2025 State Policy Watchlist
Policy Watchlist Report
2025 State Policy Watchlist
A close look at five important changes happening in state laws this year. This report helps you understand what's changing and why it matters for your community.
Report Overview
The federal government has been slow to pass new laws. So state governments are stepping up to solve important problems. Bloomberg Government's 2025 State Policy Watchlist looks at five key areas where states are making big changes this year.
Why This Report Matters
- States are making new laws to fill gaps when federal government doesn't act
- 88 places (23 states and 65 cities) will raise their minimum wages in 2025
- 20 states now have laws protecting people's online privacy as of January 2025
- When many states do something, the federal government often follows
- Knowing what states are doing helps you plan ahead
Five Key Topics for 2025
Privacy Protections
New laws to protect your personal information online when the federal government hasn't made rules
AI Regulation
New rules to make sure computer programs treat people fairly when making decisions about jobs, housing, and loans
Cost-of-Living Reforms
California leading the way on laws to make housing, healthcare, and energy more affordable
Big Tech Crackdowns
New York creating new rules to stop big tech companies from having too much power and being unfair
Pay Transparency
New laws in many states requiring companies to show salary ranges in job postings
Expanded Privacy Protections
The federal government hasn't passed strong laws to protect people's private information online. So states are making their own laws. This is one of the fastest-growing areas where states are taking action.
What's Changing
- Broad privacy laws: States are making laws that give you more control over your personal information
- Protecting kids' data: Stricter rules about how companies can collect and use information about children
- Health information privacy: New protections for your health records and reproductive health data
- Data broker rules: Companies that buy and sell your information must be more honest about what they do
- Right to sue: Some states let you sue companies if they misuse your private information
What This Means for Organizations
- Companies need different plans for each state because laws are different
- Need to invest in better systems to protect customer data
- Must update privacy policies to be clear about what they do with data
- Train staff on how to handle customer information properly
- Work with state lawmakers to help write practical rules
Key States to Watch
- California: Making changes to existing privacy laws and enforcing them
- Colorado: Putting comprehensive privacy law into action
- Virginia: Enforcing consumer data protection laws
- Texas: Rolling out data privacy and security rules
- Florida: Implementing Digital Bill of Rights
AI Regulation to Prevent Discrimination
Many states are making new laws about artificial intelligence (AI). AI means computer programs that make decisions. States want to make sure these programs treat everyone fairly when making decisions about jobs, housing, loans, and other important things.
Focus Areas
- Job decisions: Rules about using AI to decide who gets hired, promoted, or fired
- Housing and loans: Making sure computer programs don't discriminate when approving housing or credit
- Criminal justice: Limits on using AI to predict crime or decide sentences
- Healthcare: Protections when AI helps make medical decisions
- Education: Oversight of AI in grading students or deciding who gets admitted to schools
What States Are Doing
- Requiring companies to check if their AI programs might be unfair before using them
- Making companies be more open about how their AI works
- Requiring a real person to oversee important AI decisions
- Testing AI programs to make sure they don't discriminate
- Telling customers when AI is being used to make decisions about them
Why This Matters
States are making rules about AI because the federal government hasn't yet. Each state has different rules, which makes it complicated. Companies that follow state rules now might be in a good position if federal laws come later.
Things to Consider
- Check your AI systems to see if they might treat some groups unfairly
- Have real people watch over important AI decisions
- Keep records of how your AI makes decisions
- Talk with state regulators about how to follow the rules practically
- Watch what many states are doing—it might show what federal laws will look like
Affordability and Pay Equity Laws
California Cost-of-Living Reforms
California is leading the way with laws to help people afford basic needs. The state is working on several areas:
- Housing affordability: Laws to create more affordable housing and protect renters
- Healthcare costs: Ways to reduce prices for prescription drugs and health insurance
- Energy costs: Programs to lower utility bills and expand clean energy access
- Environmental justice: Making sure the costs of fighting climate change don't hurt poor communities
- Transportation: Investing in public transit and electric vehicle chargers
Pay Transparency Laws Spreading Across the Country
More and more states require companies to show salary ranges in job postings. This helps close wage gaps and makes pay more fair.
Key States with Pay Transparency Requirements
- California: Companies with 15 or more employees must show pay scales in job postings
- New York: Salary range requirements for New York City and statewide
- Colorado: Comprehensive pay transparency and job posting requirements
- Washington: Salary range disclosure for companies with 15 or more employees
- Illinois: New pay transparency law started January 2025
- Minnesota: Recently passed salary range disclosure requirements
What Companies Need to Do
- Review and standardize how you post jobs in all states where you operate
- Check your pay to find and fix any unfair differences
- Train HR and recruiting teams on disclosure requirements
- Update job posting templates and tracking systems
- Be ready to answer employee questions about pay ranges and fairness
Big Tech Crackdowns in New York
New York is becoming a leader in regulating big technology companies. The state is creating rules to stop tech companies from having too much power and treating people unfairly.
Key Areas of Regulation
- Stopping monopolies: Challenging big tech companies that block competition and control too much of the market
- Fair computer programs: Requiring transparency and fairness in automated systems that make decisions
- Content moderation: Watching how social media platforms decide what content to allow or remove
- Data portability: Giving people the right to access and move their data to other platforms
- App store rules: Requiring fair competition in digital marketplaces like app stores
- Child safety online: Protecting kids from harmful content and addictive features
New York's Tech Agenda
- Giving the state attorney general more power to go after tech companies
- Creating specific regulations for social media and digital platforms
- Consumer protections for buying things online
- Requiring companies to audit their algorithms and report impacts
- Working with other states on enforcement actions
Other States Taking Action on Tech
New York is leading, but many states are regulating technology companies:
- California: Continuing to create new tech oversight and consumer protection
- Texas: Social media transparency and content moderation requirements
- Florida: Platform regulation and content policy oversight
- Washington: Data privacy and fair algorithm requirements
- Massachusetts: Consumer protection in digital marketplaces
How to Respond
- Work with state attorneys general and regulators early
- Show voluntary commitments to transparency and fairness
- Invest in systems to comply with state requirements
- Participate in discussions to help shape practical rules
- Watch how states coordinate and enforce together
What You Need to Know for 2025
Why State Laws Matter Now
State governments are making more laws because the federal government is slow to act. This creates both opportunities and challenges:
- Testing new ideas: States are trying new approaches that might become federal law later
- Complex rules: Different rules in different states make compliance harder
- Competitive advantage: Companies that follow rules early can stand out
- Reducing risk: Working with regulators early reduces problems later
- Seeing the future: State trends show what federal government might do next
How Bloomberg Government Can Help
- Track legislation in real-time across all 50 states
- AI-created summaries help you understand bills quickly
- Contact information for 7,500+ lawmakers and staff
- Custom alerts based on topics you care about and where you work
- Expert analysis from journalists who cover state policy
- Maps and comparison tools to see patterns across states
Action Steps
- Check current compliance: Review your operations in all states for new requirements
- Build tracking systems: Use tools to watch relevant legislation as it happens
- Engage stakeholders: Build relationships with state lawmakers and regulators
- Plan for scenarios: Prepare for different possible outcomes across states
- Coordinate advocacy: Work with industry groups on multi-state strategies
- Document compliance: Keep records showing you're trying to follow rules
Looking Ahead
- State legislative sessions in 2025 will consider hundreds of bills in these areas
- Enforcement will increase as laws move from passage to implementation
- When many states work together, they create national standards
- State innovations will continue to shape federal policy debates
- Organizations that track states well will have a strategic advantage
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