January's State Legislatures magazine is hot off the press with lots of cool content.

What’s Hot for 2015

Lawmakers have a slew of hot issues to juggle as sessions rev up around the country this month. What topics – new and emerging – will occupy a majority of your time this session?  Does your list of the Top 10 match ours? Find out on page 14.

On the Road (and Bridge) Again

In this era of declining transportation revenues, more states are turning to the private sector to complete projects. Public-private partnerships (P3s) “speed up construction of large facilities that would otherwise languish” says Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble (DFL).

But they may not be viable for all infrastructure projects, says Indiana Representative Ed Soliday (R). Turn to page 22 to learn what works best from the experiences of other lawmakers.

Vaporized

With cigarette sales down and e-cigarettes hot, lawmakers find themselves in a fiscal quagmire. States rely on tobacco tax revenues to fund a number of popular programs. Without these funds, programs may have to be cut. Should e-cigarettes be taxed to fill the gap? Find out what lawmakers are discussing. Turn to page 29.

Filling the Gap

Funding is up for mental health care. Texas, for example, passed legislation last year that funds a variety of programs, “not just those tailored to preventing gun violence … it’s a really transformative package,” says Texas Senator Charles Schwertner (R). But after years of cuts, Texas Representative Garnet Coleman (D) says, “our per-capita funding for mental health is still below what it was in 1999.” To learn what other states are doing, turn to page 32.

You’ll find a lot more inside—from a Q & A with Mary Matalin and James Carville to advice for new lawmakers. Questions? Contact NCSL.