A new year presents an opportunity to reset and take stock of where we are in the policy world. There are lots of issues policymakers have to consider that can dramatically change the way our society operates. Here are five policy issues that we expect to be talked about a lot this year.
Abortion
Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, opening the door for state governments to independently decide how they want to handle abortions. This decision set off a flurry of legal action that has dramatically changed the landscape of abortion access in the country.
However, once the dust settles from all the legal drama, policymakers will have the opportunity to step in and redefine abortion rights in law. Whether it’s strengthening protections that already exist or writing new laws, this will undoubtedly be a major issue for years to come.
Electric Vehicles
One important provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act passed last year was that it provided specific funding for new electric vehicle infrastructure. Since then, all 50 states have submitted plans to improve their electric vehicle infrastructure.
Looking forward, there are still many decisions policymakers need to sort out. Policies like electric vehicle tax credits, mandates for state vehicles to be electric, and new taxes on electric vehicle charging are all options state governments will consider in 2023. The infrastructure bill was only the beginning of the new debate around electric vehicle policy.
Healthcare
It is now almost three full years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are still feeling the lingering effects. One important change was that Medicaid enrollment increased substantially as a result of the Families First Coronavirus Response act. This caused the number of people without health insurance to fall.
Eventually, Medicaid eligibility will be reduced again. Before this happens, policymakers need to decide how they are going to respond to the potential for millions to lose publicly-funded health insurance. Will they let these protections lapse and return to the pre-covid status quo, or will this be the catalyst for new healthcare reform? Either way, healthcare will continue to be a major focus for policymakers in 2023.
Cryptocurrencies
Last year, 37 states introduced legislation that attempted to regulate cryptocurrency in some way. The most important legislation was when the federal government passed the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection act, opening the door for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to oversee the digital commodity market.
It seems unlikely that cryptocurrency will go away anytime soon, given that more and more businesses are beginning to accept it as payment. Especially after the Sam Bankman-Fried arrest, policymakers will be forced to address cryptocurrency in the legislature and decide how to manage it.
Inflation
One of the most pressing issues during the midterm election cycle, inflation continues to impact people across the country. Policymakers will have to find ways to address rising prices and help their constituents get by.
In their 2023 budget, California approved stimulus checks of $1,050 for eligible households. Other states like Georgia and Virginia offered rebates to people who filed their tax returns. There is a lot of room to determine exactly when and how to support the people who are most impacted by inflation, and we should expect this to be an important discussion among policymakers this year.