For more than 30 years, the groups we work with have tapped the vast potential for change at the state level. Working together with legislators, Governors, and allies, these organizations have used their research, policy work, and grassroots efforts to help win major victories for consumers and the environment throughout the country. In 2005 & 2006 alone, the victories are many:
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY VICTORIES
- A multi-billion dollar commitment for solar roofs in California.
- Energy efficiency standards for a variety of products in Arizona, Oregon, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Washington, and Massachusetts.
- A landmark global warming cap in California.
- Solar tax credit legislation in New Mexico, Arizona, Rhode Island and Oregon, and an improved net metering law in Maryland and California.
- Natural gas energy efficiency programs in Rhode Island.
- Low-income fuel assistance and weatherization funding in Colorado.
- Clean energy legislation in Wisconsin and Maine.
- An Energy Star Tax Holiday in Georgia.
- An increased Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Texas and accelerated implementation of the RPS in California.
CONSUMER VICTORIES
- ID theft-related security breach or security freeze laws in Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Rhode Island, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Illinois.
- Self-extinguishing cigarettes in Massachusetts and California.
- Curbs on payday lending in Oregon and predatory mortgage lending in Ohio.
- A tobacco tax increase in Colorado to help pay for health care.
- Fair hospital charges for California’s uninsured.
- Gift card legislation to protect consumers in Arizona and Georgia.
- A homeowner’s insurance bill of rights in Oregon, and a bill of rights for California car buyers.
- An expanded prescription drug buying pool in New Mexico, and a prescription drug discount law in California.
- A textbook affordability bill in Connecticut.
ELECTORAL AND ETHICS REFORM VICTORIES
- Ethics reform and ballot improvements in North Carolina.
- Paper trails for ballots in Georgia and improvements in its ethics law.
- Campaign finance law reforms in Connecticut.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH VICTORIES
- Clean cars legislation in Washington, building on successes in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maine in previous years.
- Reductions in bus and truck diesel emissions in New Jersey and a diesel anti-idling law in Rhode Island.
- A cap on four major pollutants, including carbon dioxide and mercury, in Maryland.
- Other mercury reduction measures in Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, and California.
- Water withdrawal legislation in Michigan.
- A ban on MTBE in North Carolina and Rhode Island, and a prohibition of two types of PBDE in Illinois, Oregon, and Maryland.
- A land conservation tax credit in Georgia.
- Conservation funding in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina.
- Providing consumers with the right to know their water source in Arizona, and heading off reckless water transfers in Florida
- A curb on pesticide use on school and day care lawns in Connecticut and a pesticide disclosure law for day care facilities in California.
- Disclosure of hospital infection rates in Connecticut.
- Legislation allowing California to obtain detection methods for toxic chemicals from chemical companies.
- Statewide no-smoking legislation in Colorado.
