first on Plural Policy.

In the years since the bill’s first introduction, we have been able to begin to see the impact of its provisions and learn more about the continued funding opportunities created by the legislation. Read on to learn more about how this law came to be as well as its ongoing impacts.

The Starting Point: The Build Back Better Plan

The Biden-Harris Administration came into office after campaigning on the “Build Back Better Plan”, which proposed massive investments in three categories.

The American Rescue Plan – Largely focused on COVID-19 pandemic relief, and including extended unemployment benefits, direct stimulus payments, and extensive relief funding for schools, hospitals and businesses, this $1.9 trillion package became law in March of 2021 at H.R. 1319.

The American Jobs Plan – Commonly understood as a combination of “physical infrastructure,” like roads and bridges, and “human infrastructure,” like access to child and home care. The American Jobs Plan proposed more than $2 trillion in investments and policy changes including those aimed at rebuilding aging infrastructure, climate change mitigation and resilience, and workforce development.

The American Families Plan – More focused on social policy, the American Families Plan proposed spending nearly $2 trillion on childcare, universal pre-kindergarten, subsidized paid family and medical leave, as well as additional progressive priorities.

Of these three original proposals, only the American Rescue Plan passed into law in a form that resembled the ambitious proposal the Biden administration originally outlined. Moderate Democrats and Republicans, whose support was especially crucial in the Senate, were staunchly opposed to spending over $3.5 trillion to enact the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, forcing the Administration and Congressional leadership to the bargaining table.

Bipartisan Efforts to Reach an Infrastructure Deal

Once it became clear that the Administration’s original proposals would not pass through Congress, White House officials worked with centrist Senators to craft a less expensive bill primarily focused on “physical infrastructure” that could win enough support to pass through Congress. The result was the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1.2 trillion bill ($550 trillion being newly authorized spending) that passed with 67 votes in the Senate and 228 in the House of Representatives. 

A concurrent push to adopt proposals from the American Families Plan and some “human infrastructure” proposals in the American Jobs Plan under the name the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) was doomed in 2021 by a lack of support from moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin. This bill came back to life as the Inflation Reduction Act in the Summer of 2022 and was passed into law with party-line support by Democrats. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act were less ambitious than the proposals in the original Build Back Better framework, but their passage represented the culmination of the Administration’s work to get as many of their priorities through a closely divided Congress as possible. Understanding the Infrastructure Bill’s path through Congress and into law can be helpful in understanding the key components and impacts of this historic federal investment.

Key Provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

While the price tag of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is often listed as $1.2 trillion, it is important to note that about $650 billion of that is directed towards the reauthorization of existing transportation infrastructure programs. The remaining $550 billion is what is commonly referred to as “new spending”. Among the initiatives covered in this new spending are the following:

• $125+ billion to repair, expand and improve the efficiency of travel including through investments in rail, airports, public transit and electric vehicles. 
• $110 billion to repair and rebuild roads and bridges.
• $65 billion to upgrade, and modernize America’s electric grid with the goals of reducing power outages and expanding access to renewable and clean energy.
• $65 billion to broadband infrastructure development including funds for broadband in rural areas and payment assistance programs for low-income families without internet access. 
• $55 billion to invest in water infrastructure and eliminate lead service pipes.

Funding the Infrastructure Plan

According to the bill’s advocates, the chief selling points for moderate and conservative legislators, and for voters, was that new spending would not come with additional taxes on individual income. While this claim is debatable, it comes from scoring done by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation. Among the new revenues and savings that cover this $550 billion in new spending are the following:

• $300+ billion of unused COVID relief dollars, recouped fraudulently paid COVID unemployment benefits, and states returning unused COVID funds was repurposed to support the bill’s initiatives. 
• $87 billion in proceeds from past and future spectrum and c-band auctions.
• $56 billion in estimated economic growth based on a projected 33% return on investment in the long-term infrastructure projects included in the bill. 
• $49 billion from delaying a Medicare Part D rebate rule that would cost the Government money. 
• $34 billion from an increase in mortgage fees ($21 billion) and superfund sites ($13 billion).
• $28 billion from further regulating cryptocurrency.

What’s Next?

According to the White House, over $220 billion in funding from the law has been awarded to over 32,000 specific projects across 4,500 communities throughout the country. The largest investments have broadly gone to the largest economies, with communities in California, Texas, New York and Florida receiving the most funding overall. Fact sheets breaking down investments from the bill in each state are available here. 

Additionally, new stories of how this money is or could be spent locally are constantly popping up. Check out these recent stories found by the Plural team, as of June 2023:

• Allentown highlights funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Morning Call
• The Potential for Supporting Low-Income Renters through Transportation Spending Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Beyond – Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
• Romney Welcomes Investment from Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Update Utah’s Light Rail System – Office of Senator Mitt Romney

Remarkably, while $220 billion in new funding has already been allocated, more than 50% of the new funding authorized by the law is still to be allocated. The funding of projects, and their impacts, will be far-reaching for years to come — a deep understanding of the law that authorized that funding is incredibly valuable in anticipating and analyzing that impact.

Explore the Bill on Plural

You can read the full text of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and explore details including sponsors, past versions and votes all formatted in Plural’s easy-to-use bill details page here.

The post Need to Know: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill appeared first on Plural Policy.