Author: Yemi Adewunmi

  • Plural for Broadband Companies: Navigating Public Policy Challenges

    Plural for Broadband Companies: Navigating Public Policy Challenges

    Plural is the best tool to meet broadband companies’ policy tracking needs. Learn more and get started today.

    In the rapidly evolving telecom sector, broadband companies are at the forefront of innovation and infrastructure development. But they also face a complex regulatory landscape. Policy or regulatory changes can significantly impact their operational capabilities and strategic decision-making. Public policy decisions on net neutrality, broadband expansion, digital privacy, and more can create both obstacles and opportunities. Broadband companies need a comprehensive tool to meet the challenge. Plural provides a sophisticated set of tools to navigate public policy effectively. With Plural, broadband companies ensure they can grow and innovate while staying up-to-date on public policy.

    Understanding the Policy Landscape

    Various areas of legislation impact broadband companies. This includes net neutrality, broadband expansion, and digital privacy laws, among others. Learn more below.

    Net Neutrality

    The debate over net neutrality poses significant implications for broadband companies. These decisions can impact how broadband services are provided and how internet traffic is managed. Shifting regulatory frameworks can affect everything from pricing strategies to network management practices. Within an evolving environment, broadband companies must stay informed about all legislative movements. Plural’s real-time updates allow companies to receive updates as they happen. With Plural, broadband companies ensure they’re never caught off-guard by new regulations or changes in the law.

    Broadband Expansion Programs

    Broadband expansion programs involve government investment in expanding broadband access to underserved communities. As these programs proliferate, there are many implications for existing providers. While expansion programs can offer new business opportunities, they also bring a host of regulatory requirements and competitive challenges. Plural enables broadband companies to track many aspects related to expansion efforts, including:

    • Government funding
    • Regulatory changes
    • Partnership opportunities

    With Plural, it’s easier than ever to strategize effectively and capitalize on new growth areas.

    Digital Privacy Laws

    Consumer data privacy is a hot topic. Within this context, broadband companies must navigate an increasingly complex stringent regulatory environment. New laws and regulations can drastically affect how broadband companies collect, store, and use consumer data. Plural helps companies monitor these changes across different jurisdictions. Plural provides the insights needed to adjust business practices and maintain compliance while upholding consumer trust.

    Plural’s Comprehensive Tools for Broadband Companies

    Given these challenges, Plural provides an invaluable service to broadband companies. Top broadband companies trust Plural for their legislative tracking and stakeholder engagement needs. Learn more about how Plural meets the challenge below.

    Best-in-Class Data

    Plural’s comprehensive database offers up-to-date legislative information across various jurisdictions. This allows for quick access to relevant data, enabling swift responses to relevant changes. The depth and breadth of Plural’s data is unmatched, providing a panoramic view of the legislative landscape. This includes:

    • Tools to discover everything there is to know about a bill
    • Legislator and staffer information
    • Historical data
    • AI-powered insights
    • And more!

    With Plural, broadband companies turn potential policy threats into manageable challenges.

    Advanced Search Tools

    Plural’s advanced search capabilities are unmatched. With Plural, it’s easy to filter through the noise to find relevant data. Users can efficiently sift through vast amounts of legislative data to find the specific information that impacts their business areas. Search by keyword, legislature, session, bill status, and more. This saves valuable time and resources, making policy analysis more efficient. Plural helps broadband companies uncover the bills that affect their bottom line.

    Real-Time Updates

    The legislative environment is incredibly dynamic, with new proposals and regulations emerging rapidly. Plural helps broadband companies discover key information immediately. With real-time notifications, Plural users never miss an update. This immediacy transforms broadband companies’ ability to stay ahead and develop actionable strategies.

    Advanced Legislative Tracking

    Keeping up with the fast-paced changes in telecommunications law requires robust tools. Plural’s advanced search capabilities allow users to quickly filter relevant legislation and regulations. Customizable alerts ensure that stakeholders are aware of new developments as soon as they occur. Plural facilitates a proactive rather than reactive approach to regulatory compliance and advocacy.

    Strategic Insights and Analytics

    Understanding the broader implications of potential legislative changes helps broadband companies make informed decisions. With Plural, it’s easier than ever to gain a comprehensive view of the policy landscape and anticipate policy trends.

    Global Bill Search

    Thousands of bills are introduced in each jurisdiction throughout each legislative session. As broadband companies expand, tracking legislation in multiple jurisdictions becomes a daunting task. The ability to quickly and efficiently find the bills that matter is key to staying ahead. Plural’s Global Bill Search simplifies this task. Plural users unlock a sophisticated search engine designed to streamline the legislative discovery process and bring relevant bills to the forefront. This means that broadband companies can monitor national policy developments from a single platform. Global Bill Search helps broadband companies companies ensure compliance and streamline strategic planning.

    Momentum Indicator

    Understanding the potential trajectory of legislation is crucial for broadband companies. These insights help ensure compliance and guide strategic planning and advocacy. Yet, without the right tools, policy teams must rely on manual tracking and intuition. This often leads to missed opportunities and misallocated resources. Plural’s Momentum Indicator offers broadband companies a novel way to assess a bill’s traction and potential for progress. The Momentum Indicator uses AI to forecast the likelihood of a bill’s advancement or failure.

    Unlimited Collaboration and Organization

    Stakeholder Engagement Management

    In the world of public policy, relationships are everything. Building and maintaining relationships with key policymakers, regulatory bodies, and industry groups is crucial for influencing outcomes that favor the broadband sector. Plural helps companies identify and engage with these critical figures effectively. With Plural, broadband companies enhance their lobbying efforts and increase their influence over policy decisions.

    Customizable Workspaces

    Broadband companies often manage many projects and teams, each with specific needs and objectives. Plural’s customizable Workspaces allow for tailored environments where teams can collaborate efficiently. Whether it’s a legal team assessing regulatory impacts or a marketing team examining new broadband expansion zones, Workspaces ensure that the right information is accessible to the right people at the right time.

    Get Started With Plural

    Broadband companies navigate a complex web of public policy challenges. Plural offers a comprehensive solution to meet these needs. With Plural, broadband companies not only stay informed but also enhance their strategic planning and compliance efforts. With premium data, collaboration, and AI-powered insights, Plural empowers broadband companies to not just react to changes but to proactively shape the policy environment to better suit their needs and goals.

    Are you ready to take control of your public policy strategy? Book a demo today to discover how Plural can help streamline your policy monitoring and advocacy efforts. With Plural, it’s easier than ever to stay ahead in the fast-paced world of telecommunications.

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  • How Is Immigration Impacting the Election?

    How Is Immigration Impacting the Election?

    How is immigration impacting the election? Immigration is a contentious political issue. Read our analysis of the impact it will have today.

    The United States has a rich history of immigration – and a rich history of controversy on the subject. Undocumented immigration has become a big concern for Americans and a contentious election issue.

    To explore how immigration is impacting the election in 2024, we need to put the issue in context. Let’s look at how immigration policies and public opinion have changed over the years.

    Historical Context of Immigration Policy

    The history of the United States began with immigration, as settlers from European countries left their homes for the “new world.” Once the United States of America became its own country, it had open borders and little in the way of immigration policy. Immigrants were broadly welcomed at first, though citizenship was heavily restricted. When a large wave of Irish and German migrants arrived in the mid-1800s, public opinion turned against them.

    The country began restricting its borders in 1875, banning immigration for criminals and later other groups. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned immigrants from China after resentment grew toward Chinese laborers. The Immigration Act of 1917 set a literacy requirement for immigrants and banned any from most Asian countries.

    Many of these restrictions ended in the mid-20th century, but broader limits on legal immigration replaced them. Illegal immigration began to grow. Workers from Mexico, at first arriving legally to ease a labor shortage in the U.S., began to cross the border illegally for economic opportunity. In 1980, more than 100,000 migrants fleeing Cuba came to Florida’s shores by boat to ask for asylum. Some people who arrived legally, however, overstayed their visas.

    The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made most undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. eligible for legal status. It also made it illegal to knowingly hire unauthorized workers, but broad exceptions meant this was rarely enforced. Today, some people argue that undocumented immigrants are taking American jobs, while others argue that they fill the difficult and low-paying positions that Americans don’t want.

    The Southern Border: A Critical Focus

    The southern border of the United States has been an important focus in recent years. Unauthorized migrants regularly cross the land border with Mexico or make water crossings into southern states.

    Mexico has been the most popular country of origin for undocumented immigrants for a long time, but the proportion of those from other countries is increasing. Poverty, organized crime, and political instability prompt people to leave their homes in some Latin American countries. They travel to the southern border of the U.S. seeking freedom, safety, and economic opportunity.

    The impact of immigration on border states and cities puts them under stress. They can struggle to meet the needs of new arrivals, especially when there is a large influx of migrants. Under current immigration policy, migrants who apply for asylum are allowed to stay in the country until their cases can be heard. Due to a growing backlog in the U.S. immigration court system, this process can take several years.

    Democrats vs. Republicans on Immigration

    The immigration debate has become more contentious in recent decades, though the two major parties are coming closer together in the past few years. Republicans tend to call for stronger restrictions at the border and limits on some aspects of legal immigration, such as refugee resettlement. Republican voters are more likely to support efforts to deport all undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin.

    Meanwhile, Democrats tend to advocate for policies that offer paths to legal residency and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. They are more likely to support continuing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which delays the deportation of unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

    State-Level Action on Immigration

    State-level action on immigration varies. Some state and local governments have passed “sanctuary” policies saying they won’t comply with federal requests to detain or deport undocumented immigrants. Others have done the opposite.

    Last year, Texas legislators passed a law allowing state law enforcement to arrest people for entering the United States illegally. It was supposed to go into effect in March 2024, but a federal appeals court has temporarily blocked it. Louisiana lawmakers passed a similar bill this year, which is set to go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the Texas law.

    This year, an Iowa law made it a crime for people to be in the state if they were previously denied admission to or removed from the United States. An Oklahoma law also made it illegal to be in the state without legal status. Both are now blocked by courts due to legal challenges.

    In 2022, Texas also began busing migrants to “sanctuary cities” in other states without their approval. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has said border cities are overwhelmed. He wants to place more of the burden of illegal immigration on government officials who support Biden’s border policies. Several of those cities are now overwhelmed and have begun sending migrants elsewhere in the country. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, have since begun their own busing programs.

    Federal Action on Immigration

    Former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president, promised during his first campaign to build a “border wall” along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. His administration did not complete this task but did construct or replace more than 450 miles of physical barriers.

    Illegal Immigration

    Trump created a requirement for asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while waiting for their hearings. Other Trump-era policies required people to seek asylum in “safe third countries” or “transit countries” before coming to the United States. His zero-tolerance policy for unauthorized adults resulted in family separations. Some parents were deported without their children. 

    The Biden-Harris administration ended these policies. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, did continue a public health order Trump enacted in March 2020. Title 42 allowed U.S. border officials to turn away migrants seeking asylum during the COVID-19 pandemic. It expired in January of 2023.

    Biden has increased the use of parole, allowing migrants into the U.S. even if they don’t qualify for a visa. Biden has used the power of parole much more broadly than other presidents, including for humanitarian and family reunification purposes.

    Legal Immigration

    While in office, Trump banned immigrants and refugees from six Muslim-majority countries, as well as North Korea and Venezuela. He also drastically cut the number of refugees allowed into the United States.

    The Biden-Harris administration reversed the ban and raised the refugee cap. This year, the administration also made it easier for noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent residence.

    Border Security in 2024

    A border deal proposed in the Senate this year sought to:

    • Add restrictions for asylum seekers
    • Set up a quicker case review process
    • Required temporary asylum shutdowns at a certain threshold of illegal border crossings
    • Expand detention alternatives like ankle monitors
    • Give some immigrants more protections

    Republican leadership supported the deal at first, but they later reversed their stance and voted it down saying it would incentivize illegal immigration.

    In early June of 2024, Biden signed an executive action to “temporarily shut down asylum requests once the average number of daily encounters tops 2,500 between official ports of entry.” The shutdown took immediate effect and will end once the number of requests falls to 1,500. It makes exceptions for unaccompanied children and trafficking victims.

    How Will Immigration Impact the Election?

    Americans are increasingly concerned about immigration. They have named immigration as their top election issue for most months this year, according to Gallup public opinion polls. For the first time since 2005, a majority of Americans think immigration should decrease. How is immigration impacting the election? More polls give us a clue.

    Regardless of party affiliation, Americans are more likely to approve of deporting undocumented immigrants now than they were several years ago. A majority now also approve of constructing more barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump has promised to do both if re-elected, calling for mass deportation of illegal immigrants with the help of the National Guard.

    Vice President Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. At the start of his term, Biden placed Harris in charge of addressing the root causes of migration at the southern border. She has faced criticism as illegal border crossings increased, but they are trending lower ahead of the election.

    Arrests for illegal border crossings hit a record high in December of 2023 but lowered in January as Mexican authorities raised enforcement. They dropped even more quickly after Biden’s executive action to restrict asylum. Arrests for unlawful border crossing hit a three-year low in June and kept decreasing in July. 

    Harris says she supports “comprehensive reform that includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.” She promises to be tough on border control, citing her experience prosecuting drug cartels and human traffickers as California’s Attorney General.

    Get Started With Plural

    Top public policy teams trust Plural to understand immigration policy. With Plural, you’ll:

    • Access superior public policy data 
    • Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
    • Streamline your day with seamless organization features
    • Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
    • Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

    Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

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  • Plural for State Coalitions With Contributing Partner Organizations

    Plural for State Coalitions With Contributing Partner Organizations

    Why is Plural the best state legislative tracking tool for state coalitions with contributing partner organizations? Learn more today.

    State coalitions are often comprised of various contributing partner organizations. They tend to face unique challenges in maximizing their policy impact. Plural offers a comprehensive suite of tools to support coalitions. With Plural, state coalitions ensure that every partner organization can contribute effectively and stay informed about relevant legislative developments.

    Achieving Strategic Alignment

    For state coalitions with contributing partner organizations, achieving strategic alignment can be a roadblock to impactful policy work. Learn more about how Plural meets the challenge below.

    Premium Public Policy Data

    Access to comprehensive information is crucial for staying informed and maintaining an advantage. Beyond bill information from 53 jurisdictions across the United States, Plural also offers:

    • Tools to discover everything there is to know about a bill
    • Legislator and staffer information
    • Historical data
    • AI-powered insights
    • And more!

    With Plural, state coalitions and their contributing partner organizations are well-equipped with the information needed to influence public policy effectively.

    Comprehensive Coverage

    State coalitions need to keep their finger on the pulse of legislative developments within their state and on a national scale. In today’s policy landscape, developments from across the country can impact any given state. Plural offers comprehensive coverage, helping coalitions track policy changes at both the state and federal levels. Plural helps ensure that your coalition is well-prepared to react to or influence legislative changes.

    AI-Powered Insights

    Plural’s AI analyzes trends and forecasts legislative movements, empowering state coalitions to prepare proactive strategies that align with future policy environments. Learn more below.

    AI Bill Summarizer

    Bills are long and complex, making it difficult to quickly understand their impact and act accordingly. Plural utilizes AI to generate concise bill summaries. With Plural, hours spent analyzing legislation become mere seconds, and thousands of words become dozens.

    AI Bill Topics

    Plural also leverages AI to automatically categorize bills into topics. AI-generated bill topics allow users to easily filter and track legislation by subject matter. Plural helps busy policy professionals cut through the noise and save time.

    Momentum Indicator

    Plural’s Momentum Indicator offers a novel way to assess a bill’s traction and potential for progress. With the Momentum Indicator, discovering which bills are likely to become law is quick and simple. Understanding the potential movement of relevant legislation allows for better resource allocation and refined planning.

    Global Bill Search

    Even if you’re working within a single state, effective public policy work often involves understanding or uncovering national trends. Plural’s Global Bill Search is an invaluable tool to this end. Global Bill Search enables users to track legislation and policy changes across the country and see whether similar bills have been introduced in other jurisdictions.

    Unified Policy Monitoring

    As a state coalition, setting central policy directives and strategies is key. Ensuring that all partner organizations are aligned on those directives and strategies is the next step.

    Effective policy advocacy requires a coordinated approach. This is particularly true when multiple organizations come together to form a coalition. Plural enables state coalitions to monitor policy developments in a unified manner. With unlimited, fully-customizable collaboration and organization tools, Plural ensures all partner organizations have access to the same information and can align their advocacy efforts accordingly.

    Customizable Workspaces

    The contributing partner organizations that make up a state coalition each have diverse needs and focus areas. For a legislative tracking tool to be really effective for state coalitions, it needs to accommodate the differential needs and focuses of each contributing partner. At Plural, we know policy work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. That’s why we’ve designed our tool with the specific needs of state coalitions in mind. Plural provides unlimited Workspaces that can be tailored to specific groups, initiatives, and more.

    Think of Workspaces as the digital conference room where your state coalition can gather everyone who matters. Workspaces are where you meet to plan strategies, share updates and assign tasks across your team. But instead of living inside an office, this conference room is digital. Even better, it’s a central digital repository for the many ongoing conversations across teams who need to collaborate on public policy anytime from anywhere.

    Plural users create and categorize separate Workspaces based on subject matter, region, role, and more. Plus, with unlimited seats (more on that later,) Plural users can invite anyone and everyone who needs to be kept up-to-date to join a given Workspace, all without giving them access to every workspace. This customization allows each partner to focus on their areas of expertise while maintaining overall strategic alignment with the coalition’s overarching objectives.

    Plural’s Workspaces are your all-in-one tool to discover, analyze, and collaborate on public policy.

    Streamlining Collaboration

    Beyond helping state coalitions achieve strategic alignment across contributing partner organizations, Plural also helps streamline collaboration. Learn more below.

    Unlimited Seats for Collaboration

    As a state coalition with contributing partner organizations, there can never be too many cooks in the kitchen. Plural was designed with this specific need in mind. At Plural, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment so that our users can effectively impact public policy. That’s why we offer unlimited seats at our Premium tier. With unlimited seats, every member of the coalition as well as each partner organization can seamlessly access Plural. With Plural, it’s easier than ever to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and can actively participate in the decision-making process.

    Real-Time Communication and Alerts

    Seamless communication and real-time updates are vital for the success of any coalition. Plural helps coalitions make informed decisions quickly and maintain agility. When a new bill is introduced or a tracked bill moves through the legislative process, you’ll be notified automatically. What’s more, Plural’s Workspaces enable real-time interactions among partners, facilitating the swift exchange of information, strategies, and insights.

    Get Started With Plural for State Legislative Tracking

    For state coalitions with contributing partner organizations, Plural is an indispensable resource. With Plural, it’s easy to enhance collaboration, streamline operations, and effectively monitor public policy. Plural’s robust features like unlimited seats, customizable Workspaces, comprehensive legislative tracking, and real-time communication tools empower coalitions to impact public policy.

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  • Plural for National Organizations With State Affiliates

    Plural for National Organizations With State Affiliates

    Plural is the top legislative tracking tool for national organizations with state affiliates. Learn more about how Plural’s solutions now.

    National organizations with state affiliates face unique challenges — maintaining cohesion and streamlining collaboration across various levels are top among them. These organizations need robust tools that facilitate unified strategies while respecting local variations in policy and practice. Plural is an all-in-one solution to address these needs. Plural helps national organizations with state affiliates effectively manage public policy and maintain a cohesive strategy.

    Monitoring Public Policy

    For national organizations with state affiliates, maintaining a balanced focus between national and state-level politics is key. Finding a tool that strikes this fine balance is crucial, and Plural’s comprehensive legislative tracking tool meets the challenge. Learn more about Plural’s legislative monitoring solutions below.

    Comprehensive Coverage

    Plural presents legislative data from all fifty states, Congress, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. in a seamless, intuitive tool. Users can discover any bill across all 53 jurisdictions, plus historical, legislator, committee, and staffer data.

    National organizations need to track legislative developments across all states where they operate. Plural provides comprehensive data at both the state and federal levels. Broad coverage is essential for effective advocacy, helping protect your interests across jurisdictions. With Plural, it’s easier than ever to stay informed about all relevant legislative updates.

    AI-Powered Insights

    Understanding potential policy shifts before they happen gives national organizations a strategic advantage. Plural’s AI analyzes trends and forecasts legislative movements. Plural empowers organizations to prepare proactive strategies that align with future policy environments.

    AI Bill Summarizer

    Bills are long and complex, making it difficult to quickly understand their impact and act accordingly. Plural utilizes AI to generate concise bill summaries. With Plural, hours spent analyzing legislation become mere seconds, and thousands of words become dozens.

    AI Bill Topics

    Plural also leverages AI to automatically categorize bills into topics. AI-generated bill topics allow users to easily filter and track legislation by subject matter. Plural helps busy policy professionals cut through the noise and save time.

    Momentum Indicator

    Plural’s Momentum Indicator offers a novel way to assess a bill’s traction and potential for progress. With the Momentum Indicator, discovering which bills are likely to become law is quick and simple. Understanding the potential movement of relevant legislation allows for better resource allocation and refined planning.

    Global Bill Search

    Effective public policy work often involves understanding or uncovering national trends. Plural’s Global Bill Search is an invaluable tool to this end. Global Bill Search enables users to monitor legislation and policy changes across the country and see whether similar bills have been introduced across multiple jurisdictions.

    Achieving Cohesion Across Affiliates

    With fifty affiliates operating in vastly different political climates, achieving cohesion is challenging. Plural’s solutions help national organizations with state affiliates get on the same page.

    Unified Policy Monitoring

    As a national organization with state affiliates, setting your central policy directives and strategies is a core aspect of your mission. Ensuring that all state affiliates are aligned on those directives and strategies is the next step. With Plural, national organizations gain insights into policy developments across the entire country. Plural enables a unified approach to policy monitoring and response. National coverage ensures that no change goes unnoticed, empowering organizations to act swiftly and effectively no matter where the policy is enacted. With Plural, your national headquarters can seamlessly track policy developments affecting multiple states. With a nationwide view, coordinating a cohesive response across all affiliates is easier than ever.

    Customizable Workspaces

    At Plural, we know public policy work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For national organizations with state affiliates, collaboration is key. That’s why we offer unlimited Workspaces. Workspaces can be customized to meet the specific needs of different state affiliates, while still adhering to the overarching goals and strategies of the national organization. Unlimited customizable Workspaces allow for organized, tailored approaches to local policy challenges. With Plural’s Workspaces, you’ll ensure that each affiliate has the tools and information necessary to operate effectively within their state’s unique legislative environment.

    Streamlining Collaboration

    Collaborating and communicating effectively is yet another challenge for national organizations with state affiliates. With at least fifty individuals that you need to keep in the loop, you need a comprehensive tool. Learn more about Plural’s collaboration tools below.

    Unlimited Seats for Collaboration

    Effective collaboration is key to the success of any national organization. That’s why we offer unlimited seats with our Premium plan. With unlimited seats, Plural ensures that every member of your organization, from the national level to each state affiliate, can access the platform without sharing expensive licenses. This inclusivity fosters greater communication and collaboration. With Plural, updates and strategies will be shared in real-time across all levels of your organization.

    Real-Time Communication Tools

    Plural’s mobile-friendly interface and real-time updates help busy teams stay in touch. Plural facilitates seamless communication among affiliates, enabling them to share insights, data, and advice instantly. Real-time communication helps to streamline decision-making processes. With Plural, you’ll ensure that all members are on the same page, reducing redundancy and enhancing the efficiency of your collaborative efforts.

    Get Started With Plural

    For national organizations with state affiliates, Plural provides a critical toolset for achieving organizational cohesion, enhancing collaboration, and effectively monitoring public policy. With features like unlimited seats, customizable Workspaces, and comprehensive legislative coverage, Plural empowers these organizations to navigate the complexities of operating across multiple jurisdictions with ease and precision.

    Are you ready to unify your strategy and enhance your policy monitoring capabilities? Book a demo Plural today and discover how we can transform your organization’s approach to public policy and collaboration.

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  • Education and the 2024 Elections: How Is Education Impacting the Election?

    Education and the 2024 Elections: How Is Education Impacting the Election?

    Between school curricula, book bans, teacher pay, and the cost of college, education is proving to be a hot topic in the 2024 elections.

    Education issues always impact local, state, federal, and presidential elections. In the past several years, they have intersected with social issues that draw more attention from the public. Recent state policies on these hot-button topics, like book bans and LGBTQIA+ issues, have put a spotlight on the impact of education policy. Read on to learn more about what’s happening with education and the 2024 elections in the United States.

    Democratic vs. Republican Stances on Education

    Americans’ views on education are increasingly divided based on their political affiliation. Democrats tend to hold a positive view of public schools. Democratic candidates often advocate for more funding for public K-12 and higher education. While the federal government does not have the power to control schools directly, it can tie these funds to certain requirements.

    On the other hand, Republicans are generally distrustful of public schools and the U.S. Department of Education. Candidates often push for more state and local control – and even parental control – of education issues. They may argue for less federal taxation for funding for public schools. They may also support school voucher programs, which use taxpayer funds to help parents send their children to private or religious schools.

    Key Education Policy Issues

    Today’s key education policy issues cover a wide range of topics, from universal preschool to student loan forgiveness. In the past several years, discussions of education-related issues also bring up topics of gender identity, sexual orientation, racism, and other “culture war” issues. Here are just a few of these key topics in education.

    Early Childhood Learning

    President Biden and Vice President Harris have advocated for universal pre-k, making preschool free for all four-year-olds. Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee after Biden stepped out of the race, has pushed for more funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These programs provide free school readiness services to young children of low-income families.

    Former President Trump has not focused much on early childhood learning. Rather, he has advocated for reduced federal funding for and control of education.

    K-12 Federal Funding and Oversight

    Trump has proposed getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education, but he did not do so while in office. He did shift some control and oversight to state and local governments, saying they should be the ones to handle education.

    The Biden-Harris administration has supported increasing both federal funding and oversight for K-12 education. Biden has especially focused on addressing learning loss and achievement gaps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Biden and Harris have both advocated for increasing Title I funding, which supports schools with a large population of low-income students. In the past, Trump has proposed cutting those funds.

    School Choice

    Trump has been a strong advocate of school choice. His Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expanded 529 college savings plans, allowing up to $10,000 per year to be used for K-12 private schools. He has proposed further expanding it to allow the tax-advantaged accounts to be used for homeschooling. Trump also supports school voucher programs, which would divert tax money from public schools for parents to use to enroll their children in private or religious schools.

    The Biden-Harris administration has preferred to fund and support public schools. It opposes Trump’s voucher proposals. Biden tightened regulations on the federal Charter School Program, which awards grants to schools that are publicly funded but privately operated. The new rules added transparency and accountability requirements. They also made it harder for schools managed by for-profit companies to get funding.

    School Curricula

    Many states have adopted laws or policies that either expand or restrict teaching certain topics involving history, race, sex, and gender. Democrat-controlled states have enacted policies that require more teaching about the history of minority groups, racial issues, and LGBTQ+ issues. Republican-controlled states have enacted policies that restrict some types of education about race and sex.

    This controversy has created a divide among “red states” and “blue states.” This divide often plays out in national politics. Curriculum content is the education topic Trump seems to talk about most. While in office, Trump established the 1776 Commission to support “patriotic education” and curricula. This was in response to the New York Times’s 1619 Project, which reframed American history by centering the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans. Biden dissolved the 1776 Commission shortly after taking office.

    Content censorship has expanded beyond classroom teaching and also impacts school library content. Conservative groups have fought to ban books from school libraries that contain certain content, especially LGBTQ+ topics. Trump has generally supported these efforts, while Harris has condemned book bans.

    In 2023, Florida passed HB 1467 requiring elementary schools to publish lists of books in their school libraries and report any complaints to the state. After the state was inundated with complaints, this year’s HB 1285 limits the number of complaints reported by people who don’t have children at the school in question.

    In response to this trend, legislators in Maryland (HB 785), Minnesota (SF 3567), and Illinois (HB 2789) all passed laws this year restricting banning books from public libraries, including the ones in schools.

    Pay for Teachers

    Biden and Harris have both advocated for increasing teacher pay. During Harris’ first presidential campaign, she released a plan to give teachers a salary increase of $13,500 each.

    Trump wants to give states and school systems an incentive to pay their teachers based on merit. He opposes teacher tenure for grades K-12.

    LGBTQ+ Students

    The Biden-Harris administration has issued regulations that broaden the scope of Title IX. The law bans discrimination in schools based on sex, and the new rules expand it to include sexual orientation and gender identity. 

    The expansion took effect in 24 states this August, but it now faces legal challenges in the rest of the country. The administration says the rule does not apply to athletics. Still, Republicans have argued that it would require schools to allow the participation of transgender students in girls’ and women’s sports. Trump has promised to roll back the new changes.

    Eight states have passed laws requiring teachers to inform students’ parents of any change in their preferred pronouns or gender identity, even without the student’s consent. These include Tennessee SB 1810 and South Carolina HB 4624. California, however, did the opposite. AB 1955, also known as the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act, bans school systems from enacting such policies.

    Student Loans & College Affordability

    One of the top education priorities for Biden is college affordability and student loan forgiveness. He attempted to cancel some or all debt for 43 million people, but the Supreme Court ruled he did not have the legal authority to do so. Biden’s plan offered one-time debt forgiveness of up to $20,000 in federal student loans per borrower. In April 2024, the Biden-Harris administration used a different process to propose another plan offering relief to 25 million people, on top of nearly 4.8 million who have already had their debts canceled.

    Trump paused student loan payments during the COVID-19 pandemic but hopes to reverse Biden’s student loan forgiveness programs if reelected. While in office, Trump favored vocational education and workforce development. He pushed for a large increase in funding for career and technical education.

    Biden has also proposed a plan for two years of free community college through a federal-state partnership. Trump has offered his own free college idea — an online school called the “American Academy” funded by “taxing, fining, and suing” private university endowments. He said the curriculum would be free of “wokeness” and “jihadism,” and students would have the opportunity to attend free of charge.

    How Is Education Impacting the 2024 Elections?

    The impact of education on the 2024 elections may vary depending on the issue and who it affects. Parents with school-aged children will be watching the policies that directly impact their families. Young adults, who have historically had lower turnout, are more likely to be worried about the cost of tuition and/or vocational programs.

    In particular, student loans are a key concern for many Americans. Approximately 30% of American adults have at least some student loan debt, and nearly one in five adults say student loan debt will have a major influence over their vote in the presidential election.

    Curriculum content and social issues may play more of a role in state-level races than in the presidential election. As states continue to pass new laws affecting local school systems, this could drive more people to the polls to vote for state and local candidates who agree with their views on either side.

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  • The Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082: A Step Backwards for Public Access to Law

    The Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082: A Step Backwards for Public Access to Law

    At Plural, we believe in the fundamental principle that laws and regulations should be accessible to all. Our democracy should be transparent. When it is, it’s easier for everyday citizens and professionals alike to get involved and influence the democratic process.

    The Pro Codes Act threatens to undermine this principle. The Act was introduced in the House in March and is now being proposed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). If passed as Amendment 1082 to the NDAA, the Act could drastically alter how we access and interact with public laws and standards. We at Plural stand firmly against the Pro Codes Act. In this blog, we hope to shed light on the path of the bill and why it’s problematic.

    Understanding the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082

    Before we delve into why the Pro Codes Act is harmful to our democracy, we must first understand its legal and bureaucratic background.

    What Are Standards Development Organizations?

    To understand the Pro Codes Act, it’s helpful to first understand what a Standards Development Organization (SDO) is. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, SDOs are member-supported organizations that develop and maintain standards to meet industry needs. Their primary function is to develop, coordinate, interpret, amend, and/or reissue technical standards, helping them become more useful to the individuals and organizations who use them. Overall, they work to create and enforce uniformity across producers, consumers, government agencies, and more regarding the terminology we use to describe products, the specifications of those products, and testing and safety standards.

    Most standards set forth by SDOs are voluntary and not enshrined in law. However, they’re a key (though often unseen) part of our everyday lives. They ensure the safety of the medical devices used in hospitals throughout the country and the bridges and roads we drive on each day. Everything from the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the homes and apartments we live in operates under standards established by SDOs.

    SDOs and Copyright Protections

    The standards set forth by SDOs are most often used by the private sector, not the government. However, many standards end up being incorporated into government regulations without the knowledge or consent of SDOs. This is where the issue of copyright comes in.

    Apart from those produced by the government itself, SDO standards are not public domain. Instead, the vast majority are the intellectual property of their developers, meaning that they’re protected by copyright laws. Copyright protections are how SDOs make most of their money — standards are often paywalled or sold.

    This is where the heart of the tensions between SDOs and our government lie. When the government uses a standard set forth by an SDO in a law or regulation, it becomes public domain by default as an “edict of government” — laws and regulations must be publicly accessible. However, SDOs aren’t a fan of this practice, claiming they lose revenue from standards that would otherwise be sold or accessed behind a paywall.

    Case Study: The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Safety Requirements for Extension Cords

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publishes, as its name indicates, safety requirements for commonly used consumer products. One consumer product that falls into this category is extension cords. According to the CPSC, extension cords meet the standards of Underwriters Laboratory (UL) publication 817. The minimum amount that the UL charges for access to publication 817 is $798 USD — and that’s for a restricted PDF that can only be opened on one computer.

    With this background knowledge, we can now delve into the specifics of the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082.

    The Pro Codes Act and Copyright Protections for SDOs

    The Pro Codes Act effectively endorses the claim that SDOs can retain copyright over their standards and codes, even after they are made into law. In order to retain copyright, SDOs must make the standards and codes available through a “publicly accessible” website. But “publicly accessible” is a vague metric. Accessibility is often limited to read-only formats. They’re also subject to licensing restrictions. These factors and restrictions would make it difficult for the public to freely use and share these codes.

    The Act gained bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, a rare feat in our era of political polarization. However, the House voted down their version of the bill on July 22nd, and it stagnated in the Senate. But the Pro Codes Act isn’t dead — it’s now being considered as an amendment to the NDAA.

    So, the Pro Codes Act is now Amendment 1082 to the NDAA?

    In short, yes. The specifics of the Pro Codes Act have been rolled into S. 2226, the annual NDAA that authorizes appropriations for the military activities of the Department of Defense in 2025. Proposed Amendment 1082 to the NDAA contains the exact same provisions set forth in the Pro Codes Act. While it might seem confusing that an Act could be “re-routed” as an amendment, this process is, unfortunately, common. Amendment 1082 is what’s considered to be a “non-germane” amendment to the NDAA, meaning it’s unrelated to the core concept of the law itself. Adding non-germane amendments to large, fundamental laws is a way to subvert and deny American citizens the opportunity to engage in a transparent, accessible democratic process.

    Why the Pro Codes Act May Be Problematic

    1. Limited Public Access: Laws should be freely accessible to everyone. The Pro Codes Act allows SDOs to retain copyright on standards if those standards are available at no monetary cost to the public, but it allows SDOs to require users to share personal information and only provide the material in restricted formats. Furthermore, in cases where standards are not properly available to the public, the act puts the burden of proof on the public to prove that the SDO failed to comply
    2. Erosion of the Public Domain: The Pro Codes Act would erode the public domain by limiting access to publicly beneficial standards. The law should belong to the public. Allowing private companies to retain copyright over the law undermines democratic transparency. It’s clear that the Act prioritizes the interests of private companies over the public’s right to know and understand the laws that govern them.
    3. Constitutional Concerns: The U.S. Constitution implies that citizens have the right to read, share, and discuss the entire law without financial or access barriers. We as Americans have a constitutional, inalienable right to access and understand the law. The Pro Codes Act directly conflicts with this principle by imposing restrictions and costs on accessing legal standards.

    Learn more about Plural’s stance on the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082 below.

    What’s the Current Status of the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082?

    As mentioned above, the House voted down its version of the bill on July 22nd, and it stagnated in the Senate. But the Pro Codes Act isn’t dead — it’s now being considered as an amendment to the NDAA. Amendment 1082 has been submitted for consideration, and we’re currently awaiting further action.

    Plural’s Position on the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082

    At Plural, we stand firmly against the Pro Codes Act and Amendment 1082 to the NDAA. Our position is clear: data and code standards that become part of the law should be open and freely accessible. We believe that open data fosters innovation, transparency, and public trust. It empowers citizens to understand, engage with, and influence the laws that govern them.

    The Pro Codes Act stands in direct opposition to these values. Limiting access to legal standards and allowing private companies to retain copyright, creates barriers to understanding and complying with the law. This not only disadvantages Americans but also undermines the principles of an open and democratic society.

    Get Involved

    We urge policymakers to reconsider Amendment 1082 and its implications for public access to law. We call on our colleagues, partners, and the broader public to join us in advocating for open and accessible legal standards. The law belongs to everyone, and we must ensure it remains within the public domain.

    It’s crucial to stay informed and share your concern over Amendment 1082 with your representatives. We encourage members of our community to contact lawmakers using the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Action Center Tool.

    Together, we can ensure that the laws governing us remain free, open, and accessible to all.

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  • Abortion and the 2024 Elections: How Is Abortion Impacting the Election?

    Abortion and the 2024 Elections: How Is Abortion Impacting the Election?

    Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, abortion may impact United States elections more than it has in a long time.

    Federal protections on abortion rights no longer apply since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the landmark case that set them. Many states have passed outright bans or heavy restrictions on abortion. Nationwide, though, public support for abortion rights is higher than ever, and the Court’s decision will likely bring voters to the polls. Read on to learn more about abortion and the 2024 elections.

    History of Abortion Rights in the US

    America had virtually no abortion laws early in the country’s history. In the late 1800s, state governments began to pass laws that restricted abortion. Abortion was largely practiced by midwives and opposed by physicians, whose profession was becoming licensed and regulated. The practice was outlawed in every state by the early 1900s. Some women turned to costly or risky methods of ending their pregnancies. They paid a surgeon to perform an abortion secretly or, if they could not afford it, tried to perform it themselves.

    As women challenged these abortion bans in the 1960s and 70s, states began to allow exceptions for health, rape, incest, or a damaged fetus.

    Key Supreme Court Cases

    In the 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the right to an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution as part of an implied right to privacy. It prohibited most restrictions during the first trimester of pregnancy, allowed some in the second trimester, and allowed abortion bans in the third trimester with exceptions for the mother’s life or health.

    Roe v. Wade ignited nationwide controversy, and abortion is now a polarized and contentious issue. The Democratic Party had opposed abortion, but it soon joined feminists in advocating for abortion rights. Protestants joined Catholics in the anti-abortion movement as the political Christian right emerged, eventually gaining the support of the Republican Party.

    The Supreme Court changed Roe’s legal framework in 1992 with its ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. States could now ban abortion at 23 or 24 weeks of pregnancy based on fetal viability. The Court also ruled that laws could not pose an “undue burden” on women’s access to abortion, replacing the more demanding “strict scrutiny” standard from Roe.

    In June of 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe and Casey decisions with its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Court ruled that there is no implied constitutional right to abortion, because it is not “deeply rooted in this nation’s history or tradition.” This allowed state governments to greatly restrict and ban abortion.

    The Current Landscape of Abortion Access

    In the years leading up to the Dobbs decision, several states passed “trigger laws” – abortion laws that were unenforceable due to Roe but went into effect when it was overturned. Since the Supreme Court ruling, more states have passed restrictions, while others have enacted protections.

    Abortion is now banned in 14 states, with most having narrow exceptions. Four states ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy – before many women even realize they are pregnant. Another 23 states have other restrictions based on gestational age, while nine states allow abortion throughout pregnancy.

    Abortions have drastically reduced in states that have banned them and risen in states that have expanded or maintaned access. More people are now traveling out of state to end pregnancies, but some cannot afford to do so. This disproportionately impacts women of color and women in poverty.

    However, the Dobbs decision has not lowered the nationwide abortion rate. It was already growing in previous years, and some estimates indicate that it is still on the rise.

    Recent State Actions

    State action on abortion rights varies and often falls along partisan lines. In general, Democratic-controlled legislatures are aiming to expand or maintain access to abortion. Republican states, on the other hand, have taken steps to heavily restrict reproductive rights. Overall, however, the vast majority of Americans support at least some access to abortion.

    In November 2023, Ohio voters approved a ballot measure for a constitutional amendment to protect the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including decisions about abortion. This invalidated a six-week ban the state legislature had passed as a trigger law in 2019.

    Abortion laws in Florida (SB 300) and Iowa (HF 732) both took effect in 2024, banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. They were passed last year but temporarily blocked by court challenges.

    Abortion on the Ballot

    Abortion will appear on the ballot in several states in 2024, and it could play a major role in both state and federal elections. The two major party candidates differ greatly in their views on abortion.

    Vice President Harris is the likely Democratic nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race in July. Harris and Biden both support abortion rights, but Harris is more outspoken about the issue and will likely more aggressively campaign on it. As a senator, she co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2017, which sought to ban state and local restrictions on abortion before fetal viability.

    Former President Trump, a Republican, has said he prefers to allow states to decide on the issue of abortion, stopping short of calling for a national abortion ban. During his 2016 campaign, he promised to appoint judges who were likely to overturn Roe. Trump did name three justices to the Supreme Court to fill vacancies during his term, shifting the nine-member court toward a more conservative ideology. All three voted in favor of the Dobbs decision. Trump touts his Supreme Courts appointments as an administration-defining success.

    Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Dobbs highlighted the impact that elections for these offices can have on abortion law.

    State Ballot Measures in 2024

    As of July, seven states will let voters decide directly on abortion ballot initiatives in the 2024 election. These include both laws and amendments to state constitutions, all protecting or expanding abortion access. Most were initiated by voter petitions.

    • Arizonans will vote on a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion until viability. The state now bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
    • Florida ballots will include a measure to legalize abortion until viability. The state currently bans it after six weeks of pregnancy.
    • In South Dakota, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment setting a trimester framework for abortion laws similar to Roe v. Wade. Abortion is currently banned in the state.
    • New Yorkers will have a ballot measure to ban discrimination based on pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and “reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” The state allows abortion until viability.
    • Colorado, Maryland, and Nevada will vote on constitutional amendments to protect abortion access until viability, which their state laws already allow.

    Four more states are waiting for approval of their ballot initiatives.

    • Arkansas voters could decide on a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is banned in the state.
    • Missouri, Nebraska, and Montana may vote on constitutional amendments protecting the right to abortion before viability. Abortion is illegal throughout pregnancy in Missouri and until 12 weeks in Nebraska. It is already legal until viability in Montana.

    These measures could turn out more abortion-minded voters to the polls, affecting results in other contests on the ballot.

    Abortion and the 2024 Elections

    Before the Dobbs decision, voters who were motivated primarily by abortion tended to be Republicans who opposed it. But recent polls show that abortion-motivated voters are now mostly Democrats who support abortion rights.

    Abortion is a top issue for suburban women, a key demographic that could decide the election. The overturning of Roe seems to have mobilized pro-choice voters, while pro-life voters may be less energized by the issue.

    Sixty-nine percent of Americans, a record high, now say that abortion should be legal in the first three months of pregnancy. This view is at odds with the total and six-week abortion bans passed by many Republican-controlled state legislatures. Sixty one percent of Americans also say that overturning Roe v. Wade was a “bad thing.” Views are strongly divided by party affiliation, but overall support for abortion access continues to rise.

    The Republican Party is starting to downplay the issue, making few mentions of it at this year’s Republican National Convention. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is stressing it as a key issue. Democrats scored wins with that strategy in the 2022 midterm elections. Abortion was a top concern for voters in Pennsylvania and Michigan, both battleground states. Voters in Pennsylvania went on to flip a U.S. Senate seat for the Democrats, and control of Michigan’s state legislature also swung to the Democrats for the first time in decades. Nationwide, every ballot initiative on abortion went in favor of protecting or expanding access.

    Looking at abortion and 2024 elections, this issue could greatly influence races up and down the ballot.

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  • How Is Housing Impacting the 2024 Elections? 

    How Is Housing Impacting the 2024 Elections? 

    Shelter is a basic human need, but it has become increasingly costly. Whether they want to rent or own, Americans seeking a home are met with soaring prices and fierce competition.

    Housing is likely to be top of mind for voters in the 2024 elections. To understand how it may motivate them, this blog takes a look at the housing affordability crisis and how some elected officials are addressing it.

    The Housing Affordability Crisis

    The United States is facing a housing affordability crisis affecting both buyers and renters. A combination of low supply, high demand, high interest rates, inflation, and a global pandemic have sent prices skyrocketing. Why are housing prices so high, and what are the consequences for Americans? Let’s look deeper.

    Rising Housing Costs

    Housing prices have been rising for several years, but that rise sped up dramatically in 2020. The main reason for this is a lack of supply: not enough houses are being built or sold for the level of housing demand.

    From 2018 to 2020, the country’s housing shortage was already growing. Then, in 2020, supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic slowed construction and made supplies more expensive. When construction picked up again, it couldn’t catch up with rising demand. The shortage exploded. 

    Average mortgage interest rates increased, more than doubling between 2021 and 2023. They have since decreased, but not by much. This can make available homes unaffordable for would-be buyers. It also encourages would-be sellers not to move in order to stay in their current lower-interest mortgages. As a result, fewer existing homes are going on the market.

    Seniors especially are staying in their homes longer than they used to. Today, 56% of owner-occupied homes with three or more bedrooms are occupied by only one or two people, most of them age 62 and older. Families who would otherwise need more space are making do with smaller homes until it’s easier to buy a larger one. This means there are fewer small, affordable homes on the market for first-time and low-income home buyers.

    The Rental Housing Market

    The housing affordability crisis has also hit the rental housing market. When people can’t find or afford a house to buy, they need to rent instead. This has increased the demand for rental housing, driving up costs. Rent increases are outpacing wage increases across the country. In 2022, about half of renters nationwide – a record number – spent more than 30% of their income. They may be forced to choose between their rent payments and food, healthcare, or other basic expenses.

    A Shortage of Affordable Housing Units

    High housing costs have hit those with low incomes the hardest. There is a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters. A growing number of people simply can’t find a place to live.

    As rent increases, so does homelessness. Not only are more people evicted or forced to leave their homes, but fewer unhoused people are able to exit homelessness as well. Homelessness grew by more than 12% in 2023, the biggest increase since records began in 2007.

    The State of Housing Policy in 2024

    Housing policy is often left to state and local governments to handle. However, federal policy can incentivize them to change certain rules and regulations. It also can provide grant funding for housing programs like vouchers and subsidized housing projects.

    Federal Housing Policy

    President Biden has repeatedly called on Congress to pass housing legislation, but so far, no significant bill on the topic has passed the House and Senate during his tenure.

    In 2022, the Biden administration released the Housing Supply Action Plan, intended to help grow the supply of housing and lower costs. The plan promises to give communities with reformed zoning and land-use policies an advantage in some federal grant programs. It also aims to provide new and expanded financing for manufactured housing, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), 2-to-4-unit properties, and smaller multifamily buildings.

    Biden also has called on Congress to pass tax credits for first-time home buyers and sellers, set a cap on rent increases, and take other measures to improve housing supply and access. The administration’s goal is to enable the building or renovating of 2 million homes.

    In June of 2024, the Biden administration announced housing grant awards totaling $85 million to 21 state and local governments. The grants were made under the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program with the aim of removing barriers to home construction.

    New State Housing Policies

    Arizona and Colorado have both passed significant housing legislation in 2024. The two states legalized ADUs in major cities. An ADU, also called a secondary dwelling unit, in-law unit, or granny flat, is a smaller housing unit on the same property as a single-family dwelling. These increase the housing supply without the need for more property.

    Colorado’s suite of housing bills also include:

    • HB 24-1304, which bans mandatory residential parking minimums along major transit routes
    • HB 24-1313, which requires larger cities to allow zoning for higher-density housing near major transit lines
    • HB 24-1434, which expands the state’s affordable housing tax credit

    Arizona HB 2721 requires major cities to allow different types of housing units, such as townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes, within a mile of their central business districts. These units are known as “middle housing” — something between single-family homes and large apartment complexes — and they can help increase the supply of housing on a small amount of land.

    How Is Housing Policy Impacting the 2024 Elections?

    The cost of housing is one of the top financial worries of Americans right now. It’s a main driver of inflation that is keenly felt by many households across the country. When voters go to the polls in November, housing policy will likely be on the minds of many.

    Recently, President Biden announced he is exiting the presidential race, endorsing Vice President Harris in his place. While the Democratic Party has not officially chosen its nominee, Harris is the most likely candidate to replace him.

    Harris has expressed similar views to Biden on the topic of housing policy, both while in office and during her campaign for President in 2020. As a Senator, Harris and Rep. Maxine Waters introduced the Housing is Infrastructure Act. The bill, which did not pass, would have invested $70 billion into public housing and an additional $10 million into efforts to eliminate zoning requirements. It also included funding to construct rental units for low-income households.

    The Republican Party nominee, former President Trump, pushed for cuts to housing assistance programs and public housing while in office. He also removed some fair housing protections, which Biden later reinstated. His record on the issue of zoning has been mixed. During his presidency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development encouraged state and local deregulation. These efforts ended when Trump voiced support for zoning regulations that he said would protect suburbs. He recently made remarks calling zoning restrictions “a killer,” though, suggesting he would once again support removing them.

    Trump also has said he would “ban urban camping” and create tent cities for homeless people, where doctors and social workers would be on hand to help them.

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  • Tips for Navigating Transitions in Your Public Policy Career

    Tips for Navigating Transitions in Your Public Policy Career

    Navigating a career transition in public policy can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re early in your career or moving up the ladder into a more senior role, developing effective strategies and toolsets is key. This might include understanding how to manage up, select the right tools, develop your personal brand, and adapt to challenges.

    At Plural, we’re committed to helping public policy professionals thrive in their careers. We provide tailored resources, premium data, and impactful tools to help you succeed. This blog provides actionable advice to help you effectively navigate career transitions in the dynamic field of public policy. Read on to learn our tips, tricks, and recommendations.

    Managing Up

    “Managing up” is a critical skill for career advancement in any field, not just public policy. It involves effectively communicating with your superiors, understanding their expectations, and aligning your work to support their goals. Here are some strategies to help you successfully manage up within your organization:

    Understand Your Boss’s Priorities

    Take the time to understand what matters most to your boss (and your boss’s boss!). Whether serving a specific client need, achieving a policy objective, or more, developing a deep understanding is key. This will help you align your tasks with their priorities, making you an invaluable asset.

    Communicate Proactively

    Keep your boss informed about your progress, challenges, and any potential issues. Set a weekly reminder to share this information, whether written in an email or message or face-to-face in a meeting. Regular updates can prevent misunderstandings and build trust.

    Offer Solutions, Not Just Problems

    When you encounter a challenge, think of potential solutions before approaching your boss. Is there a particular tool or methodology that can mitigate the challenge? How are you planning on adapting your work? Can other team members help or adapt as well? This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and initiative.

    Seek Feedback

    Regularly ask for feedback to understand how you can improve. This can be informally, like in a regular check-in meeting, or on a more formal basis in a performance review. This shows that you are committed to personal and professional growth.

    Regardless of your organization or role, managing up is an essential skill. Developing this understanding and workflow will help you succeed in your public policy career.

    Developing Your Personal Brand

    Building a strong personal brand is essential for career growth in public policy. Your personal brand is how you present yourself to the world. It can significantly impact your professional opportunities. Here are some steps to develop your personal brand:

    Identify Your Strengths and Values

    Reflect on what you are passionate about and what you excel at. What drives you? What issues do you care about? Why did you enter a career in public policy? Your brand should align with your strengths and values.

    Create a Professional Online Presence

    Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and reflective of your accomplishments. Connect with leaders whose work you admire and engage with their posts. Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to your field to establish yourself as a thought leader.

    Network Actively

    Public policy work is all about connections. Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to connect with other professionals. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

    Seek Mentorship

    Find mentors who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your career. To start, find someone who has a title you’d like to have in the future, or who works at an organization you’d like to work at in the future. Reach out and take time to develop and nourish the relationship. Mentors can offer valuable insights and help you refine your personal brand.

    Adapting to Change

    The public policy landscape is constantly evolving, sometimes in the span of mere minutes. Adapting to change is absolutely necessary for career advancement and success. Read below to learn more about various types of changes and tips to manage them.

    Organizational Changes

    Be open to new structures, processes, and leadership styles. These factors vary from role to role, organization to organization, and leader to leader. Stay informed about the reasons behind organizational changes, as well as how they impact your role. Flexibility and a positive attitude can help you thrive during transitions.

    Technological Changes

    Embrace new technologies that can enhance your productivity and efficiency. Can AI tools optimize your workflow? What about a new project management tool? Is there a way to streamline your existing spreadsheet? Stay updated on technological trends and be willing to learn new tools and software. More on this later!

    Political Changes

    Understand the implications of political shifts on your work. How will the 2024 elections impact your client(s), jurisdiction(s), or subject matter(s)? Are there specific bills you should be monitoring? Stay informed about policy changes, elections, and legislative developments. Adapt your strategies to align with the current political climate.

    Selecting the Right Tools for An Increased Workload

    As you advance in your career, the volume and complexity of your work will likely increase. Choosing the right tools can help you manage your workload more efficiently. This might include project management tools like Trello or Asana, time management techniques, or automation tools. In particular, Plural is an invaluable tool for policy professionals at any stage of their career. Plural’s intuitive, AI-powered legislative tracking tool helps policy professionals streamline their work and amplify their impact. Learn more below.

    Plural for Legislative Tracking and Organization

    In the world of public policy, success is all about finding what you need, when you need it. Top public policy teams need a tool that works with them, not against them. Plural is an excellent tool for tracking legislation, developing insights on key bills, and organizing policy work. It allows you to stay updated on legislative developments, manage tasks, and collaborate with your team seamlessly.

    Premium Legislative Data

    Plural provides extensive and real-time legislative data. What exactly does this entail? With Plural, you’ll view comprehensive bill data and see legislator and key staffer information for 53 jurisdictions across the United States. What’s more, thorough and immediate updates ensure you’re always informed. Finally, Plural’s powerful search capabilities, including AI-powered processing, make it easy to find what you need to know.

    Real-Time Updates

    Public policy moves fast. Plural’s sophisticated algorithms ensure you’ll never get caught with out-of-date information. With an advanced data scraping cadence, Plural guarantees accurate and up-to-date information, giving you a decisive edge.

    Many legislative tracking tools only update daily, but Plural sends real-time alerts. Getting updated in real-time ensures you’re the first to know about important legislative changes.

    Intuitive Design

    You deserve a policy tracking tool that works with you, not against you. Plural’s focus on ease of use ensures that you spend less time navigating the platform and more time leveraging its full capabilities.

    Many legislative tracking tools link to the PDF file of a bill’s text on the originating state’s legislative website. If you’re monitoring legislation across multiple states, it can be time-consuming and confusing to figure out how best to read and understand bills across different formatting styles. In Plural, all bill text is digital, and all bill pages have a uniform look. This allows you to easily read through bill text regardless of its originating legislature.

    AI-Powered Insights

    Policy success isn’t just about being the first to know about key updates. The insights you glean from the information you receive can deepen your impact. With Plural, it’s easy to use AI to deepen your policy insights. Plural’s AI-powered tools help you foresee legislative outcomes and make more strategic decisions – giving you and your policy team a significant edge.

    Find similar bills, including companion, reintroduced, and omnibus bills, all in one place. Search across jurisdictions to understand the legislative landscape of a given issue area. Discover which bills are likely to gain momentum and adapt your strategy accordingly. Save time reading dense, detailed bill text and discover the key aspects of a bill with AI-powered bill summaries and bill version comparisons.

    Customizable Organization Features

    Public policy work is messy, but your tracking tool shouldn’t be. Plural’s organization tools help you cut through the noise. You can streamline your policy work by creating custom tags to organize bills. Plus, you can complete bulk actions to tag or track many bills at once, and free up time for what really matters.

    Seamless Collaboration

    Policy work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. That’s why Plural is an all-in-one tool to collaborate with teammates and communicate with external stakeholders. Unlimited workspaces means you can keep work separated by issue area, teams or clients. Within each workspace, you can annotate bills, share notes, upload files, and comment back and forth with teammates.

    With Plural’s reporting features, you can also export key bill data or share curated bill lists with anyone, whether or not they have a Plural account.

    Personalized Customer Support 

    At Plural, we’re an extension of your team. Plural provides personalized, one-to-one customer support. Your dedicated Customer Success Manager is available via phone, chat or email. Your team will receive personalized onboarding and follow-up training as needed. Plus, with a Premium plan, you can request custom reports and policy guidance from our knowledgeable team of policy experts. 

    Accessible Plans and Pricing

    On a tight budget? Nervous about asking your boss to invest in an expensive tool that’s ultimately not helpful? Plural’s pricing structure accommodates teams of all sizes, without compromising on features.

    Addressing Specific Challenges

    During career transitions, public policy professionals often face specific challenges. Here are some strategies to address common challenges:

    Increased Responsibilities

    As you take on more responsibilities, prioritize your tasks and delegate when possible. Look into new tools or utilize existing ones to streamline your workflow. Rely on your mentors and leaders for tips and support. Effective time management and delegation are key to handling a heavier workload.

    Increased Jurisdictional or Subject Matter Scope

    When expanding your jurisdictional or subject matter scope, invest time in learning about new areas. Use Plural’s Explorer tool to get a comprehensive view of legislators and committees. Connect with practitioners in the field to get a deeper, real-world sense of the work. Attend relevant training sessions, read extensively, and seek advice from experts.

    Working in Different Jurisdictions

    Understand the unique political, cultural, and legal contexts of different jurisdictions. Again, connect with practitioners and constituents in the field to get a deeper, real-world sense of the work. Adapt your strategies to fit local conditions and build relationships with local stakeholders.

    Managing a Team

    Finally, transitioning to a managerial role requires new skills. Focus on developing leadership skills, such as communication, conflict resolution, and team-building. Rely on your mentors and leaders for tips and support. Regularly seek feedback from your team to improve your management approach.

    Navigating career transitions in public policy can be challenging, but with the right strategies and tools, you can successfully manage the journey.

    By effectively managing up, developing your personal brand, adapting to changes, and selecting the right tools, you can position yourself for continued growth and success in your public policy career.

    Get Started With Plural

    Plural helps policy professionals get and stay ahead in the public policy landscape. With Plural, you’ll:

    • Access superior public policy data 
    • Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
    • Streamline your day with seamless organization features
    • Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
    • Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

    Interested in getting started? Book a demo today!

    book a demo

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  • What’s New in Plural

    What’s New in Plural

    Plural offers a robust suite of tools, including premium legislative tracking tools with AI-powered insights. These tools are designed not just to inform but to transform how you engage with federal and state legislation. We are continually innovating, providing the best legislative tools on the market. A few exciting features have launched that our users are really excited about.

    AI-Powered Version-to-Version Change Summaries

    In addition to AI-generated bill summaries, you can now also see AI-generated summaries of the differences between two versions of a bill.

    This new feature provides a quick way to get a sense of what the major updates or changes have been to a bill since it was first introduced.

    Search for AI-Detected Bill Topics 

    Currently, when you enter a search term into Plural, Plural searches for that exact word or phrase in the title and text of the bill. But there may be bills that are related to a particular topic that do not contain that topic’s exact word or phrase. With Plural’s new AI-detected bill topics, you can now search for bills by topic in addition to or instead of searching an exact word or phrase.

    Share a Bill Page

    Not only can you search bills for free in Plural, you can now easily share a bill page via email, LinkedIn, Facebook or X with as many people as you’d like.

    Access Committee Staff Information

    In addition to viewing the names and contact information for legislators’ staff, you can now also find names and contact information for committee staff.  Plural users can access committee staff information on any committee page.

    Access Federal Vote Data

    In addition to vote data for state legislation and legislators, you can now also find vote data for federal legislation and legislators. Plural users can access federal or state vote data in the Activity tab of any bill page or on any legislator’s profile page.

    Learn More About Plural‘s Legislative Tracking Tools

    Schedule a no-pressure walk-through of Plural to see how easy it is to use. Many of our users find Plural much easier to use than the clunky spreadsheets and outdated legacy tools they’re currently using to manage their public policy work.

    book a demo

    If you’d rather explore on your own, create a free account today to see how Plural can save you time and make your workflow more efficient.

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  • The Climate and 2024 Elections: How is the Environment Impacting Elections?

    The Climate and 2024 Elections: How is the Environment Impacting Elections?

    The two major party candidates in the 2024 presidential election hold vastly different views on climate change and what should be done about it.

    President Joe Biden has authorized unprecedented federal funds and enacted a flurry of rules to fight climate change. Vice President Kamala Harris, the new Democratic nominee, is committed to climate change as a key issue and hopes to continue Biden’s momentum on the issue. Meanwhile, if elected, former President Donald Trump aims to undo as much of it as he can. Trump has promised to get rid of what he sees as wasteful spending and burdensome regulations.

    For many American voters, climate is a key issue that brings them out to the polls. When it comes to climate and 2024 elections much could depend on the turnout of these voters. What will they be considering? In this blog, we share a rundown of the current state of the climate crisis, as well as recent major climate actions in the United States. Finally, we share how this topic might affect November’s presidential election.

    The Current Climate Crisis

    The Earth is facing a climate crisis that not only threatens its future but is causing impacts right now.

    Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that trap the sun’s heat close to the Earth’s surface and warm it. This is a natural process, but the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased dramatically in the past century. Increased greenhouse gases within our atmosphere have caused long-term global warming.

    Scientific consensus is that human activity is the main cause of this accelerated warming. We burn fossil fuels, like coal and gasoline, which increases the amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Plants can remove carbon dioxide from the air, but deforestation has reduced the number of trees.

    Impacts of Climate Change

    The effects of climate change include more than warmer temperatures. Scientists have noted an increase in extreme weather events, like severe storms, droughts, flooding, wildfires, and heat waves, that is likely to continue. Small but significant changes in air temperature, sea and ocean temperatures, and other changes in weather patterns have contributed to this trend.

    Changes in climate also threaten agriculture and food production. Some regions will no longer be able to grow certain crops, and invasive or nuisance species may thrive in areas that once couldn’t sustain them.

    Finally, the planet’s oceans are not only warming, they are absorbing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process acidifies the water and endangers marine life. Further, melting ice sheets and glaciers are endangering Arctic ecosystems. They are also causing global sea levels to rise, which will impact coastal communities and infrastructure.

    The Paris Agreement

    It is possible to avoid the worst of these impacts with swift action. In 2015, representatives from nearly every country in the world met in Paris to negotiate a climate change treaty. The resulting “Paris Agreement” aims to limit global temperature rise to 2° C/3.6° F above pre-industrial levels. Its ideal goal is to keep global warming under 1.5° C/2.7° F, a “tipping point” that scientists say would cause irreversible impacts. Countries around the world must dramatically lower emissions by 2030 to reach either benchmark.

    Recent Actions on Climate Change

    The Biden administration has taken many legislative and executive actions to tackle climate change in the past four years. President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021 after former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2017.

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, was the first major climate legislation passed during the Biden administration. A bipartisan deal, it included $105 billion for public transit, along with funding for electric vehicles, charging stations, cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure, and renewable energy.

    The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, is the largest single piece of U.S. legislation addressing climate change to date. It included about $370 billion in projected spending on climate change and energy security. Experts estimate that the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43-48% from 2005 levels by 2035. While a significant, this reduction doesn’t meet America’s Paris Agreement pledge of a 50-52% reduction by 2030.

    President Biden also has finalized a large collection of new environmental rules and regulations, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the most impactful rules will require coal plants and new natural gas power plants to cut or capture 90% of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.

    In spite of these actions, President Biden hasn’t been as firm on fossil fuel reduction as some climate activists want. In 2023, in exchange for a debt ceiling deal, he approved the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia, a project that advocacy groups have criticized for its environmental impact. 

    Notable State Actions

    Individual states are busy taking action on climate change as well. Most have used federal climate funding to create climate action plans submitted to the EPA. This funding allows states to access grants for emissions reduction, clean energy, and other climate projects outlined in their plans.

    California set groundbreaking vehicle emissions standards with its Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which requires all vehicle sales to be zero-emissions by 2035. A total of 13 states have adopted these standards, but some made changes. Colorado, New Mexico, and Delaware set a different goal of 82% zero-emission car sales by 2032.

    In May of 2024, Vermont became the first state to pass a Climate Superfund Bill. The new law requires fossil fuel companies to pay a share of costs associated with climate change. New York followed quickly with its own Climate Change Superfund Act in June. Lawmakers in California, Maryland, and Massachusetts have introduced similar bills.

    Will Climate Change Be a Key Issue in the 2024 Elections?

    When it comes to climate and 2024 elections, voters may not weigh this issue as high as others. Most Americans are concerned about climate change, yet they tend to prioritize other issues like the economy or immigration. Those who feel strongest about climate change tend to support government action to address it. This means turnout among pro-climate voters could be key.

    Most Americans view climate change as a major threat, but only 37% say it should be a “top priority” for the President and Congress. These views differ significantly based on party affiliation. Democrats are far more likely to be concerned about climate change and support climate action than Republicans.

    The environment is unlikely to be a top issue of the 2024 presidential election, overshadowed by others seen as more urgent or immediately relevant to voters. It could tip the scales in a close race, though. It also could motivate pro-climate-action voters. A recent poll found virtually no respondents who said climate change was very important to them and would also oppose action. If those who care the most about climate turn out to vote, they are more likely to favor Democratic incumbent President Biden and his plans for the environment.

    But even if the climate does not change the course of the presidential election, its outcome may have a large impact on the climate.

    Former President Trump has called climate change a “hoax” and tends to dismiss the issue. If re-elected, he promises to expand fossil fuel production, remove Biden’s environmental regulations, and pull out of the Paris Agreement once again. He also hopes to reduce energy prices and support domestic energy sources, including both fossil fuels and low-emission nuclear power. The fossil fuel industry is still a large part of the U.S. economy. Voters who rely on it for employment will be concerned about any proposals that could threaten their jobs.

    Get Started With Plural

    As Election Day nears, climate and other key policy issues will be the subject of debate and consideration among many voters. At Plural, we’re committed to keeping both professional policy teams and everyday constituents informed and engaged. With Plural, you’ll:

    • Access superior public policy data 
    • Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
    • Streamline your day with seamless organization features
    • Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
    • Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

    Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

    get started

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  • VIDEO | Plural: Your Ultimate Tool for Legislative Tracking and Management

    VIDEO | Plural: Your Ultimate Tool for Legislative Tracking and Management

    Welcome to Plural, your ultimate tool for legislative tracking and management. Today, let’s dive into a feature designed just for you – the Personal Organization. With Plural, every user has their own Personal Organization. This private space allows you to track and tag bills and save searches, all visible only to you. It’s the perfect solution to organize your legislative tracking.

    Plural’s Personal Organization feature is incredibly useful for policy professionals who need a personalized, confidential space to manage their legislative activities, or a place to get organized before sharing their work with their team or stakeholders.

    Get Started With Plural

    Plural helps you get and stay ahead in the public policy landscape. With Plural, you’ll:

    • Access superior public policy data 
    • Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
    • Streamline your day with seamless organization features
    • Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
    • Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place
    get started

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