NGA - National Governors Association
08/19/2025 | Press release | Archived content
Membership Monthly – August 2025
Updates from the NGA Membership Team for August 2025. For more about the programs below and a list of upcoming events please email NGA at: [email protected].
Above: Governors and First Spouses meeting at the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting. More photo highlights can be found here.
August Spotlight
At 2025 NGA Summer Meeting, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt became Chair of NGA, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore was elected NGA Vice Chair/Chair-elect.
In addition to Governors Stitt and Moore, the following Governors were elected to positions on the NGA Executive Committee, which guides NGA's operations and priorities:
• Colorado Governor Jared Polis (Immediate Past Chair)
• Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, M.D.
• Indiana Governor Mike Braun
• Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry
• Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey
• New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
• Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
NGA also announced new leadership of its three Governor-led task forces. The task forces foster a collaborative environment for Governors to focus on NGA's top federal priorities. The task forces and their co-chairs are:
• Education, Workforce and Community Investment: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
• Economic Development and Revitalization: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong
• Public Health and Emergency Management: Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein
NGA SUMMER MEETING
NGA Shares Summer Meeting Highlights
NGA hosted the 2025 Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 25-26. Each year, the Summer Meeting serves as a valuable opportunity for Governors to share bipartisan solutions and coordinate on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing states and territories. Contact Ann Corcoran for more information.
At the final session of the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting, Governor Stitt announced his 2025-2026 Chair's Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream. The initiative will bring together Governors, private-sector leaders and changemakers to explore policy and practice to forge a more hopeful, prosperous future for every American, focusing especially on policies related to energy, education and entrepreneurship. Governor Stitt's announcement included a conversation with Governor Moore and two additional speakers who shared their American Dream stories.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a discussion on his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
Attendees heard from Dr. Jason Furman, Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy jointly at Harvard Kennedy School and the Department of Economics at Harvard University, and Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, Founder and Chairman of Laffer Associates, about the domestic and global economic outlook.
To mark the conclusion of his yearlong Let's Get Ready! initiative, outgoing NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis led a panel discussion with education experts. The session featured a discussion with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and a fireside chat with entrepreneur Mark Cuban. Governor Polis also unveiled A Roadmap For Governors as a resource policymakers can use to advance innovative education policies.
Council of Governors Holds 31st Plenary Meeting
Before the start of the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting, the Council of Governors (COG) held its 31st Plenary in Colorado Springs. A summary of the COG meeting can be read here. COG co-chairs North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (pictured below with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein) participated in the meeting along with other COG members who joined virtually and in person.
First Spouses Convene at NGA Summer Meeting, Highlight America250 & Civic Engagement
First Spouses gathered in Colorado Springs (pictured below) during the 2025 NGA Summer Meeting to focus on ways Governors and First Spouses can highlight the history of the United States, especially leading up to next year's celebration of America's 250th birthday. First Spouses also joined Governors' staff and NGA Partners for a lunch discussion focused on civics. Read more here.
Communications
Newsweek Publishes Stitt, Moore Op-Ed Highlighting Governors' Bipartisan Leadership
NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore wrote the op-ed "Bipartisanship Is Alive, and We Governors Are Proving It." Published by Newsweek, the op-ed notes "NGA remains the only organization representing governors from all 55 states and territories-including Democrats, Republicans, and independents. It doesn't write talking points or campaign ads. It doesn't chase headlines or feed outrage. Its mission is not partisanship, but results." Read the full piece here.
Washington Post, Colorado Sun Highlight Governor Polis' Let's Get Ready Initiative
The Washington Post editorial board published "How to track educational performance? Here's a good start." to highlight former NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis' education-focused Let's Get Ready! initiative. Read the piece here. Governor Polis also penned an op-ed in the Colorado Sun about the Let's Get Ready initiative. Read the op-ed here.
Government Relations
NGA Task Force Sends Letter to Congress Identifying Funding Priorities
NGA's Education, Workforce and Community Investment Task Force, sent a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees detailing funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2026. The identified priorities relate to education and workforce programs as well as agriculture and rural development programs; housing; and state, territorial and local law enforcement programs. Read the letter here.
Public Health Task Force Sends Letter to Congress Noting Priority Programs for Funding
NGA's Public Health and Disaster Response task force, sent this letter to Congressional leaders detailing priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. The priorities noted in the letter include disaster response and homeland security, health and human services, behavioral health, children and families programs, maternal health, homeland defense ad cybersecurity, and public health infrastructure and healthcare workforce.
Center for Best Practices
Six States Selected to Participate in NGA Youth Apprenticeship Policy Academy
Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Washington will participate in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship. The Policy Academy offers participating states a yearlong opportunity designed to support and develop policy agendas that advance high-quality youth apprenticeship opportunities. Learn more here.
NGA Explores States' Investments in Mental Health Programs
NGA released "Strengthening State-Level Mental Health Policy During Uncertain Economic Times" to explore programs states are implementing to help protect the mental well-being of their constituents, especially during financial downturns. The written commentary looks at programs championed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. Read the commentary here.
NGA Releases Report on Nuclear Energy Development in Tennessee & Virginia
NGA released the report "Advancing Nuclear Energy in Virginia and Tennessee" to highlight the efforts these states have taken to further nuclear energy development. Read the report here.
Monthly Member Update
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe partnered with NGA to host the Missouri Nuclear Summit in Columbia, Missouri. The summit aimed to elevate the discussion on nuclear energy in Missouri as the state works to sustain increased demand for reliable power generation and decrease air emissions. The summit convened more than 500 national, state and industry leaders. The summit was followed by an NGA-hosted Missouri Retreat on New Nuclear Generation to help state leaders identify concrete next steps and develop an action plan to guide the state's nuclear energy development. Send questions to Dan Lauf.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina is becoming a Do Your Part State, a joint initiative between Blue Star Families and NGA. Recognizing that community support for military families is crucial to military recruiting and readiness, this initiative helps states identify, prioritize and implement the most effective policies and programs to support military families.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to provide a stakeholder's perspective on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The Governor's testimony can be read here and watched here. An overview of the hearing can be found here.
In Memoriam
NGA Remembers Governor Palacios
NGA is saddened to share Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Governor Arnold Palacios recently passed away. NGA leadership issued this statement expressing condolences to the family, friends and constituents of Governor Palacios. A state funeral was held in honor of Governor Palacios. David M. Apatang has been officially sworn in as Governor of CNMI.
NGA Remembers Governor Castle
NGA is saddened to share former Delaware Governor Mike Castle passed away. NGA extends our condolences to the Governor's family, friends and the people of Delaware. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer issued this statement on the passing of Governor Castle.
NGA Remembers Governor Nigh
NGA is saddened to share former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh passed away. NGA extends our condolences to the Governor's family, friends and the people of Oklahoma. NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued this statement on the passing of Governor Nigh.
August in Photos
NGA routinely shares photos of Governors at work. This month's photos feature Governors and First Spouses visiting summer fairs.
Top Row (L to R): Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey
Middle Row (L to R): Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, New York Governor Kathy Hochul
Bottom Row (L to R): Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker
NGA - National Governors Association published this content on August 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 08, 2025 at 16:41 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]