Each year, state legislators from the western region are selected to participate in the Western Legislative Academy (WLA), a multi-day training experience focused on sharpening leadership skills needed to excel in a legislative environment. 

Held annually in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the WLA take place December 13-16. To be eligible, members must be in their first four years of service. 

Information about the program and application process can be found on our website – including a link to the digital application form. Completed applications are due April 28.

The Border Legislative Conference (BLC) is the premier facilitator for ongoing dialogue among legislators of the ten U.S. – Mexico border states. State legislators come together with key stakeholders and topic experts to share information, learn from one another and discuss unique, regional policy concerns while striving to find shared, binational solutions.

This year’s conference convenes April 28 – April 30 at the historic Mission Inn in Riverside, California. Members will discuss a variety of topics, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the binational relationship, environmental challenges and opportunities to improve the environment along the border region, and post pandemic economic recovery and growth. Please join us for a robust and productive conversation on these topics and more.

For more information about the conference please visit our website by clicking here. If you have any questions, please contact Martha Castañeda at [email protected].

Click on the video below and Discover What’s Possible at the upcoming meeting. See you in Boise!

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation recently announced a funding opportunity for WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects. This program provides federal cost-share funds for entities to take a proactive approach to drought through building projects that increase water supply reliability and improve water management.

 

Click below to learn more about this project, including eligibility and funding levels.

In a unanimous opinion in Houston Community College v. Wilson, the U.S. Supreme Court held that when a government board censures a member it doesn’t violate the First Amendment.

 

As Justice Gorsuch describes in his opinion, David Wilson’s tenure on the Houston Community College board was “stormy.” He accused the board of violating its bylaws and ethics rules in the media, he hired a private investigator to determine whether another board member lived in the district which elected her, and he repeatedly sued the board. The board censured him stating his conduct was “not consistent with the best interests of the College” and “not only inappropriate, but reprehensible.” 

Click below to read more about this case.

In National Pork Producers Council v. Ross the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether California can prevent the sale of pork in the state unless it meets the state’s standards. California’s Proposition 12 prevents the sale of “whole pork meat” in the state unless the meat was produced in compliance with “specified sow confinement restrictions.” The National Pork Producers Council (Council) claims that Proposition 12 violates the U.S. Constitution’s dormant Commerce Clause. 

Click below to read more about this case.

On March 7^th CSG West director Edgar Ruiz and staffer Jackie Tinetti touched down in Alaska’s capitol city of Juneau for a busy week of meetings with Senate and House leaders, members, and legislative staff.

Members shared their priorities and focus for this year’s session, including the opening of the border with Canada to ease trade and commerce, protecting the supply chain from future disruption, creating a sustainable fiscal plan for Alaska, and enhancing cybersecurity and broadband deployment.