The GLLC Elects New Officers

Ohio Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson and Ontario MPP Jennifer French will lead the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus (GLLC) in 2027-28 as the next chair and vice chair, respectively. Sen. Hicks-Hudson comes to the chair position after serving as Ohio’s representative on the GLLC Executive Committee for 2025-26 as well as being an active member of the GLLC Task Force on Nutrient Management. MPP French is the first Canadian to serve in a GLLC officer position and has served as Ontario’s representative on the Executive Committee for four terms.

In addition to the officer positions, members elected representation from each jurisdiction. Illinois Sen. Adrianne Johnson, Minnesota Rep. Mary Franson and Ohio Rep. Elgin Rogers Jr. will join the committee for the first time. Michigan Rep. Morgan Foreman will shift from being an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee to serving as Michigan’s representative. Indiana Rep. David Abbott, New York Sen. Pamela Helming, and Wisconsin Rep. Deb Andraca will continue in their positions for another two-year term.

These elections were held in September at the GLLC Annual Meeting in Marquette, Mich. Over the course of the two-day meeting members also passed policy resolutions on Great Lakes lake whitefish rescue and restoration, sulfide-ore copper mining, the importance of the Canada-U.S. partnership in the Great Lakes, and equal treatment of Great Lakes commercial fishing in U.S. federal programs. In addition to passing the resolutions, the GLLC approved a set of policy recommendations, focused on addressing PFAS and plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. During the meeting, caucus members also refined a guide to help legislators prepare their jurisdictions for large, water-intensive, developments, such as data centers.

The GLLC meets in person once a year. It also holds policy-focused institutes for legislators, tracks state/provincial legislation on Great Lakes issues, holds web-based meetings, and gives members the opportunity to propose regional action. The 2027 Annual Meeting will be Sept. 13-14 in Toledo, Ohio.

Membership is free and open to all legislators representing the Great Lakes’ eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. If you are interested in getting involved in the caucus, including its work on PFAS, plastics and data centers, please contact Great Lakes program director Jess Lienhardt.