Representative Scott Holcomb: Better Protections for Victims of Wrongful Conviction

The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously passed NewDEAL Leader Representative Scott Holcomb’s legislation to improve the process for compensating victims of wrongful conviction. Under the bill, a newly created panel of legal experts would review potential wrongful convictions and make a compensation recommendation to a House Committee, replacing the need for a House member to file a special resolution. The measure would have the state pay victims between $50,000 and $100,000 per year spent incarcerated. According to Holcomb, 38 states have a similar system in place for compensating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Clare Gilbert, Executive Director of the Georgia Innocence Project, which works to free the wrongfully convicted, praised the legislation’s passage, saying “This bill does provide some financial security for exonerees to rebuild their lives in freedom.” The legislation will now head to the Senate. Read more here.

Senator Eric Lesser: New Future of Work Report in Massachusetts

A new report published by Massachusetts’ Future of Work Commission, which is chaired by NewDEAL Leader Senator Eric Lesser, calls for the state to double the rate at which it is training skilled workers. Lesser authored legislation to create the Commission based on his experience chairing the NewDEAL Forum’s Future of Work policy group, and he hopes the report will serve as a roadmap for his state to adapt and create economic opportunities in a rapidly changing world. Among the main takeaways from the report are the need for more funds for certificate programs and short-term training options, more flexible transportation options for those who are working hybrid or unusual schedules, additional funding for affordable housing stock, and an increased focus on diversity and inclusion in the workforce, including increased language training for immigrants. For more, see the Commission’s final report here.

Senator Barry Finegold: Expansion of Voting in Massachusetts

A committee co-chaired by NewDEAL Leader Massachusetts Senator Barry Finegold recently brokered a deal in both the House and Senate to pass a package of voting reforms that include permanent mail-in voting, increased ballot accessibility for voters with disabilities and overseas service members, and updated election administration procedures for the state. The reforms also make voter registration windows more flexible, allowing voters to register as late as 10 days before an election rather than the original 20 days. “This landmark legislation will empower voters and strengthen our democracy,” Finegold said. Read more about this important legislation, and keep an eye out for more from the NewDEAL Forum on solutions to protect voter access and build election integrity as the new Democracy Working Group ramps up.

Senator Raumesh Akbari: Expanding Black History Education

This week, the Tennessee governor signed a bill co-sponsored by NewDEAL Leader Senator Raumesh Akbari, expanding multiculturalism in the K-12 curriculum with special attention to Black history instruction. Scheduled to be enacted in the 2025-26 school year, the law will help ensure that “students get a well-rounded education that includes every contribution [to American history], whether it’s from someone who’s Black or white, of Mexican heritage, or Asian heritage,” according to Senator Akbari. Read more details about the bill, which comes on the heels of last year’s passage of a law that banned “critical race theory” and the discussion of racial or gender privilege in schools.

Mayor Ron Nirenburg: A Model Job-Training Program

This week, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh visited San Antonio, where he praised NewDEALer Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s Ready to Work program. The $200 million program has a goal to train 28,000 low-income residents for better paying jobs by the end of 2025. The program formally launched in May, and so far nearly 6,000 people have applied. During his visit, Secretary Walsh said “We need to be more intentional about investing in workforce development, and we need to be doing it with cities…Programs like Ready to Work should be replicated around the country.” Read more about the program here, and also check out the Labor Department’s Good Jobs Initiative, which is seeking to improve job quality nationwide.

Mayor Libby Schaaf: Education Investments to Change Lives

Last Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris joined NewDEAL Leader Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and other elected officials to launch The Generation Fund, a $50 million investment in the lives of low-income babies and students aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty. The Generation Fund will provide $500 college savings accounts for all babies from low-income families, with a target of creating accounts for 10,000 babies by 2035. In addition, the funding will pay for scholarships of $1000 a year for all low-income public school students pursuing a college degree or a trade certificate with a target of providing scholarships for 20,000 students by 2035. This investment builds on Mayor Schaaf’s long-standing work to invest in vulnerable students through her groundbreaking Oakland Promise program, which address challenges from cradle to college and career. A group of NewDEAL Leaders will have the opportunity to see Oakland’s education work up close, as NewDEAL joins Mayor Schaaf in Oakland on August 29 to talk about quality career pathways and broadband access and discuss lessons learned, best practices, and ideas. Keep your eyes open for posts and takeaways from our trip!

Mayor Levar Stoney: A New Era for Richmond

This week, NewDEAL Leader Richmond, VA Mayor Levar Stoney delivered his state of the city address, highlighting his ongoing equity agenda and how new investments in housing, economic growth, and public safety initiatives will make a difference for his community. In addition, Mayor Stoney laid out new programs to: spur further economic growth, building on infrastructure improvements; support students, including a pilot program to help get high school graduates through community college; and boost public safety with plans to tackle gun violence along with police recruitment, retention and accountability. “Our past is no longer leading our present. Now, we are leading our future,” Stoney proclaimed. “A future that includes all Richmonders, no matter the color of their skin, whom they pray to or whom they love.” Read more about Mayor Stoney’s State of the City address here.

Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari: New Efforts to Increase Public Safety with Better Policing

As the Memphis community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers, NewDEAL Leader Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari, who represents the city, introduced a legislative package to strengthen police reforms in the state. Among the proposals, Akbari addresses the urging of RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother, to establish a duty to intervene for any police officers when they observe a fellow officer using excessive force. Other legislation would address criminal consequences around the improper use of force and the failure to render medical aid to individuals injured during an interaction with officers. In a statement, Akbari said she understands the heavy burden on police officers, but that the new laws will lead to better policing, “After George Floyd, Tennessee was one of the few states that adopted many of the ‘8 Can’t Wait’ legislation, around chokeholds, around duty to intervene, around use of force, but for me we need to strengthen those laws right now. We need to actually have real criminal consequences.” Read more about Senator Akbari’s efforts to build on and strengthen the landmark police reform bill enacted in the wake of the death of George Floyd in 2020.

Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine: Baby Bonds in Nevada

This week, NewDEAL Leader Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine proposed a “Baby Bonds” program to provide every baby born under Medicaid with a $3,200 bond that would become available once the child turned 18. Advocates of “Baby Bond” programs cite their effectiveness in combating the racial wealth gap and enabling more people to pay for education, start a business, or buy a home. For more on Baby Bonds, check out this Urban Institute explainer from last year. Separately, Conine announced that the state’s rainy-day fund surpassed $900 million, a high water mark that he recognized as evidence of Nevada’s strong financial position.

Baby Bonds in Nevada

This week, NewDEAL Leader Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine proposed a “Baby Bonds” program to provide every baby born under Medicaid with a $3,200 bond that would become available once the child turned 18. Advocates of “Baby Bond” programs cite their effectiveness in combating the racial wealth gap and enabling more people to pay for education, start a business, or buy a home. For more on Baby Bonds, check out this Urban Institute explainer from last year. Separately, Conine announced that the state’s rainy-day fund surpassed $900 million, a high water mark that he recognized as evidence of Nevada’s strong financial position.

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