SPN's Bob Williams Awards celebrate state think tanks doing exceptional work to develop and advance policy solutions that strengthen communities and improve lives.

The Bob Williams Awards for Outstanding Policy Achievement celebrate SPN affiliates doing exceptional work to help states implement free-market solutions that will have national impact. The awards were named in honor of our Network’s most iconic policy maven, Bob Williams, and are presented yearly at SPN’s Annual Meeting.

The 2025 awards will be handed out at the Celebration of Success Awards Dinner at SPN’s 33rd Annual Meeting, August 25-28, New Orleans, LA.

Learn more about the award:

Announcing the 2025 Bob Williams Award Finalists

Congratulations to all our outstanding finalists! Voting for the 2025 Bob Williams Awards is now closed. The 2025 awards will be handed out at the Celebration of Success Awards Dinner at SPN’s 33rd Annual Meeting, August 25-28, New Orleans, LA.

Jump to a category:

Most Influential Research Finalists 

Recognizes the organization whose original research achieved a high level of influence in academia, media, or policy-making arenas. 

Iowans for Tax Relief –  Shining Light on Education Spending and Waste 
In response to Iowa’s alarming 2024 NAEP scores—showing 71 percent of fourth graders below proficient in reading and 73 percent of eighth graders in math—Iowans for Tax Relief launched the ITR Report Card, an interactive web platform offering fiscal and academic data for all 327 school districts. Despite $3 billion in annual school property taxes and additional state aid, student outcomes remain stagnant. Recognizing that universal school choice alone wouldn’t help students remaining in public schools, ITR created a tool to empower local decision-makers with transparent, accessible data. Key insights revealed only 47.7 percent of budgets go to instruction (well below the national benchmark), spending per student has risen nearly 20 percent in five years, and chronic absenteeism averages over 21 percent. Many school board members, previously reliant on administrators, now have the independent data needed to make informed decisions. The ITR Report Card shifts education advocacy from static reports to real-time engagement—sparking accountability, informing reform, and putting power back in the hands of parents and local leaders. 

Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty – What Would a Repeal of Act 10 Cost You? 
To defend Act 10, Wisconsin’s landmark 2011 Budget Repair Bill, from potential repeal, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty gathered and analyzed a decade of school district and local government spending data. The research showed that Act 10 delivered billions in taxpayer savings by curbing public-sector salary and benefit costs. With a newly liberal state Supreme Court posing a threat to the law, the campaign sought to make Act 10’s impact personal and urgent. Key findings revealed that repeal would cost public school districts $1.788 billion annually, reduce local budget flexibility, and force difficult choices such as service cuts or tax hikes. A typical district could face $2.2 million in added costs, potentially raising property taxes by $624 per homeowner. The campaign’s calculator tool helps taxpayers, school leaders, and policymakers see these impacts in real time. By translating abstract policy into pocketbook consequences, the effort strengthens the case for preserving one of Wisconsin’s most influential reforms. 

Institute for Reforming Government – Immigration Crisis in Wisconsin: A Case Study in Whitewater 
In June 2024, the Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) released The Immigration Crisis in Wisconsin: A Case Study in Whitewater, a groundbreaking report revealing how surging undocumented immigration is reshaping small-town life in the Midwest. Through open records requests and local interviews, IRG uncovered sharp demographic shifts, strained school and emergency services, rising crime, and a lack of transparency from state officials. The report found that over one-third of Whitewater students now require English Learner services, nonprofits are overwhelmed by housing needs, and local law enforcement faces increased gang and drug activity. Communications revealed Governor Evers’ administration urged local leaders to keep migrant-related meetings “out of the press,” exposing a troubling lack of accountability. Conducted by IRG’s Center for Investigative Oversight, the report reframed the immigration debate by spotlighting the burden on heartland communities far from the border. It has since become a model for similar research, expanding IRG’s influence in national policy discussions. 

Best Issue Campaign Finalists 

Recognizes the organization that ran the highest quality issue education campaign towards achieving a policy win. 

Opportunity Arkansas – Saving Education Freedom in Arkansas 
 The misleadingly named “Educational Rights Amendment,” a proposed ballot initiative, threatened to end education freedom, expand welfare without funding, and undermine religious liberty in Arkansas. While the initiative was initially under the radar, Opportunity Arkansas quickly launched a campaign to expose its dangers before it gained momentum. Within days, the team developed a strategic plan, created the “For AR Families sub-brand,” produced shareable explainer videos, conducted messaging polling, and engaged media statewide to inform voters. The campaign reached hundreds of thousands through earned media, direct mail, and a comprehensive digital strategy, while equipping partners and parents with resources to push back. Opportunity Arkansas also uncovered deceptive signature-gathering tactics, prompting public outcry and halting these efforts. As a result of their fast thinking, the amendment’s sponsors failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, protecting Arkansas families and preserving education freedom in the state.

Alabama Policy Institute – Implementing the CHOOSE Act 
After passing universal school choice in 2024, Alabama Policy Institute (API) led a powerful campaign to transform the state’s CHOOSE Act from a promise into a reality. Starting with a $100 million floor—enough for just 14,000 students—API launched a yearlong, multi-channel campaign to ensure every eligible child could access educational freedom. Using storytelling, dynamic billboards, geofencing, targeted ads, radio, op-eds, and grassroots mobilization, API built momentum across diverse communities, resulting in 36,873 student applications. Their strategic pressure on lawmakers paid off, nearly doubling the program’s funding by securing an additional $85 million, allowing over 36,000 students to participate in Alabama’s universal school choice program. API’s work turned Alabama’s school choice program from underfunded to a national model for advancing educational freedom.  

Center of the American Experiment – End the Government Shutdown 
The 2024 elections in Minnesota brought a divided House with 67 Republicans to 67 Democrats. But the balance shifted when it was discovered that a Democratic representative had violated residency requirements, leading to a successful election contest that removed him from office. This gave Republicans a temporary 67-66 majority and importantly, the ability to choose the permanent House Speaker. Determined to block these efforts, Democrats chose to boycott the session entirely, denying a quorum and shutting down the state government.  

In response, Center of the American Experiment launched its “End the Government Shutdown” campaign, mobilizing citizens through emails, social media, and targeted ads. After inspiring more than 20,000 citizens to contact their legislators, the campaign pressured Democrats to return after 23 days.   Their return allowed Republicans to elect a speaker and form a highly sought anti-fraud committee. Using data from American Experiment’s Scandal Tracker, the committee immediately began addressing Minnesota’s $661 million fraud crisis. This victory shows how citizen action can break gridlock and advance transparency, even in tough political environments like that of Minnesota. 

Best State-Based Litigation Finalists 

Recognizes litigative efforts at the state and local level, which help to advance the cause of free markets and federalism. 

Upper Midwest Law Center – Fighting for the First Amendment in Schools 
The Upper Midwest Law Center has achieved a groundbreaking First Amendment victory that will transform public education across the Eighth Circuit. In Cajune v. Independent School District 194, the federal appeals court ruled that schools cannot selectively permit certain political messages while banning opposing viewpoints—a practice affecting millions of students in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. 

This four-year legal battle culminated when Lakeville School District was forced to remove all political posters and restore classroom neutrality after the court rejected their “government speech” defense. The precedent now prevents school districts from using taxpayer-funded institutions to promote partisan agendas while silencing dissenting voices. 

With schools required to “make school school again,” this victory redirects precious educational resources from political indoctrination back to actual learning, empowering parents and students throughout the region with enforceable constitutional protections against viewpoint discrimination. 

Beacon Center of Tennessee – Ending Nashville’s Stormwater Capacity Fee 
The Beacon Center of Tennessee delivered a crushing blow to government overreach with a landmark class action lawsuit that forced Nashville to abandon its illegal stormwater fee and pay back over $1.4 million to 361 wrongfully charged homeowners. This groundbreaking victory came just days after filing—Nashville didn’t even attempt to defend the unconstitutional scheme. 

The city’s predatory fee targeted families simply trying to build or improve their homes, charging $0.71 per square foot while forcing property owners to fund infrastructure that should be paid by the public. One client was hit with over $6,000 just to expand his home for his growing family. 

This decisive legal triumph sends shockwaves through Tennessee’s local governments, warning them against similar unconstitutional money grabs that drive up housing costs. The settlement not only delivers justice to hundreds of families but establishes a powerful precedent that protects property rights and makes housing more affordable for all Tennesseans. 

Liberty Justice Center – Championing Election Equality in Illinois 
A groundbreaking constitutional victory has shattered one of the most blatant election manipulation schemes in recent Illinois history. In Collazo v. Illinois State Board of Elections, 14 Republican candidates were vindicated after Democrats passed a last-minute law specifically designed to kick them off the November 2024 ballot mid-election cycle. 

The Liberty Justice Center‘s stunning legal triumph at the Illinois Supreme Court not only restored these candidates to the ballot but delivered a crushing blow to decades of insider control and selective enforcement of election laws. This unanimous ruling from a majority-Democratic court sends shockwaves through the political establishment, proving that courts will not tolerate partisan manipulation of democratic processes.  The victory opens the door for election reform nationwide, empowering voters with real choices and protecting future candidates from bureaucratic sabotage designed to rig elections before they even begin. 

Biggest Home State Win Finalists 

Recognizes the organization that achieved a significant policy win in their home state.  

Pelican Institute for Public Policy – Bringing ‘One Door’ to Louisiana 
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy led a multi-year campaign to transform Louisiana’s fragmented safety net into a unified, outcomes-focused system. The result: passage of House Bills 617 and 624, making Louisiana the first state since the 1990s—and only the second ever—to integrate social services and workforce programs under a “One Door” model. This reform addresses the state’s persistent poverty and low labor force participation by shifting from a compliance-driven system to one focused on independence and self-sufficiency. Pelican built bipartisan momentum through policy research, audits, national partnerships, strategic communications, and close engagement with Governor Jeff Landry’s administration. Their efforts included convening a task force, hosting site visits, and advising on legislation that ultimately passed unanimously. The campaign also laid the groundwork for federal reforms through continued work with the Alliance for Opportunity. Now a model for other states, “One Door” promises to reshape how Louisiana connects citizens to opportunity and long-term prosperity. 

Empower Mississippi and Mississippi Center for Public Policy – Phasing Out Mississippi’s Income Tax 
In 2025, Mississippi became the first state since Alaska to set a course toward full elimination of its income tax—thanks to campaigns led by Empower Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Public Policy (MCPP). Empower built years of public momentum, releasing policy reports, publishing a tax calculator, and engaging leaders through media and grassroots advocacy. MCPP led legislative strategy, crafting the “Build Up Mississippi Act” with innovative revenue triggers that alleviated fiscal concerns and secured bipartisan support. Together, the groups helped pass House Bill 1, a historic law that phases out Mississippi’s income tax over the next decade. The campaign’s success was fueled by coalition-building, targeted digital outreach, legislative testimony, and media engagement. The law will return up to $100 million annually to taxpayers once triggers are met—benefiting over one million households. This victory marks a turning point in Mississippi’s economic policy and creates a model for pro-growth tax reform across the nation. 

Goldwater Institute – Proposition 312: The Safe Neighborhoods Act
Proposition 312: The Safe Neighborhoods Act was a groundbreaking initiative led by the Goldwater Institute to hold local governments accountable for failing to enforce public nuisance laws—particularly in response to Phoenix’s humanitarian disaster known as “The Zone.” Passed in November 2024 with over 58 percent support, this first-of-its-kind measure allows property owners to claim tax refunds for cleanup costs when cities neglect homeless encampment-related issues. Goldwater crafted the policy, built a bipartisan coalition, and drove public support through media, litigation, and strategic outreach. The act has already spurred policy shifts in at least six Arizona cities, including bans on public camping near schools and parks. Rooted in the principle that government should not tax what it fails to protect, Proposition 312 reshaped public safety policy without growing bureaucracy. More than a local reform, it offers a replicable model for communities nationwide confronting similar urban breakdowns—proving that freedom-focused, citizen-driven solutions can restore order and civic trust. 

Biggest Win for Freedom Finalists 

Palmetto Promise Institute – Giving Hope to South Carolina Students 
After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the state’s ESA program, Palmetto Promise Institute (PPI) sprang into action—determined to protect families and preserve education choice. As the organization that introduced ESAs to the state in 2017, PPI responded to the crisis by mobilizing parents, launching a legal and legislative strategy, forming an advocacy capacity to their Durable Freedom Infrastructure, and raising $2.5 million through an emergency Rescue Fund to keep students in their schools.   

Their swift, integrated response—grounded in policy, communications, and compassion—resulted in the passage of a stronger, permanent ESA law. Today, 10,000 students are benefiting, 98 percent of families have reapplied, and every scholarship has been claimed. PPI’s bold, all-hands approach turned a devastating court loss into a landmark policy comeback. More than a state win, it’s a roadmap for the school choice movement nationwide—proving that when education freedom is threatened, state-based organizations like PPI are best positioned to lead the charge and deliver lasting results. 

The Buckeye Institute – Changing the Energy Game in Ohio  
In one of Ohio’s most significant energy reforms in a generation, The Buckeye Institute led the charge to pass House Bill 15—cutting costly subsidies, restoring free-market competition, and securing affordable, reliable energy for families and businesses. Recognizing this historic opportunity, Buckeye built a broad coalition of tech leaders, manufacturers, and grassroots allies to push back against monopolistic utility interests.   

Their expert research, trusted policy counsel, and relentless outreach flipped the script in the statehouse—defeating entrenched lobbies and energizing legislative action. The result: a sweeping win that repeals $582 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies, reduces regulation, and ensures electricity pricing is transparent and competitive. Thanks to Buckeye’s leadership, Ohio is now positioned as a national model for market-driven energy policy—one that enables innovation, strengthens economic growth, and protects consumers from special-interest influence. This victory reaffirms that principled, state-based policy leadership can take on entrenched interests—and win. 

Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs – Holding the State Supreme Court Accountable 
For the first time in Oklahoma history, voters removed a sitting Supreme Court justice—and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) led the charge. In 2024, OCPA, OCPA Action, and People for Opportunity launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to expose judicial activism and educate voters on the state’s highest court. Through the release of Oklahoma’s first-ever Judicial Scorecard, a 75-county grassroots tour, and strategic digital and media outreach, OCPA gave Oklahomans the tools to evaluate their justices. The result: Justice Yvonne Kauger, the Court’s most liberal member, was not retained.   

That victory shifted the Court’s ideological balance and led to the appointment of a conservative constitutionalist. OCPA continued its advocacy through the nomination process, ensuring transparency and high standards. Thanks to their leadership, judicial retention in Oklahoma is no longer a formality—it’s now a real check on judicial power and a major win for limited government. 

2025 Process and Criteria

Project Criteria: Projects occurring between July 2024 and June 2025 will be accepted

Finalist Selection Process: Finalists will be selected by an internal committee composed of SPN staff with a wide range of backgrounds and fields of expertise. The committee is selected based on their understanding of the policy landscape, and operations of state think tanks.

Scoring Guide: All nominations will be appraised according to this scoring guide . Please direct any questions to Taylor Anderson (tanderson@spn.org). Please note that most submissions will fit the submission criteria, and the selection committee will sometimes need to make subsequent judgment calls. For example, if two wins are similar in impact, the committee is more likely to give the finalist spot to an organization that is not a finalist in another category or did not win last year.

Voting Dates: Voting will take place June 30-July 10 for the 2025 Bob Williams Awards for Outstanding Policy Achievement. Winners will be announced at the annual Celebration of Success Awards Dinner at this year’s SPN Annual Meeting in New Orleans August 25-28.

Voting Process: Like in previous years, voting is limited to Annual Meeting registrants. This is meant to create a more accurate “peer vote” on the Bob Williams Awards. Our goal is to have policy achievements voted on by people with the greatest relative knowledge on the difficulty and impact of that policy achievement. So, be sure to register for Annual Meeting in order to cast your vote!

Vote Totals: Vote totals for the first, second, and third place finalists will be available following the award presentation in New Orleans.

2025 Bob Williams Award Categories

  • Most Influential Research: Recognizes the organization whose original research achieved a high level of influence in academia, media, or policy-making arenas.
  • Best Issue Campaign: Recognizes the organization that ran the highest quality issue education campaign towards achieving a policy win.
  • Biggest Home State Win: Recognizes the organization that achieved a significant policy win in their home state. Your win can come from any jurisdiction in your home state, local government, executive, judicial, legislative, or etc.
  • Biggest Win for Freedom: Recognizes the organization(s) whose effort was instrumental toward securing a significant policy victory this year. Wins can be one state or a multi-state effort; offense or defense; state or national.
  • Best State-Based Litigation Award: Recognizes litigative efforts at the state and local level, which help to advance the cause of free markets and federalism.

Past Winners

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we give the Bob Williams Award?

The Bob Williams Award for Outstanding Policy Achievement celebrates the monumental work of our 50-state Network. The award also gives validation to our in-state partners’ work and their supporters. The goal of the awards isn’t just to reward and celebrate excellence but also to help our network grow.

Who can apply for the awards?

Any affiliate state think tank can apply for any of the original four award categories. The Best State Based Litigation Award is open to national partners, provided their litigation was state or local in focus.

  • Only state think tanks are eligible to receive the first four awards. National partners can only recieve the Best State Based Litigation Award.
  • SPN members are welcome to nominate each other, provided they can fully complete the nomination details.
  • State think tanks can submit nominations in multiple categories. State think tanks can also submit multiple projects/wins in the same category, provided the submissions are for separate, distinct projects or successes.

What is required in order to nominate a think tank?

In preparation for your nominations, you may find it helpful to gather the following information prior to filling out each nomination form. You do not have to provide information in every category, but providing as much information as possible will improve the quality of the nomination.

  • Your contact information & contact information of organization (if you’re nominating another state think tank)
  • What problem or opportunity the campaign/research successfully addressed and who was helped. 
  • Details about specific objectives and how specific departments helped contribute to the effort.
  • Links to or copies of campaign collateral – videos, ads, publications, infographics, etc.
  • Information about the impact this success has had on the organization and/or the Network.

Can I nominate more than one organization?

Yes! We’re excited to see the impact so many state think tanks are having in their communities, their state, and even the nation. You are welcome to nominate every  state think tank you believe should be recognized.

Although only one think tank will be selected as the winner in each category, the impressive work of every nominee will be featured on SPN.org and through other SPN channels.

Can I submit nominations in more than one category?

Please do! You are encouraged to submit nominations for different projects from one state think tank or submit nominations for multiple think tanks. If you’re unsure whether a project should be considered for “Biggest Win” or “Biggest State Impact,” feel free to indicate on your nomination form that you would like the nomination to be considered for both.

Can I nominate my own organization?

Absolutely. State think tanks are encouraged to let us (and the Network) know about your influential achievements.

Can I nominate an organization even if I don’t have all the requested information?

The more information in the nomination we have, the better. If your knowledge of a project is limited to basic facts, consider encouraging the state think tank to nominate themselves. You’ll have an opportunity to vote your support once the nominees are announced.

About Bob Williams

Bob founded the Washington Freedom Foundation and was a nationally recognized expert in the areas of fiscal and tax policies, election reform, and disaster preparedness. Bob was also the Director of State Budget Solutions, a project of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Bob held a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Penn State and was a Certified Public Accountant. In that capacity, he served as an auditor at the Pentagon and Post Office for the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He served five terms in the Washington State Legislature and was the 1988 Republican nominee for governor of Washington State.