Legislative Proposals
Structured legislative proposals, policy briefs, and research frameworks developed by the Public Reason Institute — designed to be implementation-ready and durable across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
19 proposals
Federal Proposals
13Consumer Data Transparency and Protection Act of 2026
[{"id":"b-1777745778270-9fuid","type":"paragraph","html":"<p><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">This policy establishes enforceable consumer protections over personal data by requiring companies to disclose the source of information used for commercial contact, provide timely acknowledgment and deletion upon request, and cease further use of such data. It introduces a structured penalty framework, including enhanced consequences where misuse contributes to identity theft or fraud, while preserving lawful access to public information. The proposal modernizes consumer protection to reflect the risks of large-scale data aggregation and strengthens individuals’ ability to control how their personal information is used.</span></p>"}]
Ensuring Continuity of Stabilizing Care
[{"id":"b-1776557133417-hx5e2","type":"paragraph","html":"<p><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">The Continuity of Stabilizing Treatment Act of 2026 proposes a federal continuity-first standard requiring certain medically necessary stabilizing treatments to begin immediately when delay could risk patient deterioration, with utilization review occurring afterward. Applicable to Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and federally facilitated marketplace plans, the policy preserves insurer oversight while reducing harmful treatment delays and protecting patients from retroactive financial liability.</span></p>"}]
Stabilizing Debt in Crisis: A Federal Framework for Consumer Credit Hardship Protections
[{"id":"b-1777637226346-2t9wo","type":"paragraph","html":"<p>This research proposes a federal framework for standardized consumer credit hardship protections to prevent temporary financial shocks from escalating into long-term debt. It introduces mandatory relief mechanisms—including structured repayment plans, temporary interest reduction, and fee suspension—to stabilize borrowers during periods of financial distress. By addressing the point at which debt becomes persistent, the framework aims to improve repayment outcomes, reduce long-term debt burdens, and strengthen overall household financial stability while preserving access to credit.</p>"}]
Stabilizing Debt in Crisis: A Federal Framework for Consumer Credit Hardship Protections
[{"id":"b-1775839456784-bfikq","type":"paragraph","html":"<p>This research proposes a federal framework for standardized consumer credit hardship protections to prevent temporary financial shocks from escalating into long-term debt. It introduces mandatory relief mechanisms—including structured repayment plans, temporary interest reduction, and fee suspension—to stabilize borrowers during periods of financial distress. By addressing the point at which debt becomes persistent, the framework aims to improve repayment outcomes, reduce long-term debt burdens, and strengthen overall household financial stability while preserving access to credit.</p>"}]
Breaking the Debt Cycle: A Framework for Household Financial Stability in Consumer Credit
This research proposes a structural reform of consumer credit to reduce long-term debt accumulation and improve household financial stability. It introduces a three-part framework: eliminating compounding interest on consumer debt, requiring standardized hardship restructuring for borrowers in financial distress, and mandating full “all-in” APR transparency. Together, these reforms aim to prevent debt traps, improve repayment outcomes, and preserve access to credit while making the system fairer and more predictable.
Demographic Change and Social Insurance Sustainability
Demographic aging is reducing the worker-to-beneficiary ratio while increasing system costs. Without reform, major social insurance programs face funding shortfalls within the next decade. A balanced policy approach is required to restore long-term solvency.
Structural Trends in Social Security Financing and Program Solvency
Structural economic and demographic changes are placing long-term pressure on Social Security financing. This research brief examines the underlying trends shaping program solvency and provides analytical context for evaluating potential policy reforms.
Citizenship and Social Insurance: Policy Implications of H.R. 1547
H.R. 1547 proposes two major reforms affecting federal benefits programs governed by the Social Security Act. First, it would require the Department of Homeland Security to notify the Social Security Administration whenever the citizenship status, immigration status, or work authorization status of a Social Security number holder changes. Second, it would restrict eligibility for benefits administered under the Social Security Act to individuals who are citizens or nationals of the United States. The bill is framed as a program integrity reform designed to improve coordination between immigration authorities and federal benefit administrators. However, its broader effect would be to establish a citizenship-based eligibility standard across several major federal benefit programs.
Continuity of Stabilizing Treatment Act of 2026
A federal legislative proposal establishing a continuity-first standard for clinically necessary stabilizing treatments within federally regulated health programs. The framework ensures that patients receiving time-sensitive therapy are not exposed to treatment interruption due solely to prior authorization or administrative review processes while preserving appropriate utilization oversight.
Policy Framework Analysis: Violence Prevention, Accountability, and Constitutional Safeguards Act
A constitutional and institutional analysis accompanying the Violence Prevention, Accountability, and Constitutional Safeguards Act, outlining governance architecture, civil liberty protections, and structural violence-prevention mechanisms.
Policy Framework Analysis: Social Security and Medicare Fairness and Solvency Act
A constitutional, fiscal, and implementation analysis accompanying the Social Security and Medicare Fairness and Solvency Act, outlining statutory authority, actuarial structure, and institutional safeguards.
THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS ACT
The Violence Prevention, Accountability, and Constitutional Safeguards Act is a constitutional public-safety framework focused on reducing violent misuse through enforcement, institutional accountability, and prevention — without registries, surveillance, or infringement on lawful firearm ownership. It separates learning from enforcement by creating tightly bounded research and crisis-response safeguards grounded in due process.
Social Security and Medicare Fairness and Solvency Act
To permanently secure Social Security, modernize its revenue base, protect beneficiaries’ purchasing power, and ensure Medicare affordability without reducing earned benefits.
State Proposals
6Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Framework
[{"id":"b-1781465740073-toho6","type":"paragraph","html":"<p><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">This policy framework evaluates an income-based property tax circuit breaker for Ohio. It examines eligibility, benefit design, renter inclusion, funding, administration, and safeguards to provide targeted relief while protecting local government revenue and essential public services.</span></p>"}]
Future Appeals Accessibility Act
[{"id":"b-1780813827509-mnu0a","type":"paragraph","html":"<p>The <strong>Future Appeals Accessibility Act</strong> is a property valuation fairness and appeals-access proposal. It does not reduce tax rates, cap levies, or function as a property tax cut.</p><p>The Act requires property owners to receive at least <strong>120 days’ advance notice</strong> before scheduled property valuation activity. After receiving notice, the property owner has <strong>60 days</strong> to request a full onsite inspection. If the owner does not respond within that period, the State or responsible public authority may proceed with valuation as planned and is not required to send a second notice, reminder, or follow-up warning.</p><p>The proposal is intended to make the valuation process easier for homeowners to understand and use. Many property owners are not aware when valuation activity is coming, what options they have, who to contact, or how to prepare if they believe a valuation is inaccurate. The advance notice requirement gives homeowners time to ask questions, request inspection, gather documents, and determine whether appraisal evidence may be needed.</p><p>After the 60-day inspection-election period expires, the homeowner’s recourse is the established property valuation complaint and appeal process. If the property owner substantially prevails in an appeal, the State shall reimburse reasonable and documented appeal-related costs, including appraisal costs.</p><p>The goal is balanced fairness: property owners receive meaningful notice, inspection access, appeal guidance, and reimbursement when they prove a valuation was wrong, while public authorities retain clear deadlines, administrative certainty, and the ability to proceed when a property owner does not respond.</p>"}]
Protecting Senior and Disabled Homeowners in Ohio
[{"id":"b-1779895125860-huook","type":"paragraph","html":"<p><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">This policy framework proposes targeted property tax protections for senior and disabled homeowners in Ohio through expanded homestead relief, income-based tax stability credits, assessment shock protections, and safeguards against tax-driven displacement. It aims to preserve housing security for fixed-income homeowners while maintaining fiscal stability for schools and local governments.</span></p>"}]
Modernizing Property Tax Administration in Ohio
[{"id":"b-1779737609969-aztl0","type":"paragraph","html":"<p>This framework outlines the modernization of Ohio's property tax administration systems to enhance transparency, accessibility, and procedural fairness while maintaining operational sustainability for local governments and assessment authorities.</p>"}]
Stabilizing Debt in Crisis: An Ohio Framework for Consumer Credit Hardship Protections
Across Ohio, families rely on credit to manage everyday financial shocks—but when hardship hits, the system often makes things worse. Interest continues, fees pile up, and inconsistent lender practices leave borrowers without reliable access to relief. Temporary setbacks are routinely allowed to become long-term debt. This brief proposes the Ohio Consumer Credit Hardship Stabilization Act, a state-level framework requiring all lenders operating in Ohio to provide standardized, enforceable hardship protections. The policy establishes clear eligibility triggers, mandates access to relief options such as interest reduction and fee suspension, and prohibits cost escalation during verified hardship. It also strengthens enforcement through the Ohio Attorney General and provides borrowers with a private right of action. This is a practical, immediately actionable reform that uses existing state authority to ensure that credit markets operate with basic fairness. By stabilizing borrowers at the point of financial distress, Ohio can prevent avoidable debt cycles, improve repayment outcomes, and strengthen household financial resilience across the state.
Continuity of Stabilizing Treatment Act (Ohio)
The Continuity of Stabilizing Treatment Act establishes a continuity-first standard for clinically necessary therapy within Ohio-regulated health plans. The proposal preserves insurer utilization review authority while preventing treatment interruption and protecting patients from retroactive financial liability arising from administrative disputes.
All proposals published by Public Reason Institute are independently developed legislative drafts intended to support public discussion and potential consideration by policymakers. Publication does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or formal introduction.