WASHINGTON — Tonight, President Joe Biden will deliver the State of the Union Address, during which he’ll highlight his impressive record on delivering for American families and the importance of building on the progress made in his first four years. As he outlines his vision, state legislatures across the country are on the frontlines of helping deliver and implement Biden’s agenda. From strengthening the economy and safeguarding reproductive rights, to reducing gun violence and protecting fundamental freedoms, a litany of pressing issues are being decided in state legislatures. State legislatures are the most important level of the ballot, and have the most direct impact on people’s lives.
Reproductive Freedom
While the president has taken important action to protect access to reproductive health care through executive action, the fall of Roe remanded the most important decisions around reproductive care to the states. State legislatures are the true arbiters of reproductive rights, and Democrats continue to fight extreme abortion bans and attacks on reproductive health advanced by Republicans every day.
- Since Roe fell, every state with a Democratic-controlled legislature has taken steps to protect and expand abortion access. In fact, Democratic legislative victories in 2022 ensured over 64 million people had their reproductive rights protected or expanded.
- Democrats in at least 18 states have passed laws that shield those seeking or providing abortion from restrictive laws in other states.
- By contrast, twenty-five states – all controlled by Republicans – currently ban abortion or have restrictions in place earlier than the standard established by Roe.
Democracy
Tonight, President Biden highlighted yet again the stakes of this election: democracy is on the ballot in 2024. But it’s not just the presidential race that will determine the future of our country. There are hundreds of MAGA Trump loyalists serving in legislatures across the country who pose a direct threat to our communities and our democracy. The future of our country depends on electing state Democrats who are committed to protecting democracy and putting a check on hard-right extremism.
- At least 392 sitting state legislators from at least 12 states have endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign for president so far, increasing the stakes for the 2024 state legislative elections.
- 15 state legislators who are currently in office were in D.C. on January 6th and hundreds more supported later efforts led by then-President Trump to challenge or overturn the 2020 election results.
Strengthening the Economy
President Biden has signed bills like the Inflation Reduction Act and worked to lower costs for working families. Progress on many of Biden’s economic priorities is also happening in the states – from raising the minimum wage to making child care more affordable.
- Virginia is one of many states where Democrats in the state legislature have passed legislation to raise the minimum wage. In contrast, all 5 states with no state minimum wage law are led by Republicans.
- Minnesota DFLers passed a paid medical and family leave program so that workers don’t have to choose between their health and a paycheck.
- Michigan Democrats eliminated asset tests for food aid, which could help over 700,000 Michigan households receiving benefits by eliminating red tape for those in need.
Gun Violence Reduction
President Biden made the most important federal progress on gun safety in three decades by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. As Republicans in Congress have blocked further progress, state Democrats have been hard at work to address the gun violence epidemic, from banning assault weapons to establishing common-sense regulations.
- New gun safety laws went into effect this year in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington, due to advocacy from Democratic legislative majorities.
- With their new majority in both chambers, Virginia Democrats passed legislation to ban assault weapons and protect their communities from senseless gun violence.
- Democrats in New Mexico passed 2 gun safety bills that were signed into law last week. Thanks to strong Democratic advocacy, there is now a 7-day waiting period on all firearm purchases, and guns are prohibited from polling places.
LGBTQ+ Rights
President Biden has taken historic action to protect LGBTQ+ communities, but unfortunately we’ve seen a crusade of anti-LGBTQ+ policies proliferate in GOP legislatures across the country. Democrats in state legislatures are on the frontlines of protecting LGBTQ+ people from Republicans’ dangerous agenda.
- According to the American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been introduced in 40 states around the country in 2024, making dangerous bigotry a mainstay for state Republicans.
- Virginia Democrats successfully defeated a series of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that would have forced teachers to out their students and banned students from participating in sports.
- California Democrats passed a slate of protections for LGBTQ+ people, solidifying Democratic commitment to improving queer folks’ safety.
Health Care Accessibility
Since Biden took office, there has been a combined 50 percent increase in ACA enrollment in states, and the nation’s low uninsured rate is at a historic 8 percent. Democrats in state legislatures have built on the progress of the ACA through Medicaid expansion, while Republicans continue to deny affordable care to residents.
- Every state with a Democratic-led legislature has fully funded Medicaid, making health care more affordable for people and reducing racial disparities.
- 10 states with Republican-led legislatures still refuse to fully expand Medicaid. If all states expanded Medicaid, more than one-quarter of the adults who would be newly eligible would be people of color.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“As President Biden outlines his accomplishments and vision for the country, the DLCC is on the frontlines of ensuring our shared agenda becomes a reality. The top issues being debated at the national level are so often being rolled back or implemented by state legislatures across the country, and the contrast between Democratic leadership and Republican extremism could not be more clear. To make progress in this country, we have to continue to get things done in the states.
“ The DLCC is proud to lead the fight to implement the national Democratic agenda at the state level, and 2024 will be the most important year for state legislative elections yet. The importance of states cannot be overstated as we work to elect Democrats up and down the ticket.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
###
