Home Rule
Local governments need the home rule authority to address the pressing problems facing their communities. And the new abusive state preemption suppresses local organizing for our agenda for racial and economic justice.

Our Vision and Work

Local governments must be able to pass laws and set standards that reflect the unique needs of their communities. 

But in many states, legislators are undermining local power by prohibiting – and in some cases, punishing – local governments from passing specific local policies. This type of abusive state preemption threatens local democracy and silences the voices of the people.

As a network of local elected officials, state interference impacts all the work we do. Instead of treating preemption in an issue silo, we weave proactive preemption analysis and strategy into all of our work. Our work in this area includes preemption analysis to inform local policy solutions and strategies, proactive strategies – including statewide campaigns, in anticipation of and response to abusive preemption.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Communities Rising Up Against Corporate-Driven State Bans

Check out how communities and local leaders are exposing the corporations interfering in our freedom to care for one another. 

Blogs And Featured News

Photo of the Texas Capitol building in Austin lit up at night

Texas “Death Star” Law Ruled Unconstitutional Two Days Before Taking Effect

Local Progress Texas, the Texas AFL-CIO, Every Texan, ACLU of Texas, and Workers Defense Project stress that the Death Star Law directly contradicts Texas' core values of democracy and freedom.

📎 Federal Resource Round-Up

Important updates and opportunities to take action.
People participate in a rally against the Trump administration’s federal takeover of the District of Columbia on August 11, 2025, in Washington, DC.(Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

📎 Federal Resource Round-Up

Important updates and opportunities to take action.
Eduardo Martinez speaks during a press conference at a homeless encampment in Richmond, California, on September 15, 2022. (Jane Tyska / Digital First Media / East Bay Times via Getty Images)

Richmond Progressive Alliance’s Lessons for Local Organizers

It doesn’t often make national headlines, but the city of Richmond, California, has been home to a successful progressive political reform project in recent years. Here are ten lessons for other municipal reformers from the Richmond Progressive Alliance.

Resources

Want to Get More involved?

Check out our steering committees! Our work is member-led and our issue steering committees offer a big picture perspective on LP’s programmatic work.