I started to write a more thorough response to this but realized I was essentially copying Rethink Priorities' post on Ballot Initiatives, which covers a lot of EA causes with high leverage at the local/state level.
Two popular EA causes that I think are missing:
- Climate change interventions
- UBI (difficult, but not impossible to enact at the state level in the US because states can't deficit spend. See Alaska as an example)
My own thoughts: In farmed animal welfare, I think it's possible for EAs to influence state governments to fund research and development on alternative proteins (especially through land-grant universities like Cornell University in New York) and improve regulations on animal agriculture. It may also be possible to change state and local environmental laws to improve wild animal welfare.
Update February 4, 2022: I've become more convinced that most EAs interested in influencing policy should not frame EA causes as foreign policy issues. While this is a useful framing for some organizations (e.g. Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Center for Global Development), it's inherently limiting because it is very difficult for the average citizen to influence foreign policy. It's easier for the average citizen to influence national domestic policy, and easier still for them to influence state and local policy.
Also, I've thought of more EA causes that could be worked on with high leverage at the subnational level: