3 minute read
CSG MIDWEST UPDATE
IA / IL / IN / KS / MI / MN / ND / NE / OH / SD / WI / AB / MB / ON / SK
CSG Midwest Annual Meeting Turns 75
The 75th CSG Midwest Annual Meeting will meet in person in Rapid City, South Dakota (July 11-14). Events include policy committee meetings, a Black Hills excursion, professional development workshops, outings to the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore, a keynote address by journalist Ben Hammersley and more. With events for spouses and children, the family-friendly MLC Annual Meeting is the only event of its kind designed by and for legislators from the Midwest’s states and provinces. To learn more and register, visit: csgmidwest.org.
BILLD Program Sharpens Leadership Skills
This year’s Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD) will bring together a cohort up-and-coming Midwestern state leaders for a unique five-day educational experience (Oct. 1-5). In addition to a focus on leadership training, such as conflict resolution and negotiation, BILLD includes policy sessions on issues such as education, corrections, health care and economic development, as well as seminars on media relations, priority management and consensus building. Learn more about the program at: csgmidwest.org/billd.
Illinois Lawmakers Address Concerns About Justice Reform
Illinois state Sen. Elgie Sims introduced an amendment that serves as “trailer legislation” for the SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice reform bill that became law in February, according to Capitol News Illinois. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois State Police supported Sims’ amendment, which addresses controversial elements of the SAFE-T act, including police access to body camera footage and language surrounding the use of deadly force.
Ohio Seeks to Declare Google a Public Utility
With a lawsuit filed by Attorney General David Yost, Ohio has become the first state in the U.S. to seek to classify Google as a public utility, which would allow the government to oversee and regulate how Google presents search results. “Google uses its dominance of internet search to steer Ohioans to Google’s own products — that’s discriminatory and anti-competitive,” Yost said in a press release. “When you own the railroad or the electric company or the cellphone tower, you have to treat everyone the same and give everybody access.”
Wisconsin to See Historic Tax Revenues
State leaders in Wisconsin have an unusual problem on their hands — how to spend $4.4 billion more than they were expecting. The Wisconsin Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office released figures in early June projecting that aggregate general tax fund collections would be $4.4 billion over previous estimates for 2021-23. Legislative Fiscal Bureau Director Robert Lang attributed the increase to “strength of collections and the vastly improved economic conditions for the remainder of this year and the next two years.”
Bipartisan legislation that would ease occupational transitions for military families has reached the desk of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Together, four bills would give occupational license reciprocity to veterans, members of the armed forces, members of the uniformed services, and their dependents who hold an out-of-state license or registration. “Our dedicated military servicemembers put their lives on the line for our families, and we have a duty to ensure their support when they return home,” Gov. Whitmer said when the legislation was announced on Nov. 10. “That means making sure they have paths to good jobs so they can sustain their families. Today’s legislation will help us do just that. Clearing the path for our military servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents to enter a licensed profession will help us attract and retain talent in Michigan, and by making it easier for our military servicemembers to be licensed, we can make Michigan their home to live and work, permanently.” According to a press release announcing the legislation, eligibility is limited to those who “hold a valid occupational license in another state, are in good standing with no pending disciplinary action, and demonstrate competency in their profession through education, training and/or work experience.” The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which would be responsible for assessing whether applicants are eligible, has committed to processing applications within 48 hours.
