We’ve tracked over 900 abusive preemption bills in 2026, & the most egregious preemption efforts have been driven by FL, OK, and TN – often through anti-LGBTQ+, anti-immigrant, & anti-business regulation legislation. Get the facts via @theprogressivemag.bsky.social: progressive.org/latest/the-p...

AI companies have been pressuring state legislatures to block local governments from any AI regulations, even when communities want protections. Learn more in this @routefifty.bsky.social piece interviewing Leslie Zellers from our legal team: www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...

Earlier this year, the City Council of Tucson, AZ passed a law to prevent ICE agents from using city-owned properties without a warrant. Now, the legislature is considering ways to use abusive preemption to force them to cooperate with ICE. Get the facts: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Not all preemption is bad, but many state governments are ABUSING preemption to restrict the power of local governments & undermine our democracy. Learn more via a recent interview with our Lead Consultant Katie Belanger & Jennifer White on @npr.org's 1A: www.npr.org/2026/05/06/n...

The last few weeks in Nashville have been an outright assault on local authority across TN through abusive preemption. State lawmakers just passed laws impacting local control of airports, utility boards, immigration, taxes, and more. Get the facts: wpln.org/post/assault...

This year, our team started tracking AI-related abusive preemption following a slate of bills across nine states that block municipalities from restricting data center development, regulating AI usage, & more. Read this great piece from Route Fifty 📡 www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...

“Local authority is being steadily narrowed not through a single sweeping reform, but through a series of targeted legislative interventions that collectively reshape the balance of governance.” Home rule is under attack in Arizona. Learn more: azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/05...

It’s #BraveOfUs to lead in moments like these. Lately, we’ve been featuring some of our inspiring, powerful, and brave first-generation immigrant members of LP 💖 Today, the amazing Durham At-Large City Councilmember Javiera Caballero!

The OH Senate recently passed an abusive preemption bill that would let Ohioans sue local governments to cover legal fees if they challenge local gun control laws deemed unconstitutional or in conflict with state law. Get the facts on this dangerous bill: www.cleveland.com/open/2026/04...

“Welcome to the new era of preemption.” Local governments are increasingly being overridden at the state level as legislators cite economic development as justification for top-down control. These trends are harming our democracy – get the facts: www.eenews.net/articles/cap...

As AI usage has proliferated, state lawmakers have begun to consider bills to preempt local control over regulating AI companies, using foreign-run AI systems, or passing local ordinances or fees to manage AI usage. Learn more in our new reporter update: www.supportdemocracy.org/the-latest/a...

As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, lawmakers are using abusive preemption to target ways voters can participate in elections. Read our report tracking trends in abusive preemption and elections during the 2026 legislative session 🗳️ supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

State lawmakers introduced 100+ bills that seek to impose an anti-LGBTQ+ ideology on communities and degrade the dignity & humanity of queer people. Lawmakers are targeting nondiscrimination protections, ID rights & more – see the trends in our report: supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

The most concerning immigration-related preemption trends in 2026 are measures forcing localities like schools, law enforcement, and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Learn more via our 2026 Mid-session Trends report 📑 supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

The MAHA agenda is defying longstanding science and making our communities less healthy. State lawmakers are enforcing this agenda through abusive preemption, and we’re tracking it all in our 2026 mid-session report. Read the report 📝 supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

This year, lawmakers have filed 24+ bills aimed at eroding economic safety & equity for workers. From paid sick leave to protections from extreme heat + test guaranteed income programs, state legs are restricting efforts to help communities. Read here: supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

Explore how preemption is being used to: ❌Block protections for economic & physical well-being ❌Impose ideological control over communities ❌Rewrite the rules for participating in our democracy Read our mid-session report on 2026 trends in abusive preemption: supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

Local govs bear the costs of bad policy – like higher public health expenses due to bans on fluoride in the water to waste management when plastic bag regulations are banned. FL lawmakers are prioritizing control over the wellbeing of communities: www.gulfshorebusiness.com/inside-the-m...

Trump’s anti-democratic agenda is being enforced through abusive preemption at the state level. Historically these laws have targeted specific issues, but now these laws are being used to dramatically reduce local authority. Read more via from @bloomberglaw.com: news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

Abusive preemption laws are how state lawmakers are working to enforce Trump’s agenda targeting DEI efforts, labor protections, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. Get the facts in this new piece quoting our lead consultant Katie Belanger from @bloomberglaw.com: news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

Abusive preemption often targets the rights & freedoms we hold dear. Sometimes, abusive preemption reaches so far into local laws it feels outrageous. Swipe to see our roundup of ridiculous abusive preemption bills from the 2026 legislative session ➡️

Abusive preemption is where federal authoritarianism & corporate greed meet. We’re tracking almost 850 harmful bills from this legislative session – we just released a new report to help communities understand trends in abusive preemption. Read it here: supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

Many Floridians support efforts to reduce climate change & have implemented net-zero policies for schools, gov buildings + more to make them more energy efficient. Now, the #FLLeg is banning these efforts & blocking local net-zero policies. Learn more: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...

It’s #BraveOfUs to govern WITH our communities. Lately, we’ve been featuring some of our inspiring, powerful, and brave first-generation immigrant members of LP 💖 Today, our INCREDIBLE board member @johana-b.bsky.social!

From immigration to LGBTQ+ rights, state lawmakers have been busy using abusive preemption to restrict local control and undermine many of our rights and freedoms. Get the latest on abusive preemption from our new 2026 Mid-session Trends Report 📑http://supportdemocracy.org/2026midsession

From The Roots is a powerful new zine that tells the story of how abusive preemption laws steal power from our communities, and uplifts the work of those fighting to reclaim this power and restore local control. A must read from @advancementproject.org 📝 advancementproject.org/resource/fro...

THIS is the power of the LP network – local elected officials coming together to learn from one another and collectively tackle the most pressing issues of the day. Only together can we resist authoritarianism, protect our communities, and build power. boltsmag.org/new-york-lea...

From bills restricting restroom access for trans people in 7 states to the horrific KS law invalidating trans people’s driver’s licenses, many state lawmakers are cruelly focused on attacking trans civil rights through targeted abusive preemption laws: www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/03/terr...

Excellent new audio series exploring abusive preemption and how it impacts the work of local elected officials from our friends at @localprogress.bsky.social! 🔊 10-minute interviews with elected officials will be published every month on Instagram. Follow along: www.instagram.com/localprogres...

Many Americans are struggling with skyrocketing housing prices. Instead of helping people who are camping for shelter access long-term housing, the IN legislature just passed a cruel bill to penalize them with fines and potential jail-time. Learn more: www.indystar.com/story/news/p...

Local government is a core tenant of our democracy because it encourages lawmaking from people by & for their own communities. Now, state lawmakers are targeting this right – to the detriment of communities + those who represent them. Get the facts: www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

West Virginians are asking for the right to have a say in data center development in their neighborhoods to protect local water access – but WV lawmakers are pushing for a bill to develop either way. Read more: mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/25/l...

Ranked choice voting is a fair, democratic method to select elected officials. Some Ohio communities are considering using this system of voting, but state lawmakers are working to block *all* Ohioans from accessing ranked choice voting. Get the facts: www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...

Communities deserve to have a say in whether their local police cooperate with ICE – but MS lawmakers are trying to revoke all sanctuary policies & force localities to cooperate with discriminatory anti-immigration efforts. Learn more: www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/m...

Abusive preemption laws and rising federal authoritarianism are intimately linked 🔗 Federal authorities are modeling their attacks on state abusive preemption & emboldening state lawmakers to embrace even more harmful preemption measures. Get the facts: www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

For many workers, heat isn’t just uncomfortable – it can be life-threatening. As more localities try to protect workers from extreme heat exposure, states are preempting their ability to legislate around extreme heat during work. Learn more in our new blog: www.supportdemocracy.org/the-latest/w...

Democracy works best when decisions are made close to home. But IA lawmakers are considering a bill that would revoke township responsibilities & eliminate their boards of trustees, transferring local authority to their respective counties. Get the facts: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/p...

AZ lawmakers are considering an extreme drag ban that would make it a crime to allow a minor to view a drag show or enter a venue where one is taking place. This would be an outrageous & discriminatory overreach targeting LGBTQ+ communities. Learn more: www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report...

There are powerful lessons states can learn from MN’s work empowering local control + curbing abusive preemption. Read key takeaways in our new blog from Cornell Prof. @povertyscholar.bsky.social of the Center for Racial Justice & Equitable Futures: www.supportdemocracy.org/the-latest/p...

The rise of federal authoritarianism is harming public health. States are reducing local control over health protections – prohibiting policies like vaccine requirements & paid sick leave – leaving less healthy communities in their wake 😷 Learn more: www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

Despite the Death Star 2.0 law ripping away many aspects of home rule from cities & towns in Florida last year, lawmakers are still using abusive preemption to target local control of land use, local fees, & more. Learn about the new preemption bills in FL: floridapolitics.com/archives/776...

Many Idaho towns & cities support protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination – that’s why they’ve passed policies to do so. Now, the state leg is considering an abusive preemption bill to block inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances. Get the facts: idahocapitalsun.com/2026/01/28/n...

Countless Americans fought hard for the civil rights protections we rely on today. The Trump Administration’s work to undermine these rights & target marginalized communities is a classic move from the authoritarian playbook. Get the facts 📜 www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

No KY city or county is listed as a “sanctuary jurisdiction.” But that hasn’t stopped state lawmakers from targeting localities with “sanctuary policies,” using abusive preemption to force counties to comply with ICE’s aggressive tactics. Learn more: www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...

SPOTLIGHT 🔎Luis Figueroa, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs at Every Texan We had an insightful conversation about his work advocating for local democracy and fighting abusive preemption in Texas. Read the full conversation: www.supportdemocracy.org/the-latest/l...

Rising federal authoritarianism is harming our rights and freedoms at every level of government ❌ Get the facts in our new white paper on Federal Authoritarianism and Abusive State Preemption: www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

From deploying the national guard to Memphis, D.C. & Chicago to withholding federal funding from localities that continue to promote DEI, the federal turn toward authoritarianism is targeting the rights & freedoms of cities across the country. Learn more: www.supportdemocracy.org/authoritarianism

IN communities want a say in zoning policies & restrictions implemented on new development, but state leaders are proposing legislation to preempt local control & force localities to encourage development for more affordable housing. Get the facts: indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/21/l...

School nurses provide vital healthcare for kids at school, but preemption laws are making their jobs harder. These laws, passed without implementation in mind, have diluted care provided by school nurses. Learn more via @networkforphl.bsky.social 🩺 www.networkforphl.org/news-insight...

The discriminatory, anti-immigrant agenda of the Trump administration is continuously being implemented at the state level through abusive preemption legislation, & recent bills introduced in the TN legislature are no exception. Learn about these dangerous bills ⬇️ nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/15/t...