Celebrating the West's 20 Under 40 Leaders + Thanking Our Members for an Incredible Year!

Navigating critical issues in water, energy, and agriculture across the Colorado River Basin. Snapshots from last week's Colorado River Forum in Phoenix, Arizona. Stay tuned for highlights coming soon!

Giving Thanks for a Remarkable Year

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, CSG West extends our heartfelt gratitude to our members, officers, and partners who have made 2024 an extraordinary year. Together, we tackled pressing challenges, fostered meaningful connections, and celebrated the achievements that strengthen our region.

From hosting impactful policy discussions to empowering legislative leaders, this year’s programs focused on collaboration and innovation. Highlights included advancing solutions for water and energy resilience, supporting legislative staff through professional development opportunities, and facilitating binational dialogue on shared regional priorities.

As we prepare to close the year with the Western Legislative Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we are deeply thankful for your dedication and partnership. Thank you for your commitment to CSG West’s mission, and we wish you a joyful and meaningful Thanksgiving season!

Congratulations to the 2024 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Recipients

CSG West congratulates the recently announced 2024 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award recipients—including six members from the West! This year’s class, representing 16 U.S. states and territories across all four CSG regions, is composed of esteemed and accomplished public servants whose hard work and dedication to public service is exhibited through service to their communities.

CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award recipients from the West include:

Senate President Pro Tempore Ken Bogner, Montana
Sen. Forrest Dunbar, Alaska
Rep. Diamond Garcia, Minority Floor Leader, Hawaii
Sen. Troy Hashimoto, Hawaii
Rep. Javier Mabrey, Colorado
Asm. Howard Watts III, Majority Whip, Nevada

CSG annually welcomes outstanding leaders to join the 20 Under 40 community who exemplify a commitment to bipartisan and innovative solutions. Learn more about this year's recipients below.

20 UNDER 40 LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

U.S. Department of Education Starts Final Beta Testing Period for 2025–26 FAFSA Form

The U.S. Department of Education has launched the final beta testing phase, Beta 4, for the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This phase expands testing access to all interested students and families, allowing them to complete and submit their FAFSA applications ahead of the official release by December 1, 2024.

Submissions during Beta 4 will be processed by the Department and shared with schools and state agencies, with participants able to make corrections without resubmitting. Beta 4 aims to further test the system’s stability under higher user volumes to ensure a smooth experience upon the official launch. For more details, please view the press release linked below.

U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION PRESS RELEASE

THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST www.csgwest.org

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