State Legislative Guide

State governments have a significant role in providing an opportunity for low-income citizens to lift themselves out of poverty. States can serve as incubators of innovative policy initiatives that support opportunity finance. Since 2006, OFN has tracked policy developments in legislatures across the country, synthesized, and analyzed these developments to produce the State Legislative Guide.

The guide tracks legislation across a broad range of categories in which CDFIs are active participants including asset accumulation, affordable housing, microenterprise and small business development, and many others. Research for the 2010 state legislative guide is currently underway. To submit current legislative activity in your state for the research guide, please contact Dafina Williams at dwilliams@opportunityfinance.net or (215)320-4318.

2009 State Legislative Guide by sections

• Executive Summary 
• Affordable Housing
• Asset Accumulation 
• Economic Development 
• Mortgage Lending 
• Payday and Predatory Lending 
• Small Business Development 
• Sustainable Development 
• Other 
• Understanding the State Legislative Process

Download the full 2009 State Legislative Guide.
Download the 2008 State Legislative Guide.
Download the 2007 State Legislative Guide.
View the State Legislative Initiatives section of the Advocacy guide.