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2023 CSG East State Visits

Applications Open for Henry Toll Fellowship

The Council of State Governments is now accepting applications for the 2023 Henry Toll Fellowship. The intense five-day leadership program gathers 48 of the nation’s top officials from all three branches of state government in Lexington, Kentucky, to improve personal development and growth. Applications can be submitted online before the May 1 deadline. CLICK TO APPLY.

New Healthy States National Task Force

The 2021-22 CSG Healthy States National Task Force, a bipartisan working group of state leaders from all three branches of government, published its final report and recommendations in January. The task force, which was comprised of 57 state leaders from across 38 states and all three branches of government, adopted more than 35 policy recommendations across four policy areas: civic, economic and workforce, fiscal, and human health. The recommendations were made in response to presentations and discussions held by the task force over the course of three in-person and virtual meetings. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Long-Term Care Policy Guide for State Leaders

Following a nine-month partnership, CSG and the Commonwealth Fund, a national, private foundation, compiled a “Long-Term Care Policy Guide” as a resource for state policymakers. The guide covers three focus areas, including addressing state regulation, expanding home- and community-based services under Medicaid, and revitalizing the direct care workforce and supporting family caregivers. READ THE GUIDE.

New Interstate Compacts

Interstate compacts for dentists and dental hygienists, physician assistants, and school psychologists are now available for state adoption. Since October 2020, the CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts and the Department of Defense have worked together to develop model legislation creating reciprocity between states for certain professions, while also maintaining the quality and safety of those services and protecting state sovereignty. Existing compacts focus on audiology and speech-language pathology, counseling, and occupational therapy.

CSG East kicked off 2023 with a series of state visits beginning with Maine. Staff will also visit Maryland and Delaware this year. Annual visits give staff a chance to meet with legislative and executive branch leaders, Eastern Leadership Academy alumni, policy committee members and others to share information between each member state, the regional office and surrounding states.

EASTrain Professional Development

EASTrain programming is in high demand to start the year, as newly elected and veteran legislators alike look to improve their leadership skills and provide training for staff. Recently, long-time CSG facilitator Scott Raecker ran a training on chairing legislative committees for the Delaware House. CSG East recruited DEI facilitator Tania Richard to lead a Senate staff training in Lewes, Delaware. These trainings are customizable, cover a wide array of topics, and are offered to members at no cost. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

2023 Member Survey

Regional members are participating in a survey by CSG East on the top issues facing state legislatures this year. The survey, available through the end of March, queries top issues around the region and specific topics under each policy area. Survey responses will be made available to all respondents and results will guide CSG East programming for 2023.

CSG South

South Carolina’s Opioid Response

The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services partnered with three universities — Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina — and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to form the S.C. Center of Excellence in Addiction. With aid from the two state agencies, the three colleges will work to investigate the opioid crisis in South Carolina.

Solar Manufacturing in Georgia

Solar panel manufacturer Qcells recently announced plans to expand its plant in Dalton, Georgia, and to build a new facility in Cartersville, Georgia. This represents a $2.5 billion investment estimated to create 2,500 new jobs in the state. The announcement has been hailed as the largest investment in clean energy manufacturing in U.S. history and will rank among the largest manufacturing projects in the state’s history.

Increasing Access to State Programs

Arkansas partnered with Google to increase access and utilization of state programs. The state will deploy CiviForm, an open-source tool that makes it easier for residents to apply online to state programs, including government assistance, employment, education and training, and social services. A team of 12 Google employees will support the initiative as part of a sixmonth fellowship to assist with the tool’s development and launch.

CSG West

Introducing the 2023 CSG West Officers

CSG West is excited to introduce its 2023 officers who, in coordination with the executive committee and CSG West director, will lead the organization's efforts this year. California Assemblymember Mike Gipson now serves as CSG West chair, which will include hosting the 2023 CSG West Annual Meeting in Universal City, California. Oregon Sen. Bill Hansell rotated to the position of chair-elect after serving as vice chair in 2022, in addition to chairing the Legislative Council on River Governance. The newest CSG West vice chair is Wyoming Rep. Mike Yin, who was elected president of the Western Legislative Academy Class of 2021.

On the Road with CSG West: Wyoming

CSG West kicked off its 2023 state visits in Wyoming. The visit provided staff an opportunity to engage with legislators and legislative leaders about CSG West events, programs and training opportunities this year, including the Colorado River Forum to be hosted in Wyoming. During the coming months, CSG West plans to visit Western members and legislative staff in all thirteen of its member states.

CSG West Announces Newly Formed Housing Committee

Western leaders repeatedly cited housing availability and affordability as preeminent issues heading into the 2023 legislative sessions. In response to the urgency of these concerns, CSG West established its first-ever Housing Committee. Idaho Sen. Melissa Wintrow and Oregon Sen. Daniel Bonham were announced as co-chairs for the committee, whose members will engage western legislators in dialogue to identify solutions that address the region’s housing needs.