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State policymaker groups — such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) — hold annual conferences in the summer months that are natural venues for discussing key policy trends. The policy sessions at these meetings provide insights into how state lawmakers view emerging issues and what ideas might be turned into legislation when sessions reconvene in January.
Below are three policy trends that could impact the Marketplaces Industry.
PFAS Remediation
The effort to clean up a collection of “forever chemicals” — known as perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — has been a hot topic in state legislatures in recent years. During this year’s legislative session, a total of 35 bills on PFAS cleanup and remediation were introduced in 15 states. A panel discussion at CSG Midwest’s Annual Meeting this month in Columbus will explore the latest ways state policymakers are approaching PFAS cleanup from bans on use in firefighting foams or food-related packaging to groundwater standards.
Affordable Housing/Expanding the Housing Supply
The rising cost of housing has sparked a conversation among consumer advocacy groups, think tanks and businesses on ways to improve housing affordability and zoning policies. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is considering a number of housing-related model policies in their Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development (CIED) and American City County Exchange task forces. Two model policies in particular are directed at reforming single-family zoned neighborhoods. One would allow developers to build more light touch density (LTD) housing, while another model would preempt localities from over-regulating housing designs and allow for multi-family units to be built on properties zoned for single-family homes. On the tax side, ALEC is also considering model legislation that would incentivize the redevelopment of residential properties on brownfield and grayfield sites.
NCSL and CSG South will also be leading discussions on what state lawmakers can do to address rising home prices and strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing. The broader debate on affordable housing, and by extension zoning policies, could directly impact the commercial property market and the design of communities across the countries.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
State legislatures passed over 70 AI-related bills this year from regulating deepfakes to guiding AI policies for state government and schools. Artificial intelligence and its application continue to be the issue of the day for lawmakers. NCSL even created a new task force dedicated to AI and its Legislative Summit in Louisville already has ten sessions on the topic.
The Attorney General Alliance (AGA) held a panel discussion at their Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs on the AI economy and encouraged industry and policymakers to leverage the benefits of AI. As states navigate the complexities of regulating artificial intelligence, the implementation of these new laws will serve as a critical litmus test for future legislative efforts. The experiences and lessons learned from these pioneering states will undoubtedly shape the next wave of AI policy, striving to balance innovation with responsible oversight.
For more information contact gpp@icsc.com.