Experts Share Advice on Navigating 2025 State Sessions

As policymakers and government affairs professionals look ahead to the 2025 state sessions, the post-election landscape might seem familiar. Despite a few red shifts in state legislatures, party control remained largely the same, and even the change in federal power brings with it the return of a former president.

But appearances can be deceiving.

State politics could face some big shake-ups next year, so staying informed and prepared is critical. That was a key lesson from FiscalNote’s recent webinar, “State Sessions 2025: What to Expect & How to Prepare,” in which four industry experts shared advice and trends, including a possible shift in how the federal government funds the states. Read on to gain more actionable strategies from their conversation.

Focus on Budgets

“Certainly, the amount of money that states have gotten from the federal government is about to decline,” said Alan Greenblatt, panel moderator and editor of Governing magazine. Greenblatt pointed out that the American Rescue Plan Act, which directly gave states $175 billion, is set to end this month. And billions more dollars sent to states through the Infrastructure Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and other Biden-era legislation will run out or come under threat in the new Congress and Administration, Greenblatt said. “Budgets are the primary concern for states, and I think in the current moment, [they] very much will be a focus.”

While state budgets fared relatively well in recent years, some policymakers wonder how much longer states can afford to invest in Medicaid expansions and other state-level initiatives.

“I've talked to a number of states this past week who have budget shortfalls regardless of what happens at the federal level,” said Hemi Tewarson, president and executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works with all 50 states.

Trends and Hot Topics

In addition to their perennial concerns about health care and education, states could grapple with many new or emerging issues in 2025, including the economic impact of potential tariffs, widespread immigration changes, and continuing mental health crises.

“Coming out of the pandemic, the need for behavioral health services really skyrocketed, particularly with youth, but also with others,” Tewarson said. “That need is not going to go away.”

In addition, “there’s a lot of talk in Congress already about imposing work requirements or otherwise cutting funding for Medicaid,” said Greenblatt, “which is obviously a huge fiscal transfer program to states, among other things.”

The Trump Administration has also signaled interest in shifting more spending control to states. This could come from block grants that states would receive to run various programs instead of dedicated funding for specific areas, such as education. It’s a move that could fundamentally change the U.S. Department of Education’s role in educational funding. “I think that’s one of the biggest things that we'll be watching for in education,” said Debbie Smith, vice president of government relations with Curriculum Associates, which supports educational assessments, curriculum, and professional learning across all 50 states.

Smith also pointed to data privacy and security, particularly concerning kids, as areas of focus in education. “We’re starting to see states put out guidance around AI,” she said. “People seem to be coming to the table from both sides to figure out what that means.”

Preparing for the Ride

Finding common ground isn’t easy. Divisions may be cropping up even within parties, according to Kali Wicks, president of Treasure State Strategies, a bipartisan lobbying firm in Helena, Montana. Wicks noted that the moderate and far-right factions within Montana’s heavily Republican leadership are not always aligned — a phenomenon she believes is also happening elsewhere in the country. “In both chambers, what we’ve seen is a little bit of a fracturing of the party,” said Wicks, who is also a former city commissioner in Helena.

Here are panelists' tips on building stakeholder relationships and engaging constituents to set yourself up for success in 2025.

Build relationships before sessions start 

“I always try to go to home districts, meet in a local coffee shop, talk to our legislators about their issues and the things that they really care about, and make a personal connection,” Wicks said.  

Be adaptable

“The other thing I always recommend is staying very flexible,” Wicks continued. That means not just developing plan A, but having plans B and C in the wings as new deals are made or priorities shift.

Keep legislators informed

Getting the right data to the right leaders at the right time is key, according to Smith. “It’s much easier for them to talk about issues — whether it be school choice or assessment —  if there’s data they can fall back on,” she said.

In cases where government affairs professionals are counting on business leaders and others who don’t focus exclusively on policy to be subject-matter experts, Wicks recommended doing frequent “policy 101” sessions to keep people informed and empowered.

Smith also counsels these stakeholders: “Tell a story. Make it personal. Connect it to something that can be remembered, and close with your ask.”

Think beyond your own state

“It’s really important to have a tool and a tracker that not only has a single state focus, but allows you to look at what the trends are in other states,” said Wicks. Bill tracking as a DIY effort can only get you so far. FiscalNote State greatly enhances your state legislative tracking capabilities to track multiple bills in multiple states in a highly customizable platform, allowing you to search by keywords, focusing on exactly what you want to see, and providing that information in email updates right to your inbox.

Wicks also recommended attending national conferences covering state issues (like NASHP), where legislators can connect with experts and exchange ideas.

Along those lines, Tewarson stressed the importance of cultivating a deep understanding of the high-priority issues going into your session, including their legislative history and possible future directions.

“It’s building that trust,” she said. “We’re not able to go shake hands with everybody in the state house, but we have wonderful relationships with legislators across the country.”