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Introduction

Inaugurating its 31st year, the Senate Presidents’ Forum met in Sarasota, Florida, on January 2-5, 2025. The Forum was welcomed by new Executive Director Caroline Carlson and by Board Chair Sen. Ron Kouchi (HI) before embarking on an ambitious program focused on state budgets, infrastructure challenges, and cybersecurity. The second day of discussions opened with a global perspective as the Forum considered the evolving U.S.-China relationship and its implications for the states. Subsequent sessions examined the challenges related to teacher shortages, the progress made in broadband access and digital equity, and the potential economic benefits of data centers.

State of the State Budgets

Joe Crosby, CEO of MultiState, reviewed the states’ economic forecasts, discussing the disconnect between consensus forecasts and actual growth in 2024 as well as projections for 2025.

State Infrastructure, Part I
Roads & Bridges vs. Extreme Weather

Garrett Eucalitto, the Commissioner of Connecticut’s DOT and President of AASHTO, highlighted the importance of resilience and sustainability in infrastructure planning.

State Infrastructure, Part II

Securing Critical Infrastructure

CISA’s Kate Nichols highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and infrastructure security, and stressed the importance of a coordinated approach among the states to enhance protection of critical infrastructure against cyber threats. 

U.S.-China Relations: What’s at Stake?

The next decade will be decisive in determining the global leader, forewarned Rush Doshi, Director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations. 

Rebuilding the Teacher Workforce

Ryan Saunders of the Learning Policy Institute discussed the severe teacher shortages in the U.S., highlighting the negative effects on millions of children.

Next Steps to Universal Broadband

Kathryn de Wit of The Pew Charitable Trusts led a discussion on the topic of universal broadband access, highlighting the progress made by states to date and the need for further understanding of access and affordability.

Policy Hotspot: Data Centers

Chris Koopman discussed the emerging importance of data centers in the modern economy.

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Member Meeting

January 2–5, 2025

Sarasota, Florida

2025 Winter Forum in Review

Introduction

The Senate Presidents’ Forum convened in Girdwood, Alaska, for discussions focused on a range of regional, global, and state-specific issues. 

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Member Meeting

September 18-22, 2024

Girdwood, Alaska

2024 Fall Forum in Review

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The Hon. Mike Dunleavy welcomed the Forum to Alaska.

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Sen. Cathy Giessel (AK), Sen. Rod Bray (IN), and Sen. Stuart Adams (UT) enjoyed the sessions.

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A welcoming non-partisan atmosphere characterizes the Forum events.

Introduction

The Senate Presidents’ Forum convened in Park City, Utah, hosted by the Hon. Stuart Adams, President of the Senate (UT), and welcomed by Hon. Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah. The Forum covered a broad range of highly relevant topics including legislative trends, school choice, home insurance, China, social media, and election integrity.  

States at the Vanguard

State legislators have stepped up to fill a gap left by federal inaction, consistently demonstrating their will and capability to take the lead on matters ranging from technology to workforce to social issues. As a framework for the discussions to follow in our Summer Forum, this session explores how and why states have moved to the vanguard of policymaking.

School Choice

As legislation concerning school choice continues to take hold across the country, we delve into opposing perspectives to better understand the calls for educational reform, the economics of subsidies, school performance, student outcomes, and potential impacts on our communities at large.

Is Insurance Boring in a Hotter World?

A crisis has emerged in home insurance. Beset by losses on homeowners coverage due to weather-related disasters, insurers have drastically increased premiums, reduced coverage, and begun exiting some states altogether. We’ll consider how the states are uniquely positioned to address several of the critical matters facing property owners, insurers, and real estate markets. 

China: The Nature of Economic Competition

Two decades after US-China trade burst wide open, to mutual benefit, the contentious relationship between superpowers has evolved into a challenge never faced before. In this session, the program director of the Council On Foreign Relations’ new China Strategy Initiative draws a straight line to state economies and even to granular implications for municipalities. 

Regulating Social Media: Tech-Informed Policymaking

A raft of legislation regulating social media, including digital privacy laws and age-related restrictions, has been proposed and enacted this year, with more promised to follow. The aim of this session is to offer insights and resources so that when lawmakers are shaping policy concerning social media and digital platforms, their offices are equipped to address the technology behind it.

Election Integrity: Driving Trust and Limiting Risks

Seldom if ever in our nation’s history has the administration of elections been under greater scrutiny or more integral to voter confidence. With guidance from the founder of MIT’s Election Data and Science Lab, and from NCSL’s director of Elections & Redistricting, we’ll help establish guidelines and best practices for sound, defensible elections. Participation is strongly encouraged in order to surface potential issues and explore contingency planning that can still be put into effect before the general election in November.

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Member Meeting

July 7-10, 2024

Park City, Utah

2024 Summer Forum in Review

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