A few months into the 2025 legislative sessions in many western states, key bills are arriving to Western Governors’ desks to be signed. Let’s take a look around the West at some of the important pieces of legislation that have been signed into law recently.   

Starting in New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a series of public safety bills, which reflect concerns that the Governor heard during townhall sessions she held across 15 communities in the state. The public safety package addresses multiple areas of concern, including fentanyl trafficking, shooting threats, auto theft, and more.  

Governor Lujan Grisham also signed two major behavioral health bills, one which will establish a Behavioral Health Trust Fund and one which creates a behavioral health executive committee to coordinate statewide efforts.  

In Utah, Governor Spencer Cox signed five bills on Monday and 11 bills last Thursday, including action on permitting reform and state water policy. The Governor and Legislature will also make a direct investment to boost teacher pay across the state and expand cancer screenings for firefighters.  

Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming has also signed a number of bills in recent days, including a measure to expand education opportunities for Pre-K-12 students in the state.  

In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed his first bills of 2025 last week. Included among the bills is a bipartisan measure that helps expand qualifications for Colorado's healthcare professionals and boosts the state’s healthcare workforce.  

In the Dakotas, Governor Larry Rhoden of South Dakota has signed a series of bills, including one to protect property rights in the state. In North Dakota, Governor Kelly Armstrong signed his first bill of the session last month, which expanded eligibility for the state’s property tax credit on primary residences.  

Idaho Governor Brad Little has also signed several bills this session, including House Bill 93 to expand education options, and a major tax relief measure. 

Check out more legislative actions from Western Governors, such as Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s action to lower the price of eggs and 18 bills signed by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte.

Wildfire mitigation: Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced $8.4 million for forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects this week. 

The funds will treat over 1,000 acres of land and train as many as 150 wildfire mitigation professionals.  

“This critical funding supports wildfire mitigation efforts across the state and helps Coloradans gain skills, and earn hands-on experience to become the next generation of well-equipped Colorado foresters,” said Governor Polis.

$100B semiconductor investment: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced plans this week to invest an additional $100 billion in its advanced semiconductor manufacturing operations in Phoenix, Arizona.  

The company, which has already invested $65 billion in Arizona, plans to expand its capacity with three new fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a major research and development center.  

The expansion is expected to support 40,000 construction jobs over the next four years and create tens of thousands of jobs in advanced chip manufacturing and R&D in the near future.

More cultural burns: the Karuk Tribe in California is the first tribe to reach an agreement with the California Natural Resources Agency and local air quality officials to practice prescribed burns freely, after legislation that passed last year opened up opportunities for tribes to utilize cultural burns without oversight authority from the state.  

Under the arrangement, Cal Fire can act as a partner and consultant on tribal prescribed burns, as opposed to its former role as an oversight and regulatory authority. The Karuk Tribe has a long history of cultural burning and a deep understanding of its effects on the landscape. Read more about it in recent reporting from the LA Times.

Reforestation innovation: in Montana, Tech Crunch reports that the forest restoration company Mast Reforestation is working on a novel technique to clear wildfire-affected forests for reforestation.

Instead of the common practice of collecting and burning the dead or charred trees from a burned area, Mast buries dead wood underground to lock in the methane and carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released from decaying or burning wood.  

As an additional benefit, Mast is able to sell carbon removal credits by preventing the release of CO2 and methane. During its first project in Montana, Mast will sell up to 30,000 metric tons of carbon credits, which will help reforest 900 acres of land.