We’re excited to debut our brand-new video series spotlighting innovation across the West—told directly by the legislators shaping it. Inspired by the theme of this summer’s CSG West Annual Meeting, Innovating at New Heights, we asked: What’s innovative about your state?

To kick things off, we’re proud to feature Utah Representative Doug Welton, who shares how Utah is approaching education through forward-thinking initiatives.

We hope you enjoy this first installment—and stay tuned! A new state (and a new story) will be revealed in our next edition. Which one will it be?

We’re excited to announce that the 2025 Legislative Council on River Governance (LCRG) will take place October 13–15 in Sandpoint, Idaho, chaired by Idaho Senator Jim Woodward.

Established in 1998, LCRG is a bipartisan forum composed of legislators from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, focused on advancing dialogue around key issues along the Columbia and Snake River basins.

Registration is now open. For questions, please contact Jackie Tinetti, Senior Policy Analyst, at jtinetti@csg.org.

We look forward to seeing you in Sandpoint!

Registration Now Open:

2025 Colorado River Forum in Santa Fe!

New Mexico Senate President Mimi Stewart, Chair of the 2025 Colorado River Forum, invites you to join fellow legislators November 12–14 at The Roundhouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Launched in 2020, the Colorado River Forum is the first of its kind bipartisan forum for state legislators of the seven Colorado River Basin states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming — along with participants from Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. The forum provides a space for dialogue on the future of the river, with a focus on shared understanding, regional strategies, and cross-border collaboration.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues across the basin and help shape the future of Colorado River governance. Register today to secure your spot!

Western States Water Council Executive Director Tony Willardson

60 Years of Regional Leadership: Honoring the Western States Water Council

CSG West proudly recognizes the Western States Water Council (WSWC), which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary during its summer meetings in Snowbird, Utah. We are especially grateful for our long-standing collaboration with WSWC Executive Director Tony Willardson, who announced his upcoming retirement this September after an incredible 46 years of service.

Tony has been a valued contributor to many CSG West annual meetings and programs, consistently offering deep insight and perspective drawn from his decades of leadership on water policy across the West.

At their recent meeting, WSWC members focused on strategic planning and reaffirmed the Council’s role as a unified, governor-appointed voice on western water policy. Committee sessions featured updates on state water data tools, quality initiatives, and legal frameworks, with highlights including demonstrations of WSWC’s data platforms and a review of New Mexico’s Integrated Water Financing Plan.

Four sunsetting policy positions were revised and re-adopted, covering radio frequencies for water data, extreme weather resilience, water R&D, and hydraulic fracturing.

Congratulations to WSWC on 60 years of impactful leadership — we look forward to continued collaboration ahead!

Learn more about the WSWC:

CSG NATIONAL

CSG 20 Under 40 Deadline is August 1!

Each year, the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award honors 20 dynamic elected and appointed officials from across the country who exemplify innovation, dedication, and impact in public service.

Know someone making a difference in your state or territory? Submit a nomination or apply by August 1 to be considered for this national recognition.

Learn more about eligibility and how to apply:

Hawaii Governor Josh Green

2025 CSG National President

Health Happens Everywhere: The Building Blocks of a Thriving Life

A CSG Webinar with Hawaii Governor Josh Green and CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins

When: July 16, 2025 | 11:00 A.M. Pacific

Join CSG for an engaging and interactive virtual session exploring how everyday factors — such as access to housing, education, transportation and nutritious food — are essential building blocks for strong, thriving communities.

Featuring CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, CSG’s National President, the session will explore how strategic investments in these areas can deliver meaningful returns, improving health outcomes and economic stability across our states.

Designed for state officials, this webinar also offers a forum for participants to contribute to the conversation, helping inform and guide the development of future CSG health-related resources and policy support. 

JOIN US IN JACKSON!

CSG West 78th Annual Meeting

September 16-19, 2025

Jackson, Wyoming

Reminder: Now Accepting Applications for the 2026 CSG West Vice Chair Position

The CSG West Nominating Committee is currently accepting applications from Western legislators interested in serving as an officer of CSG West. The position of 2026 Vice Chair is open. The legislator elected by the Executive Committee will advance to serve as Chair in 2028.

THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST

www.csgwest.org