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Survivors of partner abuse are often prosecuted for crimes connected to their abuse, including defending themselves against an abuser or committing crimes under coercion. “Survivor justice acts” allow courts to consider evidence of abuse when sentencing survivors charged with crimes.
Survivor justice acts bring common sense to sentencing
These laws allow full and adequate consideration of abuse and the role it can play in offenses.
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Mounting fiscal pressures can erode reserves, pile up debt, and ultimately threaten public services or lead to tax hikes. A new Reason Foundation study identifies where those warning signs are emerging across state and local governments.
State and local government finances in America: A comprehensive analysis of debt and liquidity
Based on audited financial reports from more than 20,000 government entities, this study uses eight objective indicators to identify emerging fiscal risks.
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Judges should consider whether abuse contributed to a person’s crime when determining an appropriate sentence, writes Hanna Liebman Dershowitz.
Survivor justice acts bring common sense to sentencing
These laws allow full and adequate consideration of abuse and the role it can play in offenses.
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Lawmakers shouldn’t judge transit policy by how much they spend. They should judge it by what agencies deliver for riders and taxpayers.
International transit systems show practical lessons to improve US transit
States and local governments can adapt proven practices using their existing authority over transit agencies, funding, and oversight.
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New York City and Chicago have seven financial red flags. Baltimore, Buffalo, Honolulu, and Toledo, Ohio, have five red flags. Thirteen cities have four red flags, including six in Texas.
Study: Chicago and New York City show most fiscal stress in the nation
While Chicago and New York face extreme pressure on nearly every metric, 42 of the 100 most populous cities trigger one or fewer red flags.
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Nassau and Miami-Dade counties each trigger five fiscal red flags, the most among America’s 100 largest counties. Nassau owes more than twice what it holds in assets, while Miami-Dade has the highest liabilities per resident of any large county.
Study: Nassau County and Miami-Dade are nation's most fiscally-stressed counties
Westchester County (NY), Prince George’s County (MD), Jefferson County (AL), Denton County (TX), and Baltimore County (MD) also have significant fiscal red flags.
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A new analysis of eight key financial metrics finds New Jersey is the nation’s most fiscally distressed state, triggering six of eight possible red flags. Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Pennsylvania have the next highest numbers of financial red flags.
Study: New Jersey and Connecticut are the most financially distressed states
New Jersey has the most financial red flags, followed by Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Twenty-three states have zero red flags.
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How financially healthy are America’s state and local governments? A new Reason Foundation study uses eight standardized measures to identify emerging fiscal risks.
State and local government finances in America: A comprehensive analysis of debt and liquidity
Based on audited financial reports from more than 20,000 government entities, this study uses eight objective indicators to identify emerging fiscal risks.
reason.org
New Jersey has $213.3 billion in total liabilities, amounting to about $22,968 in state liabilities for every resident. Only Connecticut has a higher per-resident burden, at roughly $26,187.
Study: New Jersey and Connecticut are the most financially distressed states
New Jersey has the most financial red flags, followed by Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Twenty-three states have zero red flags.
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Nassau (NY) and Miami-Dade (FL) each trigger five red flags, making them the nation's most fiscally stressed county governments. Westchester (NY), Prince George's County (MD), Jefferson (AL), Denton (TX), and Baltimore (MD) counties all register four fiscal red flags.
Study: Nassau County and Miami-Dade are nation's most fiscally-stressed counties
Westchester County (NY), Prince George’s County (MD), Jefferson County (AL), Denton County (TX), and Baltimore County (MD) also have significant fiscal red flags.
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Fort Bend and Gwinnett are the nation’s two most fiscally stressed large school districts, with liabilities of $29,690 and $31,918 per student, respectively.
Study: Fort Bend (TX) and Gwinnett County (GA) are the most fiscally stressed school districts in the nation
School districts in Chicago, Denver, Frisco, and Omaha also have significant fiscal red flags.
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Between 2019 and 2024, public school enrollments dropped by 2.8%, or 1.4 million students.
Fourteen school districts announce plans to shutter 147 schools in 2026
Plus: Three of the nation’s largest public school districts are navigating significant budget crises as we head into the school year.
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New York City and Chicago have the most red flags of any large local governments in America, indicating extreme fiscal stress in both the short and long term.
Study: Chicago and New York City show most fiscal stress in the nation
While Chicago and New York face extreme pressure on nearly every metric, 42 of the 100 most populous cities trigger one or fewer red flags.
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New Jersey has the most financial red flags, followed by Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Twenty-three states have zero red flags.
Study: New Jersey and Connecticut are the most financially distressed states
New Jersey has the most financial red flags, followed by Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Twenty-three states have zero red flags.
reason.org
A new Reason Foundation study analyzes the financial health of America’s largest state and local governments using eight measures of debt and liquidity. ⬇️
State and local government finances in America: A comprehensive analysis of debt and liquidity
Based on audited financial reports from more than 20,000 government entities, this study uses eight objective indicators to identify emerging fiscal risks.
reason.org
A new California bill could add $14 billion in taxpayers’ pension costs, largely by increasing benefits for first responders already earning more than $160,000 a year.
California set to give $14 billion pension boost to high-earning first responders - Reason Foundation
Plus: Connecticut's pre-K endowment diverts pension dollars, and pension funds are for retirement, not housing policy.
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Instead of Gov. Greg Abbott’s pause on data centers, Texas should require data centers to cover their grid upgrade costs while expanding capacity and strengthening reliability for consumers.
Texas can expand data centers without raising electricity costs
Texas can improve reliability and protect consumers without sacrificing innovation and growth.
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Public school enrollment is falling across the country, putting growing financial pressure on districts already facing difficult budget decisions.
Fourteen school districts announce plans to shutter 147 schools in 2026
Plus: Three of the nation’s largest public school districts are navigating significant budget crises as we head into the school year.
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As families get ready for the new school year, nearly 22 million public school students in 23 states can use universal open enrollment laws to choose a traditional public school other than their residentially assigned school.
More states should embrace open enrollment for public schools - Reason Foundation
Every state that has implemented strong open enrollment policies has seen improvements for the students using the program.
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Idaho recognized that housing affordability was a supply problem and made it easier to build more homes. Its approach offers a model for states facing similar housing challenges.
Idaho gets housing policy right and sets up future success
Idaho’s 2026 housing package treats affordability as a supply problem caused by excessive regulation.
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Universal open enrollment has given millions of students access to public schools that may better fit their needs.
More states should embrace open enrollment for public schools - Reason Foundation
Every state that has implemented strong open enrollment policies has seen improvements for the students using the program.
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A proposed California bill would devote an estimated 86% of its taxpayer-funded cost to increasing pension benefits for the state's highest-paid public safety employees earning more than $160,000.
Lawmakers set to give more lavish pension benefits to California’s highest-paid workers
California Assembly Bill 1383 is a taxpayer-funded handout to highly compensated, long-tenured public employees.
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Alaska, Wyoming and Vermont received the most federal aid per capita. In total, state and local governments in California, New York, and Texas received the most federal aid in 2025.
Ranking the states most and least dependent on the federal government
In some states, federal funds make up a modest share of government revenue, while in others they represent 40% of state and local budgets.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani deserves credit for eliminating outdated regulations and holding businesses accountable through clear standards and meaningful penalties.
Connecticut shouldn’t have to choose between supporting families who need affordable childcare and keeping its commitments to teachers and public employees.
New Jersey ranks last in traffic congestion and 40th overall for highway performance and cost-effectiveness.
New Jersey’s highway system still falls short
New Jersey ranks last in traffic congestion and 40th overall for highway performance.
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California's housing crisis requires more housing, not more debt.
Governor and legislators turn to more debt and borrowing, which won’t fix the housing crisis
California’s housing crisis certainly needs continued reforms and political action, but these proposed bonds would not improve affordability.
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California lawmakers should not impose billions of dollars in new pension costs on local governments and taxpayers based on claims of a workforce crisis that the data do not support. — @MariiFTrujillo reason.org/commentary/c...
Data show California does not have a public safety staffing crisis. Public pension reforms should not be rolled back.
Lawmakers should not impose billions of dollars in new pension costs on local governments and taxpayers based on claims of a workforce crisis that the data do not support.
reason.org
While facial age estimation help platforms comply with youth safety laws, it comes at a steep privacy cost. Requiring facial scans lowers privacy protections for everyone, especially teens, and risks creating a system where access to online spaces depends on surrendering sensitive biometric data.
Protecting teens online shouldn't require mandatory facial scans for digital users
While facial age estimation offers a convenient way to respond to youth online safety demands, the tool comes with serious privacy costs.
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Building homes in factories rather than on-site is a way to both expedite construction timelines and reduce the cost of delivering new homes.
Reducing barriers to manufactured homes
Building homes in factories rather than on-site is a way to both expedite construction timelines and reduce the cost of delivering new homes.
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