The binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on policies related to agriculture, a critical sector across the MLC region. This committee also is exploring challenges and opportunities for rural communities in the Midwest. Its activities include ongoing policy research, agriculture-focused webinars and in-person meetings. The committee officers for 2023-2024 are Saskatchewan MLA Steven Bonk and Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, co-chairs; and North Dakota Rep. Paul Thomas, vice chair. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee last met and led sessions and policy-focused site visits at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources Presentation on “Managing Soil Health for Carbon Sequestration and Water Conservation” | Dr. Rattal Lal, Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, The Ohio State University » Stateline Midwest article on “A Peek at the Post-Chevron World: Legislators Explore Implications of court Ruling, Recent State Actions” »  Agenda » The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023. It also regularly holds webinars and conducts policy research for the Midwest’s state and provincial legislators. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Rebecca Leis.

Established in 2017, the binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee explores a range of issues, including: sentencing reform; strategies to reduce recidivism; the role and use of specialty courts; alternatives to incarceration; police and community relations; victims’ rights; and more. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the MLC Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee. Committee activities include ongoing policy research, webinars and in-person meetings. The committee officers for 2023-2024 are Nebraska Sen. John Cavanaugh and Wisconsin Sen. Jesse James (co-chairs) and Ohio Sen. Michele Reynolds (vice chair). Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Laura Kliewer. The MLC Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee last met and led sessions at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources “How Data, Evidence-Based Policy and Legislative Oversight Can Drive Improvements to State Criminal Justice Systems” | Ben Eikey, Manager for State Training & Development, Levin Center for Oversight & Democracy, Wayne State University, and Laura van der Lugt, Deputy Program Director of State Initiatives, CSG Justice Center » “Adult Violent Crime & Accountability Trends” | Madeleine Dardeau, Deputy Program Director, CSG Justice Center » “Navigating Youth Crime, Violence and Behavioral Health: What Does the Data Say? Three Facts to Know, Three Steps to Take” | Josh Weber, Deputy Program Director, CSG Justice Center » Stateline Midwest article on “Youth Arrests and Violent Crime Are Down, But Other Trends Point to Need for New Policy Approaches” » Agenda » The MLC Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023. It also regularly holds webinars and conducts policy research for the Midwest’s state and provincial legislators.

CSG Midwest regularly tracks and reports on state-level issues and strategies related to economic development and, more broadly, the Midwest’s economy. It also provides staff support to the binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Education and Workforce Development Committee. Part of the work of this committee touches on key components of economic development, including state strategies to reduce workforce shortages as well as to prepare young people and current workers for success in today’s economy. About the MLC Education and Workforce Development Committee »  

The binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Education and Workforce Development Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on education and the career pipeline. The committee’s work includes hosting education-focused webinars and in-person policy sessions. Committee officers for 2023-2024 are Ohio Sen. Hearcel Craig and Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kitchens (co-chairs) and Minnesota Sen. Heather Gustafson (vice chair). Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The CSG Midwest staff liaison to the committee is Derek Cantù. The MLC Education & Workforce Development Committee last met and led sessions at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources “Developmental Education Reform in Illinois” | Mike Abrahamson, Senior Manager of Research & Policy, Partnership for College Completion » “Reforms to Developmental Education: A Synthesis of the Evidence” | Katie Beal, External Affairs Associate, MDRC » “Academic Recovery in Ohio: An Overview of K-12 Achievement & Learning Acceleration in Ohio” | Ohio Sen. Andrew Brenner » “The Workforce Connection: Elevating Career Development in Primary & Secondary Education” | Steve Dackin, Director, Ohio Department of Education & Workforce, and Rick Carfagna, Vice President of Government Affairs, Ohio Chamber of Commerce » “Science of Reading Implementation: Indiana’s Priorities for Early Literacy” | Rebecca Estes, Assistant Secretary for Educator Talent, Indiana Department of Education » Stateline Midwest article on “Colleges, States Rethink Approach to College-Level ‘Remedial’ education; New K-12 supports Also Considered” » Agenda » The MLC Education & Workforce Development Committee meets in person at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023.

CSG Midwest regularly reviews and writes about state legislative activity on elections. CSG also has an Overseas Voting Initiative, the goal of which is to help states and election jurisdictions advance policies that assist members of the military serving abroad and other U.S. citizens residing overseas.

The Council of State Governments’ binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Energy and Environment Committee was established in late 2022 and met for the first time in July 2023 in conjunction with the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. The group’s activities include developing policy resources as well as holding in-person and web-based events for legislators to exchange ideas and learn about key developments and innovations in the areas of energy and the environment. The committee officers for 2023-2024 are Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman and Indiana Rep. Ethan Manning, co-chairs; and Ohio Rep. Sharon Ray, vice chair. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The CSG Midwest staff liaison to the committee is Jon Davis. The MLC Energy & Environment Committee last met and led sessions and policy-focused site visits at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources “PFAS Legislation: A 50-State Overview” | Bill Kramer, Vice President, MultiState » “PFAS Environmental Regulations: Approaches, Current Impacts & Considerations” | Jake Wilhelm, Environmental Scientist, GSI Environmental » “PFAS Groundwater Standards” | Dr. Gavin Dehnert, Emerging Contaminant Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Wisconsin Sea Grant » Stateline Midwest article on “A Peek at the Post-Chevron World: Legislators Explore Implications of court Ruling, Recent State Actions” »  Stateline Midwest article on “Keeping the ‘Lights On, Beer Cold, Water Warm’ ” » Agenda » The MLC Energy & Environment Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023. CSG Midwest also provides staff support to two other groups related to energy and environment issues: the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Legislative Caucus and the Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Project.  

The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference regularly tracks and reports on issues related to state budgets and fiscal policy. Additionally, the MLC Fiscal Affairs Forum allows state and provincial legislators to exchange information on fiscal conditions in the region as while learning about best practices in budget management. This work is led by a four-officer team: Kansas Rep. Troy Waymaster and Minnesota Rep. Fue Lee, co-chairs; and Ohio Sen. Jerry Cirino and Michigan Sen. Sara Anthony, co-vice chairs. The MLC Fiscal Affairs Forum last met at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 meeting: Information and resources “State Budget Update” | Stacey Mazer, Consultant, National Association of State Budget Officers » “When Forecasts Go Wrong” | Phil Dean, Chief Economist & Public Finance Research Fellow, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah » “A Cloudy Crystal Ball: Pandemic Forecasting Challenges Highlight Need for Budget Relief Valves” Stateline Midwest article on ” ‘Unsettled Normalcy’ “: Gone, for Now, Are Wild Revenue Swings, But Other Budgeting Uncertainty Lies Ahead” » Agenda » For information, please contact CSG Midwest director Laura Tomaka.

CSG Midwest provides staff support to two binational, interstate groups related to the Great Lakes and/or the environment: the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus and the Midwestern Legislative Conference Energy and Environment Committee

The binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Health and Human Services Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on a range of critical policy issues. Committee activities include ongoing policy research, webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings. The committee officers for 2023-2024 are Kansas Rep. Susan Concannon and Illinois Sen. Julie Morrison, co-chairs; and South Dakota Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, vice chair. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Tim Anderson. The MLC Health and Human Services Committee has held two in-person meetings in 2024. First, it hosted a “Child Welfare Reimagined” policy workshop for Midwestern state legislators in June 2024. Second, the committee met and held sessions at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting in Columbus: Information and resources Stateline Midwest article on “Transforming Maternal Care: State-Based Reforms in Ohio Include Use of Value-Based Payment Model” » “Ohio’s Reforms and Advances in Child Welfare Services” | Joel Potts, Government and External Affairs Officer, Ohio Department of Children and Youth  Presentation on “Transforming Child Services, Improving Lives” | Rita Soronen, President & CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption » Presentation on “Innovation in Medicaid Payment for Quality Maternity Care in Ohio” | Maureen Corcoran, Director, Ohio Department of Medicaid » Presentation on “Delivering and Paying For Quality Maternity Care Services” | Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, Vice President for Health Justice, National Partnership for Women and Families » 2024 committee meeting agenda » The MLC Health & Human Services Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023.  

Created in 1991, the Midwestern Legislative Conference Midwest-Canada Relations Committee ensures that the perspective of state and provincial legislators is presented to federal officials. It does so through meetings with officials in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa as well as with policy resolutions and occasional letters and public comments. Another mission of this committee is to provide a cross-border forum for dialogue and information sharing. To that end, it organizes legislative exchanges between state and provincial legislators. Legislators from the Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces serve on the committee. The committee officers for 2023-2024 are Manitoba Minister Kelvin Goertzen and Michigan Rep. Amos O’Neal, co-chairs; and North Dakota Rep. David Monson, and Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman, co-vice chairs. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Mitch Arvidson. The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee last met and led sessions at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources “Electric Vehicle Transformation: Successes & Struggles” | Neal Osten, Executive Director, The Institute for State Policy Leaders » “Midwest on the Move: Legislative Strategies to Boost Electric Vehicle Adaptation” | Matt Stephens-Rich, Director, Electrification Coalition » Stateline Midwest article on “At a ‘Crossroads’: Legislators Explore Binational Push for Electric Vehicles, Potential Impact of EVs in Region” » Agenda » The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023. It also regularly holds webinars and conducts policy research for the Midwest’s state and provincial legislators.

The Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Project and the Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee is a joint project between CSG Midwest and the U.S. Department of Energy. Since its inception in 1989, this project has helped state governments in the Midwest learn about and provide input into the DOE’s plans for shipping radioactive materials through the region. The cooperative agreement has also enabled states on the shipping routes to receive financial assistance from the DOE in order to prepare for shipments.  

CSG Midwest regularly tracks and writes about important institutional issues and trends in state government and legislatures. CSG also annually produces “The Book of the States,” the long-running “encyclopedia” of state governments that is a valuable reference tool for policymakers and research scholars.

CSG Midwest provides staff support to the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, which brings together state leaders from across the region to advocate for passenger rail improvements. CSG Midwest also tracks and writes about other transportation-related legislative activity and trends in this region.