State Policy

If you live in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, or Minnesota, stay informed on what is happening at your state capitol during the legislative session with the Center's bill tracker and biweekly legislative updates.

Priorities and updates

Click here for your state-specific updates or browse the blogs below.

Contact us

Nebraska: Audra Espinoza, policy manager, 402.902.0953 or [email protected]

Iowa: Cynthia Farmer, policy manager, 402.687.2100 ext. 1034 or [email protected]

South Dakota: Whitney Stockwell, policy manager, 402.687.2100 or [email protected]

Minnesota: Cora Hoffer, senior policy associate, 507.513.8545 or [email protected]

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Recent Blog Posts

Beige graphic that says "Center for Rural Affairs 2026 Minnesota Memo Legislative Update" with an outline of the state of Minnesota and a photo of the state capitol building

Cora Hoffer

05.21.2026

Minnesota Memo - Minnesota Legislative Update

Legislators continue to work hard to pass bills before session ends on May 18. With a split House and near split Senate, bipartisan support is crucial to push legislation past the finish line.

Policy

Cynthia Farmer

05.08.2026

Field Notes - Iowa Legislative Update

After nearly 35 hours of continuous work, Iowa legislators adjourned the 2026 legislative session on Sunday, May 3. This year, 1,790 bills were introduced, and 146 (8.1%) passed both chambers and were sent to the Governor for her signature. Gov. Reynolds has until Tuesday, June 2, to sign or veto legislation.

Policy

A red haired woman in a tan suit coat sits in a large black office chair in front of a wide and polished wooden table. She speaks into a microphone and has a sheet of white paper in front of her. In the background are two people sitting at a desk that forms a horseshoe around the middle desk.

Audra Espinoza

05.07.2026

Beyond dollars and data: microenterprises are ‘the heartbeat of Nebraska’

My mother-in-law, Ramona, came to the U.S. as a very young woman with one young child, another on the way, and no assets. A Mexican immigrant from rural Meoqui, Chihuahua, she struggled and sacrificed...

Policy

Recent Publications

SNAP Economic Multiplier Effect

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food at authorized retailers. Beyond improving access to food, SNAP stimulates local economies through what is known as the multiplier effect. Economic activity that ripples throughout...

Policy

Rural Grocery Case Study: Big “G” Foods

This case study series showcases rural grocery stores across Iowa, highlighting four small-town groceries, their histories, and what it takes to run a small grocery store in rural America. The Center for Rural Affairs provides one-on-one counseling to store owners in southwest Iowa and advocates for...

Small Towns
Farm and Food
Policy

Wind Energy Presents Opportunities for Minnesota

Wind energy installations have grown significantly in the U.S. over the past 25 years, increasing wind power generating capacity from 2.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2000 to 150.1 GW in April 2024. While Minnesota has been experiencing the benefits of wind energy since its first wind farm was built in 1994, there is further potential for the state to leverage the industry’s growth.