NCSL Fiscal Briefs

Fiscal

NCSL Fiscal Briefs are snapshots of timely state budget and tax issues. Check back monthly for the latest brief compiled by NCSL’s Fiscal Affairs Team.

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October 2022: State Examining State Sales Taxes
Since emerging from a pandemic-fueled economic downturn, state budgets have been flush with cash, and states across the country have enacted a historic amount of tax relief.

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September 2022: State Fiscal Conditions are Strong, but Uncertainty Looms
State fiscal conditions remain strong into fiscal year 2023. States expect revenue growth to continue, but at a slower pace than FY 2022 on average.

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August 2022: Update on State Cannabis Taxation
For the states that have joined the legal cannabis bandwagon, the decision paid off through the pandemic as revenues experienced consistent growth.

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July 2022: States Pursue Tax Relief in 2022
With most state budgets in strong, stable position, tax relief has been the most prominent tax policy trend in 2022. This brief reviews the most significant tax cut enactments to date.

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June 2022: Travel is Taxing in More Ways Than One
Two years into a global pandemic, the summer of 2022 is shaping up to be big for tourism. That also means additional revenues for state governments that levy taxes on services that target tourists.

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May 2022: Film Tax Incentives Back in the Spotlight
States have shown a recent renewed interest in film tax incentive programs. This brief discusses recent legislative enactments, how state incentive programs compare and how they can be more effective.

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April 2022: Is Backordered the New Normal?
The pandemic exacerbated global supply chain issues. This brief examines federal and state efforts to alleviate supply chain disruptions.

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March 2022: FY 2022 State Budget Update
State revenues for FY 2022 are strong. There is optimism that robust growth can continue, but uncertainty in the U.S. and global economies have states remaining cautious.

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February 2022: What You Might Not Know—But Should—About ARPA
This brief explores two often underemphasized aspects of the American Rescue Plan Act, the use of Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds by territories and the Capital Projects Fund.

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January 2022: Top Fiscal Issues for 2022
Legislators are returning to state capitols with more funds than anticipated thanks to rebounding revenues and federal assistance. However, states still face economic uncertainty and challenges.

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December 2021: 'Tis the Season for Giving: How Nonprofits Benefit
This brief provides a glimpse into recent state legislation impacting nonprofit activities and looks at how states treat charitable contributions.

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November 2021: 2021 Statewide Ballot Measures: Overview of Fiscal Proposals
While the 2021 November elections cover various state-level issue areas, this brief explores proposed measures with fiscal impacts.

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October 2021: Fiscal Recovery Funds Out the Door
The influx of stimulus money rom the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds is a life saver for state budgets, and also creates a challenge to spend funds wisely.

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September 2021: Back to School, Back to Sales Tax Holidays
Seventeen states have planned at least one sales tax holiday in 2021, providing a temporary period for customers to purchase certain items tax free. What are the fiscal effects?

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August 2021: State Broadband Spending in 2021
In the 2021 legislative session, at least 175 bills were introduced addressing funding for broadband, including nine states who have allocated federal recovery funds for broadband through legislation.

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July 2021: 2021 Tax Trends: Income Tax Cuts Back on the Menu
With revenues performing better than expected and additional federal funds helping to stabilize their budgets, many states have enacted various forms of tax relief in 2021.

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June 2021: The Great Debate: Who Has Authority to Spend Federal Stimulus Funds?
Federal stimulus funds are flowing into the states at unprecedented levels. This has led to battles in some states over who can allocate those funds – the legislature or the governor?

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May 2021: States Gearing Up for Fiscal Recovery Funds
This brief reviews how states are preparing to receive and spend the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

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April 2021: States Mind Their Own Businesses
Over the last year, the pandemic has left small businesses and the economies they support, vulnerable. This brief reviews state grant, loan and tax relief actions for small businesses.

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March 2021: The Early Bets Are In: Is Sports Betting Paying Off?
Sports betting is now legal in half of the states. This brief covers the significant fiscal policy considerations associated with this new area of state-sanctioned gambling.

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February 2021: COVID-19 Liability Legislation
Legislators continue to raise concerns over potential liability for exposure to coronavirus. This brief examines liability legislation to address health, medical, business, PPE and general issues.

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January 2021: State Cannabis Taxation
A review of state approaches to cannabis taxation, revenue collections to date and other policy considerations.

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December 2020: Reviewing State Actions on Coronavirus Relief Funds
The federal deadline for states to spend Coronavirus Relief Funds is Dec. 30. This brief reviews state spending trends, the possibility of additional relief, flexibility and a deadline extension.

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November 2020: 2020 General Election: Tax and Revenue-Related Ballot Measures
Voters must decide on at least 30 tax- and revenue-related ballot measures in the Nov, 2020 elections. This brief provides an overview of the proposals with the most significant fiscal ramifications.

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October 2020: Broadband Spending: Bridging the Digital Divide
This brief provides examples of how states are using COVID-19 relief funds for broadband and technology to help people working remotely, getting telehealth treatment, and attending school online.

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September 2020: Internet Gambling: Expansion on the Horizon?
Relatively few states have authorized lottery and casino play over the internet, but that may change as states look for options to shore up their budgets.

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August 2020: How States are Spending Coronavirus Relief Funds
As the nation continues to endure this unusual public health and economic crisis, strategies to spend relief funds vary by state.

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July 2020: Late State Budgets
This brief provides insight into what happens when a state budget is not passed on time, and the disruption of the budget process from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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June 2020: Health Rainy Day Funds Not Immune From Ill Effects of Coronavirus
Heading into 2020, state budget reserves were as healthy as they had ever been. Yet faced with the pandemic and economic shutdown, those rainy day reserves amount to a mere drop in the bucket.

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May 2020: State Reliance on Particular Taxes a Peek at Revenue Vulnerability
As the US confronts COVID-19 with stay-home orders, economic activity has come to a screeching halt. The problem is particularly acute in states that rely heavily on sales and income taxes.

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April 2020: How States Closed Budget Gaps During the Great Recession
While COVID-19's impact on the American economy is unprecedented, it may be helpful to revisit revenue actions during the Great Recession as states once again chart a course toward recovery.

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March 2020: A Quick Take on Traditional and Electronic Cigarette Taxes
It’s rare to find a popular tax, but the tobacco tax comes pretty close. As the usage rates of electronic cigarettes has increased, many states have taken action to incorporate them into the tax code.

Related Resources

Updated April 28, 2025

What's Ahead for State Budgets and Taxes

Join us as NCSL’s fiscal policy expert Erica MacKellar and Brian Wanko, who focuses on the federal budget process, federal and state revenues and taxes, as they break down what these developments mean for states heading into the new fiscal year.

Fiscal State-Federal

Virtual Meeting

Updated April 24, 2025

FY 2026 State Budget Status

This page tracks the status of FY 2026 state budgets as they are passed by state legislatures and signed by governors.

Fiscal

Map

Table

Updated April 22, 2025

How to Raise a Tax

When states experience budget gaps and slow revenue growth lawmakers are put in the difficult position of balancing their state budget. One way is to increase or impose new taxes, but doing so is unpopular and often met with resistance.

Fiscal

Table

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Related Resources

What's Ahead for State Budgets and Taxes

FY 2026 State Budget Status

How to Raise a Tax

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