News

This Teacher Appreciation Week, Western Governors are not only highlighting the essential work of educators – they’re also advancing policies that support one of the West’s most important professions.  

In an opinion piece this week, Idaho Governor Brad Little reflected on the teachers that inspired him as a young student in Emmett. Since taking office, Governor Little has supported a historic commitment to education, including boosting education investment by 70%. As a result, Idaho’s average teacher pay has increased nearly 22% since 2021, with minimum salaries rising by 24.5%. 

“I am proud that during my time as Governor we have moved beyond words of gratitude and backed up our appreciation with real, sustained investment in education and especially in teacher pay,” said Governor Little. “Taken together, these investments represent a sustained and intentional effort to elevate the teaching profession. They signal to educators that their work is valued not just in words, but in action.”  

Similar investment has been spearheaded by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in New Mexico. Teacher pay is 30% higher than when Governor Lujan Grisham took office, and sustained investment in public education has boosted reading proficiency by 10% since 2022.  

A recent package of education bills, signed by the Governor in March, builds on progress in literacy instruction, math teacher preparation, special education services, and school employee insurance.  

In Oklahoma, a bill to raise the state’s minimum teacher salary is heading to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk. It follows a bill that Governor Stitt signed last month to dramatically improve literacy outcomes in Oklahoma, and four more education-related bills this week.  

Teachers in Colorado recently reported steady gains in workplace satisfaction in a biannual survey released by the state’s Department of Education. 87% of teachers said that their schools are good places to work, while 90% felt their schools were good environments for learning.  

Governor Jared Polis celebrated Colorado teachers this week and highlighted a $13,000 increase in teacher pay during his time as Governor.  

In Nevada this week, Governor Joe Lombardo shared a letter of appreciation directly with educators to thank them for their work. Governor Lombardo also established the Education Service Center, which will help strengthen financial leadership and operational effectiveness in Nevada’s schools.  

For more on Western Governors’ bipartisan policy on education and workforce issues, read WGA Policy Resolution 2025-03, Workforce Development in the Western United States.  

Carbon storage across state lines: this week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen permitting for carbon storage projects that may extend across state lines.  

The MOU applies to carbon storage efforts located within a mile of the Colorado-Wyoming border, or those that may cross state lines.  

“This MOU brings Wyoming and Colorado together to speed up permitting, support cleaner air, and protect property rights. Colorado is proud to be a leader in protecting our environment for future generations, and this MOU is another example of good work with others to move forward. I want to thank Governor Gordon and his team for their collaboration and partnership on this important issue,” said Governor Polis.   

For more on bipartisan efforts to advance carbon storage, read the Decarbonizing the West initiative report from Governor Gordon’s term as WGA Chair in 2024.  

MMIP Awareness Day: on Tuesday, May 5, Western Governors recognized Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, which shines a light on the MMIP crisis across the country. Native communities across every western state recognized the day with marches, vigils, and other events to raise awareness and help families heal.  

Western Governors have come together to create bipartisan, regional policy to address the MMIP crisis. WGA Policy Resolution 2023-09, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons recommends expanding law enforcement capacity, shoring up survivor support systems, and improving collaboration and coordination at all levels of government. 

Breaking Bad Habits: last month, the two-day Great New Mexico Cleanup event mobilized more than 7,000 volunteers who collected over 60,000 pounds of litter in the state’s largest-ever organized cleanup effort.  

The event was organized through Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s statewide litter prevention campaign: Breaking Bad Habits. Governor Lujan Grisham, alongside the Salamanca Cousins from the hit TV series Breaking Bad, joined volunteers at several stops throughout the state.  

“New Mexicans take immense pride in the beauty of our state, and the Great New Mexico Cleanup showed what is possible when our communities band together to accomplish a common goal,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “I’m grateful to every volunteer, partner and local leader who stepped up to make this cleanup a resounding success. Together, we are building a cleaner, healthier New Mexico today and for future generations.” 

Electric semi-trucks: late last month, Tesla announced that it had started high-volume production of its electric semi-trucks at its Nevada factory. Tesla’s electric Semis offer a higher mileage range and lower price than other electric freight trucks available today, and their production could mark a milestone for the industry. 

The Tesla Semis claim a range of 500 miles on a single charge and are listed up to $200,000 cheaper than other battery-powered trucks. In California, nearly 1,000 voucher requests for Tesla Semis were submitted under the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which could represent as much as a third of heavy-duty truck sales in the state.