July 30 - August 2, 2013

Las Vegas, Nevada

While online sales make up only a small percentage of total sales, they are growing as a percentage of overall retail sales. According to the U.S. Census, in 2012 retail e-commerce sales totaled $225.5 billion and accounted for 5.2% of all retail sales, up from 4.7% the previous year. States with a sales or use tax residents are required to pay a use tax on any out of state purchases which they did not pay sales taxes. However, compliance rates are low and many states believe that they are missing out on a large chunk of revenue that they are due. In 2011, the California Board of Equalization estimated that taxpayers only paid 1.4% of use taxes due from online purchases. A recent study by the University of Tennessee estimated that states lost $12 billion in sales and use taxes from online sales in 2012 alone.  

Click here to see an estimate of how much tax revenue your state may be losing because of online retailers not collecting sales and use taxes.

The Food Safety Modernization Act, signed into law Jan. 4, 2011, represents the most significant revision of food safety laws in the United States in more than 70 years. The legislation carried with it new mandates for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including comprehensive, prevention-based approaches across all aspects of the food supply system. Such a prevention-based approach will require food facilities to evaluate hazards in their operations and establish procedures to prevent contamination. The law also requires the FDA to establish safety standards for production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables based on the best available science. In addition to enhanced prevention and surveillance tools, the FDA also will have mandatory recall authority for all food products.

The law recognizes that food safety is at its heart a partnership among federal, state and local--as well as foreign--governments whose success is dependent on the capacity of these partners to fulfill their roles. Because of this, the Food Safety Modernization Act calls on the FDA to support, expand and strengthen the ability of all partners to conduct their responsibilities at the highest level possible.

This complimentary webinar from The Council of State Governments' regional offices and the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders Association will investigate recent developments as the FDA moves to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, including recently released regulations on produce and manufactured food, implications this new food safety regimen has for farmers, ranchers and food producers, and ways the changing food safety landscape will affect the states. 

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During the state visit to Arizona in March, Chris Whatley, director of CSG's Washington, D.C. office, made a luncheon presentation regarding Sequestration and its impacts to Arizona. Moreover, he provided attending lawmakers an overview of issues being discussed in the U.S. Congress.

Over the past several months CSG-WEST staff conducted state visits to all 13 Western state legislatures in session as well as the Canadian Province of Alberta.  All of the visits included meetings with legislative leaders (majority and minority), CSG-WEST committee chairs/vice chairs, legislative staff and alumni, as well as  lawmakers eligible for the Western Legislative Academy.  

State visits provide a great opportunity for CSG-WEST staff to get a perspective and understand the challenges, nuances and happenings within each of our Western states.  Such valuable insights helps CSG-WEST staff calibrate programming to ensure we are meeting our members' needs.  Moreover, state visits allow us to provide legislators and legislative staff information on CSG-WEST services and activities during the calendar year such as the upcoming Annual Meeting and the Western Legislative Academy. 

Overall, the state visits were positive. CSG-WEST enjoys great support in the region among its leaders, members and private stakeholders. Western lawmakers value CSG-WEST's smaller-scaled forums, regional focus, non-partisan, balanced approach, and the opportunity to exchange information on issues of regional relevance and to network across state lines. 

As a member-driven organization, we value and encourage legislators to provide us their suggestions of how we can enhance our services and value to Western legislatures.  As such, we welcome your ideas and input.  Please free to contact our Executive Director, Edgar Ruiz, at (916) 553-4423 or via email at eruiz@csg.org.