One Year Later: How H.R. 1 Is Reshaping the South

One year after H.R. 1 became law, new analysis from MDC’s State of the South examines how implementation is unfolding across the region and what it means for families, communities, and regional prosperity.

On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 was signed into law, bringing sweeping changes to health care, higher education, nutrition assistance, immigration enforcement, and public education. One year later, many of the law’s most significant provisions are now being implemented across the South, with impacts that are becoming increasingly visible in communities throughout the region.

Today, MDC’s State of the South is releasing One Year Later: How H.R. 1 Is Reshaping the South, a new analysis examining how implementation is unfolding across the South and what these changes could mean for economic mobility, community well-being, and regional prosperity.

Rather than revisiting what the legislation proposed, this update looks at what has happened over the past year and highlights emerging trends across five key issue areas:

• Health Care & Medicaid – States are preparing to implement significant Medicaid changes that could affect coverage, administrative systems, and rural health care providers.
• Higher Education & Student Loans – New repayment plans and borrowing limits are reshaping access to higher education for current and future students.
• Immigration – Expanded enforcement efforts are affecting families, local economies, and communities across the South.
• Food Security (SNAP) – Participation has declined more rapidly than expected, raising concerns about food access and family well-being.
• School Vouchers – As states prepare to implement the new federal scholarship tax credit, the report explores potential implications for public education across the region.

While implementation is still underway, the report shows that decisions made at the federal level continue to shape opportunities for Southern families and communities. Understanding these changes and how they intersect across issue areas is essential to building a more prosperous and equitable future for the region.

Read the Update

📄 Download PDF: One Year Later: How H.R. 1 Is Reshaping the South

Related Resources

Originally published in 2025, MDC’s H.R. 1 and Regional Prosperity series examined the legislation’s projected impacts before implementation began.

Explore the original series and briefs here.