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

New information about America's veterans was just released this month. It tells us who they are, how they're doing, and what help they need. This matters for everyone who wants to support the people who served our country.

Why Houston Should Care

• For Helpers: Learn what veterans really need, not what we guess they need

• For City Leaders: Get facts about veteran health, jobs, and housing problems

• For Business Owners: Understand the skills veterans have and the help they need

• For Community Groups: See where veterans need more support

• For Veterans and Families: Know you're not alone and find help

"I've experienced a number of times where I found myself thinking, 'Oh I never thought of it that way' or I recognized that someone else's experience opened me up to a new way of seeing that topic. I found myself seeing something for the first time."

— Conversation Participant

The Beacon Project launches its first podcast with Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University. This conversation explores why citizenship matters now, what civic culture really means, and how communities can rebuild connection in times of division.

"We can disagree and stand firm for our beliefs and principles, but we should never forget the dignity of the other human being. I'm proud to join Governors across the nation in demonstrating that civility is not a weakness."

— Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee

How do the places where we gather shape how we connect? From housing to green spaces, public libraries to digital forums, the environments around us play a vital role in fostering belonging and community.

"When you travel, you learn the most about your own country. No matter how divided we think we are, there is much more we have in common."

— David McCullough III, Co-Founder and CEO

Who is having the hardest time:

• Families making less than $25,000 per year

• Only 1 in 3 low-income families say they have fully recovered

• People who couldn't afford to make all the repairs they needed

• Families who lost food, wages, and had to pay for emergency costs

Compare this to higher-income families:

• 8 out of 10 families making over $100,000 say they have fully recovered

• They were more likely to have savings to pay for repairs

• They were more likely to have insurance that covered damage

"This book gives you clear, simple ways to understand how we became so divided. The authors share their own stories about changing their minds and learning from others. Then they give you exercises to try yourself. Use this book with family, friends, neighbors, or anyone you want to understand better."

— Susan Clark, coauthor of Slow Democracy

How to Make Your Voice Heard

• Find Your Representatives: Visit Texas Legislature Online to find who represents you

• Email the Bill Sponsors: Use the sponsor emails in each issue below to share your experience

• Contact Your Local Officials: Reach out to your state senator and representative about what matters to you

• Share This Article: Help others learn about the issues that quietly shape our lives

• Focus on Your Experience: Personal stories about how these issues affect your family, business, or community are powerful

Why This Matters

• The loudest political fights are about identity and culture

• Polling shows Texans already agree on practical issues like energy and healthcare

• These "boring" problems are where surprising alliances form

• Boring issues are where trust can be rebuilt across political divides

• This is where politics can actually make everyday life better

"More than ever, people and organizations need space to come together to discuss, imagine, and chart a path to a more just world. We hope the center helps to fulfill this need."

— Ford Foundation

"This experience is exhilarating. It's like going on a rollercoaster that looks scary, but after you go through the drops and loops, you're like 'I want to do that again!' The Civic Gym is like that but without the long lines."

— Civic Gym Student Participant

Why This Matters

• For the Exhausted Majority: A vision that transcends left-right polarization and offers practical hope

• For Educators: A framework that recognizes both individual potential and structural barriers

• For Policy Makers: Cross-partisan appeal with 80% agreement across political parties

• For Community Leaders: A shared language for building civic culture beyond divisiveness

• For America's Future: A roadmap for reimagining democracy in the 21st century

American Enterprise Institute

Defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world.

Since 1938, AEI has been advancing ideas rooted in democracy, free enterprise, American strength and global leadership, individual liberty, and a pluralistic, entrepreneurial culture through rigorous research and open debate.

A dynamic digital library and network where educators discover, create, and collaborate to improve teaching and learning with open educational resources.

Making quality education accessible and affordable for everyone through freely available, openly licensed teaching and learning materials that can be used, adapted, and shared without cost.

Why this matters:

• Less than 1% of human trafficking victims are identified

• Many victims don't even realize they're being trafficked

• Traditional services require victim identification, creating barriers to help

• By serving anyone who has experienced the sex trade, we eliminate these barriers

• This approach increases victim identification and connects more people with life-saving support

Founded in 2015, The Landing started as a dream to reach survivors who were slipping through the cracks. Our founders wanted to create a safe space for survivors, regardless of whether they were ready to leave their current situation.