The bipartisan, interstate and 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 has four officers: North Dakota Sen. Paul Thomas and Nebraska Sen. Teresa Ibach, co-chairs; and Illinois Rep. Brad Fritts and Minnesota Sen. Robert Kupec, co-vice chairs. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Becky Leis. The MLC Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee last met and led sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on July 27-30. Committee agenda and sessions for Saskatoon 2025 MLC Annual Meeting summary and presentation links

To complement the work of the CSG Justice Center, a regional policy forum on corrections, criminal justice and public safety receives support from The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference. The forum was established to help leaders collaborate and share ideas on how to improve criminal justice systems and public safety in the 11-state Midwest. The forum is led by two co-chairs: Wisconsin Sen. Jesse James and Ohio Sen. Michele Reynolds. 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 Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference established the bipartisan, interstate and binational Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee. The goal of this MLC committee is to foster the exchange of information and ideas on a wide range of issues, particularly those identified by its legislative officers and members. Legislators are appointed to the committee by legislative appointing authorities as well as leaders of the MLC. Committee activities include policy research, committee-sponsored webinars for legislators and legislative staff, and in-person meetings. The committee’s co-chairs are Ohio Sen. Hearcel Craig and Nebraska Sen. Kathleen Kauth.

The bipartisan, interstate and binational Midwestern Legislative Conference Education & 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 CSG Midwest staff liaison to the committee is Derek Cantù. Officers for the 2025-’26 biennium are Nebraska Sen. Jana Hughes and Minnesota Rep. Bernie Perryman, co-chairs; and Kansas Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, vice chair. The MLC Education and Workforce Committee met and led policy sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting, which was held July 27-30 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Agenda for committee meeting and sessions in Saskatoon    

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’ bipartisan, interstate and 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 CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Jon Davis. 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 MLC Energy and Environment Committee met and led sessions in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting, which was held on July 27-30. Committee agenda and sessions for Saskatoon     

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 2025-2026 biennium, this work was led by a three-officer team: Kansas Rep. Troy Waymaster and Minnesota Rep. Fue Lee, co-chairs; and Illinois Sen. Laura Murphy, vice chair. For information, please contact CSG Midwest policy analyst Joseph Dell’Olio.

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 bipartisan, interstate and 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. Illinois Rep. Anna Moeller and South Dakota Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt serve as co-chairs; Iowa Rep. Brett Barker is the vice chair. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC. The CSG Midwest staff liaison for the committee is Tim Anderson. In August, the committee led a webinar for legislators, legislative staff and other state leaders on “How States Can Leverage Medicaid Funds to Reduce Recidivism and Improve Health Outcomes.” View the slides and recording from the August 2025 webinar Presentations, resources from 2025 MLC Annual Meeting The HHS Committee met and led sessions on July 27 and 28 in conjunction with the 2025 MLC Annual Meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Committee agenda and sessions for Saskatoon  Session on Future of Health Care Delivery “The Promise, Potential and Reality of Telehealth,” Dr. Jonathan Neufeld, Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center  Note: The presentation by Dr. Ivar Mendez of Saskatchewan’s Virtual Health Hub is not available. Learn more about the hub here. Session on Family-Centered, Community-Based Approaches to Child Welfare  “Child Welfare Transformation for the Cowessess First Nation,” Cadmus Delorme, OneHoop Consulting & Advisory Services “Gold Standard For Child Welfare Services,” Tleena Ives, Casey Family Programs  

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 MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee met and led sessions in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting, which was held July 27-30 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On the day’s first meeting, the committee considered and passed a resolution on North American energy, focusing on the importance of continuing the free flow of energy products between Canada and the United States. The resolution also voices support for the use of domestic sources of energy, both renewable and nonrenewable. The resolution ultimately was approved by the full MLC on July 29 during its business session in Saskatoon. Resolution on North American Energy Security Committee agenda and sessions for Saskatoon  

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.