Introduction

The first in-person meeting of the Senate Presidents’ Forum since the disruption of the COVID pandemic was held September 30 through October 3, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. During the past year, monthly virtual Forum sessions brought several topics to the forefront as major concerns shared by Senate leaders from across the country. These issues became the focus of the Boston meeting in interactive and in-depth discussions that considered leadership strategies during crises; cybersecurity concerns; mental health challenges; broadband deployment; and workforce preparedness.

​New Senate Participants The Forum thanks all participants for joining us in Boston, and is proud to have welcomed the following state leaders to their first in-person session.​​Aaron Bean
Senate President Pro Tempore (FL) ​Mark Blasdel
President of the Senate (MT) ​​Dan Dockstader
President of the Senate (WY) ​Bill Ferguson
President of the Senate (MD) ​Don Harmon
President of the Senate (IL) ​Dru Mamo Kanuha
Senate Majority Leader (HI) ​Dean Kirby
Senate President Pro Tempore (MS) ​Kimberly Lightford
Senate Majority Leader (IL) ​Ty Masterson
President of the Senate (KS) ​Peter Micciche
President of the Senate (AK) Chuck Winder
Senate President Pro Tempore (ID) 

​​Senate President Dan Dockstader (WY) and Senate President Peter Micciche compare notes on broadband access in remote towns.     ​Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat (OK), Senate President Ty Masterson (KS), and T-Mobile’s Dan Leary.

​ISSUES​Cybersecurity Risks & Controls​Leading Through Crisis​Transforming Mental Health: A Unified Vision​Broadband is Funded: Now What?​Investing in a Resilient Workforce 

​​Senate President Stuart Adams (UT) and Pfizer’s Josh Brown on a break between sessions.      ​Following up on points she made during the Mental Health session, Senate President Karen Spilka (MA) discusses recent initiatives with Senate President Don Harmon (IL).