PLI Bulletin

Tech Policy, Pretrial Detention, Environmental Justice and More

Posted on January 25, 2023

Firearms Perjury Enforcement Act: In many states, there is not much more legislatures can do to actually prevent future offenses. This bill, therefore, may be the single most effective legislative measure that could, as a practical matter, stop a number of future crimes by targeting felons who illegally attempt to obtain guns. The Firearms Perjury Enforcement Act directs the investigation and prosecution of individuals who commit perjury while attempting to obtain a gun.

Five more new model bills for 2023: PLI’s 2023 Progressive Agenda for the States & Localities recommends 50 bills for this year, many of them brand new. Our last IdeaLog described five innovative model bills on a variety of subjects. For five more, see the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.

When States Make Tech Policy: Because regulation of the tech industry is difficult or politically impossible on the federal level, states have stepped in. The Lawfare Podcast explores what states are doing.

Six Environmental Justice Policy Fights to Watch in 2023: The federal Inflation Reduction Act earmarked $60 billion for environmental justice projects. Governing Magazine discusses the tremendous potential for states and localities to use these grants.

Pretrial Detention: More than 400,000 people are currently being detained before a trial, many because they can’t afford bail. The number jailed pretrial has nearly quadrupled since the 1980s. The Prison Policy Initiative has a summary of nearly all the research available online.

2023 Progressive Agenda for States & Localities is here: The latest edition of the Progressive Agenda highlights 50 model bills and hyperlinks to more than 200 models. You can download a PDF with hyperlinks built-in, or read it online in HTML text.