As the 2025 legislative season unfolds, Southern states are at different stages—some have adjourned, others are actively debating bills, and a few have just begun. Lawmakers are navigating a mix of state and federal shifts, including changes in funding priorities and agency roles. This update provides a snapshot of how legislation across the region is shaping opportunity and community well-being.

Legislative Session Status as of April 30, 2025

• Adjourned: Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee
• In Session: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana

Key Themes Emerging This Session

As legislative sessions progress across the South, state leaders are navigating a shifting landscape influenced by changing federal priorities, evolving community needs, and long-standing regional challenges. While each state is unique, several policy trends are surfacing that have broad implications for access to opportunity, economic stability, and community well-being.

As Southern legislatures navigate the 2025 session, many are reevaluating how their states engage with longstanding federal programs in education, healthcare, and workforce development. In Mississippi and Georgia, proposals to reshape diversity initiatives in schools and universities reflect broader shifts in how states are approaching equity-related programming. Tennessee lawmakers are prioritizing school-based supports, including free meals and full-service community schools, while Texas has filed several bills designed to create state-level alternatives to federally tied workforce funding – many of them focused on child care and employment infrastructure.

At the same time, several states are advancing legislation that could centralize decision-making at the state level, limiting local authority on issues like housing, labor, and environmental protections. While Texas HB 2127 has already curtailed local rulemaking, similar bills in Georgia and Mississippi could further restrict tenant protections. Meanwhile, policymakers are exploring different approaches to public safety: South Carolina is investing in community-led violence prevention, while Florida and Tennessee are updating school safety protocols and behavioral threat assessments. Civic engagement remains a focal point as well, with Georgia and Florida considering new limits on voter registration partnerships and nonprofit election activities.

Southern Legislative Highlights by Policy Priorities

1. Economic Security and Opportunity for All

Everyone deserves the chance to work hard and build a secure future.

• Kentucky Senate Bill 234: This bill proposed making non-compete clauses unenforceable for most workers, with exceptions for senior executives, creating fair economic opportunities for all workers, especially those often excluded from wealth-building and mobility opportunities. Though unsuccessful in this year’s legislative session, bills like this one support workforce fluidity and talent mobility which are key elements of a dynamic, competitive labor market.
• Louisiana House Bill 395: This bill proposes an expedited review process for workforce training programs to ensure alignment with the state’s economic development projects, supporting responsive, demand-driven training pipelines to ensure that jobseekers can access educational programs that lead to viable careers.

Watchlist: Several states, including Alabama and Florida, are considering bills related to wage growth and wage ordinances, potentially impacting local efforts to improve economic conditions. While the Alabama bill supports worker protections and promotes economic growth through localized wage-setting authority, the Florida bill could constrain efforts to improve earnings and reduce local flexibility to respond to community-specific economic challenges.

2. Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation

Strong education systems fuel economic mobility and social cohesion.

• Florida Senate Bill 1618: This bill proposes broad reforms to Florida’s education system, including provisions that lay the groundwork for workforce readiness and academic alignment.
• North Carolina House Bill 947: This bipartisan bill (Every Child Reads Act) mandates early literacy screening and intervention for students with dyslexia, requires middle school literacy instruction to align with the science of reading, directly supporting foundational skills that are necessary for student readiness for higher-level coursework and workforce pathways.

Watchlist: Several states, including Florida and Texas, are taking actions and considering legislation that could impact curriculum content and academic freedom in public institutions.

3. Infrastructure, Housing, and Safe Communities

Thriving communities depend on reliable infrastructure and stable housing.

• Alabama House Bill 91: This bill supports affordable housing development by empowering local housing authorities to expand and modernize their services, supporting infrastructure improvements, and increasing the potential for affordable housing development.
• Florida House Bill 247: This legislation promotes housing access and affordability through zoning reform, particularly in areas where land use restrictions have limited growth. It advances affordable housing by removing zoning barriers that limit the creation of lower-cost housing options and supports density and community stability, particularly for multigenerational households and military families.
• Texas Senate Bill 840: This bill enables the adaptive reuse of underutilized properties into affordable housing, addressing both housing shortages and sustainable land use.

Watchlist: Some states are considering legislation that could impact local control over housing and infrastructure decisions. For example, Florida’s House Bill 991 proposes phasing out Community Redevelopment Agencies, which could affect affordable housing initiatives and hinder local efforts to address blighted areas and reduce the availability of affordable housing.

4. Healthcare Access and Family Well-Being

Access to affordable care supports strong families and a stronger South.

• Mississippi House Bill 1401: This legislation, co-sponsored by Unum Fellow Rep. Zakiya Summers, enacted into law in the 2025 session, aims to enhance healthcare access by formalizing the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs), particularly benefiting underserved communities. By seeking Medicaid reimbursement for these services, this bill would ensure sustainability and integration of CHWs into the broader healthcare delivery system.
• Virginia advanced several measures to improve maternal and community health outcomes, including dedicated funding for free clinics and maternal health programs (House Bill 1600), the creation of a statewide Maternal Health Coordinator Program (Senate Bill 1347), and a requirement for hospitals to adopt standardized maternal emergency protocols (House Bill 2753). These efforts reflect a strong commitment to expanding access to care and supporting family well-being across the state.

Watchlist: Several states are considering legislation that could impact healthcare access, including proposals affecting Medicaid eligibility and reproductive health services.

5. Public Safety and Justice Reform

Safe communities are built through trust, fairness, and effective public systems.

• Texas House Bill 2417: This bill aims to enhance justice for wrongfully convicted individuals by broadening eligibility criteria for state compensation and facilitating the expunction of related arrest records. This measure supports restorative justice principles by acknowledging and addressing the consequences of wrongful imprisonment.
• Tennessee House Bill 601 (and companion Senate Bill 256): This legislation establishes a process allowing individuals who pleaded guilty to crimes to present new evidence of their innocence, addressing situations where guilty pleas were made under duress or without full understanding. This reform acknowledges the complexities of plea bargains and provides a mechanism for rectifying wrongful convictions, enhancing the integrity of the justice system.

Watchlist: Several states are considering legislation that could impact public safety and justice systems, including proposals affecting law enforcement practices and community-based interventions.​

6. Democracy and Civic Participation

Fair, accessible elections are the foundation of a healthy democracy.

• Georgia House Bill 397: This bill proposes significant changes to Georgia’s election laws. While it includes provisions that could enhance voter access, such as optional Saturday voting, it also contains elements that may restrict opportunities and shift control away from local election officials, leading to concerns about its overall impact on democratic participation.
• Texas Senate Bill 76: This bill seeks to eliminate the Countywide Polling Place Program which has facilitated broader voter participation. The elimination of this system could reduce accessibility and convenience for many voters, particularly those in rural areas or with limited transportation options, thereby diverging from efforts to promote widespread civic engagement.
• Virginia House Joint Resolution 2 and Senate Joint Resolution 248: These proposed amendments to the Virginia constitution enshrine voting rights and aim to safeguard access to the ballot, protecting and expanding democratic participation and aligning with efforts to promote widespread civic engagement. As constitutional amendments in Virginia must be passed in two consecutive sessions with an intervening election, these measures will need to be passed again in the next legislative session before being presented to voters in a referendum.

Watchlist: Additional measures under consideration in Southern states include proposals to implement stricter voter ID requirements and change voter registration processes. These developments warrant close monitoring for their potential impact on voter access and participation.​

7. Clean Energy and Environmental Stewardship

Clean air, water, and climate resilience are essential for Southern communities to thrive.

• Virginia Senate Bill 823: This bill requires electric utilities to submit comprehensive workforce plans when constructing renewable energy facilities. This type of legislation encourages strategic, people-centered renewable energy development that includes workforce planning and supports clean energy transition, laying the groundwork for fair job creation in this growing sector.

Watchlist: Several Southern states are considering legislation that could impact clean energy development and environmental protection. Notably, Texas lawmakers have introduced bills that would impose new regulations on wind and solar companies, including requirements for state-level permits and environmental studies. These proposals have raised concerns among industry stakeholders about potential obstacles to renewable energy expansion. ​

Looking Ahead: Navigating Change, Advancing Opportunity

This year has brought both renewed challenges and important opportunities across the region. From efforts to modernize workforce development and expand access to housing, to proposed changes in election systems and environmental regulations, the legislative landscape continues to evolve in ways that demand attention, action, and collaboration.

Our commitment remains the same: to ensure that all people, regardless of background or geography, have the opportunity to live in safe, thriving communities. As policy shifts unfold across the region, we’ll continue monitoring developments, sharing timely updates, and supporting leaders and communities working to advance practical, people-focused solutions.

Thank you for staying connected and engaged with our work. We look forward to continuing this journey as we work to bridge divides and foster connections across differences.