State legislatures were more important than ever in 2020—a year defined by the pandemic, a renewed push for racial justice, and an election that...

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** States Declared Racism a Public Health Crisis
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This year, legislators addressed systemic racism in their states with a new tool: declaring that racism is a public health crisis ([link removed]) . A growing number of states have passed or considered legislation, established task forces, or enacted executive orders. By doing so, states like Michigan ([link removed]) , Nevada ([link removed]) , Ohio ([link removed]) , and Colorado ([link removed]) can give resources, attention, and legislative guidance to address the health disparities caused by systemic racism. While some of the declarations come with few, if any, definitive action
steps, states have the opportunity to use the momentum to create bold, proactive, anti-racist state policies. See SiX’s analysis of racial data transparency and disparities in COVID-19 treatment ([link removed]) .


** Legislators Responded to COVID
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The entire world turned upside down this year and had to adjust to daily life in order to stay safe and deal with the impacts of COVID-19. The pandemic shone light on glaring inequalities within our country, and the impacts hit BIPOC communities especially hard. State legislators played an integral role in addressing the health care gaps, housing protections, and the resulting economic downturn. Several databases ([link removed]) exist where you can see some of the incredible work ([link removed](COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020) legislators did to keep communities afloat—and check out SiX’s COVID-19 resources ([link removed]) for legislators.


** State Legislatures and the Fight Against Police Brutality
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In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police and the renewed public attention on the fight to end police brutality and systemic racism in our nation, state legislators passed or introduced reforms ([link removed]) to prohibit excessive force, ban chokeholds, increase reporting requirements and accountability measures, and end qualified immunity for officers. State legislatures must take bigger and bolder steps to end police brutality in 2021.


** Housing Policies Critical During Pandemic
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With millions of Americans struggling to pay housing costs each month, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis. Research suggests that about 31 percent of renters were unable to pay their rent on time in April, compared to 18 percent for the same time period in 2019. The threat of COVID-19 to housing stability is an issue of racial justice—Black and Brown families are disproportionately renters and employed in industries impacted by shutdowns and stay-at-home orders. A recent study shows ([link removed]) the incredible impact eviction moratoriums have on keeping people safe from COVID-19, and the deadly impact lifting those moratoriums had on communities. As the pandemic rages on, states must minimize COVID cases and deaths by maintaining eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. You can see how your state scores
([link removed]) and see SiX’s Housing Response to the Pandemic ([link removed]) analysis here.


** 2021 Will Bring More Representative State Legislatures
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After a tumultuous and highly anticipated election, the nation is preparing for a federal transfer of power to the Biden administration and state legislatures are preparing to inaugurate a new class of legislators in the coming months. See SiX’s analysis ([link removed]) to understand the 2021 landscape in the states. The pipeline of public leadership is starting to look more like America—the new class of legislators will include the country’s first openly nonbinary state legislator, numerous new transgender legislators, a number of first elected Muslim, Cambodian, Native Americans, and a record number of women ([link removed]) to serve in their states’ general assemblies. These historic wins occurred despite the significant structural challenges, like gerrymandering, that continue to undermine our democracy and state legislators.


** State Legislatures Prepare for a 2021 Session Unlike Any Other
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Between COVID and its related complications like vaccine distribution, continued challenges to remote governance, and support for public education, state legislators are in store for what’s likely to be a very difficult legislative session ([link removed]) . But the most immediate challenge facing all state legislatures next year will be swelling budget deficits due to the pandemic and the recession. At the same time, state legislators face an extreme risk across the progressive movement—that all hopes are laid at the feet of the new President without an acknowledgment that state legislatures have significant power to shape the political terrain for generations to come ([link removed]) . We’re grateful to all of our readers and state legislators who are fighting the (too often overlooked) good
fight!

See the latest from SiX's three programs: Agriculture and Food Systems, Democracy, and the Reproductive Rights.


** The Pandemic May Reform the U.S.'s Meat Processing Industry
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The meat processing industry is broken in the United States—only four large corporations control almost the entirety of the market. This is not good for workers, farmers, animals, or rural communities. The system is inequitable and also unsustainable, resulting in bottlenecks and loss of business for small- and medium-sized processors and farmers. The system faced even more strain due to the pandemic, and Congress is likely to pass legislation. While farmers await federal action, states have taken innovative approaches ([link removed]) to right the system—helping to feed communities and help keep small, rural businesses afloat.
2020: A Year that Tested Our Democracy

Between the pandemic and the blatant attacks on the validity of our elections ([link removed]) , our nation tested the bounds of our democracy—and in some ways, we may have come out stronger. States expanded access to voting in a variety of ways this year in response to the pandemic. Early voting, mail-in ballots, dropboxes, and corresponding policies allowed voters to keep their distance while still making their voices heard. Now election officials and voters alike are hopeful that states will make permanent ([link removed]) the policies intended to address voting during a pandemic. Moreover, it’s critical we recognize and appreciate ([link removed]) the work that local election officials and
workers did to maintain our access to fair and accurate elections.
A Year in Review for Reproductive Rights

Legislators made great strides in 2020 protecting and advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice, from passing comprehensive sex education to standing up for abortion as essential health care during this pandemic. See here ([link removed]) for more successes and predictions for 2021.

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The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a national resource and strategy center that supports state legislators who seek to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment. We do this by providing training, emphasizing leadership development, amplifying legislators’ voices, and forging strategic alliances between our legislative network and grassroots movements.

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