Americans Want Community Investment, Not Cuts

A recent poll surveying Americans in Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart, shows voters’ strong support for: state investment in ensuring residents are safe, healthy, and economically secure; progressive solutions to revenue shortfalls; and policies that benefit workers like paid sick days, enhanced unemployment benefits, and child care. A majority also believe the state government should address economic barriers that impact Black people. The survey was conducted online and by phone in late June/early July and included results from more than 5,000 respondents.

Voters are against budget cuts

By a three-to-one margin, voters want their state government to invest in residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (60%) rather than lowering taxes and cutting funds to services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (19%). Voters see a major or some role for state government in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (91%)
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 public education (86%)
Stopping the spread of coronavirus (85%)
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (83%)
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%)

Ensure workers have access to paid sick days and paid family leave (71%)
Ensure access to affordable housing (70%)
Acknowledge and address systemic racism (68%)
Ensure access to affordable child care (67%)
Reducing income inequality by raising the minimum wage and increasing taxes on the wealthy (63%)

Voters support progressive solutions to revenue shortfalls

Voters support a wide range of proposals to raise revenue to prevent large budget cuts to things like education, health care, infrastructure, and human services, including:

Close corporate tax loopholes (87%);
Increase taxes and financial penalties on companies that pollute our air and water (85%)’
Increase taxes on the wealthiest individuals (73%);
Increase taxes on those making over $250,000 a year (71%);
Create a carbon tax paid by companies based on how much carbon they emit (69%);
Increase taxes on profitable corporations (64%).

Voters are with workers

Voters strongly support policies that would provide immediate pocketbook relief for families and workers, including:

Provide low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (93%);
Ban the practice of surprise medical billing (89%);
Extend the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Limit what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (87%);
Offer people the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (87%);
Create an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (80%); and
Require workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (79%)
Eliminate tax breaks for corporations and large businesses that don’t offer paid sick and family leave and health care to their employees (74%)
Extending the length of time workers can receive unemployment benefits (58%)

A majority of voters side with workplace safety requirements (55%) over liability protections for corporations (26%).

Voters want state government to remove racial barriers in the economy

Nearly 7-in-10 voters across the target states believe state government should play an active role in acknowledging and addressing systemic racism (68%). Voters also believe the state government should address economic barriers faced by Black Americans (57%).

Click here for more results.

Multi-State Poll: Opinions on Economic Response to COVID-19

During the briefing, you’ll hear:

SiX and TargetSmart fielded a poll in ten states to assess voter concerns and preferences on a variety of revenue and economic policies. The poll was fielded in late June/early July while economic and budget implications of the pandemic intensified and with racial justice protests sweeping the country.

results from 10 states (AZ, GA, FL, MI, MN, MS, NV, TN, TX, WI), including consolidated and cross-state trends
data on what economic pressures are top of mind for voters, their preferences about protections for families and workers—such as paid sick leave and unemployment benefits, and how they feel about ways to secure additional revenue for budget shortfalls
data on voter concerns about pandemic economic impacts and barriers for Black voters

COVID Response: Resources for State Legislators

As the coronavirus situation continues to unfold, we’re compiling resources here to help you navigate the many challenges this presents to your community. We know that crises like these have disproportionate impacts on vulnerable and low-income communities and want to make sure we stand up for those most at risk. As legislators, you are uniquely positioned to find solutions that mitigate the harm for at-risk medical populations (people with chronic health conditions, people with disabilities, the elderly), hourly workers, the millions of Americans without access to health care or paid sick days, and everyone who is one health emergency away from financial ruin.

The resources we've linked to below can help you use your platform to provide clear, scientifically-based information to the public and advocate for better policies.

If you have actions or new policies that are happening in your states, please share them so we can provide them to other legislators across the country. Please email helpdesk@stateinnovation.org.

Race and the Virus: Bias, Data, Testing, and Impact

The spread of COVID-19 took longer to reach rural America, however, once it did, it highlighted some basic infrastructure needs that are lacking for rural residents. During COVID-19, rural people have faced many of the same challenges as urban residents, yet have struggled to access adequate information, medical services, food and medicine due to an erosion of public investment in rural infrastructure.

See more here.

Health Care

In addition to the risks to individuals’ physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic affects every health care system in the United States (medical, public health, insurance) and each of their corresponding workforces. State legislatures have a responsibility and opportunity to ensure that these systems are operating effectively and equitably for the health of all people.

See more here.

Unemployment and Worker Protections

The Covid pandemic has had devastating impacts on every single worker and every aspect of our economy, particularly women and Black, Brown, and Indigenous workers. Too many are grappling with how to pay for the basic necessities they need to survive and many are being forced to decide between going back to a job that may be unsafe or protecting their health. Fortunately, legislators and partners can implement innovative solutions that will make our workforce and our local economies safer and stronger.

See more here.

Preventing Evictions

Our nation is in the midst of a housing crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under our nation’s system of racial capitalism, housing serves more as a financial asset or investment than a basic human right. The current system disproportionately harms working-class, Black, Indigenous, and communities of color (BIPOC)—leaving them out of both asset building opportunities and housing protections. Evictions already place a disproportionate harm on Black women and their families, who are almost four times as likely to be evicted as households led by white men. Housing stability has always been a civil rights issue that directly descends from our nation’s history of segregation and racist housing practices.

See more here.

Official Election mail voting register scaled

Democracy and Voting

2020 Census

The 2020 Census is still on and it is more important than ever to get out the count and encourage communities to self-respond. SiX’s Census Get Out the Count Toolkit for State Legislators has everything you need to promote the census digitally with your constituents during the pandemic and is being updated regularly. Here’s the most important message the all legislators should be lifting up:
- “Responding to the census has never been easier. You can fill out the form from the comfort of your home—online, over the phone, or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker in person.”
To make sure you’re staying informed and sharing the latest information with your constituents, check out the Census Bureau’s news room and overview of 2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19.
- On April 13, the Bureau announced major operational changes for the 2020 count. All field data collection activities have been suspended until June 1, and the enumeration period has been extended until October 31, 2020. That means households will now have until the end of October to self-respond to the census, though legislators should still encourage communities to participate as soon as possible.

Voting & Elections

COVID-19 poses an incredible threat to voter access and participation in our elections and requires a multi-pronged, well-funded solution. To meet this challenge, states must rapidly ensure that voting systems are safe, resilient, and flexible. Democracy advocates across the country are uniting behind the below areas of reform to protect our democracy during the pandemic:
- Expanded voter registration, including online registration, same-day registration, and automatic registration;
- Expanded mail voting, including pre-paid postage and fair and consistent ballot verification and cure processes;
- Expanded early voting and in-person voting opportunities;
- Reforms to polling station locations, setups, and sanitation protocols (following CDC guidelines); and
- Robust public education.
For a detailed overview of these policy recommendations see the following resources from SiX’s national partners:
- Brennan Center for Justice: How to Protect the 2020 Vote from the Coronavirus, Voters Need Safe and Sanitary In-Person Voting Options, Why a Vote-by-Mail Option Is Necessary, and Estimated Costs of Covid-19 Election Resiliency Measures
- National Taskforce on Election Crises: COVID-19 Election Guide
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Voting Rights Coalition Letter: Protect Voting Rights and Public Safety in Response to COVID-19
- Brennan Center for Justice: How to Protect the 2020 Vote from the Coronavirus and Estimated Costs of Covid-19 Election Resiliency Measures
- Center for American Progress: Election Contingency Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Campaign Legal Center: Three Measures to Ensure Ballot Access During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Fair Fight Action Fund: Protecting Our Democracy Amid COVID-19
- Marc Elias: Four Pillars to Safeguard Voting Rights with Vote by Mail
For technical recommendations on expanded vote by mail, check out the National Vote at Home Institute’s extensive reference library and Scale-Up Roadmap to Secure the 2020 Election. This article from Washington Monthly outlines Utah’s path to scaling vote by mail. SiX’s 2018 Modern and Secure Elections Playbook also includes policy guidance and legislative language on vote by mail systems.
For additional resources, see the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page, National Association of Secretaries of State’s (NASS) Issue Briefing: Election Emergencies & COVID-19, and NCSL’s COVID-19 and Elections page.

Reproductive Rights

COVID-19 poses specific threats to reproductive health care access and needs; further, some states have taken advantage of the crisis to play politics and restrict abortion care access. But research shows that even in the midst of COVID—and despite disinformation spread by the anti-choice opposition—people continue to oppose restricting access to reproductive freedom.

See more here.

Education

The Department of Education and the White House are pressuring schools to open in the fall but are providing little to no guidance for doing so safely, threatening to withhold funding for states or districts who do not comply. While the pressure to reopen schools in the fall grows, so does the number of coronavirus cases, leaving school districts and states scrambling to keep up with a quickly changing situation. States will have to consider how to keep all students, teachers, faculty and support staff safe—not just those in wealthy communities—through budget considerations, remote learning options, financial aid, school meals, testing and tracing, and more.

See more here.

Food Systems and Agriculture

Covid-19 demonstrated that the corporate food supply chain is one crisis away from failing, which puts communities at risk of being food insecure and could cause barriers for local farmers working to address the food needs of their community. In order to ensure that communities are resilient in their ability to access food during a crisis, legislators should work to ensure that there is a sound regional and/or local alternative food supply chain with a plan to get food to those who need it while also ensuring that food and farm workers are adequately protected in their workplaces.

See more here.

Immigration

Undocumented Immigrants make up a disproportionate share of frontline workers and are especially concentrated in high-risk industries such as food production, health care, and transportation. However, these same immigrant workers have been excluded from any economic relief included in the CARES Act and are unable to access unemployment insurance. To compound this devastating situation, Trump’s immigration enforcement machine continues to target undocumented residents and separate families at astounding rates, which has led to extreme health risks within immigration detention centers across the United States.

See more here.

Rural Communities

See more here.

Defend Against Harmful Policies

State legislatures are on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, trying to do their best to protect and provide vital social services to their constituents. While some states are passing inclusive policies to stabilize our local economies, others are using the pandemic as an opportunity to pass harmful policies that will have devastating impacts on our communities. Additionally, some policies are intended to support struggling families but are having unintended consequences.

See more here.

What the Pandemic Primaries Can Teach us for November

SiX and the National Task Force on Election Crises discuss lessons learned from the 2020 primary elections in the midst of a pandemic and what this means for ensuring the November election is safe and accessible.

The National Taskforce on Election Crises shares lessons learned and state-level implications from their new report, "Lessons from the Primary Elections: Recommendations for a Free and Fair Election in November."

New Poll Shows Minnesotans Want Action to Address Systemic Racism & COVID-19

Overwhelming support for bold policy solutions to address systemic racism surfaces as a top priority. Coronavirus is a close second.

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protest movement, a recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart shows Minnesota voters hold deep concerns over systemic racism, COVID impacts on elections, and economic barriers.

Voters See Expanded Role for Government in Addressing Crisis

In an open ended question Minnesotans cited racism, injustice and police brutality as a top concern (26%), followed closely by the COVID pandemic (19%). Voters see the state government playing a major role during this crisis in the following areas:

Safely and fairly administering elections (89%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (86%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (82%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (79%);
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%);
Equal pay for equal work (76%);
State government should have a role in addressing systemic racism (67%); and
Reducing barriers that stop Black people from voting (65%).

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Although voting in-person on Election Day remains the most popular option (56%), a sizable portion of Minnesota voters report that they will vote by mail (32%), and just a few indicate they plan on voting early in-person (11%).

Whether or not they are choosing to vote in person or by mail, voters supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (85%);
Allow voters to cast their ballot at any polling location in their county (60%);
Count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day, but received after (63%); and
Immediately notify voters if there is a problem with their mail-in ballot (86%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact on Unemployment and Strongly Support Bold Economic Policies

By a nearly three-to-one margin, Minnesota voters want state governments to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (56%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (20%).

Nearly 4-in-10 Minnesota respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (39%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (85%) and losing work and income (84%). Minnesotans also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (50%).

Given the current crisis, Minnesotans support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (95%);
Banning the practice of surprise medical billing (92%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (90%);
Offering people in Minnesota the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (88%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (79%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (78%).

Click here for more results.

After Voting Debacle, New Poll Shows Wisconsinites Want Election Security

Overwhelming support for state investment to ensure health and economic security while also bolstering a fair election

In the wake of Wisconsin’s much-criticized spring elections, a recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart shows Wisconsin voters broadly support reforms to safely administer elections, increase the role of the state government, and address health & safety.

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Wisconsin voters strongly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (86%). Voters are split between planning to vote by mail (45%) and vote in-person on Election Day (39%).

Whether or not they are choosing to vote in person or by mail, voters supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (87%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (86%);
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (62%);
Count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day, but received after (76%); and
Immediately notify voters if there is a problem with their mail-in ballot (85%).

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Wisconsin

When asked if the state government should play a role in investing in the health, economic, and overall security of the people, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (86%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (83%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (79%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (79%);
Equal pay for equal work (78%); and
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%).

Voters Concerned about Pandemic’s Impact on Health & Safety and Support Bold Economic Policies

Almost 6-in-10 Wisconsin voters want the state government to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (57%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (21%).

Over 1-in-3 Wisconsin respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (33%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (83%), losing work and income (81%), and being unable to afford rent or mortgage (69%). Wisconsinites also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (52%).

Given the current crisis, Wisconsinites support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (93%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (89%);
Offering people in Wisconsin the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (86%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (83%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (74%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (74%).

Click here for more results.

New Poll Shows Mississippians Want Bold Policy Action

In a recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart, Missippians expressed a strong desire for bold policy action by the state government to address the impact of COVID on the economy and election safety and accessibility.

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact on Health and Strongly Support Bold Economic Policies

Mississippi voters want state governments to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (55%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (19%).

Nearly 2-in-5 Mississippi respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (39%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (87%) and losing work and income (90%). Mississippians also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (52%).

Given the current crisis, Mississippians support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (97%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (93%);
Offering people in Mississippi the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (91%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (90%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (88%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (83%).

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Mississippi voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (92%). An overwhelming majority of Mississippians plan to vote in-person on Election Day (80%) because alternatives are limited, even during the pandemic..

Missippians support policies to ensure the election is accessible for all eligible voters and want voters have a range of safe options when registering and casting their ballots:

Allow eligible voters to register to online (63%);
Allow eligible voters to register to vote on Election Day (61%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (86%);
Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (78%);
Allow any registered Mississippi voter to vote by mail (63%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (54%).

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Mississippi

When asked if the state government should play a role in investing in the health, economic, and overall security of the people, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (92%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (88%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (88%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (85%);
Equal pay for equal work (84%); and
Ensuring access to affordable health care (79%).

Click here for more results.

New Poll Shows Georgia Voters’ Deep Concern About Pandemic

Strong support for bold policy solutions to help working families, businesses, and ensure the safety and accessibility of elections

The coronavirus surfaces as the top issue priority for Georgia voters and this concern cuts across partisan lines. A recent poll conducted by TargetSmart and commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) shows Georgians have deep concerns about the pandemic’s impact on the 2020 elections and the economy.

Georgians Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections and Reduce Barriers for Black Voters

Georgia voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (92%). Georgians are split on how they plan to vote in November, with fairly even shares of voters reporting intentions to vote early in person (30%), by mail (30%), and in-person on Election Day (37%).

Whether or not they are choosing to vote in person or by mail, voters supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (90%);
Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (85%);
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (67%);
Offer mail-in ballot tracking (87%);
Count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day, but received after (67%); and
Immediately notify voters if there is a problem with their mail-in ballot (90%).

Notably, Georgians agree that the state should reduce barriers that stop Black people from voting (68%) and a majority of voters (56%) agree that systemic racism has prevented Black people and other people of color from being able to participate fully in our democracy.

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Georgia

When asked if the state government should play a role in investing in the health, economic, and overall security of the people, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (92%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (87%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (86%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (83%);
Equal pay for equal work (80%); and
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact on Health and Strongly Support Bold Economic Policies

By a nearly three-to-one margin, Georgia voters want state governments to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (61%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (20%).

Over 2-in-5 Georgia respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (41%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (85%) and losing work and income (87%). Georgians also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (62%).

Given the current crisis, Georgians support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (92%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (85%);
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (85%);
Offering people in Georgia the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (84%); and
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (81%).

Click here for more results.

New Poll Shows Coronavirus Pandemic is the Main Issue on Texans’ Minds

Strong support for bold policy solutions to help working families and ensure safe and accessible elections

A recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart shows that Texans hold deep concerns about the risk COVID-19 poses to their health, the impact on the economy and the election and they support bold policy action.

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Texas voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (89%). Given the limited options for voters even during a pandemic, voters report they will still plan to vote early in-person (53%) or on Election Day (29%). Even though the state has taken steps to make vote by mail more difficult, 15% of Texans still prefer that option.

Texans strongly support policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (89%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (88%);
Allow any registered Texas voter to vote by mail (63%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (57%).

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Texas

When asked if the state government should play a role in some of the issues facing working families, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (87%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (83%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (83%);
Equal pay for equal work (77%); and
Ensuring access to affordable health care (73%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact on Health and Strongly Support Bold Economic Policies

By a nearly three-to-one margin, Texas voters want the state government to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (62%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (18%).

Over 1-in-3 Texas respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (35%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (79%) and losing work and income (83%). Texans also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (57%).

Given the current crisis, Texans support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (94%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (87%);
Offering people in Texas the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (86%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (79%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (78%);

Click here for more results.

COVID Resources: Unemployment and Worker Protections

Resources:

Unemployment benefits and preventing wage theft of stimulus checks
- The National Employment Law Project highlights six key priorities for strengthening unemployment systems
- The EARN network hosted a webinar about unemployment solutions
- The National Consumer Law Center lists a number of states who are working to protect stimulus checks from garnishment

Worker Health and Rights
- A Better Balance produced an emergency paid sick leave tracker for States, Cities and Counties
- Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard University in partnership with NELP collected a number of measures that state and local officials can take to protect workers as economies reopen, as well as tools to help encourage the use of communication to keep workers safe
- Workers compensation - Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law a bill that provides temporary workers compensation
- Hazard pay - Any employer that provides COVID-19 essential services shall provide hazard pay if it employs at least six individuals. See this bill from Massachusetts .
- The Colorado Legislature passed CO HB 20-1415 (enacted on July 11, 2020) which prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against any worker who raises concerns about workplace health and safety practices related to a public health emergency.
- NELP provides an overview of 14 states that have adopted comprehensive worker safety protections
- Many states are fighting back against corporate immunity that lets businesses off the hook if they don’t protect workers. A state level toolkit to push back is here.

Farm & Food Worker Safety
- Appropriate funds for farmers to purchase PPE for farm and food workers. See this bill from New Jersey.
- Ensure that state information related to farm worker safety is communicated in both Spanish and English. Here is what Vermont did and this is the bill being considered in California.
- Through executive action, Governors from California and Michigan have taken action to protect farm workers. An Executive order from California Governor Newsom requiring paid sick leave for workers, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Withmer issued an Executive Order on migrant housing camps during COVID-19.

COVID Resources: Reproductive Health Care

Always work with your state’s reproductive rights, health, and justice coalition - contact us for support if needed!

Resources:

Communicating about Reproductive Freedom During COVID
Attacks on reproductive freedom have not disappeared during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, politicians in some states are using the pandemic to try to ban or restrict access to abortion in new ways. But research shows that even in the midst of COVID—and despite disinformation spread by the opposition—people continue to support reproductive freedom. Click here for messaging guidance.

Actions State Legislators Can Consider to Protect Reproductive Health Care
From removing existing barriers to abortion care to expanding tele-health services, state lawmakers can facilitate easier access to reproductive health care that reflects our current realities. And any COVID-19 response should be viewed through the lenses of racial and gender justice.
- Ten Things State Policymakers Can Do to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Guttmacher Institute. May 2020.
- Expanding Telemedicine Can Ensure Abortion Access During COVID-19 Pandemic Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University. Spring 2020.
- Promoting Equitable Access to Health Care in Response to COVID-19. National Women’s Law Center. Spring 2020.
- 5 Ways State Policymakers Must Center Gender Justice in Their COVID-19 Response. National Women’s Law Center. Spring 2020.
- COVID-19 Policy Platform Demanding Reproductive Self-Determination for All of Us. If/When/How. Spring 2020.

COVID-19’s Impact on Accessing Reproductive Health Care and Maternal Health
To help make the case, consult the most recent data and research on how reproductive and maternal health care are being impacted by COVID-19.
- Surveying State Executive Orders Impacting Reproductive Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Guttmacher Institute. July 2020.
- The COVID-19 Outbreak: Potential Fallout for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Guttmacher Institute. March 2020.
- Early Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the 2020 Guttmacher Survey of Reproductive Health Experiences. Guttmacher Institute. June 2020.
- Safeguarding Maternal Health and Rights in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University.
- COVID-19 Abortion Bans Would Greatly Increase Driving Distances for Those Seeking Care. Guttmacher Institute. April 2020.
- Youth Reproductive Rights & the COVID-19 Response. Advocates for Youth, Center for Reproductive Rights, URGE, SIECUS, If/When/How. Spring 2020.
- Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights Is Key to Defeating the Coronavirus at Home and Abroad. Center for American Progress. May 2020.

Abortion as Essential Care during COVID-19
Abortion was under attack as Governors around the U.S. saw an opportunity to capitalize on a crisis to ban abortion care. These resources make it clear that abortion is critical, timely care, and that a global health pandemic and economic crisis are the exact wrong reasons to limit access to abortion care.
- VIDEO: Abortion is Essential featuring SiX, ACLU, an abortion provider and OH State Rep. Tavia Galonski. State Innovation Exchange. April 2020.
- Abortion is Essential Care. Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University. Spring 2020.
- COVID-19 Underscores the Nonessential Nature of Abortion Restrictions. Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University. Spring 2020.
- How State COVID-19 Orders Can Impact Abortion Access. Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University. Spring 2020.

Contact us at reproductiverights@stateinnovation.org for:
- Communications and messaging guides for abortion care and COVID-19
- State-specific research and support
- To convene or facilitate a briefing or strategy session with your legislative colleagues and state coalition partners

COVID Resources: Race, the Virus: Bias, Data, Testing and Impact

Existing demographic data has revealed the disproportionate health effects of the coronavirus on Black and Brown people, communities of color, and Indigenous people. However, comprehensive racial and ethnic data does not exist in every state nor are there uniform reporting guidelines across the country. In order to better address racial disparities, legislators are pushing for improved data collection, an investment in contact tracing programs, and greater transparency on racial impact.

Resources:

General Information on Racial Disparities and Equity
- APM Research Lab demonstrates key findings on COVID-19 deaths based on race and ethnicity in the U.S.
- Community Catalyst summarizes the COVID-19-related health and economic challenges for communities of color
- An in-depth overview of COVID-19-related racial disparities
- Data for Black Lives issued a report with research on and policy demands for racial data transparency
- SiX led a webinar on “Principles for an Anti-Racist State Equitable Response to COVID-19” that discussed a paper from Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Improved Data Collection and Analysis
- PolicyLink developed policy recommendations for disaggregating data on race and ethnicity to advance a culture of health
- Examples of comprehensive racial data transparency bills from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan

Contact Tracing Programs
- United States of Care: executive summary of state actions on contact tracing
- New York requires city contact tracers to be representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the communities they will serve
- Examples of appropriations bills that support contract tracing from Hawaii, Minnesota, and North Carolina
Addressing Racial Disparities
- This comprehensive racial equity checklist from Community Catalyst includes policy options for addressing racial inequities in response to COVID-19
- Ohio and Massachusetts introduced bills that would require a racial impact and health disparities analysis for health-related initiatives and policies
- South Carolina developed a testing plan that emphasizes testing in rural and under-resourced minority communities, urban areas, and congregate living areas

COVID Resources: Preventing Evictions

Now, with the pandemic and economic crisis already harming Black Americans and people of color at astonishing rates, inaction by policymakers will drastically intensify the housing crisis, destroy the lives of millions of people, and destabilize our entire nation.

As of September 4, there is now a federal eviction moratorium from the CDC that extends protections to some renters at risk of eviction for nonpayment of rent during the COVID pandemic. For more on this, see NLIHC for this overview of the moratorium and this FAQ for Renters. At-risk renters should contact their local legal aid offices, tenant associations, or local bar associations ASAP.

In addition to pressuring Congress to pass emergency rental assistance, broaden eviction preventions, and suspend rent and mortgage payments, what action can state lawmakers take?

First, see how your state ranks on Eviction Lab’s COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard. Then consider what immediate emergency measures your state needs to prevent mass evictions and what longer-term solutions should come next.

IMMEDIATE MEASURES

Whether by bringing legislation (if in session) or by pressuring the governor, these are key policies to consider to immediately put in place:

Rent and Mortgage Cancellation
- Rent cancellation has been pushed at both the state and federal level
  - At the federal level, H.R. 6515 would cancel all rent and mortgage payments
  - Several states have also introduced legislation which would cancel rent for tenants financially harmed by COVID-19. Illinois, New York, and New Jersey all introduced legislation to cancel rent, and Massachusetts introduced legislation which would have placed a freeze on rent increases.
Eviction freezes and moratoriums
- States across the country took action to place a moratorium on evictions either for the duration of the crisis or a shorter time period through executive, legislative, and judicial action. While the moratoriums prevented the immediate evictions of renters, they have been criticized by tenants and housing justice groups as simply differing an inevitable “avalanche of evictions”, without broader relief.
  - State legislatures across the country passed legislation either extending, expanding, or establishing their own eviction moratoriums. Two of the stronger bills were passed in Massachusetts and Oregon.
Rental grace period/ Reasonable repayment plans: Once eviction moratoria lift, tenants who miss their rent payment will still be liable for unpaid rent, but few will be able to pay that rent all at once. Legislators should mandate that landlords provide reasonable rent repayment plans.
- Oregon HB 4213 gives tenants a six-month grace period following the end of the moratorium to pay the balance of unpaid rent
Emergency rental assistance and cash directly to Americans:
- States like Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey, and New York have established rental and mortgage assistance funds to assist renters and homeowners struggling to make their housing payment
Extend access to rental assistance funds to all people, regardless of immigration status.
- See NILC’s resources for more information.
- 8 USC 1621(b) creates an exception for emergency disaster relief and certain assistance programs

LONGER TERM

The national housing crisis will exist past the end of the pandemic, and we need systemic solutions to provide affordable housing and protect renters. These are key policies that states can pursue:

Rent control and rent stabilization
- New York, California, and Oregon became the first states to pass statewide rent control legislation in 2019, limiting the amount landlords can increase rents year-to-year.
- Legislators Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey each introduced rent control bills in 2020, while New York and California attempted to strengthen and expand their existing laws
Just Cause eviction laws
- Just cause eviction extends protections to renters by limiting the reasons landlords can evict a tenant to failure to pay rent and material breach of a lease
- Cities like Seattle, Oakland, Berkeley all have just-cause protections, while New Jersey, California, and Oregon have enacted legislation at the state level.
Homes for All
- Homes for All has emerged as a demand for renewed investment in publicly-owned, permanently affordable housing, also known as social housing.
  - At the federal level, Homes for All legislation has been introduced that would construct 9.5 million units of public housing, and 2.5 million units of affordable, privately-owned housing.
  - At the the state level, legislators in Maryland introduced legislation which would construct 2,000 units of permanently affordable, publicly-owned, mixed-income housing.
Take housing out of the rent court system
Establish housing as a human right
- Local governments, like Dane County, WI, have passed resolutions to acknowledge housing as a human right, and other states like Hawaii, Connecticut, and California have attempted to pass legislation at the state level.
Affordable housing trust funds; protect existing stock of affordable housing
Change zoning laws
- The city of Minneapolis ended single-family zoning and increased the minimum zoning density in its 2020 comprehensive plan
- Oregon enacted legislation in 2019 to require cities over 10,000 people to allow duplexes on single-family zoned lots, and requires the city of Portland to allow quadplexes and “cottage clusters” on single-family zoned lots.
Source of income as protected category
- Multiple states and local jurisdiction have banned landlords from discriminating against working-class tenants by making source of income a protected category. These protections often include social security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, housing vouchers, alimony, child-payments, and other public assistance programs
Automatic moratorium on eviction filings, execution of writs, and utility shutoff during an emergency like a public health epidemic.
Suppress court records to prevent the permanent “Scarlet E:” Evictions and eviction filings result in an adverse housing record for tenants. A statewide eviction moratorium should include a provision to suppress court records related to a tenant’s eviction and rental debt accrued due to pandemic-related hardship.
- Minneapolis and Portland have both limited the ability for landlords to screen tenants. Among the protections, landlords can not consider evictions which occurred over three years prior.
- Colorado passed legislation that suppresses eviction records while cases are proceeding, and removes them if a case is dismissed. Unfortunately, the eviction is not suppressed if the landlord wins and an eviction is ordered.
Boost enforcement and penalties: Eviction law should prevent unlawful evictions and increase penalties for landlords who cut power, threaten their tenants, or otherwise attempt to push tenants out of their homes while eviction moratoria are in place.
Develop rental relief funds
Extend tenant cure periods
Right to counsel for eviction cases and advice services
Court-based programs and policies

RESOURCES:

To watch and listen:

The Impending Eviction Crisis: Housing as Health Care and Racial Justice (June 25, 2019. Hosted by ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice)
Local Progress and SiX Network Call on Housing and Homelessness (April 5, 2020)

Organizations, online resources, and written materials:

Eviction Lab
- Spreadsheet of eviction moratoria and utility shutoff changes from across the country
- State scorecards and policy explanations
Housing and Health Care for All! Demands from the Movement 4 Black Lives

National Housing Law Project. They offer a whole set of resources including:
- Summary and Analysis of Federal CARES Act Eviction Moratorium
- Model State Moratorium: This is NHLP’s model moratorium to stop all five phases of the eviction process, with provisions on late charges, landlord access to premises, and payment plans.
- Coronavirus Eviction Moratoria: Considerations and Best Practices is an NHLP analysis for federal, state, and local eviction moratoria.
- Emergency Rental Assistance Recommendations This NHLP resource highlights principles for emergency rental assistance administration at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Safe at Home: Non-Monetary Relief for Tenants During the COVID Emergency This NHLP document outlines a number of strategies besides rent relief to help tenants remain housed and to preserve stability during this time of economic uncertainty and health risk. (June 2, 2020)
National Low Income Housing Coalition Has a great set of timelines and collection of federal and state actions.
- FAQ: Coronavirus and Homelessness
National Alliance for Safe Housing, COVID-19 Response Resources Provides links to a number of resources for advocates who serve survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Eviction Innovations: an an inventory of services being piloted and proposed to address the eviction crisis
National Alliance to End Homelessness: Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response
National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty - COVID-19 Protections for Homeless Populations
Policy Link: Centering Racial Equity in Housing
Homes Guarantee: A National Home's Guarantee Briefing Book

COVID Resources: Immigration

Resources:

Economic relief for immigrant families: According to the Migration Policy Institute, the citizen restrictions in the CARES Act has excluded 15.4 million people from the $1,200 stimulus payments: 9.9 million undocumented immigrants, along with 3.7 million children and 1.7 million spouses who are either U.S. citizens or green-card holders.
- California’s Governor allotted $75 million in state disaster relief funds to provide undocumented state residents with one-time cash transfers of $500 per adult. Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, April 2020.
- Colorado’s legislature expanded the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit during the 2020 session to increase cash payments to low-income families and became the first state in the nation to include undocumented workers in the tax credit. Colorado General Assembly, July 2020.
- Municipalities such as Austin and Minneapolis have created funds to help low-income families who have been economically impacted by COVID-19 to pay rent or other expenses and specifically prioritize families who have been left out of federal relief efforts. Migration Policy Institute, April 2020.
Healthcare for frontline workers: The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act passed by Congress in March authorized COVID-19 testing to be covered by Medicaid, leaving 3.7 million low-income, uninsured non-citizens without coverage for testing and treatment under Medicaid.
- California’s legislature expanded Medicaid access to undocumented immigrants under the age of 26. DHCS, January 2020.
Worker Health Protections: Six million immigrant workers are at the frontlines of keeping U.S. residents healthy and fed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the immigrants represent 17 percent of the 156 million civilians working in 2018, they account for larger shares in coronavirus-response frontline occupations: 29 percent of all physicians and 38 percent of home health aides, for example. They also represent significant shares of workers cleaning hospital rooms, staffing grocery stores, and producing food.
- Paid Sick Leave: Twelve states, as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have paid sick leave laws, which largely cover immigrant workers.
- Paid Family and Medical Leave: Eight states, and Washington D.C., have paid family and medical leave programs, which largely include immigrant workers and their families.

COVID Resources: Health Care

Resources:

Health Data
- CDC guidance on COVID-19 symptoms and protection are updated regularly (Spanish version)
- Kaiser Family Foundation keeps an up-to-date tracker of state data (cases, deaths, and tests)
- The American Public Health Association hosts a series of evidence-based webinars on the science behind COVID-19 for the benefit of policymakers, public health/health care officials, and the general public

State Policy Trackers
- Create and download custom state policy reports on the Kaiser Family Foundation
- Select from several health care policy categories in NCSL’s state actions database for summaries of state legislation on COVID-19 (both bill content and legislative progress)

Testing and Tracing
- Guidance for state governors on COVID-19 testing capacity and strategies for consideration from the National Governors Association
- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials provide summaries of contact tracing legislation introduced in the states and key considerations for drive-through and mobile testing
- State examples: South Carolina developed a testing plan that emphasizes testing in rural and under-resourced minority communities, urban areas, and congregate living areas

Telehealth
- State-by-state policy actions on telehealth compiled by the Center for Connected Health Policy
- KFF analysis, infographics, and examples of state efforts to expand telehealth under Medicaid
- State Examples:
  - New Jersey, Colorado, and Rhode Island introduced legislation that would expand telehealth coverage for audio-only appointments
  - New Jersey enacted a bill that waives cost-sharing for telehealth services
  - North Carolina, Iowa, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire are examples of states that introduced bills on ensuring telehealth payment parity

Support for Health Care Professionals
- Minnesota passed a comprehensive health care bill to support front-line workers and their work environments
- The Federation of State Medical Boards keeps up-to-date lists of the states that have waived in-state licensure requirements, modified CME requirements, and expedited licenses for retired physicians and medical schools in several states have expedited graduation to get new providers out into the workforce
- The Center for American Progress outlines why it is important to provide child care for health care workers and to remove barriers for immigrant medical workers during COVID-19
- Public Health officials and workers are facing heightened attacks as they work to protect the health of communities around the country prompting professional associations to call on elected officials for increased protections.

Insurance Regulations and Coverage
- This comprehensive COVID-19 resource page from Community Catalyst includes policy options and messaging tools, including general and state-specific social media graphics
- Track state plan amendments and other administrative actions to address COVID-19 on KFF’s Medicaid Emergency Authority tracker
- The Commonwealth Fund’s map of state coverage policies has a dropdown of actions that go beyond the federal minimum or existing state standards
- 8 recommendations for Medicaid and CHIP from State Health and Value Strategies
- State Examples:
  - Louisiana and New Jersey enacted similar laws that waives or lowers cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment
  - Ohio introduced a bill that would temporarily waive certain Medicaid requirements and expand financial eligibility to 200% for adults
  - North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, and Florida made efforts to expand their state’s Medicaid plan

COVID Resources: Food Systems and Agriculture

In order to ensure that communities are resilient in their ability to access food during a crisis, legislators should work to ensure that there is a sound regional and/or local alternative food supply chain with a plan to get food to those who need it while also ensuring that food and farm workers are adequately protected in their workplaces.

Resources

Support for Farmers

Appropriate additional funds for their agriculture community. Here are bills from Vermont and North Carolina and Utah.
- Appropriate additional resources for farm safety, rural mental health and farm crisis services. Here is what Minnesota has done.
- Include small independent farmers in any small business aid like this bill from New York did.

Local Food Infrastructure

Designate farmer's markets as essential local service providers. Here's a list of states that have done this.
- Provide opportunities for increased local meat infrastructure. Oregon, North Carolina, New Mexico, Hawaii, Utah, Wyoming have all been working on bills to bolster local meat production to service small and independent farmers who are providing meat for their local communities.
- Create working groups to assess food security and a local food supply to bolster community resiliency. New York and Utah have both done this.

Food Security

Use new flexibility in SNAP to respond to COVID-19 challenges. Here is an overview of what states can do and here is what New Jersey did to increase access to SNAP benefits.
- Provide additional resources for food access, particularly to underserved communities. Here is one example from Minnesota. Mississippi attempted a bill to include reimbursements to local municipalities for a variety of services including food delivery to senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. Pennsylvania has a bill that includes resources for a food hotline, food banks and additional SNAP benefits.
- Provide additional support for Food Pantries. Here is what Colorado did and North Carolina appropriated additional funds as part of an omnibus package to be split equally among food banks.
- Provide grants to local organizations to purchase local food (this helps farmers too). An example from Minnesota.
- Provide emergency food assistance to undocumented persons like California did.
- Allow school buses to use the eight-light system when making food deliveries to families with school-aged children, as was done in Vermont.

Farm & Food Worker Safety

Appropriate funds for farmers to purchase PPE for farm and food workers. See this bill from New Jersey.
- Ensure that state information related to farm worker safety is communicated in both Spanish and English. Here is what Vermont did and this is the bill being considered in California.
- An Executive order from California Governor Newsom requiring paid sick leave for workers, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Withmer issued an Executive Order on migrant housing camps during COVID-19. .

COVID Resources: Education

General Resources

The Education Commission of the States has information, policy considerations, and examples from states in the following education topic areas:
- Assessments and Accountability
- Broadband and Technology Access
- Continued and Future Learning
- Early Learning
- Finance
- Instructional Time and Grade Promotion
- Postsecondary
- Remote/Virtual/E-Learning
- Special Education
- Student Health and Wellness
- Teachers
- Workforce

Resources: K-12

Guidance for Reopening K-12
- National Education Association’s guidance for reopening has recommendations for school administrators and teachers (as opposed to state legislators) but will help legislators understand the challenges, risks and opportunities for intervention.
- American Federation of Teachers has a guide to reopening. PDF pages 12-14 has recommendations and information for legislators.
- CDC guiding principles for evaluating risk in school setting options.
- See a guide on school buildings and repurposing large common areas and calculating social distance spaces in classrooms: School Buildings and Social Distancing: A Downloadable Guide

Broadband and Technology Access
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance has a list of state government initiatives to address access to the internet during Covid-19.
- Most states plan to use Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funds to expand or continue meeting student needs to access reliable, high speed internet and devices. Legislators can see how other states have used their funds and other opportunities to expand broadband.
- Urge the Federal Communications Commission to take measures to secure broadband access for those impacted by COVID-19 like New Jersey did.
- Invest in broadband activity to significantly increase rural broadband capacity for distance learning, remote working, telehealth and other critical services like Vermont did.
- Invest in existing rural cooperatives in order to support the expansion of broadband to rural communities. This is what Mississippi did.
- Establish a grant program for broadband expansion like was done in Minnesota and Mississippi.

Food Security for Students K-12
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services response to Covid-19 includes lists of child nutrition programs, waivers, parent/guardian meal pick-ups, and other nationwide waivers for students (including students who receive free and reduced lunches).

Funding for K-12
- For background, see What Congressional Covid Funding Means for K-12 Schools
- The CARES Act provides $13.5 billion in emergency aid for K-12 schools that may be directly impacted by how individual states cut their own education spending.
- An interactive tool that can be adjusted to look at any budgeting scenario: School Funding; what to expect and what states can do.
- Covid-19 Legislative responses: Interactive map to track education bills by state. Includes tracking for all education-related state action regarding the outbreak.

Teacher Resources
- American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) state policy tracking map that is useful for highlighting present changes to policies for initial licensure, clinical experiences, hiring and induction, and state standards to support EPPs and teacher candidates during Covid-19.
- A guide to community conversations on reopening schools safely. Also includes information on bringing the community together around the conversation.

Resources: Institutions of Higher Education (IHE)

Guidance for Reopening Institutions of Higher Education (IHE)
- CDC guidance: IHE general setting recommendations and on-campus housing settings including for lowest risk, more risk, and highest risk options.
- The CARES Act provides almost $14 Billion directly to IHE. ACE simulated distribution of funds that would be allocated by The Department of Education.
- Higher Education policy considerations from NCSL includes in-person vs. remote learning options, financial considerations, admissions and enrollment, and more, and can be found here.

COVID Resources: Rural Communities

Resources:

General
- The CDC has compiled a list of resources that address the unique challenges of rural communities. You can find that list here.
- The CDC has also compiled a list of resources for tribal communities. That list can be found here.

Broadband
- Urge the Federal Communications Commission to take measures to secure broadband access for those impacted by COVID-19 like New Jersey did.
- Invest in broadband activity to significantly increase rural broadband capacity for distance learning, remote working, telehealth and other critical services like Vermont did.
- Invest in existing rural cooperatives in order to support the expansion of broadband to rural communities. This is what Mississippi did.
- Establish a grant program for broadband expansion like was done in Minnesota and Mississippi.

Rural Health Care
- For background, see this paper that looks at the urban - rural mental health disparities in the US During COVID-19. You can access it here.
- Designate funds specifically for rural health care and services. North Carolina did this as part of an omnibus bill.
- Appropriate funds to cover the costs incurred by rural hospitals as a result of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is what Mississippi did.
- Reimburse rural health care providers for expenses incurred for telehealth services. This is what Colorado did.

Rural Small Business
- When creating small business loan or grant programs, prioritize applicants who come from rural areas, women- or minority-owned businesses or businesses owned by veterans. See this bill in Colorado as an example.

Rural Homelessness
- The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council has a list of resources that are unique to addressing homelessness in rural areas. You can access the resources here.
- For background, the US Interagency Council on Homelessness has a pre-COVID report that discusses the unique challenges of addressing homelessness in rural communities. You can access the report here.
- Ensure that supportive housing services are extended to rural communities, where people have less access to nonprofits and other easily accessible social services. This is what Colorado attempted.

What the Pandemic Primaries Can Teach Us for November

SiX and representatives from the National Task Force on Election Crises to discuss lessons learned from the 2020 primary elections in the midst of a pandemic and what this means for ensuring the November election is safe and accessible. The National Taskforce on Election Crises will share lessons learned and state-level implications from their new report, "Lessons from the Primary Elections: Recommendations for a Free and Fair Election in November."

The conversation will include action items for state legislators to contribute to urgent election preparations happening in your states. Join this conversation to deepen your knowledge of voting processes and to learn about the most critical issues facing the 2020 General Election.

10 State Poll: Americans Support Bold Policy Solutions

Intense support for commonsense election reforms and solutions to create economic security

A recent poll surveying voters in Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart, shows voters support policies to ensure accessible elections and a desire for more state investment to ensure people are economically secure.

DEMOCRACY

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Voters in the ten states overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (91%). States strongly support policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (86%);
Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (82%);
Allow any registered voter to vote by mail (76%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (62%).

Voters Are Concerned About USPS and Having Their Vote Counted

The politicization of Vote by Mail and the partisan attacks on the United States Postal Service have eroded faith in the ability to have mail-in ballots count. The poll shows that half of all voters are concerned that the mail system in their state cannot be relied upon to get vote-by-mail ballots to election officials in time to be counted in the election. This concern is higher among Black voters (60%) and Latinx voters (53%).

Voters Want State Government to Remove Racial Barriers to Voting

Nearly 7-in-10 voters across the target states also indicate that they believe state government should play an active role in acknowledging and addressing systemic racism (68%). Accordingly, two-thirds of voters across these target states believe their state government should reduce barriers that prevent Black people from voting (65%).

HEALTH AND THE ECONOMY

Voters Concerned about Health and Safety, Want Protections and Investment

A majority of voters side with workplace safety requirements (55%) over liability protections for corporations (26%).

Respondents support expanding unemployment insurance and other economic policies

Nearly three in five voters support extending the length of time that workers can receive expanded unemployment benefits. Support for this policy is particularly high among Black voters (84%) and voters under 50 (67%). Voters also strongly supported policies that would provide immediate pocketbook relief for many, including:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (93%);
Banning surprise medical bills (89%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (87%);
Offering people the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (87%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (80%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (79%).

Click here for more results.

Tennessee Supreme Court Ruling Adds Urgency To Special Legislative Session

New poll shows Tennesseans want action to ensure safe, accessible elections and to help workers

Yesterday, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the coronavirus pandemic which has infected nearly 5 million Americans and killed more than 150,00 is not an acceptable reason to vote absentee in the November election in Tennessee. However, new polling commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart shows Tennessee wants action from state legislators during the special session to ensure that Tennesseans do not have to choose between their health and their vote in November.

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Tennessee voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has an important role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (96%).

Tenneseans support policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (88%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (84%);
Allow any registered Tennessee voters to vote by mail (66%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (52%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact on Unemployment and Strongly Support Bold Economic Policies

By a three-to-one margin, Tennessee voters want state governments to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (58%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (18%).

Roughly 1-in-3 Tennessee respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (34%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (85%) and losing work and income (88%). Tennesseans also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (52%).

Given the current crisis, Tennesseans support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (95%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (92%);
Offering people in Tennessee the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (91%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (89%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (84%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (81%).

Click here for more results.

Black and Poor Communities Need More Than the ADA

On July 26th we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. As a result, employers cannot discriminate against disabled employees and must provide reasonable accommodations such as wheelchair ramps, accessible bathroom stalls, and sign language interpretation at events. While these changes are monumental, the work is not over.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 Americans are living with a disability, which refers to any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for a person to engage in certain activities. This means that every issue we work on - jobs, housing, climate change, democracy, and reproductive health - is a disability justice issue.

While those living with a disability have a wide range of experiences, we know that race, class, and gender play a critical role in whether or not disabled people have full access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and the education system:

A disabled person is less likely to have a job, as fewer than 1 in 5 disabled Americans are employed, which pushes their families and communities into poverty.

Black students with disabilities are over-policed, limiting their access to an equal education. According to the U.S Department of Education, 19 percent of students with disabilities are Black, but they represent over a third of those suspended.

We also know that disabled communities have reproductive needs of their own. People with disabilities need the access to the full spectrum of reproductive services - including abortion access. We know that 90 percent of people with developmental disabilities will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Everyone - disabled people included - deserve the right to have a child, not to have a child, and if they choose to have a child are able to do so free of violence and oppression.

State Policies to Support Disabled Communities During Elections and a Health Pandemic

In the midst of a health pandemic and the looming presidential elections, many people living with a disability are in nursing homes where the coronavirus is running rampant and are trying to access safe and fair elections. To support disabled people, states can advance policies that expand vote-by-mail and expand access to public assistance programs.

In Expanding Vote-by-Mail, States Must Maintain In-Person Voting Options During the Coronavirus Pandemic: To protect the integrity of the electoral process during the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials are considering steps to help ensure Americans can exercise the fundamental right to vote and cast ballots that count in upcoming elections.

A Deadly Poverty Trap: Asset Limits in the Time of the Coronavirus: As the COVID-19 pandemic triggers unprecedented economic turmoil, lawmakers, economists, and advocates are renewing calls to eliminate asset tests in public assistance programs.

State legislators: If you’re interested in talking one-on-one or hosting a virtual legislator briefing for your state, fill out this short form and we will follow up with you.

Arizonans Overwhelmingly Support Proactive Policies in COVID Crisis

Strong support for progressive solutions to help working families and ensure the accessibility of elections

A recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) shows Arizona voters hold deep concerns over the risk that COVID-19 poses to their health and the impact on the economy. The poll showed that Arizonans believe that the government should play a constructive role in people’s lives.

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Arizona

When asked if the state government should play a role in some of the issues facing working families, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (93%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (89%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (86%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (85%);
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%); and
Equal pay for equal work (77%).

Voters Overwhelmingly Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Arizona voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (93%). The majority of Arizonans report that they will vote by mail in the November election (77%). However some Arizonans still report that they will go to the polls on Election Day (14%), or that they will vote early in person (7%).

Voters overwhelmingly supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible:

Allow any registered Arizona voter to vote by mail (87%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (85%);
Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (80%);
Allow Arizona voters to cast their ballots at any polling location in their county (74%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (72%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact and Strongly Support Progressive Economic Policies

Two out of three voters believe Arizona state government should invest more in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (65%) rather than state government keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, unemployment, and health insurance (16%).

Arizona has been hard hit by the pandemic with one in three reporting that they have been laid off or had their hours cut (34%). Arizonans report they are concerned about the people losing work and income due to the virus (87%), small businesses and restaurants closing down permanently (85%), unable to afford their rent or mortgage (76%) and people being forced to choose between their health and their job (72%).

Given the current crisis, Arizonans support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many and make life easier:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (91%);
Banning the practice of surprise medical billing (89%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Offering people in Arizona the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (87%); and
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (85%).

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Floridians Want State Lawmakers to Act on Threats Created by COVID Crisis

Strong support for progressive solutions to help working families and ensure the elections are accessible and safe

A recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) shows Florida voters hold deep concerns over the risk that COVID-19 poses to their health and the impact on the economy and the election. Two in three Floridians believe the worst of the pandemic is yet to come (65%).

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Florida

When asked if the state government should play a role in some of the issues facing working families, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (92%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (90%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (89%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (84%); and
Equal pay for equal work (81%).

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Florida voters overwhelmingly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (92%). The majority of Floridians report that they will vote by mail (52%). However, 47% still plan to vote in person, with 27% planning to vote on Election Day and 20% planning to early vote.

Whether or not they are choosing to vote in person or by-mail, voters supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (84%);
Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (82%);
Allow any registered Florida voter to cast a ballot at any polling location in their county (71%); and
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (61%).

Voters Concerned about COVID Impact and Strongly Support Progressive Economic Policies

By a four to one margin voters believe Florida state government should invest more in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (64%) rather than state government keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure and unemployment insurance (16%).

Florida has been hard hit by the pandemic with one in three of Floridians responding that they have been laid off or had their hours cut (34%). Two out of three Floridians support extending and expanding unemployment for those workers who have been laid off (65%). Support for this policy cuts across partisan lines with Democrats (78%), Republicans (52%) Independents (65%) in favor.

The pandemic is a top of mind concern for Floridians who report they are concerned about the people losing work and income due to the virus (84%), small businesses and restaurants closing down permanently (84%), Floridians contracting the virus and dying (79%), people of Florida unable to afford their rent or mortgage (79%) and people in Florida being forced to choose between their health and their job (71%).

Given the current crisis, Floridians support policies that will address the hardships being faced by many and make life easier for working families:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (94%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (88%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (87%);
Offering people in Florida the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (86%); and
Banning the practice of surprise medical billing (85%).

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