The Pew Charitable Trusts

Advanced transmission technologies (ATT) aim to reduce electricity loss and costs by improving grid efficiency. A Pennsylvania bill (House Bill 2223) would require utilities to assess ATT deployment before approving new power lines, supported by advocates like Jenny Netherton and Doug Pietrucha. The legislation seeks to prolong existing infrastructure and address rising electricity costs driven by data centers and electrification.

States and cities are loosening building code requirements to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings and rolling back fire safety standards. Critics warn these changes could compromise safety, as existing codes were shaped by past tragedies to prevent harm.

States are relaxing building codes to reduce housing costs, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings and reducing fire safety standards. Critics warn these changes could compromise safety, as existing codes are based on historical tragedies. Idaho, Colorado, and Texas have enacted laws permitting single-stairway buildings under specific conditions.

States and cities are relaxing building and fire codes to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings. Critics, such as safety experts and planning professionals, warn these changes could compromise occupant safety by removing established protections. Recent legislative actions in Idaho, Colorado, and Texas exemplify this trend, with laws permitting single-stairway buildings under specific conditions.

States and cities are relaxing building codes to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings and rolling back fire safety standards. Critics warn these changes could compromise safety, as existing rules were developed to prevent harm from past tragedies.

States and cities are relaxing building codes to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings and rolling back fire safety standards. Critics warn these changes could compromise safety, while organizations like The Pew Charitable Trusts advocate for reforms. Idaho, Colorado, and Texas have recently enacted laws permitting single-stairway buildings under specific conditions.

States and cities are relaxing building code requirements to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway low-rise apartment buildings. Critics warn these changes could compromise safety, as existing codes were designed to prevent harm based on past tragedies. Recent laws in Idaho, Colorado, and Texas exemplify the trend, with proposed updates to national codes and new federal legislation potentially expanding such policies.

States and cities are relaxing building codes to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing, including allowing single-stairway apartment buildings and rolling back fire safety standards. Safety experts warn these changes could increase risks for occupants, while organizations like The Pew Charitable Trusts advocate for reforms. Legislative efforts in multiple states and proposed updates to national codes aim to expand single-stairway building allowances.

States are experiencing budget pressures due to rising costs and slow economic growth, with governors proposing flat spending for fiscal year 2027. Many states are implementing spending cuts, such as eliminating vacant positions and freezing hiring, while rainy day fund reserves show mixed growth. Tax revenues varied across states, with 29 reporting higher-than-expected collections.

States are facing budget pressures due to rising costs and slow economic growth, with governors proposing flat spending and some implementing cuts like eliminating vacant positions and hiring freezes. Despite these challenges, states maintain strong fiscal positions through reserves, though Pew Charitable Trusts notes reserve funds are weakening as costs rise.

States face ongoing budget pressures due to rising costs, slow growth, and federal policy changes. A NASBO survey found governors proposed flat spending for fiscal year 2027, with many states implementing cuts like eliminating vacant positions, hiring freezes, and reduced employee benefits. Most states plan to increase rainy day funds despite weakening reserve power.

A survey by the National Association of State Budget Officers found that states face ongoing budget pressures due to rising costs and slow economic growth. Most governors proposed flat spending for fiscal year 2027, with nearly half implementing spending cuts like eliminating vacant positions, hiring freezes, and reduced employee benefits. States also plan to adjust rainy day funds amid mixed tax revenue results.

The racial wealth gap in the U.S. widened between 2019 and 2022, with white families holding significantly more wealth than Black and Hispanic families. Retirement savings disparities drive this gap, prompting states like Minnesota to launch automatic IRA programs to help workers without employer-sponsored plans.

The racial wealth gap widened between 2019 and 2022, with white families holding $240,000 more median wealth than Black families and $223,000 more than Hispanic families. States like Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington are launching automatic retirement savings programs to address disparities, as retirement savings—not home equity—drive household wealth in the U.S.

The racial wealth gap widened between 2019 and 2022, with the median wealth of white families exceeding Black and Hispanic families by $240,000 and $223,000 respectively. States like Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington are launching automatic retirement savings programs to address disparities, as over 50 million Americans lack employer-sponsored retirement plans.

The racial wealth gap widened between 2019 and 2022, with white families holding significantly more wealth than Black and Hispanic families, largely due to disparities in retirement savings. State-sponsored automatic retirement programs, such as auto-IRAs, aim to address this by enrolling workers without employer-offered plans, with Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington launching or planning such initiatives.

The racial wealth gap between white, Black, and Hispanic families widened by $50,000 between 2019 and 2022, driven by disparities in retirement savings. States like Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington are launching automatic IRA programs to help low-income workers, particularly people of color, build retirement savings.

The racial wealth gap in the U.S. widened between 2019 and 2022, with white families holding $240,000 more wealth than Black families and $223,000 more than Hispanic families. Retirement savings disparities drive this gap, prompting states like Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington to launch automatic IRA programs to help 50 million Americans without employer-sponsored retirement plans.

The racial wealth gap widened by $50,000 between 2019 and 2022, with white families holding significantly more wealth than Black and Hispanic families due to disparities in retirement savings. States like Minnesota, Hawaii, and Washington are expanding automatic IRA programs to help 50 million Americans without employer-sponsored retirement plans, with over $3 billion saved collectively in existing programs.

Philadelphia is launching the first city-sponsored retirement plan requiring employers without existing benefits to automatically enroll workers in an IRA. Over 50 million Americans lack workplace retirement plans, and state programs have collectively saved $3 billion through automatic enrollment. Oregon initiated the first state plan in 2017, with accelerated savings growth observed in recent years.

Philadelphia is launching the first city-sponsored retirement plan requiring employers without retirement benefits to enroll workers automatically, who can opt out. Over 1.2 million workers in 15 states with similar programs have saved $3 billion through state auto-IRAs, with savings growth accelerating since Oregon's 2017 initiative.

Philadelphia is set to launch the nation’s first city-sponsored retirement plan, PhillySaves, requiring employers without retirement benefits to enroll workers in an automatic IRA. Similar state programs have enrolled over 1.2 million workers, collectively saving $3 billion, with studies showing higher participation when enrollment is automatic. Over 50 million Americans lack workplace retirement plans, prompting expansion of such initiatives.