At Arnold Ventures, we work to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice through evidence-based policy solutions. Here are some of the big state and federal advancements we applaud as we close out the year.
The Federal Prison Oversight Act
The bill, approved in July with nearly unanimous support in the House and Senate, will increase transparency and oversight of federal prison conditions. It will also require regular inspections of the nation’s 122 federal prisons and create an independent ombudsman to conduct targeted investigations when warranted. On a related note, states have passed similar legislation to create ombudsmen and other means of prison oversight.
Learn more about the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign, which seeks to address the crisis of understaffing, over-incarceration, and poor conditions in our nation’s prisons.
Parole Reform Extension in Mississippi
First enacted in 2021, parole reform in the state allows low-risk incarcerated people who have completed a certain percentage of their sentence and who have demonstrated that they are ready to reintegrate into society a chance to be released from prison. Since 2021, 98% of the people made eligible for parole under the law did not return to prison within two years. The reform and now its three-year extension are allowing Mississippi to reduce its prison population and lower costs without imperiling public safety.
Fines and Fees Cancellations in Maryland
In October, Governor Wes Moore (D‑MD) announced that the state would be canceling more than $13 million in debt related to parole, administrative release, and drug testing fees. These types of fees have been shown to burden formerly incarcerated people and hinder their ability to reintegrate into society and the workforce. Additionally, Maryland passed legislation that allows the Parole Commission to exempt certain people from supervision fees and that repeals its authority to require drug and alcohol testing fees in some circumstances..
Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act Advances in the House
In a significant step forward for tax policy reform, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. This legislation, championed by key policymakers, aims to simplify the tax code and enhance financial security for millions of American households. Arnold Ventures supported this effort by providing research and analysis to highlight the importance of equitable, efficient tax policy in addressing economic inequality. This victory underscores the power of evidence-based advocacy to drive meaningful change.
Advances in Housing Abundance
2024 saw continued bipartisan progress on state and local policy changes to support abundant housing, including legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), encouraging more housing in commercial corridors and near transit, and efforts to streamline permitting processes. At the state level, Colorado, Arizona, and Hawaii passed major housing packages with multiple pieces of legislation. Columbus, Ohio, stands out for its municipal-level work, building on extensive public engagement efforts.
Significant Strides for Federal Investment in Student Success
While the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee passed legislation to cut funding by 14% for the Department of Education, Arnold Ventures laid the groundwork necessary to ensure that one education program would maintain its previous year’s funding level. The Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG), a program that funds interventions to help students complete their postsecondary degree, maintained its funding even though it is not currently authorized. This result also shows the growing bipartisan support to invest in evidence-based completion efforts that increase return on investment for students, families, and taxpayers.
Alaska Keeps Ranked-Choice Voting
Voters in Alaska rejected Proposition 2, electing to keep the state’s system of ranked-choice voting and nonpartisan primaries. With incentives for compromise in place at the ballot box, expect to see Alaska legislators continue their practice of running the House and Senate through bipartisan coalitions.
