Category: South

On January 5, 2023, CSG South Policy Analyst Nick Bowman testified to the Georgia House of Representatives Study Committee on Cannabis Waste and Recycling, chaired by Representative Mesha Mainor. The Committee was created to explore innovative ways to use the waste created in the production of medical cannabis, such as roots, stalks, and stems. The virtual presentation covered state cannabis waste disposal policies and products that can be made from the waste, such as compost, textiles, paper, and rope.

Click here for full presentation

The post Cannabis Waste Disposal Policies in the South appeared first on CSG South.

Which states charge sales tax on groceries?

Click here to find out the answer

The post Question of the Month, December appeared first on CSG South.

We are nearing the end of the year and with it the close of our suite of fall programming. Our office is catching our breath, thrilled at the resoundingly successful last few months between three Policy Masterclasses, CALS, SAGE, LSA and sending various publications to print – but happy to be heading into the holiday season! Thank you to everyone who attended any of our programs, and we hope you stay engaged going into the new year and beyond.

Working hard every day for you, our members, our small but mighty team is something I am so thankful to have, not just as the engine of our organization, but as dear colleagues and friends. CSG South is incredibly blessed with talent, drive, and passion, all in equal measure and providing the fuel to fulfill our mission as your nonpartisan regional resource. This alignment of purpose and mission is the beating heart of CSG South. Our values steer us through hectic months of traveling, program management, research, writing, strategic planning, and so much more. We are truly blessed, so let us give thanks!

Finally, I, along with the CSG South family, would like to take a moment to celebrate the life and legacy of one of our dearest supporters and yearslong member, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston. During his career in the Georgia House, Speaker Ralston was steadfast in extending the virtue of civility both across the aisle and within his chamber. He treated everyone he came across with respect, regardless of background, constituency, or political party. Beyond exemplifying the kinds of qualities all elected officials work to express during their tenure, Speaker Ralston was full of humor and laughter and was a dedicated family man and friend. We thank Speaker Ralston for sharing his life with us, and we extend our deepest condolences to his beloved wife and children.

To all of our members, I wish you a blessed, peaceful and bountiful holiday season surrounded by friends and loved ones. And for those we will see at the CSG National Conference next week – aloha!

Click here to read Southern Pulse- November 2022

The post Southern Pulse Newsletter, November 2022 appeared first on CSG South.

With the recent release of the long-awaited NAEP scores, how did the 15-state CSG South Region fare on “The Nation’s Report Card?”

Click here to find out the answer

The post Question of the Month, November appeared first on CSG South.

With college football in full swing, the CSG South team is almost in the endzone and ready to bring the win home with our fall programming.

Fall Policy Masterclasses have concluded with resounding success. Nearly 80 legislators and upper management executive staffers came through three intensive classes, each focused on a unique, and regionally relevant, policy topic. We would like to thank our hosts in Birmingham, Alabama (The Future State Policy Masterclass), Atlanta, Georgia (The Future of Farming Policy Masterclass), and Savannah, Georgia (Anchors Away Policy Masterclass) for providing top-notch learning experiences for our attendees. And we are already working on our classes for 2023!

As I write this, the 2022 Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) class has graduated!  The class of 25 elected officials and executive staff spent four full days in intensive leadership development, hearing from world-class speakers and facilitators, and making lasting connections – and friendships. Click here to learn more about the program, and cheers to the CALS class of 2022!

In addition to our fall programming, the team and I have worked hard on projects that will make CSG South an even better go-to resource for all of our members, staff, and legislators alike. As a member, we are here to provide you with anything you need to assist in the success of you and your office.

Click here to read Southern Pulse- October 2022

The post Southern Pulse Newsletter, October 2022 appeared first on CSG South.

Legislators and staff from across the southeast gathered in Savannah, Georgia for Anchors Aweigh: Navigating the Policy of Ports. Sixteen officials from seven states – Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina – participated in the event. 

Over three days, participants heard from experts around the country on port operations, the Jones Act, workforce development, dredging, and the logistical difficulties of the modern supply chain. Participants also toured the third busiest port in the United States, the Port of Savannah. The Masterclass ended with a conversation on how states can make strategic infrastructure investments to facilitate long-term and sustainable growth at their ports. 

Experts from Texas A&M at Galveston, the Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Charleston, The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, The American Association of Port Authorities, Savannah Technical College, Roger Williams University School of Law, and the Georgia Ports Authority contributed an in-depth learning environment for participants. 

The Masterclass was hosted by CSG South, with a panel moderated by Women In Government Executive Director Meredith Martino. By interacting with colleagues and experts from around the region, participants gained a deeper knowledge of how ports in their states can not only affect local communities but can also have a broader economic impact across the region.  

Participants included: 

Ms. Archana Cadge, Louisiana 

Representative Mack Cormier, Louisiana 

Ms. Endra Curry, South Carolina 

Representative Dean Davis, Oklahoma 

Mr. David Fleenor, Kentucky 

Senator James Higdon, Kentucky 

Senator Jason Howell, Kentucky 

Senator Patrick McMath, Louisiana 

Ms. Wanda Mehrhoff, Missouri 

Senator John Morris III, Louisiana 

Senator Cody Rogers, Oklahoma 

Representative Troy Romero, Louisiana 

Senator Vickie Sawyer, North Carolina 

Representative Margie Wilcox, Alabama 

Ms. Tanisha Woods, Oklahoma 

Representative Mark Wright, Louisiana 

Click here for photos

Click here for all presentations

The post Anchors Aweigh: Navigating the Policy of Ports appeared first on CSG South.