Revenews: Essential work in unsteady times
10 October 2025
Fall has arrived — the season of turning leaves and shorter days. This fall weather is beautiful, but you may feel unsettled by the weight of what’s ahead: our nation is in crisis, our communities are stretched thin, and it’s not always clear where hope fits in. Oh, and the work continues with the next state legislative session already on your mind.
Below are some of the highlights in state tax advocacy and policy, showing that bouncing back and looking forward are characteristics of your commitment to the communities you serve.
IN THE STATES….
SRA partners continue to demand accountability following the One Big Ugly Bill. Coalitions in Alabama, Connecticut, New York, Maine, Pennsylvania, and many other places are hosting rallies and protests, talking to neighbors, and speaking out at hearings about tax justice so that communities have what they need.
You have been meeting with state officials and working with coalition partners to keep vital programs funded and raise revenue to fund the future.
Revenue ballot campaigns in Colorado and Michigan are taking shape.
Massachusetts is moving steadily toward a Fair Share Amendment for big corporations in Massachusetts.
States are responding to the OBBBA with special sessions: Colorado, New Mexico, and Connecticut.
So many states are doing great work on social media—from how federal tax policy affects working people in Maine (shoutout to the Maine Center for Economic Policy!) to skits on progressive taxes and street interviews about the upside down tax code in Washington (kudos to Balance Our Tax Code)!
FOR THE STATES…
We know it can be hard to feel optimistic right now. But we also know that perseverance — the steady kind that doesn’t always make headlines — is how real change takes root.
Thank you for standing with us, for reading, showing up, and believing that our shared work still matters. This fall we’re also taking stock of what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can stay grounded in our mission even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
From us, your friendly State Revenue Alliance team:
You may have seen the national news about universal childcare in New Mexico, which is about to be a reality. Our leader, Amber Wallin, who was part of the effort, shares the broader story of this monumental victory in Governing Magazine (spoiler: it’s hard work that requires courage and new revenue!).
Take on different and daring digital and social media practices with SRA’s digital director, Maia Baker’s Supercharging Digital Spaces report.
New updates to the State Rankings Database with information on billionaires in your state from Americans for Tax Fairness, plus new national rankings from WalletHub and US News.
ICYMI: SRA/SiX TOOLKIT to support state responses to federal bill (we recommend bookmarking this as it is updated regularly).
Check out and share op-eds from a variety of perspectives on damage coming to states from the federal tax and spending bill, including: SRA, Food Research and Action Center, the Institute for Policy Studies, Good Jobs First, and NEA.
Invite your legislative allies to join SRA and SiX on November 14th for a training on the essentials of state tax policy, and how to effectively champion it.
We are starting to understand more about how the implementation of the OBBBA will affect the nation.
New research from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP):
A blog from the Center on Budget that documents mounting state revenue fallout in states.
New message guidance and research on so-called work requirements in the OBBBA from Winning Jobs Narrative.
Fair Share America will host Regional Strategy Sessions this fall to bring together state-based advocates, who are oriented toward both federal and state legislative work, to share and strategize about our next steps as we fight for tax justice. Contact hannah@fairshareamerica.org for more information.
ON THE NATIONAL SCENE…
A new report from Accountable US called A Big Beautiful Payday sheds light on how many members of Congress will personally benefit from the tax provisions in the federal tax and spending bill.
Congratulations to ITEP’s Amy Hanauer on the successful screening of Death and Taxes in Washington last month. If you haven’t seen the film, it may be coming to you soon.
DID YOU KNOW?
The September SRA meeting featuring Arizona’s ACE/LUCHA was a huge success. If you couldn’t make it or need a second viewing, email abby@staterevenuealliance.org to catch up.
Check it out:
Good Jobs First has additional information on the costs to our communities from data centers.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the movement for tax justice is global. Check out the language that advocates are using in France as they fight austerity again.
Former Governor Mitch Daniels (Republican, Indiana) wrote an interesting article in the Washington Post that explores why people move from state to state – and taxes aren’t it.
To send ideas for this newsletter, email jonathan@staterevenuealliance.org.