With the proliferation of income tax checkoff programs since their introduction in Colorado in 1977, it’s never been easier for taxpayers to donate part of their refunds to charity.

As states craft their FY 2024 budgets, fiscal conditions overall remain stable. Revenues have outperformed expectations, and states are largely prepared for a modest economic downturn.

Twenty-nine states, in addition to Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, allow sports betting, and 27 of those also allow betting on mobile devices.

In states flush with federal pandemic cash, lawmakers have enacted a historic amount of income tax relief. But that could result in more reliance on the regressive sales tax.

Economist Christopher Thornberg predicts that although the economic path ahead will be bumpy, a recession is not inevitable.

NCSL outlines the budgeting practices state policymakers can use to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from extreme climate events.

Voters across the country approved several new tax and budget initiatives in the 2022 midterm elections.

The struggle to employ workers tops the list of concerns state lawmakers will focus on in 2023 legislative sessions, according to NCSL CEO Tim Storey.

Yes, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding today’s economy. But, for now, the name of the game is to get inflation under control, according to Michael Chriszt. The vice president and public affairs officer for the Federal...

While inflation continues to run high in the U.S. economy, debt burdens and the unemployment rate are low, and many households were able to refinance mortgages or make first-time home purchases.

This six-part series examines the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocation priorities a year after the program launched and showcases examples to help inform policymakers as they continue to combat the...

Fiscal year 2022 was one of abundance for state legislatures. Historically speaking, states are more likely to reduce tax burdens when times are better. With most state budgets in strong, stable positions, this tendency has played out once again;...

Backordered. Out of stock. Shipment delayed. Empty shelves. By now, everyone can relate. Stores around the world—both online and brick and mortar—are out of products. The global supply chain is out of whack. But pinpointing the exact...

As traditional tourist destinations faced massive losses during the pandemic, rural areas across America saw an uptick in travelers. While increased tourism is beneficial for state revenue, it also comes with costs. Areas that experienced a...

When you shop for new homeowner, renter or car insurance, the insurance company might consider your personal credit history to calculate the score that determines your premium.

High levels of financial literacy continue to elude many Americans, according to the 2022 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index. On average, U.S. adults correctly answered only 50% of the index questions in 2022, a level unchanged since the...

With March Madness approaching, sports betting opportunities are more plentiful than ever. Thirty-three states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico now allow it.

Although they are a drop in the bucket compared with broad-based taxes, cannabis tax revenues are still significant, even exceeding cigarette and alcohol tax collections in many states. In 2019, marijuana tax revenues represented about 0.36% of...

The sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and NATO allies—and the threat of more—will likely have ramifications for some U.S. states in particular and for the economy in general, some economists say.

“The dual banking system has been an extraordinary success in the United States, providing the country a strong and resilient banking system,” says Kentucky Rep. Adam Koenig (R), who serves on the House Banking and Insurance...

Unprecedented. Uncertain. Historic. Those words apply to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state budgets it disrupted—and the subsequent massive infusion of federal stimulus.

NCSL’s database tracking state allocations of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund aid reflects both previous priorities, as seen under the Coronavirus Relief Fund, and new spending trends:

The idea of the American Dream, that hard work can overcome humble beginnings, is increasingly illusory for a swath of Americans, policy expert and researcher David A. Williams told a session at NCSL Base Camp 2021 on Tuesday.

With Republicans maintaining their majorities in both houses of Congress and now controlling the White House, can they get their agenda passed and to the president's desk?