Updates from the NGA Membership Team for June 2025. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email NGA at: membership@nga.org.
June Spotlight
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis convened international education leaders in Canada for the latest in a series of bipartisan events in support of the NGA Chair’s Initiative, Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success.
The Vancouver event featured discussions with education leaders from Canada, Singapore and the United States to explore international perspectives on education solutions to address achievement gaps and prepare students for career success in the global economy.
Governor Polis will release a roadmap of the Let’s Get Ready initiative findings during NGA’s Summer Meeting.
NGA SUMMER MEETING
NGA to Host Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs
The NGA Summer Meeting will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 24-26.
Communications
NGA Issues Statement on Political Shootings in Minnesota
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement condemning the political shootings in Minnesota. The full statement can be read here. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s statement can be read here.
Governor Polis Pens Letter-to-the-Editor
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis penned a Letter-to-the-Editor in response to a column published by the New York Times. In the letter, Governor Polis highlights his Let’s Get Ready initiative and ways states are passing nonpartisan, common-sense reforms to improve student performance in reading and math. Read the full letter here.
Government Relations
NGA Hosts Congressional Briefing
NGA’s Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force hosted a Congressional briefing to inform Congressional staff, administration officials and stakeholders on state budgets, program design and gubernatorial authorities. Highlighted topics included health, human services and homeland security.
Representatives from the offices of NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek served as featured panelists.
An overview of the briefing can be read here.
Council of Governors Issues Recommendations on FEMA Reform
Council of Governors co-chairs North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem outlining the council’s recommendations for ways to reform FEMA and “transform and reimagine federal disaster response to ensure cost effective, efficient, and meaningful relief to those impacted by disasters.” Read the letter and recommendations here. The council held its 30th plenary meeting earlier this year during the 2025 NGA Winter Meeting.
NGA Task Force Submits Comment Letter to FEMA
NGA Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force co-chairs Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green and Vermont Governor Phil Scott submitted a comment letter regarding FEMA’s disaster response processes and recommendations to reform emergency response. These comments reflect recurring feedback and experiences expressed by the nation’s 55 Governors and their emergency management officials. The letter notes Governors’ common priorities for improving disaster response, while recognizing implementation challenges and policy preferences may vary by state and region. Read the letter here.
Center for Best Practices
NGA Leads 2025 Broadband Leaders Workshop
June 9-11, NGA hosted its annual Broadband Leaders Workshop in Columbus, Ohio. The meeting brought together Governors’ broadband leaders with key federal officials, industry leaders and stakeholders to focus on ways to implement federal and state programs to achieve key broadband access, affordability and adoption goals.
NGA Holds Convening for EV Workforce Collaborative
NGA and the National League of Cities recently co-led a convening of the State and Local EV Workforce Collaborative. NGA released this overview of the meeting that brought together state and local leaders, industry partners and workforce experts.
NGA Releases State as a Model Employer Playbook
As Governors work to address the dual challenge of public sector workforce shortages and barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities, positioning state government as a model employer of people with disabilities represents a promising solution. NGA released a new publication, State Government as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities: A Playbook for Governors, highlighting six actionable strategies for Governors to improve state government career paths for people with disabilities with policy options and best practices for Governors to consider. Read the Playbook here.
NGA Welcomes Infrastructure Coordinators to WasNGA Hosts Webinar with First Lady Jennie Gordon, Highlights Strategic Partnerships First Spouses Form to Advance Initiativeshington
NGA’s Health Equity Learning Network recently held a webinar focused on ways states and territories can address food insecurity through nutrition programs. The webinar featured remarks from Wyoming First Lady Jennie Gordon who highlighted the work of the Wyoming Higher Initiative. Following the webinar, NGA released a written commentary exploring ways Mrs. Gordon and other First Spouses form strategic partnerships with nonprofit, government and business partners to help advance their initiatives. Read the publication here. Mrs. Gordon is pictured below at an event designed to highlight her initiative to address food insecurity.
NGA Explores State Strategies for School-Based Mental Health Services
As part of the 2024 Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health, NGA supported the development of a Youth Advisory Council, where the six state teams selected youth advisors to work alongside state staff to drive change. During the May observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, one of the youth advisors shared this written commentary to highlight the research. More information about the outcomes of the Policy Academy is forthcoming in NGA’s flagship report, and state leaders interested in youth engagement can find additional information in the new report “Of the Youth, For the Youth, By the Youth: A Governor’s Guide for Incorporating Youth Voice into Policymaking.”
Legal Considerations Related to Gubernatorial Appointment Powers and Procedures
NGA recently hosted its monthly briefing for Governors’ legal counsel. The briefing focused on gubernatorial appointment powers and procedures. A more detailed overview of the briefing topic can be read here.
State Funding and Financing Strategies for Advancing Energy Projects
NGA released a policy brief highlighting several state case studies of effective funding and financing mechanisms for energy projects, including the braiding of private, state, and federal funding or financing sources to maximize investment and strategies for Governors to accelerate project delivery to meet their energy goals. Read the policy brief here.
NGA Welcomes Chiefs of Staff to Leadership Forum
NGA, in collaboration with Stanford University, recently welcomed Governors’ Chiefs of Staff to the Hoover Institution to participate in the State and Local Leadership Forum. The meeting focused on several timely topics and featured a special discussion facilitated by Dr. Condoleezza Rice, pictured with attendees and leading a roundtable discussion, who serves as the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy.
Monthly Member Updates
Governors Dunleavy, Grisham Meet at Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently led the fourth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, welcoming leaders, innovators and energy experts from around the world to explore solutions for a secure and sustainable energy future. This year’s featured speakers included Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (pictured participating in a discussion with Governor Dunleavy). New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (also pictured) met with Governor Dunleavy while attending the conference.
Governors Polis, Stitt Condemn Act of Terror in Boulder
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued this statement condemning the attack in Boulder. NGA Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued this statement condemning the attack. The text of Governor Polis’ statement follows.
June in Photos
NGA routinely shares photos of Governors at work. A sampling of this past month’s photo highlights follows.
Top Row (L to R): South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe
Middle Row (L to R): Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey with her new dog Huntley and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
Bottom Row (L to R): Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and New York Governor Kathy Hochul
