This document contains reports summarizing the highlights of seven state forums that were held in fall 1994, modeled after the 1993 national forum on "Hard Truths/Tough Choices: An Agenda for State and Local Reform." The following conferences are summarized: "Reinventing New Jersey: Innovative Approaches under Fiscal Pressure" (Princeton, New Jersey, October 12, 1994); "The Oklahoma Forum on High-Performance Government" (Edmond, Oklahoma, October 14 1994); "Creating a High-Performance Workforce in Virginia" (Richmond, Virginia, October 25, 1994); "Innovation at Work: Best Practices and Strategies for California State Managers and Supervisors" (Sacramento, California, November 14-15, 1994); "The Indiana Forum on High-Performance Government" (Indianapolis, Indiana, November 17-18, 1994); "Enhancing Career Development Opportunities for Illinois State Employees" (Bloomingdale, Illinois, December 7-8, 1994); and "Developing Texas State and Local Partnerships for the Public's Health" (Austin, Texas, December 12-13, 1994). All the reports include key points of discussion/debate and numerous examples of innovation in action. Seven needs were identified and discussed at all the conferences: give executives authority to act and hold them accountable for the results; give front-line workers more say in how they do their jobs and the training they need to perform; set aside labor-management conflicts and work together on solving problems; consolidate redundant government operations and eliminate outdated ones; allow public sector employers to exercise their judgment in accomplishing governmental goals; reform key "control" systems in government; and blunt/manage the media's broadly negative impact on government innovation efforts. (MN)