Rockefeller Institute of Government

Rockefeller Institute of Government Cutting-edge, data-based research and analysis to promote lasting policy solutions.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government is a public policy think tank providing cutting-edge, evidence-based policy. Our mission is to improve the capacities of communities, state and local governments, and the federal system to work toward genuine solutions to the nation’s problems. Through rigorous, objective, and accessible analysis and outreach, the Institute gives citizens and governments fac

ts and tools relevant to public decisions. At the Rockefeller Institute of Government we offer:

+ Complex data analysis
+ Sophisticated policy design
+ Intelligent program implementation

Our latest blog provides an update on state legislative action to place moratoriums on data centers.
06/10/2026

Our latest blog provides an update on state legislative action to place moratoriums on data centers.

As data center expansion accelerates, states and local communities are increasingly considering moratoriums amid concerns over environmental, energy, and community impacts.

Today, researchers from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium published the final report from Phase I of this pr...
06/04/2026

Today, researchers from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium published the final report from Phase I of this project to better understand mass shooters' pre-attack behaviors and communications. Consortium researchers built a database of more than 150,000 records across 171 shootings from '99 to '24.

Read it 👇

This report examines 171 mass public shootings in the United States between 1999 and 2024 involving 175 perpetrators with identifiable pre-attack warning behaviors and communications.

States ramped up their efforts to address PFAS contamination in biosolids in 2025: liability protection legislation, stu...
06/01/2026

States ramped up their efforts to address PFAS contamination in biosolids in 2025: liability protection legislation, study/research legislation, bans and moratoriums, disclosure requirements, and more.

As federal action stalls, states are accelerating efforts to regulate PFAS-contaminated biosolids through testing, restrictions, and bans.

As New York looks to expand universal, affordable childcare, it will need to build its workforce of childcare workers an...
05/28/2026

As New York looks to expand universal, affordable childcare, it will need to build its workforce of childcare workers and preschool teachers. Our latest analysis looks at who these workers are and potential policy strategies for expanding the workforce.

New York’s FY 2027 budget expands Universal Pre-K and childcare access, but success will depend on growing and supporting the early care and education workforce.

"Mass public shootings are human behaviors that follow patterns, have identifiable precursors & occur within systems tha...
05/27/2026

"Mass public shootings are human behaviors that follow patterns, have identifiable precursors & occur within systems that can be made more/less responsive. That means they are at least partially preventable—and that’s what makes this research worth doing."
— RGVRC Member H. Jaymi Elsass

Read more 👇

Meet H. Jaymi Elsass, whose research uses data and media analysis to challenge fatalism and identify ways to prevent and reduce the harm of mass public shootings.

On April 26, 2026, the US Department of Justice issued a final order that rescheduled some cannabis from Schedule I to S...
05/19/2026

On April 26, 2026, the US Department of Justice issued a final order that rescheduled some cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III: drug products that contain cannabis that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or products that are regulated by state-run medical cannabis programs. Notably, recreational cannabis programs in the states were not included in this order, and the order does not legalize cannabis, writes cannabis policy expert Heather Trela. And while the order is relatively straightforward from a 30,000-foot perspective, when you get into the weeds, there remain substantial unanswered questions.

Read the analysis 👇

The recent rescheduling order issued by the Department of Justice is an important landmark in cannabis policy, but it creates a new set of policy considerations.

Our latest: RGVRC Affiliate Scholar Christopher Strain shares his framework for thinking about how gun ownership shapes ...
05/18/2026

Our latest: RGVRC Affiliate Scholar Christopher Strain shares his framework for thinking about how gun ownership shapes American political life and examines which policies that seek to address mass shootings are viable in the "gunocracy."

Guns are woven into the fabric of American life, shaping our legal and cultural narratives and the function of our government. Still, there are threads we can pull that can reduce the number of people killed by fi****ms in mass shootings and in gun violence more broadly.

The rapid increase in new and planned data centers is prompting policymakers at all levels of government to address ener...
05/14/2026

The rapid increase in new and planned data centers is prompting policymakers at all levels of government to address energy costs, water use, and other concerns associated with these projects. Our latest brief documents the policy responses.

This policy brief explains the recent drastic increase in data center demand, examines how federal, state, and local governments are attempting to balance these competing priorities, and explores recent developments in New York State.

How are local patterns of gun violence influenced by neighborhood structure? How do infrastructure changes affect these ...
05/13/2026

How are local patterns of gun violence influenced by neighborhood structure? How do infrastructure changes affect these patterns? The Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium's 6/2 webinar explores these issues through the lens of the I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse, NY. Learn more and register 👇

Join the RGVRC for a timely discussion on how the built environment and community context intersect with gun violence.

NEWNYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero joins us for our series, "Freshmen Perspectives," and highlights accomplishments ...
05/12/2026

NEW
NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero joins us for our series, "Freshmen Perspectives," and highlights accomplishments from her 1st term, what she hopes to get done next, and how her experience as a councilmember & public defender shapes her approach to lawmaking.

Freshman lawmaker for New York State's 109th Assembly District Gabriella Romero shares key accomplishments from her first-term, what she hopes to get done in subsequent terms, and how her time as a public defender and Common Councilmember shape how she approaches her job as a state assemblymember.

Address

411 State St
Albany, NY
12203

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15184454150

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rockefeller Institute of Government posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category