CELEBRATING 90 YEARS

The Dean of the North Carolina House, Rep. Julia Howard, leads CSG as its national chair in 2023 — a year marking nine decades of service to the states.

David Adkins CSG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO dadkins@csg.org

David Biette CSG EAST DIRECTOR dbiette @csg.org

Laura Tomaka CSG MIDWEST DIRECTOR ltomaka@csg.org

Publisher

DAVID ADKINS dadkins@csg.org

Senior Editor BLAIR HESS bhess@csg.org

Managing Editor CODY PORTER cporter@csg.org

Associate Editors

TREY DELIDA tdelida@csg.org

LEXINGTON SOUERS lsouers@csg.org

Contributing CSG Staff Writers

JENNIFER HORTON jhorton@csg.org

Graphic Designers

THERESA CARROLL tcarroll@csg.org

STEPHANIE NORTHERN snorthern@csg.org

JESSICA RUSHER jrusher@csg.org Email capitolideas@csg.org

Lindsey Gray CSG SOUTH DIRECTOR lgray @csg.org

Edgar Ruiz CSG WEST DIRECTOR eruiz@csg.org

Megan Quattlebaum CSG JUSTICE CENTER DIRECTOR mquattlebaum @csg.org

GRACE HARRISON grace.harrison@csg.org

The cover photo for this issue of CSG CAPITOL IDEAS magazine was provided by the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association.

CSG CAPITOL IDEAS, ISSN 2152-8489, Issue 2, Vol. 79, No. 1 – Published four times annually by The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511-8536. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Council of State Governments nor the views of the editorial staff. Readers’ comments are welcome.

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6 CSG Celebrates 90 Years

In 2023, CSG celebrates 90 years of service to the states. Founded in 1933 through the vision of Colorado then state Sen. Henry Wolcott Toll, the organization has long pursued unifying state leaders across the aisle and across branches of government to advance the common head. Find out more about what’s ahead for CSG.

10 A House Divided

Alaska faces unique fiscal and geographical challenges. House leaders emphasize aligning over values rather than party identity, resulting in bipartisan victories and lasting friendships. Through communication and understanding, Alaska’s House members tackle bipartisanship in a divided chamber. In the absence of a definite voting majority or minority, the state sets itself apart with a history of cross-party coalitions getting formed in order to advance policy.

14 Presiding Over Party Lines

Rep. Cathy Tilton serves as Alaska’s speaker of the House. In that capacity, she directs the chamber’s legislative process, upholds bipartisanship and appoints committee membership. Through Tilton’s experiences, she has learned the importance of promoting communication and respect within the chamber. Those lessons have consequently allowed her to thrive in public service for more than 30 years, and led to the formation of friendships and partnerships that she continues to appreciate.

16 Following Legislation Trends

More than 97,000 bills, resolutions and memorials have been introduced or prefiled this year. Of those, 14,000 were enacted into law. Throughout this state legislation were notable trends that included efforts to lower insulin and other prescription drug costs, in addition to attempts to strengthen the workforce through changes in occupational licensing and adoption of compacts.

20 Housing’s Hurdles

Significant reductions in jobs and wages during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to what was a seismic impact to the nation’s housing market. to the nation’s housing market. Rising costs and interest rates resulted in an inadequate supply of housing that placed a strain on states. State leaders are seeking viable funding options — including various grants, initiatives, tax credits and zoning changes — for new projects to address the lack of access to affordable housing.

24 Emerging State Responses to Homelessness

The nation’s economic shift, and subsequent housing issues, during the COVID-19 pandemic left many individuals seeking affordable — or any — housing. More than 10% of the U.S. population lived in poverty, including more than 500,000 homeless as of January 2022. State leaders responded by employing alternative strategies like the Housing First model.

26 Shifting Skills

Economic conditions such as unemployment levels or job growth are one of the most important measurables for government leaders. Although trends have indicated an increase in education for the workforce, labor shortages remain an issue for leaders nationwide. To address this shortage, states are pursuing changes to education and skill requirements that could make it easier for individuals to obtain a job.