How We Inspire
NCSL customizes training and professional development opportunities for the unique legislative environment, working with legislators and staff to design and deliver sessions on various topics and skills. Training is offered in person, virtually, or both. Additionally, NCSL offers hundreds of video sessions to enhance the effectiveness of legislators and staff.
152
In-person professional development trainings held, reaching 6,358 people.
71
Virtual professional development trainings held.
44
Legislative staff attending Legislative Staff Management Institute representing 24 states.
209
International attendees from 18 countries at the 2024 Legislative Summit.
6,811
Legislative staff representing all states and territories involved in nine professional staff associations.
71
Legislative staff from 28 states and D.C. who took part in the Legislative Staff Institutional Essentials professional certification program.
402
On-demand videos available at videos.ncsl.org.
3
International NCSL affiliate members.
NCSL Leaders’ Center
This hub assists legislative leaders in meeting challenges of managing the institution, crafting the best possible public policy, creating consensus out of dissension, communicating with Congress and key administration officials, and protecting and promoting the legislative institution.
Legislative Staff Services Program
As the nation’s only organization with professional associations for legislative staff, we convene staffers in similar roles to provide unmatched training and networking opportunities.
Legislative Training Institute
The institute aims to strengthen legislative bodies by creating and delivering high-quality professional development programs for legislators and staff.
Legislative Video Resource Center
The NCSL Legislative Video Resource Center offers hundreds of policy and professional development training sessions to watch at your convenience.
NCSL Institute For International Cooperation
To strengthen the bonds between America’s state legislatures and the international community, the institute facilitates meetings, study tours and exchange programs to find innovative solutions to the day’s most pressing policy issues.
3 Most-Popular Trainings in 2024
- Dealing With Difficult Stakeholders
- Essential Conversations
- Presentation Skills
Enriching Leadership With Experiences and Key Programming
NCSL offers leaders opportunities to enhance skills and communicate with colleagues in other states. Here’s a look at seven notable experiences in 2024:
Leader Symposiums
The Leaders’ Center hosted 150-plus legislative leaders through biannual Leadership Symposiums, leadership experiences and unique gatherings to discuss federalism, foreign affairs and more.
Legislative Staff Management Institute
NCSL’s premier professional development program for senior legislative staff relocated to Denver in 2024, where it will reside in 2025 and 2026. During the eight-day program, participants focus on both self and social awareness, with each day building upon the previous day’s lessons.
Normandy Leadership Experience
An experiential program in June focused on the leadership lessons of D-Day. Twelve presiding officers from 12 states gathered in France to strengthen their understanding of leadership through the study of the history and heroism displayed on one of the most pivotal days in world history—June 6, 1944. Leaders explored the beaches where the heroes of D-Day landed as well as other locations that frame what it takes to be a truly extraordinary leader and create a long-lasting legacy.
Greece Leadership Experience
This program debuted in August, providing 16 leaders from 12 states the opportunity to study the history of democracy in Athens, through ancient Greek philosophers, gods and history. Leaders explored their own practice of democracy, culminating in examining their own philosophy.
Ireland Legislative Study Tour
In September, NCSL organized a study tour to Ireland for 20 state legislative leaders from 12 states, fostering connections with Irish counterparts and exploring shared governance challenges and opportunities. The delegation engaged with Irish Parliament members, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and local leaders in Cork and Kerry, alongside cultural visits to historic sites such as Blarney Castle and Killarney National Park. This trip exemplified NCSL’s commitment to strengthening relationships between its members and international counterparts, promoting collaboration and mutual understanding.
Stanford State and Local Leadership Forum
NCSL collaborated with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution to provide 18 legislators from 15 states with a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts in foreign policy, bioengineering, national security and emerging technologies. The program featured discussions on NATO’s role in U.S. security, strategies for protecting global semiconductor supply chains, and the future of AI in national defense, underscoring NCSL’s commitment to connecting its members with cutting-edge insights to inform policy decisions.
Leadership Chiefs of Staff Preconference
NCSL hosted 18 chiefs of staff to presiding legislative officers from 16 states in Louisville, Ky., in August for a professional development preconference. Attendees took part in interactive workshops focused on employee retention, staff development strategies and transformational leadership. They also benefited from networking opportunities to build relationships with their peers from around the country.
“This week was hugely impactful and meaningful. It changes how I will do my job for the rest of my career.”
2024 LSMI survey response