IWPR Launches State Policy Action Lab, Building on 'Status of Women in the States' Legacy

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) today announced the launch of its State Policy Action Lab (State PAL)—an interactive tool that brings together more than 100 gender equity data indicators, timely state-level legislative tracking of nearly 500 bills, and actionable state policy recommendations in one dynamic, digital platform.

"Across the country, we're seeing long-standing policy and data systems under threat—critical datasets are disappearing or being defunded in real time," said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR. "State PAL is IWPR's urgent response: a living, evolving resource to ensure equity-focused data remains in the hands of those fighting to make change."

State legislatures hold increasingly more power in advancing gender equity, and State PAL offers researchers, advocates, and policymakers a powerful new tool to drive evidence-informed policymaking across all 50 states and Washington, DC. Whether advancing paid leave, protecting bodily autonomy, or closing the gender wage gap, State PAL empowers users to inform stronger, data-driven policy, supporting both state-level efforts for progress and defensive strategies to prevent further federal retrenchment.

"For many years, we've relied on IWPR's research to understand how women in North Carolina are faring, whether we're making progress or falling behind," said the Chair of the North Carolina Council for Women, Annette Taylor. "Our goal is for IWPR's reports not to just sit on a virtual shelf but to use them to advocate for change, spark calls to action, and push for solutions that help women thrive. In North Carolina, we face the same barriers as other states, but we also have unique opportunities. If women are still being held back, we have to ask: What's standing in the way? The data makes that clear and gives us tools to do something about it."

State PAL builds on nearly three decades of IWPR's Status of Women in the States series, first launched in 1996. For nearly 30 years, these reports have provided essential insights into women's economic, health, and social well-being, comparing states to spotlight both progress and persistent gaps.

"IWPR's 'Economic Status of Women in Colorado' played a key role in our efforts to pass the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act," said Louise Myrland, vice president of programs at The Women's Foundation of Colorado. "We drew heavily on their intersectional analysis to shape a compelling, data-driven case to lawmakers, demonstrating that closing these gaps could yield a $9.2 billion boost to Colorado's economy. It's a powerful example of how research, when made accessible and applied strategically, can fuel meaningful policy change that benefits women, families, and the broader economy. Nearly a decade later, we're eager to dive into State PAL, confident it will inform the next chapter of our work in Colorado."

This latest evolution features a redesigned and interactive version of IWPR's signature data dashboard, with up-to-date indicators across four key areas:

• Caregiving and Families
• Education and Career Advancement
• Equitable Work and Wages
• Reproductive Justice and Health Equity

Users can monitor legislative developments in real time with State PAL's integrated tracker, filtering by issue area or geography to enable cross-state comparisons and trend analysis. These insights support the creation of compelling, data-driven narratives for partners, media campaigns, and policymakers. The platform also features the Hotline for Equity Resources (HER), a dedicated channel for stakeholders seeking expert data interpretation and technical assistance.

To explore the State PAL tool and learn more, visit www.statepolicyactionlab.org

SOURCE Institute For Women's Policy Research