National Movement Media Roundup
24 June 2026
Many states have ended their legislative sessions, and while there’s more digging to do, we want to take a minute and round up some of the national attention that tax justice campaigns and legislation have won so far this year.
It’s clear that after the Federal “One Big Beautiful Bill,” protecting people by raising revenue, not the latest tax cuts, is leading the national political and economic coverage of state legislatures in 2026. Check out how these national outlets are explicitly reporting a multi-state trend rather than a story about a single state, including:
Stateline, Millionaire taxes gain steam as states face budget crunches
Stateline’s Kevin Hardy reports about a broad survey of the current state legislative landscape, noting proposals in at least a dozen states. The piece has been republished by hundreds of other outlets.
Washington State Senator Noel Frame, MassBudget’s Phineas Baxandall and SRA’s Executive Director Amber Wallin are quoted, with Wallin explaining how:
“Recent federal policy changes have only exacerbated the need for progressive state tax changes, said Amber Wallin, executive director of the State Revenue Alliance, which is lobbying for higher taxes for the wealthy across multiple states… ‘So we know millions will lose access to healthcare, millions will lose food assistance, and states all across the country will see funding cuts for key programs,’ she said. ‘We know that people power a strong economy, not tax cuts for the wealthy, and when the rich pay their fair share of taxes, we all benefit.”’
Governing, Millionaire (and Billionaire) Taxes Pick Up Steam
Governing’s senior reporter, Jared Brey, framed high-earner taxes as an emerging national state-policy trend, drawing inspiration from Massachusetts' Fair Share Amendment and Washington state’s recent experience.
MassBudget’s Phineas Baxandall and SRA’s Executive Director Amber Wallin are quoted, among others. Wallin suggested:
“The pendulum goes back and forth, but Amber Wallin, director of the State Revenue Alliance, says progressive taxation has the wind at its back. Over the last half-century, wealthier people have reaped most of the benefits of changes in tax policy, she says. A growing movement of voters, advocacy groups and lawmakers is fighting to make the wealthy pay more.
‘There will often be pushback, but when you think about the long-term trends, we’re seeing it come to fruition,’ Wallin says.”
Bond Buyer, More states want to tax the rich, which could boost munis
Christina Baker recently spoke with SRA’s Communications Director Jonathan Huskey for her report on how millionaire taxes affect state budgets and potentially support municipal bond markets.
“The federal revenue squeeze on states made a wealth tax look more appealing, Huskey said.
"’There is a national reaction to what the federal government did with the One Big Beautiful Bill,’" Huskey said. "’We have big needs and we can't do what we did after the Great Recession and just cut [expenditures as] our way out of this.’"
There’s a lot more! Including stories from:
Associated Press, Some states are reviving a push to tax the rich
CNBC, Wealth, millionaire tax push spreads to more states: What experts say
Newsweek, Map shows states trying to advance higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy
The Guardian, Billionaire fortunes have reached all-time highs under Trump. So has the movement to tax them
The Guardian, Washington state’s ‘historic’ millionaire tax takes aim at super-rich – will it succeed?
Bloomberg, Taxing the Rich: Why More US States Are Targeting Wealthy Residents - Bloomberg
Wall Street Journal,Wealth-Tax Fever Is Spreading to Less-Wealthy States
And ICYMI:
Based on her experience helping to establish universal childcare in New Mexico and leadership in national childcare policy, Amber Wallin was featured in a long-form article on states can win a pro-family agenda in Seattle Child magazine.
Wallin and Amy Hanauer, Executive Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy coauthored a piece in the Santa Fe New Mexican, calling for a strong response to Federal tax and budget cuts.