NGA Center for Best Practices

NGA Center for Best Practices teams develop innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The NGA Center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s Governors.

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Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics 

Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics 

In a week that could easily have been defined by division, the penultimate session of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting offered something increasingly rare in American public life: two politicians, ...
Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health

Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health

States are increasingly exploring the intersection of health policy and outdoor recreation to better understand how these policy areas could be leveraged for the positive benefit of their constituents. While ...
The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities

The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities

In a segment titled “The Power of Service,” NGA Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore led a panel discussion to explore how Americans can heal division by serving in our ...

Reigniting the American Dream

Every American should have the opportunity to build a life of purpose, to strengthen their community, and to help shape a nation defined not only by prosperity, but by potential realized. Yet across our very diverse states, too many people have lost faith in this opportunity. They’ve faced too many obstacles, encountered too many closed doors, and given up the hope of a brighter future. We can do better.

Reigniting the American Dream is more than an initiative. It’s an invitation for every U.S. governor to take action.

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Center for Best Practices Library

Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics 

Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics 

In a week that could easily have been defined by division, the penultimate session of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting ...
Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health

Policy Brief: Outdoor Recreation and Public Health

States are increasingly exploring the intersection of health policy and outdoor recreation to better understand how these policy areas could ...
The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities

The Power of Service: Governors Lead Efforts to Support Military Families and to Promote Volunteer Service Opportunities

In a segment titled “The Power of Service,” NGA Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore led a panel discussion to ...
Supporting States’ Shift to Skills

Supporting States’ Shift to Skills

NGA and C-BEN Partner to Strengthen Public Talent Infrastructure States and territories across the country are accelerating their transition to ...
Investing in the American Dream

Investing in the American Dream

At the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting, Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, joined Oklahoma Governor ...
Governors Take the Lead on Affordability

Governors Take the Lead on Affordability

Cost of living has been a major focus in governors’ State of the State addresses this year, with chief executives ...
The State of Infrastructure: Governors 2026 Priorities 

The State of Infrastructure: Governors 2026 Priorities 

Infrastructure forms the invisible backbone of modern civilization, enabling everything from the water that flows through our taps to the ...
Red Tape and Rising Demand: Governors Talk Energy

Red Tape and Rising Demand: Governors Talk Energy

At the 2026 Winter Meeting, Politico reporter Josh Siegel moderated a discussion with Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, North Dakota Governor ...
Division, Trust, and the Road Forward

Division, Trust, and the Road Forward

After a stirring delivery of the national anthem, NGA CEO Brandon Tatum welcomed Governors to the 2026 Winter Meeting by invoking Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “Man ...
Council of Governors Holds 32nd Plenary Meeting

Council of Governors Holds 32nd Plenary Meeting

The Council of Governors (COG) held its 32nd Plenary Meeting February 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The meeting was held ...
Governors Call for Civil Discourse and State-Led Solutions

Governors Call for Civil Discourse and State-Led Solutions

Ahead of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting, NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore ...
Opportunity Done Right

Opportunity Done Right

Dr. Brandon Tatum In state after state, Governors are getting stuff done. They are streamlining permitting, building workforce partnerships, expanding ...

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