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. Under the direction of the committee’s officers and members, the committee’s activities include ongoing policy research, agriculture-focused webinars and in-person meetings. The committee is made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. The appointment process for 2025-2026 is now underway. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Rebecca Leis. The MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee will meet in July 2025 in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More details on this meeting, as well as other committee activities for the 2025-2026 biennium, will be available soon. Summary of recent work and activities In 2023-2024, the MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee was led by Saskatchewan MLA Steven Bonk and Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, co-chairs; and North Dakota Rep. Paul Thomas, vice chair. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee: organized in-person meetings on topics such as managing soil health, dual-use practices for solar energy systems, and the legal and regulatory implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Chevron decision; led a tour of 2024 MLC Annual Meeting attendees to see agrivoltaics practices at the Savion Solar Project outside of Columbus, Ohio, and to observe the use of precision irrigation and fertilizer equipment at The Ohio State University’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center; held webinars on avian influenza in domestic livestock, anaerobic manure digesters, and rural tech-workforce development; initiated MLC resolutions on the federal farm bill and food security; contributed policy articles to the CSG publication Stateline Midwest on ownership of farmland by investors and/or absent landlords; new state laws restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land; telehealth policy options for states; heirs’ property laws; and the rise of ‘“right to repair” laws; and developed a policy resource on the siting of wind and renewable energy projects. 2024 committee meeting: Information and resources The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting. Below are links of presentations and other resources the most recent 2024 meeting in Columbus: 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

To complement the work of the CSG Justice Center, a regional policy forum on criminal justice and public safety receives support from The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference. The forum was established in late 2024 to help leaders collaborate and share ideas on how to improve criminal justice systems and public safety in the 11-state Midwest. Legislators from the MLC will be selected soon to lead the policy forum. The CSG Justice Center is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that combines the power of a membership association, serving state officials in all three branches of government, with policy and research expertise to develop strategies that increase public safety and strengthen communities. Learn more about the CSG Justice Center Additionally, CSG Midwest regularly produces research and holds regional events on criminal justice policy and public safety.

In late 2024, the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference established the binational Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee. This newly formed committee of state and provincial legislators will foster the exchange of information and ideas on a wide range of issues, particularly those identified by the committee’s legislative officers and members. It will be made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. Legislators are appointed to the committee by legislative appointing authorities as well as leaders of the MLC; the appointment process is now underway. Committee activities are expected to include a mix of policy research, committee-sponsored webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings. The first meeting of the MLC Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee will be in July 2025 in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More details on this meeting, as well as other committee activities for the 2025-2026 biennium, will be available soon.

The binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Education and Workforce Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas on a wide range of policy issues, particularly those identified by the committee’s legislative officers and members. Activities include ongoing policy research, committee-sponsored webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings. The committee is made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. The appointment process for 2025-2026 is now underway. The CSG Midwest staff liaison to the committee is Derek Cantù. The MLC Education and Workforce Committee will meet in July 2025 in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More details on this meeting, as well as other committee activities for the 2025-2026 biennium, will be available soon. Summary of recent work and activities In 2023-2024, the committee was led by Ohio Sen. Hearcel Craig and Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kitchens, co-chairs; and Minnesota Sen. Heather Gustafson, vice chair. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee: hosted an in-person policy workshop for legislators on state strategies for building the Midwest’s energy workforce; developed a resource for legislators on policy options to address teacher shortages and bolster states’ educator pipelines; organized in-person meetings on topics such as the state-led integration of education and workforce initiatives; literacy education and the science of reading; state laws on academic remediation; trends in higher education policy; and Michigan’s innovative employer-led, sector-based approach to workforce development. held webinars for legislators on addressing teacher shortages and another on tech and workforce development for rural areas; and contributed policy articles to the CSG publication Stateline Midwest on topics such as the role of school librarians in the Midwest’s K-12 schools;  improving the oversight and delivery of early learning and child care; reforms of college-level remedial education; state policies to address chronic absenteeism; new laws on financial literacy; efforts to boost states’ and provinces’ legal-immigration workforces; the rise and spread of “science of reading” laws; Michigan’s sector-based approach to workforce development; Indiana’s new career scholarship accounts for K-12 students; Education Savings Accounts in Iowa and other states; and the varying governance models used by states to oversee and develop education policy. Resources from 2024 committee meeting in Columbus 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. “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  

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. 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 in 2023-2024 were 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 » CSG Midwest also provides staff support to two other groups related to energy and environment issues: the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence 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. During the 2023-2024 biennium, this work was 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 wide range of policy issues, particularly those identified by the committee’s legislative officers and members. Activities include ongoing policy research, committee-sponsored webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings. The committee is made up of legislators from the states and provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. The appointment process for 2025-2026 is now underway. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Tim Anderson. The HHS Committee will meet in July 2025 in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More details on this meeting, as well as other committee activities for the 2025-2026 biennium, will be available soon. Summary of recent work and activities In 2023-2024, the MLC’s Health and Human Services Committee was led by Kansas Rep. Susan Concannon and Illinois Sen. Julie Morrison, co-chairs; and South Dakota Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, vice chair. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee: hosted an in-person policy workshop for legislators that focused on strategies for improving state child welfare systems; developed a policy resource for legislators on policy options that curb the rise of fentanyl-related overdose deaths; organized in-person meetings on topics such as state-led, evidence-based strategies to enhance maternal care services and to make the most of investments in substance abuse treatment; held a webinar for legislators on Medicaid policy and another on legal representation for youths in child welfare systems; and contributed policy articles to the CSG publication Stateline Midwest on topics such as insurance mandates for biomarker testing; assistance for individuals in medical debt; a “reimagining” of state child welfare systems; state-level telehealth policies; financing mechanisms to support 988 lifelines; and how and why to address “place” when looking to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. Resources from 2024 committee meeting in Columbus 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. Below are links to resources, including presentations, from the 2024 meeting in Columbus. 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  

Created in 1991, the Midwestern Legislative Conference Midwest-Canada Relations Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas of mutual interest in both countries. Additionally, the committee ensures that the perspective of state and provincial legislators is presented to federal officials and provides a cross-border forum for dialogue and information sharing. To that end, it occasionally organizes legislative exchanges between state and provincial legislators. The committee is made up of legislators from from the 11 Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. The appointment process for 2025-2026 is now underway. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Mitch Arvidson. The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee will meet in July 2025 in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More details on this meeting, as well as other committee activities for the 2025-2026 biennium, will be available soon. Summary of recent work and activities In 2023-2024, the MLC’s Midwest-Canada Relations Committee was led by Manitoba MLA Kelvin Goertzen and Michigan Rep. Amos O’Neal, co-chairs; and Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman and North Dakota Rep. David Monson, co-vice chairs. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee: hosted an in-person policy workshop for legislators that focused on deepening their understanding of the importance of critical minerals to the region and the role of public policy; planned legislative exchanges of Ontario lawmakers to Lansing, Mich., and MLC leadership to Edmonton, Alberta; organized in-person meetings on topics such as U.S.-Canada federal relations and their importance to the Midwest and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and purchasing incentives in the U.S. and Canada; led a tour of 2023 MLC Annual Meeting attendees to see border operations in Detroit and Windsor, Ontario; held webinars for legislators that highlighted the work of the Alberta Ministry of Indigenous Relations and that explored Indigenous Treaty Law in the U.S. and Canada; and initiated MLC resolutions calling on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expand hours of operation at several ports of entry and calling for an 18-month delay at the U.S. northern land border regarding a rule that imposed new requirements on people entering the U.S. from abroad with a dog. Resources from 2024 committee meeting in Columbus 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. Below are links to resources, including presentations, from the 2024 meeting in Columbus. “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 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.