About CSG-WEST  

The Council of State Governments-WEST (CSG-WEST) provides a nonpartisan platform for regional cooperation among the legislatures of the 13 western states, creating opportunities for legislators and staff to share ideas and experiences. Based in California where it was founded 61 years ago, CSG-WEST also joins with other associations of western state and local leaders such as governors, attorneys general, county commissioners and mayors on issues of importance to the West.

CSG-WEST's membership comprises the legislatures of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Associate members include the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and the Pacific islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

 Summary of CSG-WEST  Programs and Projects

PROGRAMS

·   As it has for 61 years, the Western Legislative Conference (WLC) brings together members from the 13 Western state legislatures to discuss issues of common regional concern such as water, public lands, fiscal affairs, energy, trade and transportation. The WLC committees convenes at the CSG-WEST annual meeting, which also offers training and professional development opportunities for all legislators.

·   The Western Legislative Academy is an annual training program designed to help newer legislators become more effective and to strengthen the state legislative institutions of the West.

·   WESTRENDS is a forum that provides legislators an opportunity to address the demographic, economic and cultural trends shaping the region.

·   The Legislative Service Agency and Research Directors Committee provides annual management training for western legislative staff leaders as well as opportunities to discuss, share and learn from each other's administrative experiences.

PROJECTS

·   Pursuing cooperative solutions to issues that arise along the 2000-mile U.S.-Mexican border is the focus of the Border Legislative Conference, which is composed of state legislators from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and the six Mexican border states.

·   CSG-WEST provides administrative support to the Legislative Council on River Governance, a cooperative association of legislators from the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, who review environmental and energy issues in the Columbia River Basins. 

·   Extensive federal land ownership hinders the ability of western states to fund education through local private property taxes. The Action Plan for Public Lands and Education (APPLE) seeks just compensation on behalf of schools in Western states.
 
 

Background 

In 1947, the Western Regional Conference of The Council of State Governments (CSG) was organized and convened its first meeting in San Francisco. The name has changed from the Western Regional Conference to the Western Legislative Conference to CSG-WEST, which focuses exclusively on western state legislatures and the legislative process. CSG-WEST, founded in San Francisco, California in 1947, moved its offices to the state capital in Sacramento in 2001.

CSG-WEST programs and meetings are open to all legislators, staff, private sector and the public upon payment of required registration fees which off-set select direct costs for the meeting. This includes CSG-WEST Committee meetings; however, votes on policy, organizational and issues are limited to western state legislators appointed by their respective chamber's appointing authorities.

CSG is unique as a national service organization and association in that its regionally-based with programs, services and offices in the: 

 

Regions  of  The  Council  of  State  Governments

CSG-WEST is the western region of The Council of State Governments (CSG), a national nonpartisan organization serving multiple branches of state government officials and staff.  CSG is a 501 (c)3 organization.  CSG's federal identification number is: 36-6000818