ReveNews: State Tax and Session Overview, the Big Ugly Bill
July 30, 2025
We hope you are enjoying some well-deserved rest as we head into August. In this issue of ReveNews, we offer a roundup of state policy and action for the first half of the year. The federal reconciliation bill has passed, leading to new harmful cuts shifting costs to the states, and we have new resources for the fight ahead.
IN THE STATES….
Tax policy is never easy—and for many of us, that makes it all the more meaningful to celebrate what we’ve achieved together. The 2025 state legislative session has been a season of powerful action thanks to the dedication of hundreds of advocates who organized, strategized, and fought for change.
While there are plenty of setbacks and One Big Ugly Bill that will make life worse for many people around the country, we know you will confront these harmful policies, and we invite you to reflect on the momentum we’ve collectively built.
Through your advocacy, resource-sharing, and community leadership, we’re not just winning real policy victories, we’re also setting a new standard for what progressive tax campaigns can achieve in the states.
On July 22, SiX and SRA hosted a 2025 state legislative session debrief. You can find the full recording here.
We encourage you to view the deck and the SRA Legislative Overview, but here are a few of the toplines that were delivered in the webinar.
We have seen the number of progressive tax bills introduced and progressing grow by multiples over the past two years.
This year we monitored 105 pieces of legislation, championed by 1,027 legislative sponsors and cosponsors, with more than 21 signed into law.
There was a breadth of revenue policy put forward this year, and a growing number of bills that tax wealth and higher-income households.
However, new threats to revenue continue to develop, even in states where there’s been many tax cuts since COVID.
President Trump signed the One Big Ugly/Betrayal Bill (OBBB) on July 3. Despite an unprecedented field and lobbying effort by many of you, Congress passed the reconciliation bill by one vote in each chamber. There’s no way to overstate the damage that will be done, both in the immediate and future, to people in every state. While we know there will be hard conversations and work to do yet, we want to thank each of you for working so hard against the odds to stop the bill.
You organized hundreds of actions, sent emails and made calls to your Congresspeople, wrote letters to the editor, lobbied in-person and took on powerful interests throughout the year. It was hard work, especially because the odds were stacked against us. But even while the bill passed, we know that along the way we collectively gave voice to our communities whose interests have been too long ignored, changed narratives, and built power to create the brighter future our families deserve. The work is not over, and we are proud to be in it with all of you.
FOR THE STATES…
We’re always working on new and updated resources. Feel free to reach out for more information or to send others you’ve found valuable.
From us, your friendly State Revenue Alliance team:
A look at how state tax policy showed up in the news, with SRA's 2025 Quarter 2 Media Report.
Updates to the State Rankings Database with state info from nearly 20 different sources and our tax and revenue support model with state, congressional, and state house and senate district modeling data on tax issues.
SRA partners are already putting together responses to the big bad bill. Check out some great examples – and know that SRA is working to develop more resources in coming weeks to support your responses.
Penn Policy: The Trump Bill — a Disaster for Human Decency and our Economy
New Jersey Policy Perspective: “Beautiful” Bill Devastates NJ Families While Delivering Massive Tax Breaks to the Wealthy
Maine Center for Economic Policy: Statement on Final Passage of Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill, a must see video of Maine Trump supporters talking about tax cuts for billionaires.
Invest in Our New York: Fighting the Republican Budget Scam in NY
There’s a lot we don’t know about the implementation of and implications for state budgets. However, our national partners have tons of updated resources for you as you start to think about the future including:
New research from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP):
A wealth of information about the harm and cost of the reconciliation bill
Be sure to check out 10 Crazy Comparisons Showing How Much Trump and Congress Just Cut Taxes for the Rich
Find out how much in tax breaks the top 1% in your state will get from Trump’s Megabill.
CBPP also has a handy link for the full complement of resources for partners on the OBBB.
And don’t miss the updated State Factsheets from Fair Share America.
Some of you are already organizing to call a special session; one of the first things that state elected officials can do to respond to the need for revenue. SRA can help you draft and place op-eds that call on your state to act responsibly to protect communities and raise revenue now. Reach out to jonathan@staterevenuealliance.org for support.
ON THE NATIONAL SCENE…
It’s August, but this year that means action to protect families, not billionaires – not just hitting the beach.
Join state and national partners online or in person during actions to support Social Security on August 16.
DID YOU KNOW?
There is huge appetite for tax justice online, and we have an opportunity to respond to that clear appetite with different and daring digital and social media practices.
We hope you’ll join the SRA network on August 21st at 3 ET/ 2CT/ 1 MT/ 12 PT for a monthly meeting dedicated to understanding the digital space and sharing tactics to build a strong internet presence for your coalitions, campaigns, and organizations.
Check it out:
Recent article in the Washington Post about many wealthy people opposed to additional tax cuts that benefit them and a New York Times oped that lifts up Invest in Our New York’s bold work for communities across the state.
To send ideas for this newsletter, email jonathan@staterevenuealliance.org.