National Governors Association (NGA)

During this reporting period, the NGA Center for Best Practices supported Governors and their policy teams across several critical policy areas, including youth mental health, cybersecurity, healthcare, education, and alternative fuel vehicles. The NGA Center completed numerous research and technical assistance requests from Governors and their staff, contributing significantly to state-level policy development and implementation. At the NGA Summer Meeting in July, Governor Murphy and First Lady Murphy launched their year-long Chair's Initiative. Governor Murphy's initiative focused on Strengthening Youth Mental Health Health and First Lady Murphy's on Maternal and Infant Health. This launch included a panel discussion with experts from the Colorado Children's Hospital, the Kennedy Forum, and Merck for Moms. In October, the NGA hosted a roundtable with Utah Governor Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox on youth mental health prevention and resilience-building, featuring national experts and state policymakers. Additional roundtables and policy roadmaps on youth mental health and maternal and infant health were presented until the completion of this initiative in July. In September, the NGA Center convened Governors' health, human services, and education policy advisors for a multi-day institute to address pressing issues. Discussions included public health challenges post-pandemic, rural healthcare opportunities, and strengthening youth mental health. Education policy sessions focused on student and staff wellbeing, academic recovery, and educator workforce challenges, facilitating networking and sharing of best practices among state advisors. In October, the NGA and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster hosted an Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Summit in Greenville, South Carolina. Leaders from 30 states and territories, federal partners, and private sector practitioners discussed infrastructure siting and delivery, federal funding opportunities, and best practices. The summit included eight-panel sessions covering federal resources, industry perspectives, utility collaboration, and the integration of charging infrastructure with energy, broadband, and intelligent transportation systems. These efforts highlight the NGA Center's continued dedication to supporting Governors in addressing various policy challenges challenges and advancing state-level innovation and collaboration.