Labrynth Releases Red Tape 50 Ranking of U.S. States for Business Ease

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Labrynth, a global AI-services and regulatory intelligence platform, has released the inaugural Red Tape 50, a ranking of all 50 U.S. states based on the speed and ease of building and operating a business. The ranking, which draws on data from the Red Tape Index (RTI), provides a comprehensive scorecard for policymakers, site selectors, and developers, highlighting the regulatory environment in each state.

Tennessee has been named the top state for doing business, followed closely by Indiana, Georgia, Texas, and South Dakota. These states are praised for their streamlined permitting processes and regulatory frameworks, making them attractive locations for new businesses. In contrast, Hawaii, New York, California, Oregon, and New Jersey are ranked at the bottom of the list, with the most regulatory-intensive environments for businesses.

Stuart Lacey, Founder and CEO of Labrynth, emphasized the importance of regulatory performance in attracting capital.

The Red Tape 50 composite score aggregates nine dimensions of state performance, including permitting velocity, land use, labor, infrastructure, and cost of business. CNBC has incorporated permitting speed and regulatory friction into its state rankings for the first time, using Red Tape Index data to score all 50 states across 138 metrics.

The full interactive rankings, including state-by-state detail on all nine dimensions, are available on the Red Tape Index website at [redtapeindex.com/united-states/red-tape-50/states](redtapeindex.com/united-states/red-tape-50/states). The inaugural Red Tape 50 draws on public records, regulatory filings, and other external sources to score each state on fiscal policy, land use, labor, growth, affordability, infrastructure, cost of business, business friendliness, and approval and permitting velocity.

The Red Tape Index (RTI) is a comprehensive performance database tracking more than 500 cities and all 50 states. It combines public records, regulatory data, and analysis to measure permitting speed, transparency, and scalability. The latest Red Tape Report, including additional city- and state-level case studies and regulatory readiness benchmarks, is available at [redtapeindex.com/reports](redtapeindex.com/reports).

This inaugural Red Tape 50 ranking provides a valuable tool for businesses and policymakers to assess the regulatory environment in each state, helping them make informed decisions about where to invest and operate. By providing a clear, comparable scorecard, the Red Tape Index aims to enhance regulatory competitiveness and foster economic growth across the United States.