Preeti Chauhan explores how some prosecutors are using their own discretion to create a less punitive and a more fair and equitable criminal legal system – and how state preemption can impact their ability to do so.

Mildred E. Warner of Cornell University explores how abusive state preemption legislation suppresses wages, undermining inclusive growth. Warner explains how we can promote more inclusive growth by raising returns to labor.

Courtnee Melton-Fant shares the story of Boxtown, a majority black neighborhood in Memphis harmed by the abuse of preemption.

In this report, LSSC tracks how abusive preemption was used during the 2022 legislative session by state lawmakers at the behest of corporations to undermine local authority, particularly on public health authority, LGBTQ rights, and democracy & voting rights.

“New Jersey is a place with two major stories in land use today,” Noah Kazis writes. “One led by the state against local prerogatives, and one led by localities themselves. Understanding the relationship between those two stories may teach us much about what preemption can and can’t do.”

In the name of personal responsibility, individual freedom, the free market, and partisanship, many states are preventing local leaders from protecting workers, low-income families, public health, the environment, among others, while failing to do so themselves. What is a locality to do?

This resource provides advocates with the research and data they need to document the harmful consequences of preemption and advocate for repealing inequitable preemption laws.

The second edition features a series of articles that explore how some states preempted local authority across a host of issues during the pandemic.

A new white paper from LSSC explores in more detail how some state legislatures are using preemption to undermine local control of police budgeting, accountability, and management.

This new report highlights how state lawmakers in the Midwest have abused preemption to impede progress on a variety of issues that would improve the economic security and well-being of residents. 

The Local Solutions Support Center’s (LSSC) report explores 2021 legislative activity in more detail. Overall in the session, LSSC tracked over 400 preemption bills – more than two times the number of bills tracked during the 2019 session.

This report reveals how the growing abuse of preemption over the last decade forced many municipalities to start from behind when responding to the pandemic, and highlights the issue areas advocates are preparing to defend from state interference in the months ahead.

We examine the use and merits of the patchwork argument across 10 policy areas­ and review the evidence around the patchwork argument’s merits.

This resource takes a look at how states and cities responded to the pandemic.

14 authors were tasked with working as advocate-researcher co-authors to produce short articles highlighting recent research findings, emerging issues, and data and research needs across seven policy fields.

A new report, Preempting Progress, examines how state interference in local policymaking prevents people of color, women, and low-income workers from making ends meet in the South.

This document provides a summary of local authority and preemption in West Virginia. It can inform advocates’ efforts to adopt new policies at the city or county level.

This document provides a summary of local authority and preemption in Virginia. It can inform advocates’ efforts to adopt new policies at the city or county level.

This document provides a summary of local authority and preemption in Texas. It can inform advocates’ efforts to adopt new policies at the city or county level.

This document provides a summary of local authority and preemption in Tennessee. It can inform advocates’ efforts to adopt new policies at the city or county level.