February 2026 Board and Committee Meeting Highlights
NASWA held in-person meetings for the Board of Directors and Policy Committees in National Harbor, Maryland, February 24-27, 2026.
Board of Directors
The NASWA Board of Directors held a one-day meeting led by Board Chair, Cami Feek (WA). The meeting commenced with updates from President and CEO, Scott B. Sanders and Board Treasurer, Anna Hui (MO. Updates included committee reports and NASWA program and partnerships. Board members participated in peer-to-peer exchanges on shared priorities and challenges. The next Board of Directors meeting will be on June 2, 2026 in Seattle, WA.
Administration and Finance
The Administrative & Finance (A&F) Committee met with 35 members in attendance, bringing together state workforce finance leaders and U.S. Department of Labor officials to discuss ongoing challenges facing unemployment insurance (UI) and workforce program administration. The meeting focused on flat federal funding, rising administrative costs, modernization pressures, and state strategies to sustain operations, alongside federal updates on funding flexibility and grant opportunities. Robust peer-to-peer discussions allowed states to share practical approaches to managing UI funding gaps, staffing constraints, and cost allocation, underscoring the committee’s role as a collaborative forum for shared problem-solving. The next in-person A&F committee meeting will be on June 3-4, 2026 in Seattle, WA.
Communications
The Communications Committee met with nearly 20 members in attendance, chaired by Chris Barron (WA). Members engaged in discussions on legislative trends, communications strategies, and administrative transitions. The committee heard workgroup updates, previewed NASWA’s new messaging strategy and website refresh, and participated in peer exchanges, a state roundtable, and an Excellence in Communications Award showcase highlighting innovative state initiatives. The next committee meeting will be held virtually on April 28, 2026.
Employment and Training
More than 60 individuals attended the Employment and Training (E&T) Committee meeting, representing more than 35 states. Meeting attendees covered a range of topics, including the current policy landscape, Medicaid community engagement requirements, and Workforce Pell implementation. The meeting also featured a showcase from the host state of Maryland, updates from USDOL, and facilitated committee discussions on WIOA Waivers and various other key policy and program areas. The next in-person E&T committee meeting will be held June 3 – 4, 2026, in Seattle, WA.
Equal Opportunity
Nineteen members of the Equal Opportunity (EO) committee attended the group’s recent meeting. In addition to updates from U.S. Department of Labor Civil Rights Center staff, Montana, Illinois, and Missouri shared information about state-run projects that were nominated for this year’s William J. Harris Award. This year’s award went to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of the Tribal Liaison for their “Hope and Realization Initiative.” Joining the meeting to share information and videos from program graduates were Commissioner Sarah Swanson, Tribal Liaison Don Wetzel and Youth Tribal Engagement Specialist Alicia Doney. The next EO committee meeting will be held virtually on July 16, 2026.
Paid Family Medical Leave
Nearly 40 attendees from 13 states joined the Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) Committee for a day-and-a-half meeting. The convening featured presentations on claims adjudication, digitizing medical certifications, and program integrity. Vice Chair Tracy Marshall hosted a panel discussion with researchers Ankita Patnaik and Jessica Mason, highlighting connections between paid leave and public health outcomes. Roundtable sessions provided space for states to exchange best practices, discuss shared challenges, and identify priorities for the year ahead. The committee looks forward to reconvening in person in September. The next PFML committee meeting will be held virtually on April 22, 2026.
Technology
Twenty-two attendees from 17 states, joined by the U.S. Department of Labor, met for a two-day Technology Committee meeting focused on UI and workforce system modernization, data integration, accessibility, and the growing use of AI. Federal partners provided updates on unemployment.gov, reporting system modernization, and national performance initiatives, while states shared candid feedback on implementation challenges, data burdens, and funding constraints. States also reported significant progress, including AI-enabled customer service and adjudication tools, data lake development, accessibility remediation, and new case management and labor exchange systems. The meeting emphasized cross-state learning, practical solutions, and continued collaboration through NASWA training, webinars, and technical assistance. The next Technology committee meeting will be held virtually on June 11, 2026.
Workforce and Labor Market Information
Approximately 32 members attended the February Workforce & Labor Market Information Committee meeting, representing 20 states. Federal partners from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Employment and Training Administration, and the Census Bureau shared updates on priorities impacting the LMI system, and members heard project updates on the Industries of Ideas initiative and JEDx. Attendees also participated in peer breakout discussions on topics including enhanced wage records and data visualization and engaged in a WLMI Modernization working session to brainstorm solutions to urgent challenges facing the ecosystem. The next in-person committee meeting will take place September 15, 2026, in Milwaukee, WI.
NASWA's Policy Committees help define policies on issues that are critical to state workforce agencies. These groups are active throughout the year and meet regularly in order to collaborate on key issues across the national workforce system.
