This page documents the source snapshots, release dates and limitations behind Version 3. National datasets are released on different schedules, so the inputs do not all represent the same year.
The table distinguishes direct measures, proxies and scores carried forward from an earlier model. It also identifies where the workbook does not preserve enough provenance to independently reproduce an input.
Direct measure closely matches the concept being scored. Proxy measures it indirectly. Rank-derived score linearly converts a source ranking to 0–100; equal score spacing therefore does not prove equal real-world differences. Inherited score was carried forward from an earlier version. Where its original source is not preserved in the workbook, that limitation is stated plainly.
| Domain / indicator | Data used | Source snapshot | Role in score | Measure type | Source fit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic equality Wage ratios and inherited economic score | Full-time/year-round wage ratio, all-worker wage ratio and an inherited V2 economic score | Sept. 20, 2025; 2024 ACS. Prior-score date not preserved. | 45% FT/YR ratio; 25% all-worker ratio; 30% inherited score | Direct outcomes + inherited score | Strong for wages; limited for inherited input | NWLC / ACS Original source for inherited score is not documented in the V3 workbook |
| Reproductive autonomy Abortion legal environment | State ban / gestational-limit category | Sept. 2, 2026 | 55% of reproductive domain | Direct policy | Strong | Guttmacher |
| Reproductive autonomy Shield-law protections | Current state shield protection | Aug. 24, 2026 | 15% of reproductive domain | Direct policy | Strong | Guttmacher |
| Reproductive autonomy Medicaid abortion coverage | Coverage beyond minimum federal requirements | July 16, 2026 | 15% of reproductive domain | Direct policy | Strong | Guttmacher |
| Reproductive autonomy Medication-abortion access | Presence and strength of state restrictions | Aug. 13, 2026 | 15% of reproductive domain | Direct policy | Strong with simplified scoring | Guttmacher |
| Childcare Inherited childcare score | State childcare score carried forward from V2 | Original source and date not preserved | 75% of childcare domain | Inherited composite score | Limited until provenance is restored | Original source is not documented in the V3 workbook |
| Childcare Assistance-system stability | Waiting-list / enrollment-freeze deterioration | May 20, 2026; 2025 policy changes | 25% of childcare domain | Direct policy-system measure | Strong with simplified scoring | NWLC |
| Women's health Access, affordability and outcomes | Commonwealth Fund state rank from its women’s health and reproductive-care scorecard, converted to 0–100 | July 2024 | 100% of health domain | Rank-derived composite | Strong source; rank conversion reduces precision | Commonwealth Fund |
| Workplace rights Working-women policy protections | Oxfam’s 2025 state policy ranking, converted to 0–100 | Policies effective July 1, 2025 | 100% of workplace-rights domain | Rank-derived policy composite | Strong source; rank conversion reduces precision | Oxfam America, 2025 edition |
| Paid leave and caregiving State leave supports | Leave/care score carried forward from V2 | Original source and date not preserved | 100% of paid-leave domain | Inherited score | Limited until provenance is restored | Original source is not documented in the V3 workbook |
| Safety Inherited safety score + firearm policy | V2 women’s-safety score and state firearm-relinquishment requirement for prohibited abusers under restraining orders | Prior-score date not preserved; firearm policy Jan. 14, 2026 | 70% inherited score; 30% firearm policy | Inherited score + direct policy | Limited for inherited input; strong for firearm policy | Original source for inherited score is not documented Everytown Research |
| Civil and legal equality State civil-rights score | Civil/legal score carried forward from V2 | Original source and date not preserved | 100% of civil/legal domain | Inherited score | Limited until provenance is restored | Original source is not documented in the V3 workbook |
| Housing and independent living Economic-independence proxy | Inherited independence score combined with all-worker wage equality | Prior-score date not preserved; wage data from 2024 ACS | 55% inherited proxy; 45% wage-ratio score | Proxy + direct outcome | Limited for inherited input; strong for wages | Original source for inherited score is not documented NWLC wage input |
| Political voice Inherited political score | State political score carried forward from V2 | Original source and date not preserved | 100% of political-voice domain | Inherited score | Limited until provenance is restored | Original source is not documented in the V3 workbook |
| Female-specific basic needs Menstrual-product policies | Period-tax status and school product-access policy | 2026 status | 50% tax status; 50% school access | Direct policy | Strong with simplified scoring | PERIOD. |
A comparable state-level policy or outcome source closely matches the domain.
A source rank or composite is converted to the model’s 0–100 scale.
The V3 workbook carries forward a score without preserving the original source and scoring chain.
About these labels: Source-fit labels are editorial assessments, not statistical confidence intervals or independent validation ratings.
A state law can be coded soon after it changes. Health, wage and violence outcomes often lag. Version 3 uses the source snapshots listed above; readers should follow the links for current policy status.
Not legal advice: Policy information changes and is provided for comparison only. Check the linked source and official state guidance before relying on a legal-status description.
The economic, childcare, paid-leave, safety, civil/legal, housing and political domains include at least one inherited V2 score whose original source and transformation are not documented in the V3 workbook. The final formulas are internally consistent, but those inputs cannot yet be independently reproduced from the workbook alone.
Domain weights, category scores, proxy choices and normalization rules are author-defined judgments. They are disclosed so readers can evaluate them rather than mistake the index for an objective fact.
The V3 workbook contains the state scores, weights, source notes, sensitivity testing and version-change audit.