AUGUST 2021 | VOLUME 30, NO. 7 THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS | MIDWESTERN OFFICE

land conservation policies take Special edition of Stateline Midwest: Coverage of the 2021 Midwestern center stage at MLC meeting Legislative Conference Annual Meeting During expert-led session, legislators learn how new investments, partnerships This edition of Stateline Midwest highlights the sessions with agriculture producers can improve the environment — and bottom lines held and actions taken at this summer’s Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. The Council of State Governments provides staff support to the MLC: a by Tim Anderson ([email protected]) “Give back to the land so it MLC Chair’s Initiative binational, nonpartisan association of legislators from the continues to produce for you,” Midwest’s U.S. states and Canadian provinces. hen South Dakota Sen. Cammack said of one of the Gary Cammack wants lessons learned from his decades This year’s event, held July 11-14 in South Dakota, Wto know how well of ranching. marked the 75th Annual Meeting of the MLC. It was his family ranching business is Three years ago, Cammack hosted and chaired by South Dakota Senate Majority doing, one of his indicators is the Ranch was awarded the Leader Gary Cammack. CSG Midwest thanks all MLC condition of the land. Leopold Conservation Award, participants, speakers and sponsors for making this landmark meeting a success, and greatly appreciates How is the diversity and vitality a recognition of the family’s the many hours of work put in by South Dakota’s host of our wildlife? How is the health many successful practices over environmental protection, legislators and staff at the Legislative Research Council. of our soil? the past three decades — for you need to look for ways of “Those are barometers of example, the use of rotational assisting your state’s agricultural Inside this issue, you will find articles on sessions hosted profitability,” he said in July grazing, the planting of tens of producers. by the MLC’s policy committees and led by various to fellow lawmakers at this thousands of trees, and decisions “Nearly three quarters of the keynote speakers. You will also learn about actions taken year’s Midwestern Legislative that minimized the beef herd’s land in the continental United by the full MLC, including the passage of resolutions on Conference Annual Meeting. movement near water sources. States is privately owned, and topics such as federalism, chronic wasting disease, food- Land conservation and This year, under the leadership the vast majority of that land is labeling laws and reopening the Canada-U.S. border. agricultural sustainability are of Cammack, the MLC has been in working farms, ranches and deeply meaningful to Cammack, examining state policies that forests,” said Kevin McAleese, who has been a rancher in his help the Midwest’s farmers and president and CEO of the Sand home state much longer than he ranchers “give back,” and prosper County Foundation, which runs has been a legislator. as a result. the Leopold Award program for Three expert conservation-leading private speakers joined landowners. South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Gary Cammack talks Cammack for a “So if you care about clean to fellow lawmakers at this featured session water and open space and year’s Midwestern Legislative on this topic at wildlife recreation, you need to Conference Annual Meeting. the July meeting. care about private lands.” Cammack is the 2021 MLC It was held as part chair, and has made land of his MLC Chair’s conservation the topic of his NEW PARTNERSHIPS, 2021 MLC Chair’s Initiative. Initiative for 2021. INVESTMENTS IN OHIO In July, at the MLC Annual One of the Meeting in South Dakota, he takeaway Lake Erie is one of the crown led a featured session on this messages for jewels of Ohio. topic with the help of three legislators: If you’re But pollution runoff has policy experts. (photo: Johnny Sundby) interested in degraded its water quality, led broader issues of to harmful algal blooms and

COVER STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Inside this issue

CSG Midwest Issue Briefs 2-5 Featured MLC Meeting Sessions 6 CSG Midwest News 10

• Education: Year of learning loss puts pressure on states to • Historian Ronald White shares the timeless wisdom of • Midwestern Legislative Conference find ways of helping students catch up Abraham Lincoln with today’s political leaders approves five policy resolutions in July at Annual Meeting • Fiscal Affairs: What policymakers got right during the • Tawanna Black discusses path to inclusive economic growth • Ohio Sen. Bill Reineke joins four- pandemic to ensure budgets didn’t go in wrong direction • Futurist Ben Hammersley lays out four existential threats to member officer team of Midwestern • Economic Development: Jobless data point to challenges address in the post-pandemic United States Legislative Conference ahead for non-degreed workers, long-term unemployed Capital Insights 8-9 • Criminal Justice & Public Safety: ‘Fair licensing’ reforms BILLD News 11 aim to improve career prospects of formerly incarcerated • Profile: Kansas Sen. • Bipartisan group of state, provincial legislators from • Health & Human Services: ‘Tsunami’ of mental health Carolyn McGinn needs among top post-pandemic challenges facing states region chosen to take part in this year’s CSG Midwest • FirstPerson article: Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development • Agriculture & Natural Resources: Effective career and South Dakota Rep. Peri technical education seen as way of building stronger Pourier on the tragedy workforces in agriculture, other key sectors of missing Indigenous women, children CSG MIDWEST ISSUE BRIEFS

Education

‘Short-term’ or ‘generational’ impact? Critical choices ahead in mitigating learning loss from past school year

by Tim Anderson ([email protected]) Lastly, he said, new policies are needed to improve postsecondary Students’ academic Growth during look back at the last school year readiness. Currently, only about is a reminder of the educational 2020-’21 school year compared to 37 percent of graduating high growth in 2018-’19 — as measured by A imperatives that lie ahead for school students are prepared for states and their school districts. college-level math and reading; 70 changes in median scores on the MAP Tiffany Sanderson, secretary of the percent of beginning students at test (Measure of Academic Progress) South Dakota Department of Education, two-year colleges require remedial put the stakes this way to lawmakers coursework. Low- High- who attended a July session of the According to Lovell, states can Grade and subject poverty poverty Midwestern Legislative Conference improve these numbers in part schools schools Annual Meeting: by strengthening the rigor of K-12 Effectively re-engage students who curricula and expanding access to Third-grade reading -3* -11* were chronically absent or who fell college-credit courses. behind academically due to a year of He singled out a competency-based Eighth-grade reading -2* -6* South Dakota Sen. Jim Bolin presides over instructional disruptions and alterations, education model in Georgia known as this year’s MLC Education Committee Third-grade math -6* -17* and you’ve contained the problem to a meeting. He serves as co-chair of the “Move on When Ready,” a requirement “short-term educational impact.” committee along with Ohio Sen. Hearcel in Indiana that high schools offer two Eighth-grade math -8* -8* Fail to do so? Then it becomes a Craig. (photo: Johnny Sundby) advanced-placement and two dual- “generational impact.” enrollment courses, and a new law * Figures represent the difference in percentile points. Student learning gained Sanderson was one of two expert in California that incentivizes schools during the pandemic school year, 2020-’21. But that growth in achievement lagged compared to increases during a typical school year (2018-’19 school year). The presenters at this session organized about 3 percent of students miss 30 or to develop high-quality career and decline in student growth was steeper in high-poverty schools. by the MLC Education Committee. She more days of school. That rate of chronic technical education courses. Source: NWEA Center for School and Student Progress and the second speaker, Phillip Lovell, absenteeism more than doubled in 2020- focused on the impacts of COVID-19 and ’21, Sanderson said. These higher rates $123 BILLION OPPORTUNITY related policies on student achievement. tended to be in schools providing virtual sessions held across the state. Lastly, One huge new opportunity for states: “There are now even greater gaps rather than in-person learning. More South Dakota will explore new ways of the American Rescue Plan Act, which sets in learning, especially among our than half of the state’s chronically absent delivering instruction, with less emphasis aside $123 billion for states and school historically underserved students,” said students were Native American and 80 on seat-time requirements in favor of a districts to spend on education between Lovell, associate executive director of the percent were low-income. personalized, competency-based model. now and 2026. Alliance for Excellent Education. Lovell singled out three post-pandemic “Help students accelerate when they’re Nationwide analyses comparing challenges for all states to address. One “There are often strings attached to ready to do so,” she explained, “and academic gains during two different is helping students catch up from lost money that comes from Washington,” have more time and attention given school years — the pandemic year of learning opportunities over the past year. Lovell said. “These [dollars] have as few where they might be at risk or in need of 2020-’21 vs. the non-pandemic year of Options include developing summer strings as possible attached to them.” additional supports.” 2018-’19 — show that minority and low- learning and enrichment activities, In South Dakota, the money will go to To advance the competency-based income students were hit the hardest. extending the school day and year, and three priority areas, Sanderson said. model, South Dakota is investing in new “Students who were more likely to be investing more in tutoring and evidence- One is improving the recruitment and teacher training and expanding the in remote learning … were less likely based interventions. retention of educators. The second is availability of digital-learning options. to have access to the technology they He also emphasized the importance of better addressing the social-emotional needed [for remote learning],” Lovell said. closing digital divides that leave students needs of young people, an area that Tim Anderson is CSG Midwest’s staff liaison “It was a bad combination.” without access to high-speed home Sanderson said was the “highest need to the MLC Education Committee. In South Dakota, during a typical year, internet. expressed” during recent listening fiscal affairs

Most states have landed on sound fiscal footing — after a roller-coaster year caused by the pandemic

by Tim Anderson ([email protected]) (often not taxed by states) and toward FY 2021 Revenue collections in Midwest goods. Plus, the stock market hit hen most states closed their record levels. states compared to projections books this summer on fiscal Despite this good news, state Wyear 2021, the vast majority revenue estimates are still below of them had revenue collections that pre-pandemic forecasts, Kerns said. outpaced their budget forecasts. She added that legislators should be That’s not so unusual in a typical fiscal prepared for a rise in expenditures, cycle. most notably in Medicaid, as a But in the year of a pandemic, when temporary boost in federal aid ends economic activity was curtailed or even Minnesota Rep. Fue Lee and Kansas Rep. Troy and must be replaced by state dollars. shut down, few if any fiscal analysts were Waymaster lead the first-ever meeting of the The July session (organized by the predicting such sound conditions. MLC’s newly created Fiscal Affairs Committee. MLC Fiscal Affairs Committee) also “We weren’t wrong; what happened They are the committee’s co-chairs. (photo: included a look at how states will use is a lot of things were done right,” Johnny Sundby) the billions of dollars coming to them Higher than most recent projection that had Shelby Kerns, executive director of the been made National Association of State Budget via the American Rescue Plan Act. Officers, said in July at the Midwestern that rely on the sales tax would be in if it The Council of State Governments On target to meet most recent projection that had been made Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. wasn’t for that [change]?” Kerns asked. is tracking state activity, and two CSG For example, federal stimulus dollars Also leading up to the pandemic, states experts, Christina Gordley and Carl Fiscal year ends Sept. 30; collections coming in propped up state income and sales taxes. had built up record levels of rainy day Sims, shared some of their findings. higher than original projection States themselves, meanwhile, had funds and other reserves. So far, Sims said, states are Source: National Association of State Budget O cers successfully fought for the authority to Other, unanticipated factors ended up looking to “make sure [ARPA] funds collect sales taxes from e-commerce helping states as well. have a long-term impact and transactions. And during the first quarter High-wage earners were largely return on investment” while not modernizing their unemployment and of calendar year 2021, e-commerce insulated from the pandemic’s economic adding to the “state’s ongoing financial information technology systems. accounted for 13.6 percent of total U.S. effects, thus limiting the impact on income responsibilities.” sales; that compares to 7.8 percent five tax collections, while shifts in consumption For example, states are making one- Tim Anderson is CSG Midwest publications years ago. actually helped state tax bases — a move time investments in broadband and manager. “Can you imagine the trouble that states away from the purchasing of services other infrastructure needs, as well as

2 STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 economic development Hit hard by pandemic, many women, minority and non-degreed workers still face labor-market challenges

by Laura Tomaka ([email protected]) entertainment, travel, retail and child percent of the nation’s population care. of jobless workers were “long-term he pandemic-related dip in jobs Women have had a higher rate of job unemployed.” This means they had and economic output often has loss relative to their employment status, been out of work and searching for a Tbeen referred to as the “she- and in particular, minority women have job for 27 weeks or longer. cession” because of its disproportionate, been at a greater risk of labor market- “The labor market is changing adverse impact on female workers. related displacement and disruption. For in terms of skill requirements, Economist Michael Horrigan told example, as of February 2020, minority automation,” Horrigan said. “These legislators in July that federal data women represented less than 12 percent [long-term unemployed] are the folks on employment tell a slightly more of employment; they accounted for who are going to have the hardest, nuanced story. nearly 21 percent of the people who lost long-term problems in the labor It’s a “less-than-B.A. recession,” he said, jobs between February and April 2020. market.” “with significant impacts on women and “This is a really important lesson in Minorities make up a minorities.” terms of who got hurt by the pandemic,” disproportionate share of the nation’s Likewise, many groups of workers Horrigan said. long-term unemployed: 23.9 percent without postsecondary degrees or Bouncing back for many displaced and 17.1 percent for minority males credentials continue to struggle even as workers has not been easy. and females, respectively, as of May. the U.S. economy grows. As of June 2021, more than 42 Horrigan suggested that “Those with less than a [bachelor’s Wisconsin Rep. Robert Wittke, pictured here at degree] have had an especially policymakers also pay close attention the MLC Annual Meeting, is one of three officers of the MLC Economic Development Committee. difficult time regaining employment to trends in the “near unemployed”: Ratio of employment to Total individuals who have been laid off, He is a co-chair along with Illinois Sen. Linda since April 2020,” Horrigan, president Holmes. The vice chair is Indiana Rep. Ethan of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Population Among people without either temporarily or permanently, Manning. (photo: Johnny Sundby) Employment Research, said during a a bachelor’s degree but are not yet searching for work. session organized by the Midwestern This group is considered out of Legislative Conference Economic February May the labor force and not counted as disproportionate share of females Development Committee. 2020 2021 unemployed. without a college degree as well as During the first few months of the White, non-Hispanic “[Some] are coming back in,” he said, minority females. 60.1% 57.7% pandemic (February to April 2020), males “or we hope they are coming back in.” It is unknown how many of these overall employment declined by 22.2 As of June 2021, nearly 7 million workers will remain out of the labor force million jobs. This drop was highly Minority males 62.7% 60.2% individuals who were out of the labor or for how long, Horrigan said. He urged concentrated in lower-wage sectors force reported that they wanted a job legislators to focus on strategies that White, non-Hispanic 47.4% 44.8% now. But they cited various factors help bring them back to the workplace. and establishments — 64 percent of females the nation’s total. — child care, family responsibilities, transportation, etc. — for not seeking “Ten industries alone accounted Minority females 51.1% 46.4% Laura Tomaka is CSG Midwest staff liaison for over half of those employment work. to the MLC Economic Development declines,” said Horrigan, noting huge Source: W.E. Upjohn Institute (using data from the U.S. Among this group of the “hidden” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Committee. losses in jobs related to hospitality, or “near” unemployed, there is a criminal justice & public safety

With more jobs requiring occupational licenses, states look to remove obstacles for formerly incarcerated

by Mitch Arvidson ([email protected]) procedural protections at the back end of the licensing process. ‘fair licensing’ provisions in Midwest ixty years ago, about one in 20 jobs North Dakota and Ohio are among required an occupational license. eight states that require a written SToday, it’s one in four. explanation of specific reasons That trend has closed many for conviction-based denials. This employment and career opportunities provides applicants with a record for individuals with a criminal record for challenge or appeal, and informs because of another figure — 13,000, the them of possible remedies. It also approximate number of provisions in ensures that licensing bodies are state law that serve as barriers to licensure, properly applying the law. according to the National Inventory of On the front end, states can inform Collateral Consequences of Conviction. applicants about what licenses are As lawmakers learned in July at a possible. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Fully implemented explicit ban on consideration of North Dakota Rep. Shannon Roers Jones helps Ohio and Wisconsin provide pre- session of the Midwestern Legislative lead the MLC Criminal Justice & Public Safety pardoned, sealed and expunged records as well as requirement that applicants and their convictions Conference Annual Meeting, states have Committee as its co-chair. The committee’s two application determinations letting get individualized consideration begun to chip away at those barriers. other officers are Illinois Sen. Robert Peters, co- individuals know if their criminal These fair-chance licensing reforms have chair, and Nebraska Sen. John McCollister, vice records are disqualifying. Fully implemented explicit ban on consideration chair. (photo: Johnny Sundby) The hope is that these policy of pardoned, sealed and expunged records; several objectives: Give individuals a partially implemented requirement that greater chance at re-entry success, make changes improve employment applicants and their convictions get individualized them less likely to reoffend, and meet a safety risk. They now broadly prohibit outcomes. According to the Prison consideration Policy Initiative, 27 percent of state’s workforce needs. such offenses from being considered in Partially implemented explicit ban on Organized by the MLC’s Criminal Justice licensing applications. formerly incarcerated individuals consideration of pardoned, sealed and expunged & Public Safety Committee, the session In states such as Indiana, Kansas and are unemployed. Figures are even records; fully implemented requirement that applicants and their convictions get individualized featured presentations by Josh Gaines Ohio, after a certain period of conviction- higher for women and people of color. Formerly incarcerated Black women, consideration and Korey Johnson of The Council of State free years, individuals are less likely to for example, have a jobless rate of Partially implemented explicit ban on Governments’ Justice Center and Adam have their criminal records stand in the nearly 44 percent; that compares to 6 consideration of pardoned, sealed and expunged Diersing of the CSG Center of Innovation. way of securing a license. This is because records as well as requirement that applicants percent for Black women in the general Together, they briefed lawmakers on of laws that reflect what the data show and their convictions get individualized population. consideration different ways to remove barriers to about the likelihood of reoffense: it declines significantly as more and more Partially implemented explicit ban on licensure. Mitch Arvidson is CSG Midwest staff consideration of pardoned, sealed and expunged For instance, Minnesota and other time passes from when the conviction liaison to the MLC Criminal Justice & records states have determined that certain occurred. Public Safety Committee. low-level offenses do not pose a public Another policy idea is to enact Source: CSG Justice Center, Josh Gaines and Korey Johnson

STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 3 CSG MIDWEST ISSUE BRIEFS

health & human services

Addressing rise in mental health needs, rebuilding public health systems loom as big challenges for states

by Jon Davis ([email protected]) from the pandemic is that telehealth is state and federal dollars dedicated to a tremendous tool,” she said. Options mid hopes that the worst public health, per person* for states include allowing telehealth in of the COVID-19 pandemic programs such as Medicaid or requiring is behind the Midwest, A $123 payments for this type of service by legislators heard from two policy private insurers. This year, South Dakota experts in July who stressed the $84 became one of the first U.S. states need for new investments in $112 $55 to pass a law (SB 96) on telehealth; it mental health and public health $60 made temporary rule changes from the systems. $114 $96 pandemic permanent. “[The] mental health tsunami is $57 $79 $55 • Fund community-based, mobile already upon us,” Debbie Plotnick, mental health crisis teams that can vice president for state and federal $64 respond to emergencies. advocacy at Mental Health America, • Expand Medicaid coverage Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren, co-chair of the said during the Midwestern MLC Health & Human Services Committee, Source: United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings for new moms to 12 months after Legislative Conference Annual speaks at a committee-sponsored session in the birth of a child. In April, Illinois July. The committee’s three-officer team also Meeting. The session was sponsored became the first state to secure includes Minnesota Rep. Jennifer Schultz, by the MLC Health & Human people early on, avert a crisis and improve a federal waiver for this kind of co-chair, and Michigan Rep. Bronna Kahle, vice Services Committee. longer-term outcomes, Plotnick said. For extension. (Coverage typically only chair. (photo: Johnny Sundby) Since April 2014, Plotnick’s organization example, about 70 percent of youths extends to 60 days postpartum.) in state juvenile justice systems have has conducted 10 million online • Increase the availability of mental a diagnosable mental health disorder, screenings. This early-identification tool is health screening programs, especially an effective cut of 23 percent when as do 64 percent of state and local jail for individuals potentially in need of help for at-risk youths. inflation is considered. for conditions such as depression and populations. • Tap federal funds under the Families She pointed to several consequences anxiety (the conditions for which people Many new school-based initiatives are First Prevention Services Act to keep of this underfunding: shortages in most commonly sought screenings). underway in the Midwest. at-risk families together by providing public health workforces, and a lack The COVID-19 pandemic led to a spike In Ohio, lawmakers have made a $675 services for mental health and of access to resources that help with in those seeking assistance, and the million funding commitment in their substance-use disorders. disease prevention and preparedness. screening results showed that the two-year budget for schools to provide According to Melstad, the pandemic pandemic had a profound, negative effect nonacademic, wraparound services to also shed light on continuing public on the nation’s mental health. students. The most common service being ACTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH health inequities, an issue that demands Since 2014, 72 percent of the people provided is mental health. Minnesota, The pandemic also illustrated the legislators take a broader look at the seeking screenings were women, Plotnick meanwhile, funds one of the longest- danger of continued inaction in many social determinants of health — said, and more than 63 percent were running, school-based programs in the rebuilding public health systems, Sandra and then address them. people ages 25 or younger. In particular, country. There, mental-health practitioners Melstad, a public health consultant She said other priorities for states young people between the ages of 11 partner with local districts and come to and owner of South Dakota-based SLM should include strengthening the public and 17 are experiencing high levels of the schools to provide direct care and Consulting, LLC, told legislators. health infrastructure and workforce depression and anxiety. treatment, assessments of student needs, “If you’re an elected official, you’re capacity by investing in technologies that “What we’re finding is that nearly half of and staff training. part of the public health system,” she allow better tracking of future pandemics, young people who are coming to Mental During the MLC session, Plotnick said. as well as the prevention of chronic Health America are expressing thoughts recommended that states consider policies Less than 3 percent of the $3.6 trillion diseases, substance misuse and suicide. of suicide every day,” Plotnick said. that replace police officers in schools with spent annually on health is directed to counselors. Her other ideas included: One policy response for states: Invest public health and disease prevention, Jon Davis is CSG Midwest staff liaison to the more in school-based mental health. • Ensure that recent gains in telehealth she said, and prevention is being MLC Health & Human Services Committee. Such a strategy can help reach young become permanent. “What we’ve learned funded at the same level as in 2001 — midwest-canada relations The case for ‘ally shoring’: Legislators hear plan for rewiring supply chains to make them more resilient

by Tim Anderson ([email protected]) semiconductor production puzzle or product,” Austin said. “So we has slipped from 37 really are co-producing.” arly in the COVID-19 pandemic, percent to 12 percent, The MLC’s Midwest-Canada Relations a long-standing, but overlooked, according to a June report Committee organized this session on ally Ethreat to U.S. economic, health and of the White House. shoring at the Annual Meeting. national security was laid bare. The same report noted This binational committee has long “We realized that our dependence that China controls an served as a forum for state and provincial on critical supply chains often led back estimated 55 percent legislators to discuss trade issues and to to China,” Elaine Dezenski, a senior of the capacity to mine provide a voice for the Midwest. Austin advisor to the Foundation for Defense rare-earth metals (used to Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp and Michigan Sen. Jim said the economies of this region’s of Democracies, said in July during make batteries, engines, Stamas serve as co-chair and co-vice chair, respectively, states and provinces already are “tightly of the MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee. The a presentation at the Midwestern defense equipment, etc.), wound” and “interdependent,” and have Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. committee’s two other officers are Manitoba Minister as well as 85 percent of Kelvin Goertzen, co-chair, and Ontario MPP Percy Hatfield, much to gain from what he called a That was most immediately felt refining capacity. co-vice chair. (photo: Johnny Sundby) “rewiring” of critical supply chains. because of an inadequate supply of The pandemic was a call “We want to keep doing business with personal protective equipment. “We to action, but John Austin, China and everybody else, but not in areas were not the first in line to receive PPE,” director of the Michigan and are committed to rules-based trade. where it is detrimental to our interests and Dezenski said. Economic Center, warned policymakers to “It will make our supply chains more our allies’ interests,” Austin said. And these supply-chain vulnerabilities avoid the temptation of embarking on a reliable, resilient and predictable,” He recommended that legislators extend to many other areas. go-it-alone strategy of “reshoring.” Dezenski said. learn about vulnerabilities in their own Take, for example, the manufacturing Austin and Dezenski said a better path Ally shoring also builds on a strength jurisdictions, and then advocate for of semiconductors, a necessary forward is “ally shoring.” First, identify of the economic relationship between necessary changes in trade policy. “The component of electronic devices. products and economic sectors where the United States and Canada, Austin pressure to act is going to come from the They are part of the electric grid and domestic manufacturing is needed to said: The two countries don’t so much state level,” Austin said. telecommunications systems, and are protect national security and provide trade together, as make things together. needed to make everything from new good-paying jobs. Next, develop secure “Fifty percent [of the activity] is in Tim Anderson is CSG Midwest publications cars to refrigerators to fighter jets. supply chains for these products with so-called intermediate goods, the manager. Since 1990, the U.S. share of global countries that share democratic values component parts or pieces of a larger

4 STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 agriculture & natural resources Legislators explore promise of career and technical education, as well as funding options for states

by Carolyn Orr ([email protected]) A third model is to dedicate # of students involved in money for area-wide CTE uring the 2018-’19 school year, agriculture-focused career and Technical centers that support students more than 750,000 students in education programs (2018-’19) in multiple school districts. Dthe Midwest chose an academic Mark Pogliano, principal path that they hoped would also start and CTE director of the them on a successful career journey. 1,541 Jackson Career Center in One of the most popular tracts 11,432 Michigan, discussed with chosen by these career and technical 4,985 5,273 legislators how these varying education (CTE) students: agriculture, 6,169 funding methods are used in an industry that is critical to many of the 11,258 his home state. region’s communities and that provides 3,028 While all of the CTE 1,474 8,110 a diverse mix of job opportunities. 2,918 programs rely on state and “CTE programs are reflective of local 3,064 federal funding, he said, 33 communities’ industries and needs, of Michigan’s school districts Minnesota Rep. Paul Anderson addresses fellow Midwestern legislators as Illinois Rep. Norine from corn and hogs in rural Iowa to have a portion of their Source: U.S. Department of Education Hammond looks on. Anderson and Hammond are food production in the Twin Cities of property taxes dedicated to co-chairs of the MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources Minnesota to fisheries in northern rates are higher, and dropout rates vocational education. Committee meeting. The committee’s co-vice chairs Wisconsin,” Laura Hasselquist, an The Jackson Area Career Center, are Saskatchewan MLA Steven Bonk and Kansas Sen. lower, among these students. Marci Francisco. (photo: Johnny Sundby) assistant professor of agricultural “Part of the reason [why] is that CTE for example, oversees a program education at South Dakota State provides students with the opportunity that receives $12 million a year from University, said during a July session of the local millage tax. This region of to apply lessons learned in other classes encouraged legislators to work toward the Midwestern Legislative Conference. the state has one central career center to real-world settings,” she said. “This implementing sustainable funding Along with agriculture, the other that serves 12 local districts and offers a reinforces the academic lessons and models that encourage growth in CTE four most popular CTE career tracts in centralized CTE program. makes them stick.” programs. the Midwest are health care, business, In other parts of the state, school The funding of CTE can be just as This July session was organized by districts work together but do not human services, arts and information varied as the programs themselves. three MLC committees: Agriculture have a centralized CTE center. Instead, technology. According to a 2014 U.S. Department & Natural Resources, Economic Local, state and federal funds are used of Education study, some states fund participating schools house specific Development and Education. to support this education model, which local programs out of general state- CTE programs. A third option is for is for all ages but is perhaps most often aid formulas, but there is no specific individual schools and districts to have Carolyn Orr is CSG Midwest staff liaison to associated as an alternative for high earmark for CTE. Other states have stand-alone CTE programs of their own. the MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources school students. student- or cost-based formulas that Regardless of the model, Pogliano Committee. According to Hasselquist, graduation set aside funds for CTE programming. said, state support is critical. He thank you to the sponsors of the 2021 MLC Annual meeting

The Midwestern Legislative Conference gratefully acknowledges these contributors for their generous support.

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STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 5 SELECT SESSIONS FROM MLC MEETING

Historian Ronald White: Lincoln was a man of his time, with a wisdom for today’s political age

A nation riven with strife and seemingly split into two irreconcilable halves, each claiming to be the “real” America; what is a legislator in such days to do? To whom can he or she turn for inspiration? Acclaimed historian and best-selling author Ronald C. White suggests one of the nation’s first presidents from the Midwest, Abraham Lincoln. “He can’t help us with climate change, he can’t tell presidents what to do about Afghanistan,” White said in a featured presentation in July at the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. “But his words, ideas and values stretch across time.” For meeting attendees, White traced that wisdom through Lincoln’s own words, from his Young Men’s Lyceum speech in January 1838 to his second inaugural address in March 1865. In the Lyceum speech, for example, Lincoln already foresaw that American democracy can only be undone by its citizens: “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” Lincoln was a man of his time — the early to mid-19th century — and should be judged by the standards of his day, not ours, White said. He became a politician before he became a lawyer, and he decided to become a great public speaker. His humility and ability to note and deal with failure, as expressed in notes for a July 1850 law lecture, are illustrative: “I am not an accomplished lawyer. I find quite as much material for a lecture in those points where I have failed, as in those wherein I have been moderately successful. ... Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often the real loser — in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a “His words, ideas and peacemaker the lawyer has a surprising opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.” values stretch “Can you imagine a modern politician/lawyer [saying likewise]?” White asked attendees before quipping, “You don’t have to answer that.” White closed with perhaps the best-known portion of Lincoln’s second inaugural address in March 1865: across time.” “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and Historian Ronald White on the value of his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” today’s political leaders studying the Words about democracy. Words of personal humility. Words of respect and compassion for others. “Lincoln’s wisdom still speaks speeches and personal letters to us today,” White said. “They’re 19th-century words, but I think we need to hear them in the 21st century.” of Abraham Lincoln

States play central role in policies that can foster More-inclusive economic growth Simulated annual gain in GDP from closing of racial, ethnic and gender gaps (2005-2019) To make the case for policies that promote greater economic inclusion, one place to start is with the data.

And researchers at the Federal Reserve have recently made some powerful claims about the link between closing racial, ethnic $4 and gender gaps and growing the broader economy. They looked at 15 years of U.S. Census Bureau statistics on disparities in billion income, number of hours worked, employment-to-population ratios and educational attainment. Their conclusion: A closing $32 of gaps in these areas would have boosted annual, overall GDP during this time in every Midwestern state, anywhere from $4.0 $3.9 billion $31 billion in South Dakota to $120 billion in Illinois. billion billion $64 billion $14 Tawanna Black, a featured speaker at the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, highlighted those findings during a $10 billion $67 presentation that urged lawmakers to think about addressing inequality across all policy areas. “Did you have an economy worth billion $120 $37 billion recovering? How do you know?” she asked. “Did that economy work for everybody in your state? How do you know? Did data billion billion point you in that direction?” $18 billion The challenges of creating an equitable economy pre-date us, but we are in a position to make things better, Black said, adding that one tool to help make informed policymaking decisions is the use of racial-equity notes for proposed legislation. Similar in Source: Federal Reserve intent to fiscal notes (already commonly used in legislatures) or environmental impact statements, these notes would seek to anticipate a bill’s potential impact on minority communities. Iowa passed the nation’s first law on racial-impact statements in 2008 (HF 2393), requiring corrections-related measures to include notes on their impact to minority communities. This year, Minnesota legislators considered but didn’t advance HF 2297/ SF 2081, which would have required the Legislative Budget Office to prepare such notes upon request by a committee chair or ranking member. According to Black, founder and CEO of the Minnesota-based Center for Inclusion, state lawmakers can promote policies to improve access to jobs (education and transportation), human capital (increasing the number of minority-owned businesses, elected officials and corporate executive leadership) and opportunity (reducing wage and employment gaps).

Everyone, she added, should also be asking themselves hard questions: Are your business relationships equitable? Who taught Tawanna Black speaks in July at the you about race? Who taught them? Referencing historian Ronald C. White’s discussion of Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom, as seen in Midwestern Legislative Conference the president’s private notes (a session immediately preceding hers; see above), she asked, “What will cause you to take those Annual Meeting on a session private notes and make them not so private?” examining economic revitalization and inclusion. (photo: Johnny Sundby)

Futurist identifies four threats that he says need immediate attention from today’s political leaders

Foreign adversaries waging misinformation campaigns to divide the country. Citizens unable to agree on a shared, factual view of the world. Changes in the climate overwhelming state and local infrastructure systems. Ransomware attacks wreaking economic havoc on businesses and governments alike. These four threats endanger stability and prosperity in what futurist Ben Hammersley called a coming era of “hyper modernity.” “No matter how uncomfortable they are to accept, we now have to accept and work [to address] those problems,” Hammersley said in July during the keynote session of the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting. “Any bit of energy that is left arguing against them is shameful.” His message to legislators: Act now, because your states and provinces need your leadership and foresight. “If you’re not building systems within your states to protect people’s ability to think, if you’re not building systems to protect your digital infrastructure, Futurist Ben Hammersley delivers the keynote if you don’t build these systems to protect your economic and environmental infrastructures, then you will lose,” he said. address at this year’s Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in Rapid City. These threats existed before COVID-19, and the pandemic may present what Hammersley called a “weird opportunity” for (photo: Johnny Sundby) everyone, including policymakers, to reassess and reinvent how they do things and what they value. “It starts to lead people into the context of thinking about, well, can I be something else? Can we be something else?” he said. “By calling everything into question for practical reasons, the COVID pandemic has actually made everything possible in many ways.” Some adaptive, outside-the-box thinking may be needed to address the four threats he laid out for legislators. “Every generation always describes themselves as facing the biggest problems and biggest challenges,” Hammersley said. “But I genuinely believe that we right now, over the next five or 10 years, face existential threats.”

6 STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 COVER STORY

Promising conservation programs in Ohio, Wisconsin highlighted at MLC Meeting

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 caused the town of Toledo to temporarily lose its supply of drinking water due to “In the next few decades, global contamination. To address this environmental population is going to be reaching problem, changes on Ohio’s private, working agricultural lands had to be nearly 10 billion people. We’re going part of the solution: 85 percent of to have the same amount of land phosphorus loading into Lake Erie in Ohio comes from farms in the watershed. and water in 2050 that we have As part of a larger initiative known as H2Ohio, the state is now partnering with today, and we have to produce a lot agricultural producers in high-priority areas to spread the use of conservation more food.” practices that reduce pollution runoff. Rod Snyder, president, Farm to Market Dorothy Pelanda, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said this new initiative is unlike any other in the state’s history because of the level of funding involved,” Pelanda said. desperately needed, and it and the commitment to employing a That will take a long-term investment lets people take shared ownership science-based approach. from the legislature, as well as in watersheds,” McAleese said. % of total acreage in state used as Before reaching out to farmers, her participation by a much larger number If done right, these whole- cropland (U.S. Rank in parentheses) department brought together scientists, of farmers. watershed partnerships offer the along with leading agricultural and opportunity to reduce flood risks, increase recreational opportunities, 61.4% environmental groups, to develop a ’BRIDGE BETWEEN RURAL, URBAN’ (3) plan of action. According to Pelanda, and enhance fish and wildlife 44.1% In Minnesota, studies have shown that (7) this group explored lessons in water habitat. “Those are things you 39.9% the net profits of agricultural operations 29.1% protection from around the world, just don’t get from a simple plant (9) (12) 21.5% participating in a voluntary, state-run scrutinizing various practices in upgrade,” McAleese said. 74.7% (17) water quality certification program are 44.5% agricultural conservation. In Wisconsin, the Department (1) 41.4% higher than those not in the program. (6) 67.4% 55.4% “We said to the governor, what we’re of Natural Resources already has (8) These findings show that conservation (2) (4) going to do is focus on seven practices this kind of adaptive-management 54.7% practices can help farmers’ bottom that the best science and data say will program in place. (The state also has (5) lines by improving land management retain nutrients and water on the land,” a separate, water-quality trading and maximizing efficiencies (better use she said. program.) According to McAleese, of fertilizers, equipment and fuel, for Their proposal to Gov. Mike DeWine: local initiatives also are underway in % of total acreage in state used as Pay farmers for the development of example). Illinois and Iowa. a nutrient management plan, as well Upfront costs, though, often are an He said another option for states grassland, pasture and range as implementation of one or more of obstacle, though. is to assist agriculture producers (U.S. Rank in parentheses) those evidence-based practices, such H2Ohio recognizes that problem themselves in leading local as planting cover crops, installing new by paying farmers (with multi-year conservation programs. contracts) for their conservation 30.2% drainage systems, or changing how “A lot of research, and common (15) fertilizers are applied. commitments. sense, suggests that farmers learn 7.0% (35) In the first year of H2Ohio, DeWine Likewise, McAleese highlighted best from farmers,” McAleese said. 51.5% 8.3% and the legislature made $50 million in the potential for states to broker new In Wisconsin, the state’s five- (7) (28) 5.5% (36) incentives available for farmers to adopt partnerships between municipal year-old Producer-Led Watershed 8.1% 48.2% governments and surrounding Protection Program provides grants (31) 8.2% these practices. (9) 4.9% 7.2% (30) Just as important as the state’s agricultural producers. to groups of farmers who work (40) (33) commitment, Pelanda said, was securing A city’s wastewater treatment plant together and lead local efforts to 34.0% buy-in from agriculture producers in the is a point source of pollution; farm control nonpoint source pollution in (14) high-priority areas. operations are nonpoint sources. The a single watershed. former must comply with permitting Overseen by the Department Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research “I remember our first meeting in Perry Service County when we set up 300 chairs, regulations under the U.S. Clean of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer and we had over 900 people show up,” Water Act, and this has traditionally Protection, the program provided a total of $750,000 to 27 different she said. “From there, the number of meant spending money on facility and water in 2050 that we have today, farmer-led groups in 2020. producers showing up at the meetings improvements. and we have to produce a lot more food.” “It’s got a limited bureaucracy, it’s was close to 1,000. But these dollars might be better Consumers already have taken a got simple reporting, and it’s flexible “It was a real testament to spent on addressing nonpoint sources greater interest in how their food is of pollution, by having municipal and able to adapt to local needs and commitment to voluntary conservation.” being produced, and particularly in the More than 1 million acres of land were governments make payments to farmers interests,” McAleese said. area of climate change, companies are enrolled in the program in its first year. for new conservation practices. publicly making new commitments “We know that these [practices] “This is a bridge between the SHRINKING FARMS’ FOOTPRINTS around sustainability. work, but we need to get more acreage rural and urban communities that is Rod Snyder, president of Field The result will be more market-based to Market: The Alliance for Shared pressures on farmers to reduce their Agriculture, shared with legislators eight climate footprints. indicators that his organization uses to Dorothy Pelanda, director “We all know that for farmers, over of the Ohio Department measure sustainability and conservation the last few years, the margins [of of Agriculture, addresses in U.S. commodity crop production. profitability] have been incredibly thin,” attendees of the Midwestern They include comparisons over time Snyder said. Legislative Conference Annual of energy, land and water use; impacts “We can’t expect them to make Meeting during a July session on water quality; biodiversity; levels of changes in practices that they can’t on land conservation and greenhouse gas emissions; and soil health. sustainability in agriculture. afford to implement. So how can the Analyses of farm operations show South Dakota Sen. Gary supply chain as well as state and federal a “shrinking footprint in terms of Cammack has made these governments help close that gap and issues the focus of his 2021 environmental impact per unit of make it financially feasible?” MLC Chair’s Initiative. Pelanda production,” he said. That is because of discussed her state’s H2Ohio changes in agricultural practices that led plan, part of which includes new partnerships between the to improvements in conservation. South Dakota Senate Majority Leader state of Ohio and agriculture Yet much more is going to be asked of Gary Cammack has chosen agriculture producers to spread the use farmers in the future. conservation as the focus of his Midwestern of practices that prevent “In the next few decades, global Legislative Conference Chair’s Initiative for 2021. A series of articles is appearing in pollution runoff.(photo: Johnny population is going to be reaching nearly Sundby) Stateline Midwest this year in support of this 10 billion people,” Snyder said. “We’re initiative. going to have the same amount of land

STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 7 CAPITAL INSIGHTS

profile: kansas senator, and mlc vice chair, carolyn mcGinn

From the family farm to a place in leadership: Longtime legislator values chance to ‘deepen my world’ by bridging rural-urban divide, cultivating new relationships

by Laura Kliewer ([email protected]) Bio-sketch: kansas sen. carolyn mcGinn arolyn McGinn already knew the agriculture side of the rural-urban Cdistrict that she represents. Along  first elected to Kansas Senate in 2004 with her husband, Mark, she owns a family farm and raised two sons there.  serves as chair of Senate Committee on Local Government But the longtime legislator also has served as a Sedgwick County commissioner from 1998 to 2004 made it a point to get to know people  in the largely Black and Hispanic  is a 2010 graduate of The Council of State Governments’ Henry Toll Fellowship communities that she represents in Program Wichita, the largest city in her home state of Kansas.  elected by fellow legislators from region to serve as chair of CSG’s Midwestern She built relationships of trust. Legislative Conference in 2022 Constituents became friends. And that experience has deeply  lives on her family farm outside the city of Sedgwick; she and her husband, impacted McGinn, inside and outside her Mark, have two adult sons work in the Legislature. “Individually, I think that is one of the biggest blessings I ever received in my life,” she says. “I have a lot of good friends in those communities, and I’ve learned a “People seem to label you as one thing or another. What they great deal from them.” That relationship-building began don’t seem to realize, because of the lack of conversation, is decades ago, first as a county commissioner and then as a state senator. you have more things in common than you realize.” She was first elected to the Legislature in 2004, and along with being a longtime leader on fiscal issues, she has made also help the whole family. You save chair the Transportation Task Force conversation, working toward solutions many rural-urban issues a top priority your community money because and to develop our 10-year plan. ... for all. People seem to label you as one — landowner rights, water quality and [individuals] are not just revolving We came back for one final week thing or another. What they don’t seem to quantity, and land development. through the emergency room or your before the Legislature was going to realize, because of the lack of conversation, “Urban folks and rural folks want the local county jail. adjourn because of COVID. The bill was is you have more things in common than same thing,” she says. “We want clean Those two issues, along with water overwhelmingly approved and passed. you realize. Sometimes we have to put water and we want to sustain our land for quality and quantity, are something I It was an area outside of my normal those differences aside and work on those future generations.” keep an eye on. expertise, but the seed was planted things that we have in common. McGinn is now vice chair of The Council when I was a county commissioner. I had of State Governments’ Midwestern seen how important infrastructure was. I Legislative Conference, the nonpartisan How has serving in the got to watch a transportation plan when How has your involvement association of legislators from 11 U.S. Q Legislature changed or I was a county commissioner and early Q with CSG and the MLC states and four Canadian provinces. Next helped you? on in my Senate career. impacted your legislative service? year, as MLC chair, she will welcome But this time I was given the opportunity It certainly helped me grow as those legislators to her home state and Starting as a farm wife, to having to actually carry the bill. We are right now an individual and as a public community. The MLC Annual Meeting will A a family, to winning a county seeing the results all over the state. It is A servant. Having an opportunity to be held July 10-13 in Wichita. seat that no one thought was possible, something I can appreciate — the safety network with people from other states, In a recent interview with CSG Midwest, I met so many great people in the that it provides all our citizens and people Sen. McGinn reflected on her legislative and not only that — Canada — helps community — whether they were in the who travel through our state. career to date and looked ahead to her me look at issues differently. You can’t neighborhood or community leaders. We put more into public transportation year as chair of the MLC. Here are excerpts. learn it all. And sometimes there are It expanded my world. Then I went to and pedestrian/biking. We also believe being a state senator, and I met so many things you may have learned 10 or 20 there is a great excitement with Amtrak. years ago that you get reminded of. great people that taught me many things [ Editor’s Note: Amtrak plans to extend Having that conversation and that crew What issues initially led you over the years across the state. I also service from Oklahoma City to Wichita and of people to network with I think helps Q to run for the Legislature? love being involved in CSG and the MLC Newton, Kan.] all legislative leaders in our states. I wanted local government to because of the people I meet outside the Every two years, projects will be A be respected. I noticed as a state who have similar issues to Kansas re-assessed. In the past, it was more a 10- county commissioner that we would who are trying to solve problems for their year scale plan: projects were announced As incoming MLC Chair, take legislation and issues we had vetted constituents and states. and that was it. what are you looking My world has deepened and grown Q at the local level to Topeka. You get to forward to doing in 2022? Topeka, and legislators had either a through the opportunities I have had to distrust of local government or they meet people of diverse backgrounds. What do you view as some of Hosting all my MLC colleagues in thought they had a better idea. I am Q today’s important challenges A Wichita, the largest city in Kansas. someone who believes that local control to overcome as a legislator? The MLC Annual Meeting hasn’t been is best, as it is closest to the people. What has been your most held there in 50 years. I’m ready to show And it didn’t take me long to Q important or satisfying We have made ourselves into off Wichita, and not just the things that understand that investing in mental legislative accomplishment? A identified groups, rather than make the city beautiful, but what makes health prevention and assistance individuals who represent different our economy tick. We’re the “air capital pays back a lot more than if you don’t. The year COVID hit, I was trusted parts of the state and have similar goals. of the world.” ... When Air Force One has a Once you help the individual, you A [by legislative leadership] to There is a lack of trust and interpersonal problem, they bring it to Wichita to fix it.

8 STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 First person: States can help solve cases of missing, murdered Indigenous women and children Law in South Dakota will improve coordination, provide investigation resources

examples of midwest’s response to cases of missing, murdered Indigenous persons

As part of this year’s omnibus budget bill on public safety (HF 63), the Minnesota Legislature is appropriating $500,000 each of the next two years to establish and maintain an Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. This office will provide assistance to local and tribal law enforcement agencies on active cases, conduct case reviews, and track and collect relevant data.

Nebraska’s LB 154, passed in 2019, requires the State Patrol to study the scope of the problem of missing Native American women and children in that state. Legislators also charged the state agency with forging new partnerships among tribal and non-tribal law enforcement agencies to improve reporting and investigations. The State Patrol’s study found that a disproportionate number of Nebraska’s reported missing persons are Native American. (The share of Native Americans missing is 3.1 times larger than their share of the state’s population).

Two years ago, North Dakota legislators required creation of a centralized, statewide repository to report and by South Dakota Rep. Peri Pourier ([email protected]) track missing persons. One intent of the new law (HB 1313) is to better track and share information on missing Indigenous people in the state. The repository includes information on the tribal membership of missing persons. here is a crisis taking place right before our eyes, but it often goes South Dakota is establishing a new Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons within the Tunseen throughout the country. state attorney general’s office as the result of this year’s passage of HB 1199 (see main article). The office will Approximately 1,500 American Indian provide assistance to local law enforcement on cases related to missing or murdered Indigenous persons, as and Alaska Native missing persons have well as pursue new opportunities for federal funding. been entered into the National Crime Information Center, and about 2,700 Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has formed a task force of tribal leaders, state legislators and others cases of murder and non-negligent to help fight the abduction, homicide, violence and trafficking of Indigenous women. It is examining the homicide offenses have been reported factors that contribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women; the role of social service organizations in to the federal government’s Uniform prevention and response; and the policies need to improve data collection, reporting and investigations. Crime Reporting Program. Here in South Dakota, of the 99 missing persons statewide, 66 are Indigenous persons. persons to assist and coordinate with the first term in the House. HB 1237 and HB and people themselves — the missing Breaking down the data further, U.S. attorney’s office, the U.S. Department 1238 required the state to collect data and women and children — tell the story. you begin to see that those missing of Justice, and state and tribal law require training on cases of missing and Our most vulnerable population must individuals are mostly women and enforcement agencies. Additionally, this murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). stay on our radar. This issue must not children — from urban and rural areas, specialist will coordinate and provide These bills were merged into SB 164, be overlooked. HB 1199 is an important both on and off Indian reservation lands. training for locating missing and which became law. In 2020, SB 27 passed step toward finding a solution to human In many cases, these individuals are the murdered Indigenous persons. unanimously and became law. It required trafficking among Indigenous persons. victims of human trafficking. HB 1199 also requires all agencies the state attorney general to establish an If this process taught me one thing, it’s But unless you are from a tribal in South Dakota to cooperate with the MMIW data clearinghouse. the value of relationship-building — not community or have a relative from one, or attorney general’s office, undergo any Those steps helped set the stage for only across the aisle, but also across tribal if you know someone who is an American required training and report to the legislative success this year. nations. We all must be at the table actively Indian, you may be unaware of the crisis. liaison as necessary. HB 1199 passed the House State Affairs looking for solutions through meaningful These cases are unique because I worked with the attorney general’s Committee on a 9-4 vote and, one day conversations and honest dialogue. they can fall under multiple law office on this bill and, ultimately, it later, was approved by the full House enforcement jurisdictions and occur in supported the measure. This legislation also (57-12). In the Senate, it passed out of the isolated areas of our state. Often, these Rep. Peri Pourier has been a member of had strong support from all nine federally Judiciary Committee unanimously, and cases fall through the cracks between the South Dakota House since 2019. She recognized tribes that have geographic was then placed on the consent calendar is in the class of 2021 for CSG Midwest’s jurisdictions due to a lack of resources boundaries within South Dakota. and sent to Gov. Kristi Noem for signing. Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership and coordination. This was a historic piece of legislation Although the world of politics can be Development. Predators exploit these gaps and use in that the tribes were coming to the tricky, my strategy was to let the data them to their advantage. state to show support for this important issue. Further, the tribes expressed to BIPARTISAN, TRIBAL CALL TO ACT the Legislature that they wanted to Missing and Murdered Unit established at federal level, During our 2021 legislative session commit support for this proposed office in South Dakota, I introduced HB 1199, by helping the state secure federal with offices in Minnesota and South Dakota funding for it. an act to establish the Office of Liaison In April, a Missing and Murdered Unit was established within the U.S. Department of Interior In a legislature where Republicans have for Missing and Murdered Indigenous to coordinate the work of various federal agencies to solve cases of missing and murdered strong majorities, it’s a difficult feat for Persons within our state attorney Indigenous women. It will help gather intelligence on active cases, review and prioritize cases, any Democrat to get his or her legislation general’s office. develop plans to guide investigators, and identify outside resources. The bill was signed into law in March. to the governor’s desk for signing. With this new office in place, our state My first try at passing this kind of Two years ago, under an executive order of President will have a full-time specialist on missing measure occurred in 2019, during my Donald Trump, a Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives was formed. One of its recommendations was to create this new SUBMISSIONS WELCOME Missing and Murdered Unit. Offices have been (or will be) established in seven locations nationwide, This page is designed to be a forum for legislators and constitutional officers. The opinions including in Minnesota and South Dakota. expressed on this page do not reflect those of The Council of State Governments or the Midwestern Legislative Conference. Responses to any FirstPerson article are welcome, as are In the U.S. Congress, the Violence Against Women pieces written on other topics. For more information, contact Tim Anderson at 630.925.1922 Reauthorization Act of 2021 (HR 1620) calls for or [email protected]. increased efforts to solve cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The U.S. House passed HR 1620 in March.

STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 9 CSG MIDWEST NEWS & EVENTS

Resolutions on food labeling, U.S.-Canada border, Chronic wasting New slate of Lawmakers chosen to lead disease, federalism and Taiwan Midwestern Legislative Conference on adopted by Midwest’s legislators The Midwestern Legislative Conference considers final day of group’s Annual Meeting resolutions introduced by individual lawmakers as well as its seven interstate, binational policy committees.

At the MLC Annual Meeting, a bipartisan Resolutions our veteran state legislators from this region Committee (led this year by Kansas Sen. Carolyn have been chosen by their peers to lead McGinn, first vice chair of the MLC) reviews and votes on Fthe Midwestern Legislative Conference. The these resolutions. Once passed by this committee, the election of this new officer team occurred on July resolutions are voted on by the full MLC on the final day of 14, the final day of the MLC Annual Meeting in the meeting. Rapid City, S.D. These legislators will officially begin their new MLC duties later this year. Using this process, the MLC adopted five policy ABOUT THE MLC AND CSG resolutions in July at its Annual Meeting. Here is a • Joining the four-member MLC officer team for The MLC is a nonpartisan association of all summary of each of them. the first time is Ohio Sen.Bill Reineke. He will be the new second vice chair legislators in 11 states and one Canadian province: and is in line to be MLC Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, PUSH FOR TRUTH IN FOOD LABELING chair in 2024, the same Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Saskatchewan, year his home state hosts South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Canadian Sponsored by the MLC Agriculture & Natural Resources the Annual Meeting. provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are Committee, this resolution supports passage by the U.S. Reineke is in his first affiliate members. Congress of SB 1346, a bill that would require federal term in the Ohio Senate The Midwestern Office of The Council of State enforcement against misbranded milk alternatives. The MLC and previously served three Governments provides staff support to the is also urging state legislatures to consider truth-in-food- terms in the state House. MLC. CSG is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit labeling proposals of their own in order to inform consumers organization that champions excellence in state and help the Midwest’s animal-agriculture producers. He is a 2016 graduate of the MLC’s Bowhay Institute government by sharing innovative solutions to Ohio Sen. common problems across state borders. Bill Reineke for Legislative Leadership INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO CURB CHRONIC Development. WASTING DISEASE • Kansas Sen. Carolyn McGinn will be the MLC This second resolution of the MLC Agriculture & Natural chair in 2022. She has been a member of the Kansas Resources Committee calls on Midwestern states to Legislature since 2005 and is a longtime leader partner with the federal government on new efforts on state finances. Among her duties as MLC chair: to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease. It also leading the work of Kansas in hosting the 2022 MLC recommends a ban on the importation of any part of the Annual Meeting, which will be held July 10-13 in spinal column of deer carcasses, unless delivered directly Wichita. McGinn currently is the MLC’s first vice chair. to a licensed meat processor or licensed taxidermist. • The MLC’s current chair is South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Gary Cammack. He will turn REOPEN THE U.S.-CANADA BORDER over these duties to Sen. McGinn in December and become the MLC’s immediate past chair. A Legislators called for the U.S.-Canada border to be opened member of the Legislature for nearly a decade, to fully vaccinated individuals. Less than a week after Cammack has been focusing on land conservation passage of this resolution, Canada Prime Minister Justin policies as his MLC Chair’s Initiative (see cover Trudeau announced plans for such a reopening (starting story) and led South Dakota’s hosting of this year’s Officers of the Midwestern Legislative Conference, Aug. 9). past and present, meet this summer in Rapid City, S.D., Annual Meeting in Rapid City. during the MLC Annual Meeting. Pictured, from left This MLC resolution was introduced by a trio of North • Michigan Sen. John Bizon will be the MLC’s first to right, are Illinois Sen. Elgie Sims, 2019 MLC chair; Dakota legislators: Reps. Dennis Johnson and David vice chair in 2022. A 2017 BILLD graduate, Bizon was Michigan Sen. Ken Horn, 2020 MLC chair; Kansas Sen. Monson and Sen. Janne Myrdal. They noted in the elected to the state Senate in 2018 after serving four Carolyn McGinn, current MLC first vice chair; South Dakota Sen. Gary Cammack, current MLC chair; and resolution that “the United States and Canada have years in the Michigan House. He currently serves as Michigan Sen. John Bizon, current MLC second vice enjoyed the most prosperous relationship in the Senate majority whip. The MLC will meet in Michigan chair. (photo: Johnny Sundby) world, amounting to over a trillion dollars in trade and in 2023, when Bizon is slated to be chair. investment annually.” UPHOLD THE TENETS OF FEDERALISM partnership aims to help legislators find North Dakota House Speaker Kim Koppelman, Michigan Sen. Ken Horn, North Dakota Sen. Dick Dever and North Dakota Rep. Bernie Satrom introduced this resolution science-, evidence-based policy solutions affirming the “primacy of state authority with respect to powers not expressly delegated to the federal government.” SG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference is of workshops dubbed “ELEVATE.” The first It urges federal authorities to respect the constitutional teaming up with Science is US to offer new event, titled “Growing the Economy,” will be a limits on federal power and the appropriate constitutional Cprogramming to the region’s legislators. two-day workshop on Nov. 15-16 in the Twin balance of powers between state and federal authorities. The goal of this partnership is to help state Cities. Participants will explore issues related policymakers utilize science and evidence to cybersecurity, infrastructure and workforce to address some of the most pressing issues expectations. SUPPORT TRADE, OTHER RELATIONS WITH facing communities and states. Science is The goal of each ELEVATE workshop will be to TAIWAN US is a foundation-supported effort that provide participants with new tools and strategies In this resolution introduced by South Dakota Rep. Ernie brings together a diverse group of science, to develop innovative, evidence-based approaches Otten, the MLC endorses Taiwan’s efforts to secure the engineering, industry, higher education and to policymaking. For information, contact Mike signing of a bilateral trade agreement and encourages labor organizations. McCabe, director of the Midwestern Office of The Taiwan’s continued participation in international Through this new partnership, legislators Council State Governments, at [email protected] or organizations. will have the chance to participate in a series 630.925.1922.

The Council of State Governments was founded in 1933 as a national, nonpartisan organization to assist and advance state government. The headquarters office, in Lexington, Ky., is responsible for a variety of national programs and services, including research, reference publications, innovations transfer, suggested state legislation and interstate consulting services. The Midwestern Office supports several groups of state officials, including the Midwestern Legislative Conference, an association of all legislators representing 11 states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are MLC affiliate members.

10 STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 CSG MIDWEST’S BILLD PROGRAM

MIDWESTERN LEGISLATORS AWARDED 2021 BILLD FELLOWSHIPS, will take part in five days of leadership training this fall in Minneapolis

bipartisan group of legislators from the Midwest Minneapolis. It will mark the 26th year in which fellowship. Selections were made in June by the BILLD has been selected to take part in a one-of-a-kind the Midwestern Legislative Conference has offered Steering Committee, a bipartisan group of legislators A leadership program. The Bowhay Institute for leadership training to its members: legislators from from 11 Midwestern states. Along with overseeing Legislative Leadership Development is designed for 11 member states, one member Canadian province the application process, this MLC committee provides legislators from this region in their first four years of (Saskatchewan) and three Canadian affiliate provinces. guidance on fundraising and development of the BILLD service. Photos of the state and provincial legislators The Midwestern Office of The Council of State curriculum. Iowa Sen. Amy Sinclair and Illinois Rep. selected to take part in the 2021 institute can be found Governments provides staff support to the MLC, Anna Moeller serve as committee co-chairs; Michigan below. including its BILLD program. Rep. Ann Bollin and Kansas Rep. Jarrod Ousley are the This year’s program will be held Oct. 1-5 in This year, more than 110 lawmakers applied for a co-vice chairs.

ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA

Sen. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Sen. Rep. Sen. Sen. Ann Jennifer Justin Bradford Chuck Shelli Holly Adrian Zacharia Gillespie Gong-Gershowitz Slaughter Barrett Goodrich Yoder Brink Dickey Wahls

KANSAS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA

Rep. Rep. Rep. Sen. Rep. Rep. Rep. Sen. Sen. John Jason Mark Marshall Sarah Mike Lisa Mary Andrew Eplee Probst Schreiber Bullock Lightner Mueller Demuth Kunesh Mathews

NEBRASKA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO

Sen. Sen. Sen. Rep. Rep. Sen. Rep. Rep. Rep. Tom Megan Terrell Jay Zachary James Paula Sharon Phillip Brandt Hunt McKinney Fisher Ista Roers Hicks-Hudson Ray Robinson SASKATCHEWAN SOUTH DAKOTA

MLA MLA MLA Sen. Rep. Rep. Jeremy Alana Dana Bryan Linda Peri Cockrill Ross Skoropad Breitling Duba Pourier

WISCONSIN MANITOBA

Rep. Rep. Rep. MLA Rachael Jesse Sara Josh Cabral-Guevara James Rodriguez Guenter

BILLD Steering Committee Officers | Co-Chairs: Illinois Rep. Anna Moeller and Iowa Sen. Amy Sinclair | Co-Vice Chairs: Michigan Rep. Ann Bollin and Kansas Rep. Jarrod Ousley BILLDThrough Steering Committeethe Bowhay Officers Institute | Co-Chairs: for Legislative Nebraska Leadership Sen. Sara Development, Howard and Minnesotaor BILLD, CSG Rep. Midwest Laurie Halverson provides | annual Co-Vice training Chairs: Iowaon leadership Sen. Amy Sinclairand professional and Indiana development Rep. Holli Sullivan for newer state and provincial legislators from this region. This page provides information related to the BILLD program, leadership development and legislative leadership. CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference BILLD Steering Committee — a bipartisan group of state and provincial legislators from the Through the Bowhay Institute for LegislativeMidwest Leadership — oversees Development the program, , or BILLD, including CSG theMidwest annual provides selection annual of BILLD training Fellows. on leadership and professional development for newer state and provincial legislators from this region. This page provides updates on alumni of the program, as well as information related to the BILLD program, leadership development and legislative leadership. The BILLD Steering Committee — a bipartisan group of state and provincial legislators from the Midwest — oversees the program, including the annual selection of BILLD Fellows. STATELINE MIDWEST | AUGUST 2021 11 THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS | MIDWESTERN OFFICE CSG Events

CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference CSG National Conference Virtual Events for Legislators December 1-4, 2021 | Santa Fe, New Mexico Visit csgmidwest.org to find dates of upcoming webinars Contact: [email protected] and view recordings of past webinars on public policy, 859.244.8000 | web.csg.org professional development and leadership training.

Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development October 1-5, 2021 | Minneapolis, Minnesota Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting Contact: Laura Tomaka ~ [email protected] 630.925.1922 | csgmidwest.org July 10-13, 2022 | Wichita, Kansas Contact: Cindy Andrews ~ [email protected] 630.925.1922 | csgmidwest.org Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission Meeting October 13-15, 2021 | Detroit, Michigan Contact: Laura Kliewer ~ [email protected] 630.925.1922 | csgmidwest.org

Stateline Midwest is published 11 times a year by the NONPROFIT Midwestern Office of The Council of State Governments. ORGANIZATION Annual subscription rate: $60 U.S. POSTAGE PAID To order, call 630.925.1922 FOX VALLEY, IL PERMIT NO. 441 CSG Midwest Office Staff

Michael H. McCabe, Director Jon Davis, Policy Analyst and Assistant Editor Tim Anderson, Publications Manager Ilene K. Grossman, Assistant Director Mitch Arvidson, Program Manager Laura Kliewer, Senior Policy Analyst Cindy Calo Andrews, Assistant Director Christina Luporini, Administrative Assistant Derek Cantù, Policy Analyst Laura A. Tomaka, Senior Program Manager Jenny Chidlow, Marketing and Kathy Treland, Administrative Coordinator and Administrative Services Manager Meeting Planner

August 2021

The Council of State Governments, Midwestern Office 701 E. 22nd Street, Suite 110 | Lombard, IL 60148-5095 Phone: 630.925.1922 | Fax: 630.925.1930 Email: [email protected] | csgmidwest.org CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED