New ALEC Model Policies from the 52nd Annual Meeting
In total, 44 model policies were approved at the Annual Meeting, adding to our library of more than 1,000 trusted policy solutions.
Last month, ALEC wrapped up its 52nd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana—an event that brought together over 1,600 attendees, including close to 500 state lawmakers from nearly all 50 states.
Attendees heard from speakers such as U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate and Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee Dr. Arthur Laffer, economist Stephen Moore, and Indiana Governor Mike Braun. They also had the opportunity to attend educational workshops and roundtables on important issues across the states, including ESG through lawfare, cutting government spending in state budgets, addressing drug pricing impacts, expanding education freedom, boosting energy production, and shaping tech policy for free speech and innovation.
The energy was high and the momentum was undeniable, driving a truly successful meeting marked by robust policy discussions, thoughtful collaboration, and the adoption of impactful model policies across the ALEC task forces.
“The ALEC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis truly showcased the power of state-led policy innovation,” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson. “With these new model policies, expanded collaboration and continued debate on the nation’s most pressing issues, ALEC members reaffirmed their role as champions of principled, results-driven state policy.”
In total, 44 model policies were approved at the Annual Meeting, adding to our library of more than 1,000 trusted policy solutions. Recently finalized by the ALEC Board of Directors, these model policies are listed and summarized below. The slate includes 35 brand new ALEC model policies, seven renewals, and two amendments to existing model policies.
American City County Exchange (ACCE)
Statement of Principles on Housing – Also approved by the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development
This model outlines principles on homeownership and the rights of those owners to make certain determinations on their property. It also seeks to outline areas where local government should take a role in guiding development while seeking to balance the interests of the community.
Statement of Principles on the Gig Economy – Also approved by the Task Force on Communications and Technology
In an ever-evolving economy, those seeking to develop and contribute to the goods and services consumers need and demand should be respected as independent businesspeople. Government should be supportive of those seeking to contribute and not used as an impediment to deny or discourage these enterprises.
FAIR Zoning Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development
This model policy is designed to promote the production of housing by prohibiting or limiting zoning protests to expanded uses of private property. Because there is no public interest in eliminating or restricting property rights, the policy prohibits challenges to rezoning approvals, unless the challenge is brought in a court of law by a property owner who can demonstrate a concrete and particularized harm. The party challenging a zoning change has the burden of proof, and the court must review the evidence within 60 days. The policy also provides an alternative to a zoning protest ban, which would require a majority vote of the governing body to affirm a zoning change under protest in certain circumstances.
Private Property Restoration Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development
The Private Property Restoration Act gives private property owners First Amendment-level legal protections from onerous local government zoning and land use regulations. It requires government infringements on property use to be met with the highest standard of judicial review in the courts, just like other fundamental rights such as free speech.
Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development
This model policy is designed to promote the production of housing by banning unconstitutional housing exactions—fees, conditions, allocations, or other concessions intended to prevent housing from being freely bought and sold. By banning housing exactions, the policy encourages new residential development, which drives down housing costs through increased supply. Likewise, it encourages new commercial development, which promotes housing affordability by spurring economic growth. The policy does not prevent private parties from entering into restrictive covenants, unless it is required by a government entity.
State Permit Transparency and Efficiency Act
The State Permit Transparency and Efficiency Act creates a centralized Permit Transparency Program within the Department of Administration. It mandates a one-time audit of every permit and launches a public online portal where the public can track applications in real time. Agencies must streamline or eliminate low-volume or duplicative approvals and publish annual efficiency reports under the oversight of an interagency coordination committee.
Transactional Gold and Silver Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
The model policy recognizes gold and silver as legal tender for private transactions and, when accepted, for paying state and local taxes or fees. It authorizes the creation of a secure bullion depository and a specie-backed electronic payment system to support their use. It exempts gold and silver transactions from state sales, use, and income taxes.
Private Property Restoration Act – Also approved by the American City County Exchange (ACCE)
The Private Property Restoration Act gives private property owners First Amendment-level legal protections from onerous local government zoning and land use regulations. It requires government infringements on property use to be met with the highest standard of judicial review in the courts, just like other fundamental rights such as free speech.
FAIR Zoning Act – Also approved by the American City County Exchange (ACCE)
This model policy is designed to promote the production of housing by prohibiting or limiting zoning protests to expanded uses of private property. Because there is no public interest in eliminating or restricting property rights, the policy prohibits challenges to rezoning approvals, unless the challenge is brought in a court of law by a property owner who can demonstrate a concrete and particularized harm. The party challenging a zoning change has the burden of proof, and the court must review the evidence within 60 days. The policy also provides an alternative to a zoning protest ban, which would require a majority vote of the governing body to affirm a zoning change under protest in certain circumstances.
Statement of Principles on Housing – Also approved by the American City County Exchange (ACCE)
This model outlines principles on homeownership and the rights of those owners to make certain determinations on their property. It also seeks to outline areas where local government should take a role in guiding development while seeking to balance the interests of the community.
Task Force on Communications and Technology
The Artificial Intelligence Tax Non-Discrimination Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
Artificial intelligence and automated decision technologies are significant drivers of innovation and growth throughout the American economy. However, discriminatory taxes on AI products and services levied by federal, state, and local governments would distort the market, stifle innovation, and undermine American competitiveness. Tax policy must remain neutral toward the mode of delivery or technological implementation of services. This Act prohibits discriminatory tax measures unfairly targeting artificial intelligence, algorithms, and automated decision systems, including taxes on computing power, a remote-only access sales tax, differential treatment of AI subscriptions, differential treatment of AI-derived income, and any other discriminatory tax as defined. The Act clarifies that AI services shall not be treated as telecommunications services for the purposes of taxation unless uniformly applied to all software or digital applications providing similar functionalities. Finally, this Act expresses the sense of the State that Congress should act to prohibit the imposition of discriminatory federal taxes on AI systems, algorithms, and automated decision-making technologies, and that municipal, county, and other forms of local government shall not enact similar discriminatory taxes of their own.
Technology‑Neutral Anti‑Discrimination Clarification Act
This act reaffirms that discrimination based on protected characteristics is unlawful whether it occurs in housing, employment, public accommodations, education, credit, or any other context covered by state civil‑rights statutes. Advances in software, automation, algorithmic decision‑making, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies do not create a lawful avenue to engage in conduct that existing law already prohibits. Clarifying that discriminatory conduct remains unlawful regardless of the tools used will remove any doubt that digital implementation does not confer legal immunity, keep state law neutral toward future technologies, and avoid imposing vicarious liability on technology developers who neither intend nor knowingly facilitate discriminatory conduct.
This Act finds that the rights to acquire, process, and protect property under the State Constitution also embody the notion of a fundamental right to own and make use of technological tools, including computational resources. Any government restrictions on the lawful use of computational resources—including but not limited to hardware, software, algorithms, machine learning, cryptography, platforms, services, and quantum applications—must be narrowly tailored and demonstrably necessary to fulfil a compelling government interest.
State Constitutional Amendment: Jury – Determined Compensation for Property Devaluations Caused by Regulatory Takings – Also approved by the Task Force on Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations
This resolution reaffirms that the U.S. Constitution—and America’s Founders unequivocally recognize patents and copyrights as essential forms of property, granting inventors and authors exclusive rights to benefit from their creations. By citing James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Supreme Court precedents such as James v. Campbell and Horne v. Department of Agriculture, the resolution underscores the requirement that any governmental mandate to lower prices without just compensation constitutes an unconstitutional taking. Accordingly, this model policy urges all affected parties to take legal action to enforce the “takings” clauses of the US Constitution and encourages state legislatures and citizens’ initiative campaigns to propose a state property rights amendment that reinforces the US Constitution’s “takings” clauses by mandating jury determined compensation for federal and state actions or inactions devaluing intellectual and real private property.
Statement of Principles on the Gig Economy – Also approved by the American City County Exchange (ACCE)
In an ever-evolving economy, those seeking to develop and contribute to the goods and services consumers need and demand should be respected as independent businesspeople. Government should be supportive of those seeking to contribute and not used as an impediment to deny or discourage these enterprises.
Task Force on Education and Workforce Development
The Healthcare Opportunity Pathway in Education (HOPE) Program – Also approved by the Task Force on Health and Human Services’
The Healthcare Opportunity Pathway in Education (HOPE) Program aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals by providing high school students with increased opportunities for healthcare career pathways through on-site and virtual career training programs.
In honor of America’s Semiquincentennial, this resolution encourages citizens, schools, and other government institutions to reflect on American history, celebrate America’s success and achievements, and encourage civic participation amongst younger generations.
This model policy requires each school district in a state to have a policy that allows for religious released time of at least one hour per week (up to a maximum of five hours per week). This ensures that public school students are able to obtain religious instruction without fear of consequence.
High-Dosage Tutoring Model Policy
The High-Dosage Tutoring Model Policy aims to expand academic support for low-performing students in grades K-8. The policy mandates high-dosage tutoring, defined as at least 30 sessions of 30 minutes each over ten weeks, using high-quality instructional materials and tutors. Local education agencies must develop and submit plans for expanded academic support to the state Department of Education for review and approval.
Amendments to the Science of Reading Act – Amendments to exiting model policy
The “science of reading” is an evidence-based approach to reading instruction that focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It is an alternative to other historical methods of reading instruction that research demonstrates as less effective. The Science of Reading Act requires this method of reading instruction to be taught and also creates a literacy endorsement for current and prospective teachers.
Task Force on Energy, Environment and Agriculture
There are anti-competitive policies in some states that constrain the ability to modernize and expand energy transmission assets. These policies have hindered infrastructure growth and increased costs for ratepayers due to the non-competitive nature of the transmission projects. Additionally, some of the most popular anti-competitive laws discriminate against out-of-state businesses, which may violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Market-led consumer demand for better products and services has caused the demand for power in America to grow significantly for the first time in over a decade. To maintain a viable and growing American economy and to ensure a secure and reliable power supply, we must modernize and expand the transmission capacity of our utility infrastructure. We must do so in a way that is responsive to the needs and demands of future economic growth and those of the citizens of the respective states. Therefore, consistent with the sound policy ideas, the following principles outline priorities and policy considerations for creating an interstate compact to allow for a competitive transmission market to flourish in the best interest of the electric ratepayer and the marketplace broadly.
Resolution in Support of Veterinary Telehealth Modernization Principles – Also approved by the Task Force on Health and Human Services’
Veterinarians should be allowed to practice to the full extent of their professional training through telehealth. Veterinary telehealth services ought to be available to clients who want to access veterinary care for their animals if the veterinarian is in another state, provided the veterinarian is fully licensed and trained. Laws and regulations should permit veterinary telehealth innovations such as real-time video telemedicine consultations. Currently, certain laws and regulations prevent veterinarians from helping their patients through telehealth. No laws or regulations should prohibit the use of telehealth technology to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship or require veterinarians to conduct physical examinations of animals prior to the provision of veterinary services through telehealth. Laws and regulations should not subdivide the provision of telehealth services into regulatory classifications (such as tele-triage, tele-advice, tele-consultation, etc.) and should avoid dictating other overly prescriptive practices that may grow obsolete quickly. The enactment and/or repeal of laws and regulations should be consistent with these principles.
Task Force on Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations
Resolution on the Importance of Strengthening the United States’ Medical Supply Chains with Trusted Trading Partners – Also approved by the Task Force on Health and Human Services’
This resolution recognizes the importance of the United States maintaining and promoting open trade in medical goods with trusted and reliable trading partners, such as Australia, the European Union, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. While over-reliance on nations like China for essential medicines creates public health and national security vulnerabilities for the United States, trade with trusted and reliable trading partners complements U.S. production, enhances supply chain resilience, and enables Americans to access a wider range of medical treatments, including life-saving medical treatments. This resolution calls on the President of the United States to preserve and promote open trade in medicines and ingredients with trusted trading partners, while prioritizing efforts to reduce imports of essential medicines from unreliable countries.
State Constitutional Amendment: Jury – Determined Compensation for Property Devaluations Caused by Regulatory Takings – Also approved by the Task Force on Communications and Technology
This resolution reaffirms that the U.S. Constitution—and America’s Founders unequivocally recognize patents and copyrights as essential forms of property, granting inventors and authors exclusive rights to benefit from their creations. By citing James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Supreme Court precedents such as James v. Campbell and Horne v. Department of Agriculture, the resolution underscores the requirement that any governmental mandate to lower prices without just compensation constitutes an unconstitutional taking. Accordingly, this model policy urges all affected parties to take legal action to enforce the “takings” clauses of the US Constitution and encourages state legislatures and citizens’ initiative campaigns to propose a state property rights amendment that reinforces the US Constitution’s “takings” clauses by mandating jury determined compensation for federal and state actions or inactions devaluing intellectual and real private property.
Resolution to Strengthen US-Taiwan Economic Cooperation
Bilateral collaboration to strengthen the economic bonds between the United States and Taiwan has accelerated over the last few years with cooperation on anticorruption, good regulatory practices, services, domestic regulation, customs administration, trade facilitation, and small and medium-sized enterprises. It is time to capitalize on this success and deepen the already significant international commercial partnership between our two democracies. This resolution is meant to support these efforts.
State Constitutional Amendment to Oppose New State Taxes, Spending, and Debt Without Voter Approval – Also approved by the Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
The total state and local government debt in the U.S. was estimated to be over $5 trillion in 2022. The 7th edition of the ALEC Unaccountable and Unaffordable reported that unfunded public pension liabilities across the 50 states total up to nearly $7 trillion nationwide. The Colorado constitution’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), approved in 1992, is, according to ALEC: “…the gold standard of “Tax and Expenditure Limitations,” a type of policy that imposes limits on the amount of money government can tax and spend. TABOR limits the growth of state revenue to a rate of population growth plus inflation. For example, in 2023 the population growth in Colorado to 0.7% and inflation was 3.5%, leading to a total allowable growth rate of 4.2%. That growth rate is applied to the previous year’s limit to calculate the new limit. Any money collected over the limit must be returned to taxpayers. This mechanism ensures that the growth of government does not exceed the growth of the economy.” https://alec.org/article/thank-you-tabor-colorado-owes-1-7-billion-to-taxpayers: Oct.16, 2024)) Billions of dollars have been returned to Colorado taxpayers over the years since TABOR began. Given the alarming collective state and local debt levels – and the consequential current and future tax burden imposed on taxpayers in each state, the citizenry of each state, respectively, need a long-term assurance that spending and taxes can and will be controlled. This can only be assured with a state constitutional amendment – a fiscal responsibility box – which sets specific standards and measurable criteria to govern spending and taxes, which must be approved by the citizens of the state.
Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act
This model act recognizes Judea and Samaria, the historical names of the land controlled by Israel that is located south and north of Jerusalem, respectively, and prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” in official government materials.
Resolution Recognizing The Seriousness Of The National Debt And Its Threat To National Security– Also approved by the Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
The national debt represents one of the greatest public policy challenges in the United States. It continues to reach historic levels, as annual deficits grow and interest payments crowd out other priorities. The ability of the United States to continue spending at current levels relies on international debt markets, with a large share of national debt held abroad, including in China. Recognizing these concerns, this resolution acknowledges the debt as a threat to national security and urges Congress to commit to establishing an effective regular order for budgeting.
Task Force on Health and Human Services
340B Transparency and Accountability Act
This model act requires participants in the 340B program to report specified data annually to the State Department of Health and the Department of Health to report aggregated data to the legislative oversight committee.
Resolution in Support of Veterinary Telehealth Modernization Principles – Also approved by the Task Force on Energy, Environment and Agriculture
Veterinarians should be allowed to practice to the full extent of their professional training through telehealth. Veterinary telehealth services ought to be available to clients who want to access veterinary care for their animals if the veterinarian is in another state, provided the veterinarian is fully licensed and trained. Laws and regulations should permit veterinary telehealth innovations such as real-time video telemedicine consultations. Currently, certain laws and regulations prevent veterinarians from helping their patients through telehealth. No laws or regulations should prohibit the use of telehealth technology to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship or require veterinarians to conduct physical examinations of animals prior to the provision of veterinary services through telehealth. Laws and regulations should not subdivide the provision of telehealth services into regulatory classifications (such as tele-triage, tele-advice, tele-consultation, etc.) and should avoid dictating other overly prescriptive practices that may grow obsolete quickly. The enactment and/or repeal of laws and regulations should be consistent with these principles.
Relating to certain health care entity or system transaction fees and payment claims, providing administrative and civil penalties.
Resolution on the Importance of Strengthening the United States’ Medical Supply Chains with Trusted Trading Partners – Also approved by the Task Force on Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations
This resolution recognizes the importance of the United States maintaining and promoting open trade in medical goods with trusted and reliable trading partners, such as Australia, the European Union, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. While over-reliance on nations like China for essential medicines creates public health and national security vulnerabilities for the United States, trade with trusted and reliable trading partners complements U.S. production, enhances supply chain resilience, and enables Americans to access a wider range of medical treatments, including life-saving medical treatments. This resolution calls on the President of the United States to preserve and promote open trade in medicines and ingredients with trusted trading partners, while prioritizing efforts to reduce imports of essential medicines from unreliable countries.
The Healthcare Opportunity Pathway in Education (HOPE) Program – Also approved by the Task Force on Education and Workforce Development
The Healthcare Opportunity Pathway in Education (HOPE) Program aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals by providing high school students with increased opportunities for healthcare career pathways through on-site and virtual career training programs.
Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
In light of the fact that the Health Care Sharing Ministries are relatively unknown, state, as well as federal tax codes, do not expressly address the status of such arrangements. As a result, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act allows HCSM members to take advantage of some of the same tax benefits allowed for health insurance premiums and reimbursements, health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts, or flexible spending accounts.
Task Force on Judiciary
The Researcher Data Access Provision ensures that criminal justice agencies share essential criminal incident data and records with researchers. This model policy is designed to improve coordination between state agencies and increase the transparency of state law enforcement and justice systems.
The Phantom Damages Elimination Act – Renewal
The Phantom Damages Elimination Act seeks to resolve dishonest discovery practices that influence compensatory damages calculations. When substantiating their demanded damages in a litigation, plaintiffs, during discovery, may submit bills for various medical expenses incurred after their injury. Many of these initial bills do not reflect the amounts actually paid by a plaintiff, but instead a much larger amount of unpaid money, creating an inflated damages calculation and potential judgment. These are known as “Phantom Damages.” The Phantom Damages Elimination Act ensures that only the costs actually paid by a plaintiff are admissible during discovery practices, ensuring damages are calculated fairly.
Truth in Damages Act – Renewal
The model Truth in Damages Act allows the admission into evidence of proof of collateral source payments made or likely to be made as compensation for the same damages sought in the suit. The Act requires that such payments are to be considered in determining any award and in reviewing awards for excessiveness.
Actual Harms Act – Renewal
Public policy, legal precedent, and common-sense judgment support the view that the civil justice system should be reserved for individuals who have experienced real injuries and actual losses. Stretching the civil justice system beyond that perimeter to permit awards of damages to persons who have no physical injury, no objectively verifiable emotional harm, and no actual economic loss will dissipate assets and court resources needed for persons suffering real injuries, augment the potential for fraudulent actions, and impose wasteful litigation costs. The purpose of this model policy is to end or significantly reduce “no-injury” litigation to reserve state civil justice systems for individuals who have experienced real injuries and actual losses.
Resolution on Criminal Justice Fines and Fees – Renewal
This Resolution supports ensuring that fines and fees imposed by the criminal justice system are reasonable, transparent, and proportionate, and not in conflict with the goals of improving public safety, reducing recidivism, ensuring victims receive restitution, and enabling offenders and ex-offenders to meet obligations to their families, especially children.
Task Force on Process and Procedures
Statement of Principles on Process and Procedures
The rules by which the government operates are the foundation of a republic. To ensure a free citizenry, our forefathers recognized the wisdom of clear instructions for the running of government. Rules ensure that policies are made and executed for the betterment of the people; and can only be made through the consent of the governed. To safeguard liberty, there must be rules of engagement within the government, between different governments, and between the government and the people.
Statement of Principles on Elections
The strength of the American republic begins with fair and secure elections that inspire public confidence. The goal of election policy is to deliver a well-run process open to all voters, protected by safeguards that ensure that only lawful ballots are counted and administered according to the law. The Constitution gives the primary responsibility for regulating elections to the states, a decentralized approach that incentivizes innovation and the development of robust election policies. When states adopt laws that strengthen the integrity of elections, the public is more likely to participate, helping to ensure a representative government that is accountable to the citizens.
Valid Voter Identification Act
This act mandates that a valid photo identification be presented to vote and stipulates what constitutes a valid identification.
This act mandates a receipt deadline for mail in ballot applications and ballots.
Resolution on Adding the Citizenship Question to the Census
This model resolution calls on Congress to ask participants in the United States Census about their citizenship status.
Election Crime Prosecution Act
This Act outlines the duties and responsibilities of the office of the Secretary of State in collecting information pertinent to potential cases of election fraud; instructs the Attorney General to appoint an independent prosecutor tasked with reviewing cases of election fraud, working with law enforcement, prosecute cases of election fraud, and publishing a public report of findings; outlines the duties of the county board of elections in cooperating with all state election authorities; and outlines the duties of election integrity officers in working with all parties to secure elections.
Protecting Election Administration from Private Funding and Influence Act
This Act prohibits the private financing of election administration; prohibits election officials from joining any membership programs or purchasing services from any entities that have privately financed election administration; and outlines conditions necessary to ensure that election administration is free from the influence of third parties.
One Citizen, One Vote Act – Amendment to exiting model policy
Renaming the ALEC Safeguard American Votes and Elections Act (SAVE Act) to the One Person, One Vote Act. The model policy protects American votes by prohibiting ranked-choice voting and similar systems in state or local elections.
Task Force on Tax and Fiscal Policy
Modernizing Private Sector Defined Contribution Plans Act
This model policy provides a policy-driven framework for state and local government to create or improve defined contribution retirement systems for public employees.
Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Health and Human Services’
In light of the fact that the Health Care Sharing Ministries are relatively unknown, state, as well as federal tax codes, do not expressly address the status of such arrangements. As a result, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act allows HCSM members to take advantage of some of the same tax benefits allowed for health insurance premiums and reimbursements, health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts, or flexible spending accounts.
Resolution Recognizing The Seriousness Of The National Debt And Its Threat To National Security– Also approved by the Task Force on Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations
The national debt represents one of the greatest public policy challenges in the United States. It continues to reach historic levels, as annual deficits grow and interest payments crowd out other priorities. The ability of the United States to continue spending at current levels relies on international debt markets, with a large share of national debt held abroad, including in China. Recognizing these concerns, this resolution acknowledges the debt as a threat to national security and urges Congress to commit to establishing an effective regular order for budgeting.
State Constitutional Amendment to Oppose New State Taxes, Spending, and Debt Without Voter Approval – Also approved by the Task Force on Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations
The total state and local government debt in the U.S. was estimated to be over $5 trillion in 2022. The 7th edition of the ALEC Unaccountable and Unaffordable reported that unfunded public pension liabilities across the 50 states total up to nearly $7 trillion nationwide. The Colorado constitution’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), approved in 1992, is, according to ALEC: “…the gold standard of “Tax and Expenditure Limitations,” a type of policy that imposes limits on the amount of money government can tax and spend. TABOR limits the growth of state revenue to a rate of population growth plus inflation. For example, in 2023 the population growth in Colorado to 0.7% and inflation was 3.5%, leading to a total allowable growth rate of 4.2%. That growth rate is applied to the previous year’s limit to calculate the new limit. Any money collected over the limit must be returned to taxpayers. This mechanism ensures that the growth of government does not exceed the growth of the economy.” https://alec.org/article/thank-you-tabor-colorado-owes-1-7-billion-to-taxpayers: Oct.16, 2024)) Billions of dollars have been returned to Colorado taxpayers over the years since TABOR began. Given the alarming collective state and local debt levels – and the consequential current and future tax burden imposed on taxpayers in each state, the citizenry of each state, respectively, need a long-term assurance that spending and taxes can and will be controlled. This can only be assured with a state constitutional amendment – a fiscal responsibility box – which sets specific standards and measurable criteria to govern spending and taxes, which must be approved by the citizens of the state.
Transactional Gold and Silver Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development
The model policy recognizes gold and silver as legal tender for private transactions and, when accepted, for paying state and local taxes or fees. It authorizes the creation of a secure bullion depository and a specie-backed electronic payment system to support their use. It exempts gold and silver transactions from state sales, use, and income taxes.
The Artificial Intelligence Tax Non-Discrimination Act – Also approved by the Task Force on Communications and Technology
Artificial intelligence and automated decision technologies are significant drivers of innovation and growth throughout the American economy. However, discriminatory taxes on AI products and services levied by federal, state, and local governments would distort the market, stifle innovation, and undermine American competitiveness. Tax policy must remain neutral toward the mode of delivery or technological implementation of services. This Act prohibits discriminatory tax measures unfairly targeting artificial intelligence, algorithms, and automated decision systems, including taxes on computing power, a remote-only access sales tax, differential treatment of AI subscriptions, differential treatment of AI-derived income, and any other discriminatory tax as defined. The Act clarifies that AI services shall not be treated as telecommunications services for the purposes of taxation unless uniformly applied to all software or digital applications providing similar functionalities. Finally, this Act expresses the sense of the State that Congress should act to prohibit the imposition of discriminatory federal taxes on AI systems, algorithms, and automated decision-making technologies, and that municipal, county, and other forms of local government shall not enact similar discriminatory taxes of their own.
Balanced Budget Certification Act – Renewal
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring {Appropriate Statewide Elected Official Not Involved in Writing or Approving the State Budget} to estimate state revenues and certify that all spending proposed by the Legislature is funded with available revenue.
Spending Evaluation Act – Renewal
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring a rigorous evaluation of current and proposed state programs, agencies, and mandates.
Resolution in Opposition to Value Added Taxes – Renewal
This resolution opposes a European-style value-added tax (VAT) at the state and local level for any reason.
Task Force on Veterans and Military Affairs
Statement of Principles on Effective Veterans and Military Policy
Those who serve deserve the highest level of care, respect, and support during and after their service. This Statement of Principles identifies the characteristics of effective veterans and military affairs policy at the state and local level.