MY DISTRICT
Missouri Rep. Louis Riggs tells us about his district, which includes the renowned author’s home in Hannibal and a stretch of U.S. Highway 36 known as “The Way of American Genius.”
STATE-FEDERAL
The court ruled that North Carolina’s GOP leaders could intervene in federal lawsuit to defend the state’s voter ID law, even though they were not named as defendants.
ENERGY
To enhance energy system reliability, lawmakers are looking at the benefits of microgrids, which can maintain power locally even in the face of wider system failures.
FISCAL POLICY
A pandemic-driven surge in domestic travel to rural areas has yielded record tax revenues, but also burdened natural resources and local residents. Lawmakers are rethinking how to use the windfall.
MY DISTRICT
Once known as the watercress capital of the world, Huntsville, Ala., transformed into “Rocket City” when it became the nation’s center of research and development for space exploration.
HEALTH
The new suicide and behavioral crisis call number will direct people to community-based providers who can deliver a full range of health services.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Afnan Nehela, communications director to Massachusetts Sen. Jamie Eldridge, was drawn to legislative work because, she says, “the political process impacts everything.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Ruth Ann Jones is the controller general for the Delaware General Assembly. “Strangely, the budget process is something I immediately fell in love with,” she says.
HUMAN SERVICES
Research also shows financial and material hardship have increased disproportionately over the last two years for low-income families.
HUMAN SERVICES
Americans toss out an estimated 398,000 tons of food every year because they don’t realize the date labels they see on packaged foods rarely correlate with safety.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A combination of good timing and opportunity allowed Thomas Elder to convert his temp status into a full-time job with the Maryland General Assembly. He’s now a fiscal and policy analyst.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A commitment to serving the public, a desire to create quality products and services, led Vinay Dattu to the Tennessee General Assembly, where he is director of legislative information systems.
NCSL NEWS
June 13 is the last day attendees can claim the biggest breaks for the Summit, which is being held Aug. 1-3 at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.
HEALTH
As health care extenders, peer support specialists are nonclinical health professionals who work in behavioral health settings with people diagnosed with mental health or substance use disorders.
ELECTIONS
It only takes one cyber intrusion to cast doubt and sow confusion. But armed with the proper tools, states can thwart attacks and strengthen election resilience.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Norwalk, a nonpartisan drafting attorney for the Indiana Legislative Services Agency, takes pride in his ability to help legislators frame their ideas into bills.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Hartman says that between his love of politics and respect for those who serve in legislatures, “it was an easy decision” to join the Georgia House Budget and Research Office, where he is an analyst.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Smaller and suburban places drew most of the population growth in the first pandemic year, between mid-2020 and mid-2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
ELECTIONS
Twenty years after HAVA’s passage, NCSL reviews the changes the law brought to state policies and offers a view on its future.
HEALTH
At NCSL’s inaugural Rural Health Regional Roundtable, legislators and staff discussed ways to improve access to care in the southeastern United States.
MEMORIAL DAY 2022
NCSL staff join their fellow citizens in recognizing those who have died and the sacrifices made by the families who have lost loved ones over the years.
ELECTIONS
June’s 17 primaries will provide lots more data on which wings of our major parties are in the ascendance, as judged by the outcomes of congressional and gubernatorial races.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Renick, assistant director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, says that even though her home state is described as “flat,” it has “interesting geography and places as awe-inspiring as the highest mountain peaks or the lowest valleys.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A senior analyst with Louisiana’s House Legislative Services, Murray loves his home state’s “unrivaled, deeply rooted and phenomenal cultural richness—and the great food and music that goes along with that.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Stangl, lead counsel with the Minnesota Senate, values her role as a nonpartisan staffer. “It allows me to be a part of the process without being political,” she says.
FISCAL POLICY
At least 20 states considered legislation this year addressing the use of such information when setting insurance rates.
LEGISLATURES
A lawsuit involving the New Hampshire House of Representatives is testing the power and scope of legislative immunity.
HUMAN SERVICES
In addition to the challenges all new parents face, those who had kids during the pandemic worried about contracting COVID-19 and losing employment, housing or child care. Here’s how states responded.
LEGISLATURES
It’s 5,700 miles from the war in Ukraine to the state of Mississippi—a world away, but not too far to extend a helping hand.
LEGISLATURES
The number of full-time newspaper staff assigned to cover legislative and administrative activity in the 50 state capitols has declined 34% since 2014.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
When Warren began her career in the Kentucky General Assembly, she “didn’t care about the politics but was deeply interested in the policies and how our representatives came to agreement.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Appeaning, an analyst in Louisiana’s Legislative Fiscal Office, also serves on NCSL’s Budgets and Revenue Standing Committee, which she says has prioritized staff engagement.
HUMAN SERVICES
As the end of the pandemic public health emergency approaches, states have an opportunity to strengthen food security for families through legislation.
HEALTH
With COVID and flu vaccination rates for Medicaid beneficiaries lagging behind those with private insurance coverage, states are exploring ways to increase access and uptake.
HEALTH
With drug overdose deaths at a record high, lawmakers are responding with bills to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS
Six months after passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, federal agencies are shifting into high gear, with new programs taking shape and existing programs sending out significant funding increases to states.
LEADER PROFILE
With his issues-oriented leadership style, Wentworth lets the goals and priorities members bring from their districts drive the state’s policy agenda.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Miner, a senior budget analyst for the Mississippi Legislature and member of NCSL’s Education Standing Committee, is proud of her state’s leadership role in passing legislation to benefit young readers.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Schmidt, principal attorney with the Wisconsin Legislative Council, also sits on NCSL’s Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, but still makes time to lead Boy Scout merit badge projects.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As millions lost their jobs in early 2020, states rushed to make benefit payments to newly unemployed workers. Turns out, many of those workers were overpaid, and some shouldn’t have been paid at all.
ENERGY
Legislatures considered more than 4,600 energy-related measures in 2021, covering a wide range of policies, with about 15% of the bills being enacted.
EDUCATION
The federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund has provided nearly $190 billion to help states respond to the educational challenges caused by the pandemic. This is how it’s being spent.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Polish and Slovenian ambassadors speak to U.S. lieutenant governors group about the war in Ukraine, refugee resettlement and the power of economic sanctions.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF WEEK
Creating and nurturing rituals can help to break down silos in a large professional operation such as a legislature.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
McAllister, the training and staff development coordinator for the Connecticut General Assembly, says she had no idea such a professional opportunity existed. “When I found it, everything fell into place.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF WEEK
Developing meaningful workplace rituals—shared meals, group outings—can help team members feel they belong and are safe to be themselves without fear of negative consequences. And feeling safe can yield high performance.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
With 46 years of legislative experience, special counsel Wice helps NCSL’s Redistricting and Elections Standing Committee to address some of the most divisive legal and partisan issues confronting the nation.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Long before she became the assistant sergeant-at-arms in the Hawaii Senate, Kaleiwahea fell in love with the work the Legislature does for the people of Hawaii and “never looked back.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Having served as a legislator on the D.C. Council and as a researcher with The Pew Charitable Trusts, Patterson brings a rounded background to her work as head of the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
How state and local leaders respond to the widening gap will have long-term budget ramifications.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF WEEK
As workplaces grapple with what the post-pandemic normal looks like, a clinical psychologist encourages employers to be clear about expectations, provide employees with sufficient resources, and recognize effort and achievement, among other strategies.
FISCAL POLICY
With high levels of financial literacy continuing to elude many Americans, 28 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands now require a financial literacy course or content to be taught or included in the education standards for K-12 students.
HUMAN SERVICES
With multiple state agencies—health, education, human services—often overlapping in their efforts to serve children and families, states are taking a more coordinated approach.
LEADER PROFILE
When Sokola, a former teacher who approaches leadership with a team perspective, recognizes that others might have something to offer, he gives them a chance to shine.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Researchers have identified several public workforce programs that are yielding higher annual earnings for participants and reduced duration of unemployment insurance claims, among other promising results.
HEALTH
Lawmakers who disagree on other aspects of health policy often find common ground when it comes to prescription drugs. So where are state proposals on these issues landing for the 2022 session?
ELECTIONS
The public’s growing interest in election administration is a good thing, but the spread of elections MDM (misinformation, disinformation and malinformation) isn’t helping. Here’s how you can help reduce the confusion.
HUMAN SERVICES
NCSL surveyed 40 legislators from across the nation and both sides of the aisle about their knowledge of strategies to prevent child maltreatment.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Silbernagel is the journal clerk for the Vermont House of Representatives and an accomplished photographer whose latest project shows her House colleagues in their “happy places.”
NCSL NEWS
As the only organization representing state legislators and legislative staff, NCSL selects a new president and staff chair each year following its annual meeting, the Legislative Summit. Here are profiles of this year’s leaders.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Holland, a human resources generalist in the North Carolina General Assembly, never considered working in government. But, after three years, she says, “I can’t see myself anywhere else.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Drennan, executive director of the New Jersey Senate Majority Office, came to legislative staff work via lobbying and the executive branch—experience that’s helped him understand multiple sides of many issues.
NCSL NEWS
Make tracks to Colorado’s Mile High City this summer for the nation’s largest gathering of state legislators and staff.
HEALTH
To mitigate the high cost of infectious diseases to communities and state budgets, lawmakers are improving screening efforts, bolstering harm reduction strategies and rethinking HIV laws.
ELECTIONS
Presidential elections cost $2 billion to $3 billion nationwide, according to estimates. States are happy to receive federal funding to help cover costs, so long as there are no strings attached.
ACROSS THE AISLE
In Nevada, an energetic Democrat invites progressives and conservatives to the social media party by showcasing voices from both parties in the videos she creates for TikTok.
LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYMENT
Police departments across the country are facing an employment crunch. Here’s how they’re tackling the problem.
HEALTH
Policymakers are expanding broadband infrastructure, allowing audio-only telephone visits and assessing site restrictions and reimbursement.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
After 26 years in the tourism industry of the Northern Marianas Islands, Tenorio found a new challenge as director of the commonwealth’s Legislative Bureau.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A good day for legislative attorney Robbins? “Seeing legislators and stakeholders who are on different sides of an issue work together in good faith and compromise to arrive at solutions.”
MY DISTRICT
Cooperstown, N.Y., is holy ground for baseball fans—even though the sport was likely invented elsewhere.
ENVIRONMENT
After decades of focusing on recovery after natural disasters strike, FEMA and other agencies are working to mitigate damage before storms arrive.
HEALTH
As states continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, some legislatures are using health notes to examine the potential health implications of a wide range of proposed legislation.
LEGISLATURES
Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Mark Daly, current president of the Irish Senate, talk with NCSL Executive Director Tim Storey about the 1998 peace accord that ended “the Troubles.”
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Law enforcement policy remains a hot legislative topic in 2022, with more than 700 bills introduced so far this year.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Lindstrom’s summer internship blossomed into a full-time job. He’s now the acting director of civic education for the Washington Senate.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Hernquist sees her role as manager of New Jersey’s Office of Legislative Services as the perfect way to use both her academic degrees—in law and library science.
CENSUS
A gallon of gas cost just 18 cents and a loaf of bread 13 cents. There’s much to learn about daily life in the post-World War II era, thanks to census enumerators who went door to door collecting information in neighborhoods across the country.
MY DISTRICT
With 11 bourbon distilleries within 16 miles of its downtown, Bardstown, Ky., is the “Napa Valley of the bourbon industry,” according to Sen. Jimmy Higdon, who represents the area.
OBITUARY
Tanner, who served five terms in the House before moving to the Senate, is remembered for her service to Colorado families and for fostering a new generation of Black elected lawmakers.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Lawmakers have introduced hundreds of post-secondary education bills since the start of the year, most related to financial aid and affordability programs but some dealing with campus safety and hot-button academic subjects.
HEALTH
As they anticipate an end to the federal COVID public health emergency, states are planning for a halt to enhanced Medicaid funding that has provided health coverage for millions of people.
EDUCATION
States can use targeted contracts to help early childhood care and education providers maintain services in the low-income communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
ACROSS THE AISLE
Alaska chose dog-mushing, Minnesota picked ice hockey and North Carolina went with stock car racing. Now, Washington state has its own official—and highly bipartisan—sport: pickleball.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
When Darek Grant isn’t busy in his role as secretary of the Maine Senate, he likes to be involved in his community, “working with others who are doing the same and giving back.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Anne Blankenhorn, an education policy advisor in Michigan, has a special regard for everyone who works for students, including parents, teachers and even lobbyists. “They all really do have the students’ best interests at heart.”
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
It took 125 years for women to claim 30% of the nation’s state legislative seats, but the struggle for equal toilet seats continues.
EDUCATION
Acknowledging the ongoing concern over student mental health, policymakers are requiring districts to offer mental health as a reason to be absent from school.
EDUCATION
NCSL shared the latest data on state education budgets and efforts to improve school finance systems, as well as challenges presented by the fiscal provisions in ARPA.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
With women representing the fastest growing population in the justice system, policymakers are examining the conditions, rights and unique challenges presented by justice-involved women, particularly those who are pregnant.
HEALTH
Many states are taking steps to leverage available pathways—including a new federal option—to extend Medicaid coverage and improve care for mothers during the crucial postpartum period.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Elmore-Hernandez, chief of staff for Sen. Mary Camacho Torres in the Guam Legislature, says that when it comes to legislative challenges, “no matter the problem, someone, somewhere, has dealt with it—and likely overcame.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Jeff Lunardi, the executive director of Virginia’s Joint Commission on Health Care, says the issues his team is asked to research are always changing, so the ability to learn quickly, then develop potential solutions, is critical.
HUMAN SERVICES
In the 1980s, as lawmakers increasingly sought guidance on issues affecting children and families, NCSL staffers Carolyn Kastner and Michele Rivest teamed up with then-Delaware Rep. Jane Maroney to create a new program to serve them.
ELECTIONS
Everyone benefits from accurate voter rolls, and each year states get better at refining their processes to keep them tidy.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
A new report examines the use of virtual hearings and what they mean for state courts, the people who use them and the legislatures that oversee them.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Policy experts told an NCSL webinar audience that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a “world changing” break with the international order and that states will bear economic and humanitarian burdens.
ACROSS THE AISLE
Two senators, a Republican and a Democrat, worked together on a bill that would include the history of the state’s Indian boarding schools in curriculum standards for students in eighth through 12th grades.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Misty Mason Freeman, the director of Oregon’s Legislative Policy and Research Office, works to “bridge the conversation between decision-makers and the folks for whom they are making decisions.”
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Susan Swords is the assistant director of public information in the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services and one of the “founding mothers” of the Legislative and Information Communication Staff association, known as LINCS.
FISCAL POLICY
Colorado and New Mexico have joined forces in a historic partnership to help more workers save for a secure retirement as they move between jobs and across state lines.
MY DISTRICT
On St. Patrick’s Day, Americans from all backgrounds and heritages like to say they’re Irish for a day. But the connections run deeper in tiny St. Patrick, Mo., where the saint and the holiday have been a part of life since 1833.
TECHNOLOGY
All 50 states faced cyberattacks against public infrastructure in the past 24 months, with new reports being added weekly. With a renewed sense of urgency, lawmakers introduced more than 250 bills or resolutions last year dealing with cybersecurity.
OBITUARY
Cushing’s career-long effort to abolish New Hampshire’s death penalty succeeded with a bipartisan vote overriding Gov. Chris Sununu’s veto in 2019.
FISCAL POLICY
With March Madness approaching, sports betting opportunities are more plentiful than ever. Thirty-three states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico now allow it.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
As staff coordinator and attorney with the Minnesota House Research Department, Gehring likes the challenge of taking the thread of a loosely defined policy concept and weaving it into a viable statute that reflects a member’s request.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Anne Landgrebe, the administrative clerk in the West Virginia House Clerk’s Office prides herself on having “heightened situational awareness, which is necessary for the ebb and flow of our office.”
FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS
One year after passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, federal funds are helping states recover from the COVID-19 pandemic—and a new tool is helping policymakers track how states use that money.
LEGISLATURES
Most of us want to stop changing our clocks twice a year. Question is whether to go with permanent standard time or permanent daylight time.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Statehouses with more representation by women tend to be more productive in introducing and passing bills—and not just on issues that affect women, children and families.
FISCAL POLICY
Because federal law prohibits the possession, distribution and sale of cannabis, the banking industry is hesitant to get involved, despite the billions of dollars being generated in sales and tax revenue.
EDUCATION
The $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund provided a major boost for education at all levels.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Jackson says Virginia, where he is assistant coordinator of committee operations for the Senate, is a “Baby Bear” state where everything seems to be “just right!”
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls talks about his new podcast, “Read, White and Blue,” in which he interviews the authors of books that have influenced his policymaking.
HEALTH
NCSL’s new State Public Health Legislation Database shows vaccine policy tops the list of the most popular public health issues in 2021.
FISCAL POLICY
The sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and NATO allies—and the threat of more—will likely have ramifications for some U.S. states in particular and for the economy in general.
ELECTIONS
Texas opens 2022’s primary season on March 1; the last installment will be in Rhode Island, Sept. 13.
FISCAL
Despite recent federal challenges to their authority, state banking supervisors have designed regulatory systems that encourage innovation and protect consumers.
ENERGY
States saddled with thousands of potentially leaky orphaned oil and gas wells can launch programs to address the problem with funds from the federal infrastructure bill.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Krystle Fernandez jumped at the chance to work in the Arizona House of Representatives, where she is the chief clerk. “No day is the same at the Legislature—and who wouldn’t like a place where you never know what to expect?”
EDUCATION
As state economies rebound and many educators consider leaving the field, states are revisiting efforts to increase teacher compensation.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
Some state legislators have begun looking beyond the fall general election to the next challenge: leadership elections for 2023-24.
ACROSS THE AISLE
For five lawmakers, a group summit of Mount Kilimanjaro provides lessons in perseverance, working across party lines and being open to the inspiration of unusual possibilities.
PRESIDENTS DAY
Almost half of U.S. presidents have also served in their state legislatures. But for serving legislators eyeing the White House, history indicates the road probably will be a long one.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
North Dakota native John Bjornson, director of the state’s Legislative Council, wants people to reconsider the Peace Garden State. “People believe it always is cold here, but we have beautiful summer weather.”
MY DISTRICT
The museum, in Memphis, Tenn., lives in the former Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
With more unfilled jobs than unemployed workers in the economy, policymakers are looking for creative ways to bring underutilized groups into the labor force.
ENVIRONMENT
State lawmakers play a vital role in protecting the invaluable water quality, ecosystems and economic contributions provided by rivers.
MY DISTRICT
It turns out four U.S. states have towns named Valentine. For the year’s most romantic holiday, we caught up with the legislators representing those towns and asked them to share what makes their Valentine so special.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
An expert in elections and redistricting issues, a valued mentor and a competitive barbershop quartet singer, Stewart has retired after more than 27 years of service to Nevada, most of them with the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Raphael ‘Drhett’ Baca, the building superintendent at the New Mexico Capitol, learned from his father that “life is like the sport of boxing … You will be knocked down many times, but you need to pick yourself back up and keep swinging.”
HEALTH
First responders are using deflection pathways to help connect individuals with substance use or mental health issues to community-based treatment and services, rather than making arrests.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
NCSL salutes two longtime legislative research librarians—Johanne Greer of Maryland and Helen Hanby of Alabama—who have retired with a combined 75 years of experience between them.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
About 5% of states’ general fund budgets go to criminal justice—just over $45 billion in fiscal year 2019—so many lawmakers are determined to make every dollar count.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
After 45 years and 46 legislative sessions, 43 of them spent with the Minnesota House, Bill Marx is riding into the proverbial sunset as one of the nation’s longest-serving chief fiscal analysts.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Lonnie Edgar, the deputy director of Mississippi’s Performance Evaluation Committee, is committed to improving the effectiveness of state government and loves his state because it’s the “smallest town in the U.S.”
LEADER PROFILE
Ty Masterson’s grandmother always said, “Don’t complain if you’re not willing to do something.” So, when he became frustrated with his local government, he followed her advice. Sixteen years later, he’s serving as president of the Kansas Senate.
MY DISTRICT
It’s that time of year when the famous Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow and offers his always-accurate weather forecast. Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Smith, who represents Punxsutawney, puts it all in perspective.
TOOLBOX
The same forces that make consumers loyal to brands also cement the bond between leaders and their supporters. Here’s how you can use the teaching of leadership guru Simon Sinek to build a brand that increases support for your policy agenda.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Meet the staffers who have been elected to serve as the top administrative officers of their respective legislative chambers.
HEALTH
States can use their American Rescue Plan Act funds in several ways, and many are directing them toward behavioral health services, health care system supports and public health mitigation efforts.
HUMAN SERVICES
Panelists at a recent NCSL webinar discussed how they overcame challenges related to two prenatal-to-3 issues impacting Ohio: child care and infant mortality.
HEALTH
Prescription drug access, pricing and costs remain high on lists of issues bound for legislative action in 2022. But what themes will carry over from last session, and what new ideas might emerge.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
When the Washington Senate convened Jan. 10, it marked the first session in the past 40 that Hendrickson, who recently retired as secretary, was not in the building.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Lisa Moomaw, an application support analyst with the Colorado Legislative Council, says she doesn’t need to make others agree with her. “If we can discuss the different viewpoints and walk away without bad feelings, then that’s a good conversation!”
MY DISTRICT
Recognized in 1972 by DC Comics as the hometown of the legendary Man of Steel, Metropolis, Ill., takes its superhero status seriously.
HEALTH
Policymakers are assessing strategies to prevent patients from receiving costly medical bills in the first place and to safeguard those struggling with debt.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Three reporters offered legislative staffers some tips about the best way to get their issues and their bosses’ work highlighted in the news.
FISCAL
Unprecedented. Uncertain. Historic. Those words apply to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state budgets it disrupted—and the subsequent massive infusion of federal stimulus.
FISCAL
To date, at least 42 states and Washington, D.C., have allocated a portion of their ARPA funds to various relief efforts.
LEGISLATURES
As lawmakers gear up for new sessions, the usual issues will top their to-do lists: budget, health care and education. But next year promises some twists on those perennials.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
NCSL salutes Glenn Koepp, a giant in the redistricting field who died last year, and three dedicated staffers who retired: Sheron Violini, Rick DeLeon and Stephen Klein.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Reed Holwegner has staffed legislatures for 24 regular sessions, including 16 sessions in Kansas and eight in South Dakota. Staffers “are the go-to people government leaders trust and rely upon,” he says.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The use of videoconferencing and other technology during the pandemic led to more remote hearings and fewer court no-shows. But a new report finds the new tools will need refinement to ensure they benefit all court users, including those without lawyers or with limited English proficiency.
LEGISLATURES
A group of Kenyan legislative leaders has turned to NCSL and American state lawmakers for insights on how the country can grow into its relatively new constitution.
HUMAN SERVICES
When COVID forced many child care providers across the country to close or scale back operations, parents were left scrambling—and businesses got a clear view of how much they rely on the child care system.
HEALTH
As state policymakers aim to ensure access to care and lower health costs, many are assessing whether long-standing certificate of need laws impede or support these goals.
ENERGY
Policymakers face a growing array of cyberthreats targeting vital services, including increasingly penetrative attacks on critical energy systems. That’s why NCSL has developed two videos focused on energy sector cybersecurity from the state legislative perspective.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Holly Vaughn Wagner, the deputy director and legislative attorney for the Division of Research, Delaware General Assembly, says that in a small state, “it’s common to have a connection with strangers, which creates a sense of community and tempers animosity among people with opposing views.”
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Changes to policing can be controversial, but a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the nation’s most pressing problems has created a road map for states to follow.
HEALTH
Because more than half of individuals in prisons or jails meet the criteria for substance use disorders, correctional settings have become an important treatment location.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
There are more vacancies than people looking for work, but companies that can offer flexible schedules, career advancement, higher pay and benefits such as paid leave are winning over job seekers.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
The American Rescue Plan Act provides in funding to promote equitable access to and timely payment of benefits by reducing backlogs in state unemployment insurance systems.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As the pandemic drove unemployment to record highs, many states struggled to meet the demand on their unemployment compensation systems. Some are now rooting out cases of improper payments.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Kristen Rottinghaus, the performance audit manager for the Kansas Legislature, has a knack for seeing things from multiple perspectives. “Issues exist on a spectrum and are so very rarely clear cut,” she says.
TRANSPORTATION
The funding, which comes from the recently enacted bipartisan infrastructure law, will be distributed to highway safety offices in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with each state free to target its specific challenges.
ACROSS THE AISLE
A diverse group of Maryland lawmakers, experts and stakeholders worked together to modernize the state’s public emergency communications services with Next Generation 911 technology.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Instead of job creation, states need to turn their focus to workforce attraction—that is, attracting and retaining talented workers. That’s according to a labor economist who spoke at last month’s NCSL Jobs Summit.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Fresh out of college, David Kaschak took a job with the New Jersey state auditor’s office to get experience. He’s still at it 38 years later, because he saw that his efforts “potentially impacted every citizen of the state.”
IN MEMORIAM
Keiser, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, in 2019, died at age 75 on Dec. 22. A Republican, he represented Bismarck, N.D., since 1993.
HEALTH
As the pandemic persists, lawmakers continue to explore ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities and safeguard the health of residents.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Howle plans to retire at the end of this year after a 38-year career that included serving under four governors from both political parties.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A photographer by training, Jill Turetsky took a job printing photos for the Texas Senate in 1996 and never looked back. She fell in love with the Legislature and her new state. “I love the diversity of the landscape and the spirit of the people who are proud to live here.”
HEALTH
With COVID-19 dominating legislative priorities over the last two years, it has been a challenge to maintain a focus on the oral health of mothers and children, a panel of experts told attendees at the NCSL Legislative Summit.
REDISTRICTING
Two stalwart redistricting professionals, Republican Clark Bensen and Democrat Kim Brace, share procedural changes they agree could be helpful to redistricters come 2031.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Ahead of the start of next year’s sessions, several lawmakers announced their retirement, and several new legislators were appointed or won special elections to fill open seats in chambers nationwide. Four states advanced redistricting plans.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
After finishing his service in the Army, Cesar Melgarejo got involved with several organizations developing legislation to increase veterans services in Nevada. The experience led him to earn a master’s degree and become a policy analyst with the state’s Legislative Counsel Bureau.
MY DISTRICT
Hartville, Mo., is the point at which a flat, weightless map of the U.S. population would balance perfectly, according to the Census Bureau. Representative Hannah Kelly, whose district includes Hartville, tells us about the area.
ELECTIONS
Should post-election audits take place before or after certification? Should states use risk-limiting audits or fixed-percentage audits? These and other questions are addressed in a new brief from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The Arkansas General Assembly adjourned its special session on Thursday, approving a historic tax cut. The Maryland General Assembly overrode more than 20 gubernatorial vetoes. And the Kentucky Capitol was locked down briefly following a police chase that ended on the Capitol grounds.
GET READY FOR SESSION WEEK
For nearly 50 years, NCSL has provided a forum for legislative staff to gain professional development and the opportunity to network with, and learn from, their peers across the states.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Lisa Davis, the deputy assistant clerk of the Mississippi House of Representatives, is inspired by the youth of her state and welcomes them to visit their state Capitol. “I’m always happy to hear from those even today who said I had an impact on their lives.”
GET READY FOR SESSION WEEK
Staff from across the 50 states and territories divulge what they’re reading, listening to and watching, and their picks run the gamut from spiritual to sporty, historical fiction to humor.
ENERGY
NCSL helped produce a new video covering the ways state lawmakers can work with federal and state partners to help develop safeguards and security practices to protect critical energy infrastructure from cyberthreats.
EDUCATION
NCSL analyzed the plans submitted to the federal government by states and territories to understand how they plan to use the aid allotted to them through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund.
GET READY FOR SESSION WEEK
To provide some guidance for staff as they prepare for the 2022 legislative session, NCSL turned to Molly McAllister, training and staff development coordinator for the Connecticut General Assembly.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
California lawmakers and staff move out as a new office building is scheduled for construction. Virginia elections appear to be settled. North Carolina finishes a regular session, while Arkansas, Oregon and Maryland look to start special ones.
GET READY FOR SESSION WEEK
While recovering from life-threatening injuries sustained during training, Janine Shepherd learned that, although she couldn’t control what was happening outside of her, she could control what was happening inside. She developed a 12-step plan to rebuild her life.
GET READY FOR SESSION WEEK
The workplace is ever changing, and professionals looking to maximize their success need relevant knowledge, tools and resources to navigate the unchartered waters of the future. Here’s some advice to help ambitious professionals chart a course to success.
IN MEMORIAM
Patrick Flahaven began his career in the Minnesota Senate as an assistant secretary in 1971. He was elected Senate secretary in 1973 and held the position until his retirement in 2009. His 36-year tenure as secretary is the longest in Minnesota Senate history.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
While Kate Heltzel was studying for her master’s degree, she took a job with the Nebraska Legislature’s public information office. She’s been there ever since. “I loved it from the start,” she says.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
The pandemic intensified existing negative workforce conditions for women, including a gender wage gap caused, in part, by a deeply segregated workforce where women are concentrated in many of the economy’s low-quality, low-paying jobs.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
As the transportation landscape continues to quickly evolve, states are taking a serious look at everything from distance-based user fees to autonomous vehicles to improving infrastructure with public-private partnerships.
LEGISLATOR PROFILE
Holding a seat in a Democratic-leaning district suits Arkansas Republican Carlton Wing just fine. It facilitates his style of courteous politics.
STATE-FEDERAL
Since moving into the White House, the Biden administration has been tapping numerous high-profile state legislators to fill posts from Washington, D.C., to the Dominican Republic. NCSL spoke with one of them: Gayle Goldin, senior advisor at the Women’s Bureau in the U.S. Department of Labor.
ENERGY
Most Americans are aware of the battles that have played about between Congress and the states when it comes to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. But many don’t know that tribal nations continue to play a role in finding solutions.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
States have made heroic efforts to fight COVID-19 over the past 20 months, but one thing the pandemic has proven, according to Dr. Nirav Shah, is that we are only as strong as our weakest neighbor.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
South Carolina says goodbye to legendary legislator. Washington announces rules for its upcoming session. Several legislatures meet in special sessions on vaccines and redistricting. New leadership positions are announced in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Washington and Virginia. The Nevada House speaker gets a federal post.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
A panel of state lawmakers was joined by U.S. Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal to examine the challenges facing higher education students, potential policy solutions and the interplay between the state and federal roles in higher education.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Georgia policy analyst Leonel Chancey was inspired to work in public service by his grandfather, who was a chief U.S. magistrate judge and a JAG officer in the U.S. Army.
HEALTH
Despite the many challenges facing nonurban communities, there’s much to celebrate when it comes to state health policy efforts in rural America. National Rural Health Day showcases “the power of rural” along with successes in improving access to care in rural communities.
LEADER PROFILE
Colleagues of Washington Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig will forgive him if he uses baseball metaphors in his speeches. Billig is also a part owner of the Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
HEALTH: MARIJUANA
The U.S. Virgin Islands expects to legalize recreational cannabis soon, so the territory’s lawmakers visited Colorado—the first state to do that—to learn what’s working, and what’s not.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
In the world of legislatures and politics, we often hear about how divided we are: Red and blue. Rural and urban. Rich and poor. Black and white. How to bring people together? In a nutshell: It’s sharing our stories.
LEGISLATOR PROFILE
A beautiful sight awaited Tennessee Senator Kerry Roberts as he finished his 100-mile bicycle ride in the town square of flood-ravaged Waverly, Tenn. People. Hundreds of people, crowding businesses that had been on the brink of closing after flooding caused by Hurricane Ida wrecked the small town in late August.
HEALTH
In the ongoing fight against COVID-19 through vaccinations, federal agencies have recently approved shots for kids and added requirements for workers.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Little did Pad McCracken know when he took his job as a researcher and bill drafter for the Montana Legislature that he’d “more or less get paid to learn, listen, think, teach and write.”
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
When the Legislative Summit was rescheduled to take place just a week before Veterans Day, the NCSL Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs saw an opportunity to celebrate the national holiday with a session titled “Honoring All Who Served.”
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
States are in the thick of redistricting—and the U.S. Department of Justice is watching. “Our review of (redistricting) maps will be thorough, fair and fact-based,” U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke told a session at the 2021 NCSL Legislative Summit.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
More than 3,000 law enforcement bills were introduced in legislatures nationwide over the past year as lawmakers responded to voters who want solutions to public safety concerns and a more equitable and accountable criminal justice system.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
There’s about $3.4 trillion sitting in the collective bank accounts of American households—a historic number. But it’s not going to stay put forever, said Dan White, senior director of public sector research for Moody’s Analytics.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
OSHA has issued its emergency temporary standard mandating that all employers with 100 or more workers require their employees to receive a COVID vaccine or submit weekly negative test results. Over half the states have filed suits challenging the rule.
ELECTIONS
While this year’s big election news is the Republican comeback in Virginia, voters across six states also determined the fate of 24 ballot measures, approving 14 and rejecting 10.
HEALTH
By 2034, for the first time in the nation’s history, adults age 65 and older are expected to outnumber children. As the U.S. population grows older, states are exploring policies to ease the transition and offer support.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
The U.S. supply chain is based largely on a platform known as “just in time,” where goods are delivered to retailers in some cases hours before they are needed. The system lowers distribution and warehouse costs and ladles efficiencies on the economy. Until it doesn’t.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Election officials and legislators both have roles in ensuring election integrity, and a session at the 2021 NCSL Legislative Summit explored how they could help each other.
CLOCKWORK
Adjusting clocks ahead or back to accommodate the coming and going of daylight saving time is opposed, even despised, by majorities in recent surveys. In response, 19 states have enacted measures to apply daylight time year-round. But those bills go nowhere unless federal law, which prohibits year-round daylight time, changes.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Before getting approval to shoot missiles as America’s first Black female combat pilot, Vernice Armour, aka “FlyGirl,” would wait to hear the words: “You have permission to engage.” It’s a message the former U.S. Marine Corps captain encouraged attendees at NCSL’s 2021 Legislative Summit to embrace in their own lives.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
No U.S. institution is politically hotter than the Supreme Court and no issues are hotter than abortion and guns. When they collide, well, close cover before striking.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Many programs meant to support youth who wind up in the system were extremely limited or shut down. But some states managed to pass reforms that help more kids avoid the system altogether, which saves the states money and spares the youths from being dogged by a criminal background.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
It’s unlikely we’ll see a car scream up to James Bond to deliver a martini in a to-go cup from his favorite bar, but the cocktails-to-go movement has definitely shaken the nation’s alcohol landscape.
2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Looking for ways to better understand your legislative colleagues, work on relationships or improve interactions with people who hold opposing views? The answer may be as simple as asking them about their daily lives.
ELECTIONS
After failing to win a single statewide race for over a decade, Virginia Republicans swept all three statewide offices—governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. And in New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy, who is seeking a second term as governor, has a small lead over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli.
STATE-FEDERAL
The federal First Step Implementation Act would retroactively apply sentencing reforms, such as reducing mandatory sentencing, in a manner more consistent with the goals of the 2018 First Step law.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
James Nobles spent nearly half a century with the Minnesota Legislature, the last 38 as its legislative auditor. He retired last month as one of the most respected people in state government, colleagues say.
TRANSPORTATION
Before COVID-19, conventional wisdom held that fewer miles driven corresponded with fewer traffic fatalities and crashes. That pattern unequivocally changed during the pandemic.
HEALTH
With enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans at an all-time high, policymakers are implementing changes to make coverage more affordable and to give consumers more time to sign up.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
From the time he was a high schooler, participating in Model U.N. and Presidential Classroom programs, José Rodríguez-Amorós has been impressed by the Legislative Assembly in Puerto Rico, his home. After 26 years of legislative service, he is now deputy clerk of the Senate.
ELECTIONS
Only New Jersey and Virginia have legislative seats on the ballot in next week’s election. But all eyes are on them, especially Virginia, where the governor’s race is tight and the Assembly may be in play. That’s because the two parties see the state—which has been blue, red and purple this century—as a bellwether for national politics.
ENERGY SECURITY
The country got a vivid reminder of its reliance on energy when the Colonial Pipeline Co. suffered a ransomware cyberattack in May. Puesh Kumar, with the Department of Energy, talked with NCSL about the security of the smart grid and the role states can play in combatting cyberthreats.
ELECTIONS
Lawmakers, voters and election wonks alike can be forgiven for not paying attention to the 24 statewide ballot measures up for a vote on Nov. 2. This year, only six states will have policy questions on their ballots and, while some measures have gained a statewide spotlight, few have made the national stage.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Arkansas and Arizona welcome new members. Florida chooses its next Senate president. A Missouri legislator dies, and a South Carolina senator is in hospice.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Frustrated by the job she had in Congress, Nellie Moran decided to work at the state level because, she says, meaningful policy changes are occurring on an almost daily basis. She’s now chief of staff to the Colorado Senate Democratic Caucus.
REDISTRICTING
Who draws the lines during redistricting? What rules do states need to follow? Can the public provide input? There are 50 states, and there are 50 different ways to redistrict, NCSL’s Ben Williams told host John McArdle on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.”
MY DISTRICT
It’s always the glory days of basketball in Indiana. For more than 100 years, the sport has played an outsize role in the culture and traditions of the state, as fans fill high school and college gymnasiums to cheer on local teams and reminisce about previous victories.
REDISTRICTING
States’ redistricting processes have always been varied and complex. So it’s no surprise the complexity would increase during a pandemic that threw a wrench into U.S. census data-gathering, which helps determine districts.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Two people are arrested in separate incidents involving lawmakers in Vermont and Idaho. Alabama and Iowa lawmakers go into special sessions at the end of the month. Another legislator gets tapped to work in the Biden administration, and the Iowa House has a new member.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
In his position as Missouri’s legislative library administrator, Nathan Elwood has helped create a modern, efficient information and reference service for legislators and state residents—but he’s also pursued his passion for archival work, historical inquiry and legal research.
HEALTH
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month has ended, and World Mental Health Day has come and gone. But the issues of suicide and mental health never go away, and a new crisis hotline has many legislators considering the impact it might have on their communities.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Two dedicated staffers retire in Mississippi and California, and Nevada says final goodbyes to two others, far too soon.
MY DISTRICT
Frommer’s calls the Great Sand Dunes Colorado’s most underrated national park, a secret gem three hours south of Denver. We asked Senator Cleave Simpson and Representative Donald Valdez what the attraction means to their communities.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The state legislative community lost two members to cancer this week, Alaska legislators started their fourth special session, and the West Virginia Senate welcomed a historic new member.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Duneshka Carmona, the tourism director at the Puerto Rico Capitol in San Juan, challenges herself every day to learn more about the territory’s history.
STATE-FEDERAL
Walking the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Climbing the marble steps between floors. Waiting in line for a hearing. Grabbing a cup of coffee in the Senate cafeteria. It feels like an eternity since those simple acts were part of working in government relations.
LEADER PROFILE
Greg Reed, who has served in the Alabama Senate for a decade, was elected president pro tempore in February. As he approached the end of his first legislative session as the chamber’s leader, he talked with NCSL about his vision for the state’s future.
ELECTIONS
Increased public support for voter identification requirements, a contentious presidential election and claims of voter fraud—whatever the reason, interest in voter ID has spiked again this year, culminating in several significant enactments for the first time since 2018.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Redistricting dominates special sessions for a handful of state legislatures. Analysts weigh in on November’s races for the Virginia House of Delegates, while a number of legislators look to change seats in the 2022 election.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Lisa Lovello, a nonpartisan legislative analyst for the Louisiana House Committee on Education, takes pride in earning the trust of every member in her Legislature and loves her home state’s knack for celebrating the good times.
FISCAL
According to a new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts, state retirement systems closed out the 2021 fiscal year in their best condition since the Great Recession—a startling result given many analysts’ predictions that the pandemic-induced recession could increase pension fund shortfalls.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Pointing to stark pictures of inundated buildings and washed-out cars from Hurricane Ida, state and city officials are pressing Congress to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
MY DISTRICT
Every month is Black History Month at the DuSable Museum of African American History, home to more than 15,000 pieces, including paintings, sculpture, prints and historical memorabilia.
LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
NCSL’s Legislative Summit returns this year, giving the nation’s state legislators and staff a rare opportunity to reconnect, dive into policy issues and walk away inspired for legislative sessions in 2022.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The Arizona and Indiana House chambers both lost members this week. Florida selects its House speaker for 2022. And a Georgia House member is appointed ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Find out more about Virginia J. Drew, director of the New Hampshire State House Visitor Center, in this Q&A.
HUMAN SERVICES
The biggest challenge facing home-based child care providers right now is compensation that is relevant to providers’ experience and the number of hours worked and the amount of training and expertise that’s being delivered for families.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
When President Joe Biden released his Path Out of the Pandemic plan earlier this month, he announced plans to require larger employers to adopt so-called “vaccine or test” policies at the workplace.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who co-chairs the Council on Criminal Justice, wants to “ensure that our post-pandemic justice systems and institutions can better produce health, safety and, most importantly, justice for us all.”
STATE POLICY 101
NCSL’s “State Policy 101” series, held earlier this year, boasted more than 25 sessions for legislators and legislative staff on key, cross-cutting policy issues. Aimed at those who are new to the legislature or looking to gain knowledge in specific areas, all the sessions are now available online.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Some legislatures are or will be going in to special sessions on redistricting. The Minnesota Senate gets new majority and minority leaders. Illinois considers a statue of Ronald Reagan at the Capitol. And a New York Assemblyman meets with a king.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Vines was raised on a rice and soybean farm in Grubbs, Ark., and served as a legislator before becoming a staffer. “Daily, we have the opportunity to help, assist, aid and simply improve the everyday lives of our citizens,” he says.
LEGISLATURES
During an NCSL-sponsored visit that included training and research opportunities, the Kenyan lawmakers found an unexpected connection with their Wyoming counterparts on women’s rights.
LEADER PROFILE
For more than five years, Carl E. Heastie has had the distinction of being the 100th speaker of the New York Assembly and the first African American to lead the chamber’s 150 members. He spoke to NCSL about his plans and hopes for moving his state forward.
TRANSPORTATION
Catching a ride in an autonomous vehicle—once a futuristic wish—is slowly becoming a reality in the United States, with Arizona offering a glimpse of what the future may look like for passengers riding in self-driving vehicles.
ELECTIONS
Companies that provide technology and services to election officials rarely get—and, in fact, do not want—the limelight. But lawmakers can benefit from their insights.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Diving deeply into policy issues attracted Cyr to legislative research work. “It really allowed me to dig more into the elements of the law and use (my) analysis skills,” she says.
MY DISTRICT
To help revive a sagging local economy, a schoolteacher turned artist dotted a 32-mile stretch of highway with original scrap metal sculptures, creating the Enchanted Highway. Senator Donald Schaible, who represents the area, tells us what this beloved tourist destination means to his constituents.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Keisha Leung, a legislative researcher in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is inspired by her children, nieces and nephews. “They are my reason for pushing for a better Virgin Islands.”
HEALTH
Expanding access to health insurance, making greater use of telehealth and boosting public health capacity could help strengthen the system for the next crisis.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Viral videos showing 911 calls being used to harass or intimidate people from minority groups led four states to enact legislation penalizing such behavior last year.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The Minnesota Senate majority leader resigns his seat with an eye on the future, while a colleague in the House has a tragic hand accident. The Missouri House speaker pro tem makes a calculated election move. And several key staff moves are announced.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Before Tally Teal became the capital budget coordinator and chief of staff for the Alaska Legislature, she worked for many years as a naturalist, eventually captaining whale watching boats.
REDISTRICTING
Some aspects of redistricting are the same from decade to decade. But this cycle presents new wrinkles. Not only did the pandemic wreak havoc on census data collection, but outside advocates have far more sophisticated tools for comparing maps with what they consider ideal.
MY DISTRICT
With artworks by Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, along with American Indian art and artifacts and exhibits featuring Dorothea Lange and Andy Warhol, the museum tells the story of the West from many perspectives. Senator George Young tells us what it means to his district.
HEALTH
For years, states and the federal government have explored how to create opportunities for patients to see health care providers online. When the nation went into lockdown due to COVID-19, those efforts sped up to allow a big expansion of telehealth.
ELECTIONS
Bob Bauer and Ben Ginsberg, the former general counsels for the competing presidential campaigns of Barack Obama (Bauer) and Mitt Romney (Ginsberg), occupy opposites sides of the political spectrum. But they share a belief in the importance of free and fair elections.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
A respected Alabama lawmaker dies. A Rhode Island senator has emergency surgery to remove a leg. A Minnesota legislator is called to duty in the Middle East. And the Tennessee House speaker appoints a new chief of staff.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Before landing in the Nevada Senate, Claire Clift spent her “growing-up years” working for the U.S. Forest Service in the tiny community of North Fork, Idaho, an environment where one’s survival can depend on self-reliance and the ability to make tough decisions.
NCSL TOWN HALL
“Prescription Drug Policy: A Bipartisan Remedy” is a valuable resource for legislators and their staffs who are grappling with the complex issue of how to manage and lower prescription drug prices.
EDUCATION
The pandemic changed in-person learning and access to school-based services across the United States, significantly affecting children’s and youths’ mental health and well-being. Here’s a look at recently enacted legislation addressing student mental health.
EDUCATION
While the Biden administration’s pause in student loan payments has been in place at the federal level, states have taken substantial action in 2021 to address student loan debt. In the 2021 legislative session, 43 states have introduced more than 170 bills related to student loan debt.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
There are many reasons I love my job as secretary of the Michigan Senate: working with a great staff, being involved in the legislative process and providing the public with access to documents and proceedings are among them. Perhaps the biggest reason is that I know how important it is to the success of legislators.
TECHNOLOGY
As COVID-19 rampaged across the United States in early 2020, every legislature needed to rethink how to conduct business. With the Zoom boom and greater bandwidth, the internet became central to everything: testimony, debate—even voting.
OBITUARY
Known for having a closetful of fabulous blazers and a heart of gold, Yonts served for over a decade on NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee. He is remembered for his devotion to his family, his constituents and his state.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The Georgia House mourns the death of a colleague. The Texas House reaches a quorum for its second special session. Some states require vaccination for legislative employees. And History.com looks at the role legislatures have played in the impeachment of governors over time.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Meet Melody Joy DeBussey, director of the Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, who says words really inspire her—“whether in music, poetry, reading or the long fiery floor speeches of our members.”
MENTAL HEALTH
Families and child care providers alike are struggling during the pandemic. It can create, as one expert put it, a “chain reaction of hardship” in which not having enough money proves upsetting to adults who in turn pass that stress along to kids.
LEGISLATURES
Two strikes down in the count (thanks to COVID and political polarization at the federal level), the Connecticut House decided it was time to swing for the fences: Hello, bipartisan baseball!
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
COVID-19 ushered in a new normal for many American workers and workplaces. Now, as the nation regains some of the jobs and employment stability lost during the pandemic, states are poised to create a stronger, more equitable recovery.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
The perfect election? It might be more than just the one your candidate wins, said panelists at a session that showcased election approaches they hope will be widely embraced.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Virginia ends its special session, a Kentucky lawmaker celebrates his 90th birthday and a West Virginia lawmaker gets a call from the Biden administration.
TRANSPORTATION
As gas tax revenues continue to be affected by electric vehicles and those getting high mileage per gallon, legislatures are looking for ways to bolster their gas taxes or create new revenue streams.
STATE-FEDERAL POLICY
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most widely discussed health care topics in Congress was the cost of prescription drugs. Federal policymakers have picked up the conversation again.
REDISTRICTING
Here’s the forecast for legislatures heading into redistricting: windy, stormy and more than a little bit heated. But there are ways to lower the temperature, a panel of legislators told attendees at NCSL’s redistricting seminar in Salt Lake City in July.
HEALTH
States are increasingly acting—through legislation, Medicaid waivers and state plan amendments—to increase access to affordable housing and keep individuals and families housed. They may be reducing Medicaid costs in the process.
REDISTRICTING
With the arrival of detailed data, the redistricting process begins in earnest. But data keepers will need to take a few steps before policymakers can start drawing the maps.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
With millions of college students gearing up for the fall semester, many students are returning to campus as questions about the value of a college degree continue to drive policy discussions and affect decisions for students and families across the country.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
They hailed from different states and held different titles, but four legislative staffers agreed on three noteworthy trends impacting the legislative process in their respective chambers.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
As state lawmakers tackle policing issues ranging from use of force, mandatory body cameras and training to police officer well-being and policing alternatives, the focus will be on revising qualified immunity.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
In case you haven’t heard, the release of the 2020 decennial census data—detailed figures on where people live and their demographic characteristics—will be released on Thursday. With so much at stake, and so much uncertainty, many are wondering “What’s up with the census?”
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country, some employers are requiring that employees receive one as a condition of employment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has revised its guidance for employers instituting vaccine mandates.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
About 3.2 million Americans are collecting regular unemployment, and, of the 12.9 million total claims, most are for programs ending the first week of September. During the pandemic, 18 states borrowed $64 billion to keep up with the estimated 53 million people who got $800 billion in benefits.
MY DISTRICT
For generations, Roscoe in upstate New York—also known as “Trout Town, USA”—has lured avid fly-fishers. Senator Mike Martucci (R), whose district includes the scenic town, tells us about this beloved travel destination.
FISCAL POLICY
As retailers’ physical doors closed during the pandemic, online sales soared, up 77% in May 2020, year over year. It wasn’t enough to prevent negative sales tax growth overall, but the revenue helped stabilize state finances at a critical time.
EDUCATION
NCSL’s Whole Child Policy Advisory Group guides the organization in its efforts to support legislators and staff as they formulate education policies that foster safe, healthy learning environments where all students can thrive and achieve academic success.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
The sheer volume of money and potential ways states can spend it, can be daunting. Two panelists offered guidance to the legislators and staff attending NCSL Base Camp 2021 this week.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
The North Carolina House mourns the death of a member. The Texas governor calls the Legislature in for a second special session. NCSL’s Legislative Staff Achievement Awards are announced, and squirrels have enjoyed the Ohio Capitol grounds for a long, long time.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
Developing a secure and redundant transmission system is key to unlocking broader state energy goals and will require states and federal partners to collaborate in advancing a flexible, sustainable approach for the future.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
Nothing is more rewarding than being part of a great team, McRaven said during NCSL Base Camp 2021. “You can make a difference whether you are answering the phones or taking the call. Each of you have a leadership role in that team, particularly when things don’t go well."
ELECTIONS
Prior to this year, election audits have rarely made headlines—or even the subject lines of the many research requests NCSL’s elections team receives each month. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: This year is different.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
Pop-ups, partnerships and pivots have proved effective at getting the COVID-19 vaccine in arms in places as disparate as Alaska and Maryland, but overcoming shot reluctance promises to be an ongoing challenge.
EDUCATION
As states, schools and families seek ways to reengage students academically and social-emotionally, afterschool and summer learning programs have provided some of the answers.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
The nation’s revolving employment door is stuck in “out” with an estimated 40% of U.S. workers actively searching for a new job or planning to over the next six months. Factors include workers seeking better compensation, work/life balance, benefits and a career change.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
The intense challenges facing the education system, brought into sharp relief by the pandemic, also create an opportunity to forge a new path.
EDUCATION
Across the country, legislators have proposed and enacted bills reforming the role of police officers and the criminal justice system in schools with the goal of reducing injury, trauma and financial hardship for students due to referrals to law enforcement for arrest and ticketing.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
To get some perspective on the current state of civility in America, we might want to look back to a time before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and before the elections of 2020 and 2016.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
The idea of the American Dream, that hard work can overcome humble beginnings, is increasingly illusory for a swath of Americans, policy expert and researcher David A. Williams told a session at NCSL Base Camp 2021 on Tuesday.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
Despite a decline in alcohol-impaired driving—fatalities fell 53% from 1982 to 2015—U.S. roadways aren’t necessarily safer. That’s because as drinking and driving has fallen, driving after using marijuana or other drugs seems to be on the rise.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
State courts will play an outsize role in this redistricting cycle, and their actions will most likely determine which party controls the U.S. House in 2022, redistricting and elections analyst David Wasserman says.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
As the 2,702-page, $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure behemoth begins to churn its way through the U.S. Senate, policy experts used an NCSL Base Camp 2021 session to detail some of the bill’s provisions—and its possible fate.
LEGISLATURES
For busy lawmakers, reflecting on a legislature’s past and its future trajectory can feel like a luxury. But self-reflection, and a willingness to make change as a result, is a necessary exercise in ensuring a strong, enduring legislative branch.
REDISTRICTING
Redistricters face a minefield of potential perils, including official map-drafting errors, poor organization of the various map iterations and overreliance on what was done a decade ago. But these three pitfalls loom larger than all others.
OBITUARY
For nearly 50 years, Koepp worked in different roles in the Louisiana Statehouse. But the complex world of redistricting was his specialty. He is remembered as a “storyteller without equal” and “the friend and mentor that we all hope to be lucky enough to find in our careers.”
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
A Texas lawmaker wins a special election to serve in Congress. The Iowa House speaker gets a new chief of staff. And we start tracking the moves of state legislators who will be seeking other seats in the next election.
MY DISTRICT
Everyone has a favorite pachyderm—Dumbo, Babar and the spotted Misfit Toy in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” come to mind—but for visitors to the Jersey Shore, Lucy the Elephant stands alone. The assemblymen who represent Lucy’s home district tell us what she means to the area.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Meet Jessica Harmon, director of the Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis in the Indiana Legislative Services Agency. Inspired by a grad school professor’s passion to provide lawmakers with credible, objective research, she’s worked in public service ever since.
ELECTIONS
In 2020, 72% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day, either in person at an early voting site or by absentee ballot. It might be easy to attribute this enormous change to the pandemic, but there’s more to the story.
NCSL NEWS
NCSL elections guru will get up close with the count as part of a prestigious panel reviewing how the 2020 census was conducted.
TOOLBOX
The first step in coping with burnout is recognizing the symptoms. Next is realizing you need to change something, because burnout can affect work performance and productivity, as well as mental and physical health.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2021
This year’s three-day event once again will let attendees hear the insights of some of the nation’s foremost experts on topics including redistricting, the census and policing.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
This week’s issue, unfortunately, reports the deaths of three state legislators and a former Louisiana Senate secretary. Other state legislators are leaving for other posts. And the Texas Supreme Court may weigh in on whether the governor can defund the state’s legislative staff.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory shares her insights on leadership, the value of government work and why she’ll never go zip lining.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
During legislative sessions this year, states continued to ease regulations and other hurdles immigrant workers face when trying to break into the U.S. labor market.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Jim Hannah, who joined the Kentucky Legislature as a public information specialist after a long career as a daily newspaper reporter, says being free from party affiliation or bias is of the utmost importance. His advice as a journalist: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.”
MY DISTRICT
Sure, it’s stinky. But residents of Gilroy, Calif., the self-proclaimed “Garlic Capital of the World,” love their crop of cloves and plan to demonstrate why during the next two weekends.
ELECTIONS
Nearly 3 million of the U.S. citizens living overseas are eligible to vote. But relatively few of them do. To find out how states can make life easier for these voters, NCSL turned to our friends and colleagues at the Council of State Governments’ Overseas Vote Initiative and at the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
NCSL MEETING
Legislators, legislative staff and anyone interested in public policy and professional development will have a unique opportunity to hone their skills with the return of NCSL Base Camp 2021, Aug. 3-5.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
In this week’s news, Arizona legislators get a long-awaited daily expense increase. Idaho lawmakers consider a special session, and special elections fill seats in Alabama, Georgia and Oregon.
REDISTRICTING
In today’s redistricting world, even someone acting in good faith can be tripped up by one ill-advised email or text. The experts speaking to legislators, staff and other stakeholders at NCSL’s latest redistricting seminar advised being discreet, keeping good records and preparing to be sued.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Meet Heshani Wijemanne, the assistant secretary of the California Senate, who has been drawn to public service ever since college, loves the many beautiful places and natural marvels of her home state and has a soft spot for Masterpiece Theatre.
MY DISTRICT
Designated a national “reservation” 40 years before Yellowstone, Hot Springs National Park has over the years attracted vacationers, gangsters and baseball heroes. We caught up with Senator Alan Clark (R), whose district includes Hot Springs, to ask about this beloved travel destination.
HEALTH
A new interim rule restricts excessive out-of-pocket costs to consumers from surprise and balance medical billing.
FISCAL POLICY
To help government finance officials and budget decision-makers gain a more transparent view into a hazy fiscal future, The Pew Charitable Trusts has fine-tuned its guidance for stress testing state pensions.
HEALTH
As the Delta variant causes a spike in the number of new coronavirus cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that opioid overdose deaths increased 6% in 2019 over 2018.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
A respected Kentucky senator dies unexpectedly. Masks are required again for California legislators. More retirements from state legislatures were announced this week. And a Mississippi lawmaker trades a senate seat to be a city mayor.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
During the 2021 session, bills in multiple states advanced collective bargaining, overtime pay or health protections for agricultural workers. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on a challenge to part of California’s landmark Agricultural Labor Relations Act.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Before he became sergeant-at-arms for the Texas Senate, Rick DeLeon worked as a police diver, assisting in the search and recovery effort after the Space Shuttle Columbia blew up over Texas in February 2003.
ANTI-HUNGER POLICY
Participation in anti-hunger programs has increased, but not all eligible kids are being fed. New federal legislation would apply lessons learned during the pandemic to help ensure low-income children have access to healthy foods year-round.
HEALTH INSURANCE
The American Rescue Plan Act aims to make marketplace health insurance plans more affordable by temporarily increasing federal subsidies for individuals across all income levels. State lawmakers are considering their options as debate continues about whether to make the subsidies permanent.
MARIJUANA
In 2011, not a single state had legalized cannabis for recreational adult use. Fast forward 10 years, and 18 states have done so, either by citizen initiative or through the legislature.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
A few state legislatures ended their Fourth of July weekend by going into special session. Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon announced his retirement. And a couple of statehouses in the Northeast look to reopen.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Convened in 2019, the bipartisan group has focused on keeping people with behavioral health needs out of jail, investing in services and supports for crime victims, and promoting liberty and public safety in pretrial decision-making.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Because research analysts in Montana draft bills, staff committees and do policy research, Rachel Weiss has found a way to combine her love of words and of the legislative process in a nonpartisan way.
EDUCATION
Some policymakers see early retirement incentive programs as an opportunity to help educators who may be more vulnerable to the virus safely exit the workforce while reducing state budget costs.
MY DISTRICT
It last rang in the 1840s, but the Liberty Bell remains a powerful symbol for civil rights activists and others fighting for freedom. For the July Fourth holiday, we asked Senator Nikil Saval and Representative Mary-Louise Isaacson, who represent the Philadelphia districts where the bell is displayed, what the bell means to their constituents.
LEGISLATURES
Illinois’ new House speaker led a successful push to create term limits for the positions of speaker and minority leader. Does the shift align with other states, is it a nationwide trend, or is Illinois an outlier?
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Special sessions, current and planned, headline the news this week. The Texas governor defunds state legislative staff and a couple of states look at using state budgets to restrict gubernatorial power during emergencies.
EDUCATION
States have received a historic $190.5 billion in federal K-12 relief funding across three stimulus packages. Starting this spring, state lawmakers have been far more active in reviewing and directing the latest two rounds of funds.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
To improve its juvenile justice system, Pennsylvania formed a bipartisan task force—established by legislators joining forces with the governor and chief justice—that produced 35 recommendations for change.
PUBLIC HEALTH
In recent weeks, dozens of hospitals and medical groups nationwide began issuing vaccination requirements. Public health law experts say the moves are a legal means of ensuring a safe, COVID-19-free environment for patients and workers.
STUDENT-ATHLETES
In NCAA v. Alston, the U.S. Supreme Court held unanimously that the National Collegiate Athletics Association cannot restrict certain education-related benefits schools may offer student-athletes.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Long before he became director of the Tennessee Office of Research and Education Accountability, Russell Moore enjoyed unusually rapid advancement in the field of retail music sales.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Sessions ended in Colorado and New York, and the New Hampshire Statehouse complex is now open. Primaries occurred in New Jersey and Virginia, a couple of chambers removed members and a few legislators are moving from the house to the senate.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Following its release of the interim final rule governing the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, the department provided FAQ to guide states as they expand broadband services.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
After growing up near the Capitol in Olympia, Washington, and serving twice as a legislative page in high school, it’s little surprise Jen Waldref decided to pursue a job with the Legislature. She is now the communications director for the House Democrats.
FATHER’S DAY
Montana Senator Keith Regier has two kids, Matt and Amy, serving in the state’s House, and South Carolina Senator Kevin Johnson’s daughter Kimberly was elected to that state’s House last year. For Father’s Day, NCSL asked them what it’s like when legislative service is family business.
MY DISTRICT
For 90 years, Wall Drug has beckoned travelers to take a break from driving, have a cold drink and let the kids enjoy photo opportunities with a dinosaur, a jackalope or a mini-Mount Rushmore. We asked Representative Tim Goodwin about his district’s renowned roadside attraction.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
To help avert unintentional shootings by children, 27 states have enacted child access prevention laws, which allow for criminal charges to be brought against adults who intentionally, recklessly or negligently allow kids to have unsupervised access to firearms.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Andrew Carpenter, the assistant secretary and journal clerk for the Colorado Senate, is inspired by his young son and his home state’s endless outdoor opportunities. If he had a super power, it would be his “ability to read aloud quickly.”
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
More than half of employees who work from home say they want to continue working remotely even as the pandemic subsides. A challenge for employers is to ensure that telework policies take into consideration the needs of workers with disabilities.
MY DISTRICT
The mansion that Elvis Presley used as a retreat is now an attraction that annually welcomes 500,000 visitors. Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is second only to the White House among the nation’s most-visited homes.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As states look for ways to jump-start economies upended by the pandemic, many are opting out of temporary supplemental federal unemployment insurance programs, reinstituting work search requirements for unemployment recipients, and creating one-time reemployment payments.
JUVENILE JUSTICE
In many states, juvenile records don’t just disappear when a person turns 18. Even when there was no conviction, a record can affect a young person for years after leaving the justice system, potentially making it difficult to go to school, get a job and find housing—the very things that could ease the transition to adulthood.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Sessions ended in Texas and Nevada this week, and Illinois lawmakers ended their spring session. West Virginia is being called into special session, and a couple of states are looking at having full-time legislatures. Bonuses to legislative staff are in the news, and staff in Oregon unionize.
IN MEMORIAM
Dedicated to nonpartisan service and making sure that lawmakers got credit for the best ideas, Kyle was also known for his role in locating NCSL’s headquarters in Denver, his fine sense of humor and his ever-present cigar.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
After a decade-plus in private practice, a decade-plus in criminal prosecution and six years in local government administration, Richard Pearce became legal counsel to the South Carolina House clerk. He quickly learned the job offered endless opportunities for the pure practice of law.
MY DISTRICT
The trains that linked Chicago and Omaha are gone now, but the 13-story High Trestle Bridge they traveled still spans the Des Moines River in central Iowa. We asked Representative Rob Bacon about the economic and cultural impact of the bridge, which was repurposed as part of a rails-to-trail project in his district.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Nebraska, Oklahoma and Vermont have ended their legislative sessions, the Maryland State House is reopening, Kansas selects a new Senate majority leader, and legislative staff in Massachusetts will get pay raises.
MEMORIAL DAY
As the nation in honors those killed in military service and expresses empathy and compassion for their families, NCSL introduces a new resource with information on veterans currently serving as state legislators.
TOOLBOX
Negotiating doesn’t have to mean haggling, with both sides making demands and staking out positions. Instead, it can be an agreement between partners that delivers the maximum number of interests to all parties involved.
MY DISTRICT
How has the last outlet in the once-mighty video rental chain managed to survive in Bend, Oregon, and nowhere else? “I believe it’s about the people and the place,” says Senator Tim Knopp, whose district includes Bend.
EDUCATION
As student-athletes across the country train for competition this fall, some will return to campus with the chance to earn money for their play. A growing number of states have passed legislation allowing athletes to receive compensation for their names, images or likenesses.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
For the first time, a state’s voters have restricted a governor’s emergency powers. Tennessee lawmakers lost a colleague to cancer this week. Sessions ended in four states with another hoping to end today. Here’s a summary of activities in state legislatures this week.
ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH
For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, four members of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators offer views on the coronavirus, social justice and legislative efforts to increase diversity and a culture of inclusion.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, 2020. Since that day, all 50 states and the District of Columbia introduced legislation addressing some aspect of policing policy, largely focused on accountability and oversight.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
As human resources director for the Maine Legislature, Jackie Little strives to equip, support and empower others in their professional growth and success. Outside of work, she makes time for leadership books and podcasts, and to enjoy the beauty of her home state.
CIVIL JUSTICE
As COVID-19 spread, many states and government agencies quickly put in place preventive measures to contain the outbreak. Courts were no exception, and many have experimented with remote civil jury trials to deal with the resulting backlog of cases. Social scientists are now offering insight on the effects of this approach.
HEALTH
As states work to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, gaps remain in providing it to the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Using providers such as pharmacists can open access to vaccines, especially for those living in rural and underserved areas.
STATE-FEDERAL
Last week, the Treasury Department launched the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, providing emergency funding for state, local, territorial and tribal governments. The $350 billion can be used to cover acute pandemic response costs, fill government revenue shortfalls, and support the populations hardest hit by COVID-19.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
When Nate Rohan isn’t working, the deputy director of Wisconsin’s nonpartisan Legislative Technology Services Bureau makes time for his family, his state’s four seasons and TV shows that have some weight yet are still “popcorn viewing.”
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Several legislatures have adjourned or are nearing adjournment, while Alaska lawmakers are going into a two-part special session. Here’s this week’s news.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE
In the interest of productivity and decorum, some legislative chamber prohibit certain electronic devices. Others simply restrict the sounds they make.
EDUCATION
Laws banning transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports have gained momentum across the country. At least 35 bills have been introduced in 31 states this year to exclude transgender youth from participating in athletics—up from 29 bills in 2020 and two in 2019.
FISCAL
After an initial sharp plunge, state tax revenue recovered enough as of February that 29 states had taken in as much or more revenue in the 12 months since the pandemic began as they did in the 12 months before the pandemic.
MY DISTRICT
Hershey, Pennsylvania, is home to The Hershey Co., maker of 90 different chocolate goodies, along with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co., which includes Hersheypark amusement park, Hershey’s Chocolate World and other attractions. We asked Representative Thomas Mehaffie (R) and Senator John DiSanto (R), whose districts include Hershey, what it’s like living in chocolate heaven.
MOTHER’S DAY
Dr. Akilah Weber recently won a special election to fill the Assembly seat held by her mother, who now serves as California’s secretary of state. For Mother’s Day, we asked Weber about her mom’s influence in her life, personally and professionally, and her plans for this year’s holiday.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Hawaii selects a new majority leader, tension continues between legislative and executive branches, Tennessee adjourns its session, and two states honor former members.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Joel Rudnick says it was his job as a legislative librarian with the Delaware General Assembly that found him, not the other way around. Rudnick is inspired by his interactions with others and his newfound love for the music of Queen.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
When IT staff began using virtual tools to host the Wyoming Legislature’s meetings last year, they faced plenty of challenges. Here’s how the Legislative Service Office created a system that streams legislative meetings for constituents who wish to listen to and testify before committees.
MOTHER’S DAY
Pennsylvania Representative Milou Mackenzie and her son, Representative Ryan Mackenzie, are thought to be the first mother and son to be elected together to serve in the state’s House chamber. For Mother’s Day, we connected with them to ask what it’s like working together and what they have in store for this year’s holiday.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Jimmetta Gourdine and her daughter Jessica Brown both work for the Alabama Legislature. Jimmetta, who has served with the legislature for 21 years, is director of Senate security, and Jessica is an administrative assistant with the Legislative Services Agency, where she has worked for four and a half years.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
NCSL’s Legislative Staff Certificate Program was launched just last year. But the idea for the training initiative was born more than 20 years ago out of a desire to help staff do their jobs with more proficiency, to increase staff recruitment and retention and to improve service to the legislature.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Your manager might be great with the big-picture perspective or organizational planning but is maybe not as adept at navigating press interviews, researching policy, handling and maintaining equipment, or doing casework. That’s why you should learn how to manage up.
EDUCATION
In announcing his proposal to make community college free, President Biden took his cue from bipartisan work happening in state legislatures across the country.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
As the pandemic disrupted work life, many legislative offices and individual staff found creative ways to remain social during these unsociable times. Here are a few tips from staffers across the country.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
NCSL has devoted this week, May 3-7, to celebrating the more than 30,000 staff who work in state legislatures across the nation. To get the week started, we connected with NCSL’s three staff officers—Staff Chair Martha Wigton, Staff Vice Chair J.J. Gentry and Immediate Past Staff Chair Jon Heining.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Recently passed body-camera laws generally apply to all law enforcement officers who interact with the public. But they typically exclude officers working in courtrooms and certain other settings, along with administrators and civilian staff.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Legislatures in Hawaii, Indiana and Washington ended their 2021 sessions, while a handful of others are looking at extended sessions. Indiana lawmakers were sued by their governor. And the Hawaii Senate majority leader announced his retirement.
EDUCATION
Policymakers are tackling the challenge of unfinished learning with a variety of approaches, often through legislation that leverages quality afterschool and summer programs.
MY DISTRICT
In May 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens devastated the communities of southwest Washington state. We connected with Representatives Ed Orcutt (R) and Peter Abbarno (R), whose House district includes the mountain, to ask what it’s like living in the shadow of an active volcano.
EDUCATION
In legislatures across the country, policymakers are responding to bipartisan calls for improved civics education with measures that would require new courses and assessments, diversify curricula and integrate civics with other instruction.
MY DISTRICT
From the mint juleps to the iconic twin spires of the Churchill Downs Clubhouse to the thousands of fans wearing their fanciest spring clothes, the Run for the Roses is packed with tradition. We connected with Senator Denise Harper Angel and Representative Nima Kulkarni, whose districts are home to the Derby, to ask what the race means to their community.
FIRST BRANCH NEWS
Indiana and Idaho overrode vetoes in fights over their governors’ emergency powers. Oregon and Montana stopped in-person sessions while Delaware went back in. And the Missouri House expelled a member for the first time since the Civil War.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
In the months since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, law enforcement accountability has moved to the top of legislative agendas.
MY DISTRICT
Hollywood and the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles are home to the Academy Awards, now in its 93rd year. We connected with California Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Senator Benjamin Allen, who represent the districts where the theater is located, to ask what the ceremony means to the community.
EDUCATION
As a result of the pandemic’s effects on education, legislatures in at least 37 states are considering bills that would expand or introduce private school choice programs.
LEGISLATURES
The pandemic has forced legislatures to be nimble and flexible, and this year’s session calendar reflects this. Here’s an update on which states have finished their business for the year and which one is just getting started.
LEGISLATURES
This week, Louisiana opened its legislative session, several states worked to limit gubernatorial power and several new lawmakers won special elections.
MY DISTRICT
The Lady Cardinals of Stanford University held off the Arizona Wildcats to win the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball championships. We connected with California Assemblymember Marc Berman, whose district includes the Stanford campus, to ask what the championship means to his community.
EDUCATION
The number of students being homeschooled during the pandemic is on the rise. But bills affecting state homeschooling regulation cut in two directions, with some easing regulations on homeschooling families and others imposing new ones.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Karen Mau, a research librarian at the Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau Library, says her two daughters inspire her to be and do better every day. And, when it comes to the things she loves most about her home state, that’s easy: the weather, the people and the food!
LEGISLATURES
The Wyoming Legislature ends its 2021 session. Lawmakers nationwide continue to introduce bills that would shift authority away from governors and to the legislatures. Voters choose new lawmakers in a handful of special elections. And Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia cooks up a feast for his colleagues.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
A typical traffic stop can entail loud sirens, flashing lights and oral commands. For people with autism, these events could produce anxiety, causing them to act or respond in ways an officer might find strange or even threatening.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
Ali Sagraves, a clerk for the Ohio House of Representatives, says she’s inspired by the legislators she works with who are fighting the good fight. “Not everyone is able to work in a place where their gifts, passions and purpose collide, and I do not take this experience for granted.”
EDUCATION
Citing an unfair disadvantage to low-income and minority students, many colleges and universities have made standardized test scores an optional part of the admissions process in recent years. The pandemic pushed even more schools to temporarily waive testing requirements.
ELECTION SECURITY
U.S. election systems are better prepared than ever to fend off cyberattacks, but our adversaries are growing more sophisticated. Two experts discuss the system’s vulnerabilities and strengths and what states can do in this fast-changing cyber realm.
LEGISLATURES
New Mexico considers legalizing marijuana. South Dakota’s governor said she wants a special session on fairness in women’s sports. Legislatures across the country continue to challenge governors’ powers. And two Nebraska Senators got in the spirit of April Fools’ Day.
FISCAL POLICY
A year that saw unprecedented lockdowns and economic slowdowns also saw Bitcoin prices reach new highs, surging nearly 600% since the beginning of 2020 and stirring a movement toward greater acceptance of virtual currencies in the financial world.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
As Women’s History Month draws to a close, NCSL connected with Colorado Representative Meg Froelich (D), the majority caucus chair, to ask why it’s important for women to be in elective office and what made her decide to run.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
As part of its Women’s History Month coverage, NCSL talked with Texas Representative Senfronia Thompson (D), who was first elected in 1973, about why it’s important for women to be in elective office and what made her decide to run.
MY DISTRICT
Early April means one thing in Augusta, Ga.: the Masters Tournament. This year marks the 85th edition of golf’s first major championship of the year. We connected with Georgia Representative Wayne Howard and Senator Harold Jones, who represent the districts where the club is located, to ask what the tournament means to the community.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
As part of its Women’s History Month coverage, NCSL talked with Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis (R), a Navajo who grew up in Jackson Hole. We asked Ellis why it’s important for women to be in elective office and what made her decide to run.
LEGISLATURES
COVID causes legislative shutdowns in Idaho and Oregon, New Mexico ends its regular session, a feline mascot returns safely to the Nebraska Capitol, and no more popcorn at the North Dakota Capitol.
TRANSPORTATION
To support transportation electrification, many legislatures are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach, with policies to encourage electric vehicle adoption and to build out the charging infrastructure necessary to power the growing number of EVs on the road.
FISCAL
Federal CRF allocations came along just as economic shutdowns and mounting public health pressures had states on the fiscal ropes. Without this cash infusion, pandemic costs might have been insurmountable for states and the nation.
MESS IN THE ATTIC
When a record-breaking winter storm dumped more than 30 inches of snow on Cheyenne, Wyo., legislative leaders were the first to pitch in to save their Capitol building from damage.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
As our recognition of the month draws to a close, NCSL reached out to handful of female legislative staffers to ask about what the month means to them, how the legislature as a workplace has changed, and what messages they have for newer female staffers across the country.
HEALTH
One year into the pandemic, we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Rates of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the country have continued to decrease thanks, in part, to the accelerating pace of vaccinations. NCSL experts address a few frequently asked questions.
LEGISLATURES
Wyoming lawmakers clean up after a snowstorm created leaks in the legislative chambers, while their counterparts in neighboring Colorado consider building a fence around the Capitol. And a young Nevada legislator is gaining popularity by using TikTok to communicate.
HUMAN SERVICES
Advocates argue that youth homelessness is unlike chronic homelessness among single adults and that it’s cheaper to solve the problem before young people become chronically homeless. Increasingly, state lawmakers agree, with at least 21 states passing bills to address the issue in the last couple years.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
In addition to funding for state, local and territorial public health departments, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 contains overhauls of Medicaid, Medicare and health insurance coverage. We dig into the details here.
FISCAL
It’s been a year since the pandemic dramatically altered American life, and states are still reeling from the economic fallout. But as fiscal conditions improve, some states are taking action by funding stimulus packages of their own.
MY DISTRICT
On March 17, when we aren’t in a pandemic, Americans from all backgrounds and heritages pull out their green ties, socks, scarves or other clothing and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But there’s only one town that can celebrate the holiday every day of the year: St. Patrick, Mo. We caught up with one of the lawmakers who represents the tiny community.
LEGISLATURES
In this installment, states challenge the U.S. Census Bureau over the delayed release of data, Utah ends its legislative session, New York legislative leaders call on the governor to resign and the Kansas House speaker’s father joins the state Senate.
LEGISLATORS
Fred Risser was first elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1956, the same year President Dwight D. Eisenhower took the oath of office. Risser, who retired at the end of last year at age 92, talks with NCSL about his career, his insights as a World War II veteran and the legislative changes he’s seen.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Also known as recognition laws, universal licensing laws authorize states to accept certain occupational licenses granted by other states, giving workers greater professional mobility.
MY DISTRICT
Seneca Falls, N.Y., was the site of the first women’s rights convention in the U.S. in July 1848. The gathering of roughly 300 people launched the women’s suffrage movement. State Legislatures News caught up with the two lawmakers who represent Seneca Falls to ask about its place in voting history.
HEALTH
Access to and affordability of prescription drugs have long ranked among lawmakers’ top concerns. The pandemic hasn’t changed that. With most 2021 state sessions now in full swing, the search continues for policies that will lower drug costs for states and consumers alike.
TRANSPORTATION
Since snow removal rivals hockey as Minnesota’s prime winter pastime, and since snowplows are the Zambonis of the state’s roads, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has bestowed the behemoths with proper names.
LEGISLATURES
In this installment, states continue to look at restricting executive power, two states consider ways to block federal directives, and Washington state legislators might be banned from taking selfies on chamber floors.
FISCAL
Sports betting, which revenue-seeking states are quickly adopting, is a relatively low-margin venture compared with other types of gambling. The payout could be significantly higher, however, if sports bettors can use mobile devices.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As the demographics of the American workforce change, job training programs are adapting to boost diversity and provide workers with the skills they need for high-demand, well-paying occupations in health care and clean energy.
EDUCATION
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, more than 44 million Americans carry an outstanding student loan balance. State policymakers are now considering loan forgiveness plans and expanded loan oversight, among other actions.
STATE-FEDERAL
Major changes in Washington, D.C., often mean major changes to banking and financial services policy. With the Biden administration planning large regulatory changes that could impact the states, what does the banking landscape look like?
ELECTIONS
Like a PowerPoint on steroids, NCSL’s new story map, Election Emergencies Happen, can help policymakers determine how well their election laws would hold up during a health emergency, natural disaster or other crisis.
LEGISLATURES
As lawmakers continue the debate over balancing legislative and executive branch powers, some are targeting the authority to change election rules. Others are considering term limits for some government officials.
STAFF PROFILE
Natalyn Williams recently became the first Black chief clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives since at least Reconstruction. But she has another distinction: She’s worked for just one employer in her career, and that’s the state of Alabama, starting in January 1994.
MY DISTRICT
One of the world’s most iconic bodies of water—the Mississippi River—gets its start at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and runs more than 2,500 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico. NCSL connected with Senator Paul Utke (R), whose district includes the lake, to ask him a few questions about the area.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
As Black History Month draws to a close, two past presidents of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators offer views on the coronavirus, social justice and legislative efforts to increase diversity and a culture of inclusion.
ENERGY
Texas officials will spend much of the year—and very likely subsequent years—searching for ways to prevent another crisis like the one that left millions without power and clean water for days after a winter storm. But Texas is hardly the only state to face questions about its energy resiliency.
LEGISLATURES
State lawmakers continue to adjust legislative operations to cope with the virus and debate the limits of executive branch power. Seven lawmakers and two legislative staffers have joined NCSL’s Executive Committee.
TOOLBOX
What happens when a legislature has a conflict over rules? Or when there’s ambiguity? To be effective in the legislature, you need to know—and play by—established parliamentary procedures.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
On the eve of the 2021 legislative sessions, NCSL sat down (virtually) with five staffers—who between them have more than a century’s worth of experience—to learn their top tips for being effective legislative employees.
ELECTIONS
The presidential elections of 2000 and the one held just last year put election administration front of mind for lawmakers and the public alike. But the issues at hand couldn’t be more different.
ECONOMY
With the country one year into the economic fallout from the pandemic, 23 states have utilized federal funds to bolster their unemployment insurance trust funds, and more states are likely to follow their lead, NCSL analysts say.
POLICY TREND
Determining which of the fast-changing smart technologies will most benefit a community and complement its existing and future plans requires significant consideration and thoughtful analysis.
LEGISLATURES
New sessions are well underway in many states, and lawmakers are adjusting to plexiglas, enhanced security and Zoom testimony. Maine has the nation’s youngest house speaker, and Colorado is launching an aviation caucus.
HILL BRIEFING
As state legislatures grapple with their pandemic responses and contemplate economic recovery, NCSL briefed Congress on what federal actions would be most beneficial to states and made the case for long-standing education priorities.
ANALYSIS | REDISTRICTING
The Census Bureau’s announcement that states won’t receive redistricting data until Sept. 30 was bombshell news to everyone involved in the once-a-decade task of redrawing electoral district boundaries. But are there silver linings to be found in the delay?
LABOR
Soon-to-be-released research has uncovered some of the strongest evidence yet reported in support of workforce training programs, which could provide a valuable solution for states planning their economic recoveries.
EMPLOYMENT
With the Biden administration and some in Congress renewing talk of a federal minimum wage increase, the long-running debate over how such hikes will affect workers, consumers and business owners continues.
REDISTRICTING
Redistricting tended to be a sleepy topic in decades past, but not this time around. COVID, census data delays, heightened public interest and the U.S. Supreme Court have changed the landscape for those charged with the once-a-decade task of redrawing legislative and congressional districts.
TOOLKIT
Our system of governance is based on three branches, each vested with powers and authorities to balance out and place checks on the other two. But a legislature must exercise that authority for the principle to play out.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
At the recent State Policy 101 session on policing, NCSL experts discussed the issues state legislatures have been focused on and which policies are being addressed in statehouses across the country and in Congress.
MY DISTRICT
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and it turns out four U.S. states have towns named Valentine. NCSL caught up with the legislators representing those towns and asked them to share what makes their Valentine so special.
LEGISLATURES
Supporters argue that term limits ensure a flow of new lawmakers with fresh ideas. Critics say limits can lead to a lack of experienced legislators, especially leaders and committee chairs, with knowledge of policy issues and legislative procedure.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Georgia Representative Billy Mitchell discusses the influence of Henry McNeal Turner, a Reconstruction-era minister, an ardent defender of African American civil rights and one of the “Original 33” Black lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly.
ECONOMY
Most economic recessions are “like a car running out of gas very slowly,” said Dan White, with Moody’s Analytics, during the kickoff session of NCSL’s State Policy 101 event. But the COVID-19-sparked recession? Think NASCAR. With teenage boys behind the wheel.
EDUCATION
The recent NCSL Virtual Youth Forum gave high school students an opportunity to speak directly with state legislators and staff about their pandemic experiences, including the challenges of online coursework, separation from their peers, safety concerns and internet connectivity issues, among others.
LEGISLATURES
Legislatures find ways to get work done during the pandemic, lawmakers continue to tangle with governors over emergency rule-making authority, the latest updates on legislative leaders, and more.
HEALTH
As federal agencies continue to report on COVID-19 vaccine distribution and priority populations, one group faces undue hardship from both the disease and the uncertain vaccine timelines: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
IN MEMORIAM
The Nevada Assembly’s sergeant-at-arms, Robin Bates, was known and loved for his boisterous laugh. “We all share in this grief because we all shared in our love for Robin,” Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson (D) said. “He was our friend, our trusted confidant and our biggest cheerleader.”
HEALTH
After months of negotiations between House and Senate leadership, Congress passed year-end legislation providing not only COVID-19 relief and fiscal year 2021 government funding, but also protecting consumers from surprise medical billing in states that don’t already have controls on the practice.
MY DISTRICT
Florida Senator Janet Cruz, whose Tampa district is home to the stadium where Super Bowl LV will be played, tells NCSL what it means for her constituents that their beloved Buccaneers are facing off on familiar ground with the Kansas City Chiefs.
CONGRESS
The health issues addressed in the massive year-end federal omnibus legislation ranged from lowering prescription drug costs to strengthening parity in mental health.
HEALTH
As legislatures reconvene, lawmakers in many states will address immediate pandemic demands. But most states, hamstrung by tight budgets, won’t be able to make the long-term investments needed to shore up their public health infrastructures.
CONGRESS
Besides numerous appropriations and COVID-19 relief, the massive year-end omnibus bill included many health and human services provisions. We highlight the human services issues here, including an increase of $220 million for early childhood programs.
LEGISLATURES
The Census Bureau delays delivery of its 2020 data, lawmakers find ways to do business during the pandemic, tension between legislatures and governors continues and more.
EXIT INTERVIEW
In many businesses when employees retire or leave the company, a meeting is held to discuss their experiences. Riffing on that idea, NCSL’s Exit Interview video series offers departing legislators the chance to share their most rewarding moments, biggest challenges and advice for the newly elected.
REDISTRICTING
2020 is in the rearview mirror, but the results of the 2020 census are still down the road. As states gear up for redistricting, they face a new and serious problem: figuring out whether they’ll get the data they need from the Census Bureau in time to redistrict according to their state laws.
LEGISLATIVE STAFF
A new year means a new principal clerk or secretary in several legislatures. Congratulations to these members of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) in their new roles as chief administrative officers of their chambers.
HUMAN SERVICES
COVID-19 has magnified existing issues for infants and toddlers, their families and their caregivers. Many of these issues can be more cost effectively addressed by fostering development early in life rather than relying on remedial programs to deal with later-life problems.
TRAINING
Whether you are new to the legislature or looking to build up your knowledge in a specific policy area, NCSL’s experts are here to help with more than 30 free online training sessions every Friday in February.
LEGISLATURES
With the pandemic canceling the Virginia Senate’s 2021 page program, the participants of previous page classes went virtual with their effort to fundraise for hunger relief.
LEGISLATURES
Lawmakers deal with the coronavirus and safety threats; power struggles between legislatures and governors continue; Maryland Senate legend Mike Miller dies; and more.
HEALTH
A new NCSL policy brief explores legislative opportunities to create and cultivate school mental health programs that fit individual communities and their budgets.
HIGHER EDUCATION
A new law expands eligibility for the Pell Grant program and makes federal financial aid easier to apply for. It could enable an additional 1.7 million college students to qualify for the maximum tuition-aid award each year and make another 555,000 students newly eligible.
OBITUARY
Maryland Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. served more than half his life in the Maryland Senate and 33 years as its president, making him the nation’s longest-serving president of a state Senate.
HEALTH
The federal government, states and local jurisdictions worked overtime during the holidays to coordinate the distribution of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. State lawmakers are now removing barriers and streamlining access to the vaccines.
CAPITOL SAFETY
States have tightened security around their capitols and in their capital cities across the nation in response to an FBI warning. Armed protests are anticipated in the lead-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington, D.C.
HEALTH
With ethnic disparities in health care highlighted by the coronavirus, lawmakers have passed legislation in the last two years to improve maternal outcomes, address health provider training requirements and strengthen workforce development.
LEGISLATURES
Power struggles brew between legislative and executive branches across the country, protest concerns grow as pandemic rages, a gavel breaks up in West Virginia, and more.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Americans on probation serve terms of just under two years on average, but 9 in 10 people on probation for at least a year without being rearrested could have served shorter terms without impacting recidivism rates.
LEGISLATURES
Legislative leaders fear that fallout from COVID-19 is eroding the checks and balances of our system of government. Too often, they feel, governors are exceeding their authority and are not consulting legislatures to create solid, long-term policies.
CONGRESS
With Democrats controlling the White House, and now the majority in Congress, lawmakers may use a powerful tool to advance tax and spending policies.
LEGISLATURES
The biggest issues of any year are often the same every year. But 2020 was not just any year, and COVID-19 has affected nearly every policy issue and jolted the economy. Here is a look at what to expect in this year’s sessions.
ELECTIONS
The pandemic not only disrupted legislative sessions but also focused lawmakers’ attention on voting options, and absentee/mail voting was by far the most popular topic. NCSL’s elections team summarizes the year’s legislative trends.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed a lower court decision to remain in place, upholding an executive order from the Kentucky governor to temporarily close all K-12 schools, including religious schools, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
REDISTRICTING
Cash-strapped states may find the many incarnations of videoconferencing—Zoom, WebEx, Teams, etc.—to be safe, cost-effective ways to receive public input. NCSL’s upcoming seminar will cover everything you need to know to complete this once-a-decade task.
ELECTIONS
For some, the Electoral College is an essential legacy of the founders’ vision. For others, it’s a relic enabling a tyranny of the minority. Two elections experts lay out the pros and cons.
HEALTH
With Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine gaining approval for distribution, and Moderna’s version poised to follow soon, researchers continue to refine treatments for those who contract the coronavirus.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation funding fared well at the ballot box in 2020, with statewide measures getting the approval of voters in Arizona, Arkansas and Maine.
COMMUNICATIONS
Hosting press events is extremely important in your role as a state legislator, and online press conferences are not going away anytime soon. Fact is, they may become a routine option in our post-pandemic world.
FEDERAL STIMULUS
NCSL continues to urge Congress and the administration to provide additional relief to help states avoid drastic cost-cutting measures for the next fiscal year, including reductions in workforces and the elimination of vital public services.
TOOLBOX
In the battle against Zoom fatigue, a little humor can go a long way. Here are seven tips to help you create and deliver office-appropriate jokes that tickle the funny bone, bring people together and work well on any virtual platform.
LEGISLATURES | SESSION REVIEW
Some of the 75-plus health-related bills states enacted in 2020 addressed the coronavirus pandemic, but others targeted surprise billing, health insurance marketplaces, consumer protections and price transparency.
LEGISLATURES | SESSION REVIEW
State lawmakers passed nearly 300 bills relating to postsecondary education in 2020 legislative sessions, but that was a marked decline from the more than 600 passed in 2019.
ELECTIONS NEWS BRIEF
The latest recount, requested by President Donald Trump’s campaign, upheld the race’s original outcome and that of the first recount—with President-elect Joe Biden winning the Peach State by 12,000 votes.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
As the 16-state Occupational Licensing Learning Consortium wraps up its four-year effort to address obstacles in licensing policy, NCSL’s final report highlights lessons that all states can use to make it easier for people to enter the workforce or move across state lines.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Requiring large numbers of people to show up for jury duty and holding traditional trials in often-packed courtrooms just isn’t a safe bet right now, court officials say.
LEGISLATURES
Attention staffers: NCSL has compiled a best-of collection of recent webinars to help you maximize your productivity and communicate to the best of your ability—all while staying calm under pressure (naturally!) whether you’re working remotely or from behind a mask.
TRANSPORTATION
From California to Virginia, voters supported sales or property tax hikes and bond issues to pay for maintenance, improvements or expansion of mass transit systems that have been hit hard in the last nine months.
ELECTIONS | ACCESSIBILITY
People with disabilities are less likely to vote than people without disabilities, and the disparity may be largely due to access. The challenge for election officials is that not all disabled voters face the same limitations.
COVID-19 AND EARLY LEARNING
Legislators on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that restoring the child care system and supporting their state’s economic recovery go hand in hand. But states will struggle to support child care providers and families without federal assistance.
NCSL NEWS | IN MEMORIAM
Kerns, who died Nov. 14, was the first director of NCSL’s Center for Ethics in Government, after a lengthy career in the Colorado General Assembly and service in the Clinton administration. She was widely recognized as a national expert on state ethics laws and norms.
EMPLOYMENT | DISABILITY BENEFITS
A new study finds that most state and local programs for workers who are outside the Social Security system provide “adequate” disability coverage. In fact, some offer more comprehensive benefits for longer-tenured employees than SSDI does.
NCSL NEWS | WOMEN’S HISTORY
As women’s numbers and influence in state legislatures grow, lawmakers and historians discusses the often untold stories of how women fought for and won their right to vote and how they shaped government and life on the frontier well before the 19th Amendment was ratified.
HEALTH | IMMUNIZATIONS
While the end goal is to offer vaccines to the entire U.S. population, the federal government, states and local jurisdictions want to be sure it goes first to those who need it most.
LEGISLATURES | REOPENING
The coronavirus is raging out of control in many parts of the country, and most state legislatures will reconvene in a few short months. To do it safely, lawmakers are weighing a variety of potential changes.
EDUCATION | COVID-19
As COVID-19 continues to upend instruction and operations for schools nationwide, resources developed in recent months can help policymakers and school leaders decide on the instructional methods that work best for their states and districts.
ELECTION 2020 | LEADERSHIP CHANGES
The 2020 election brought with it a fair share of legislative leadership changes—though many were decided well before voters went to the polls on Election Day. That doesn’t mean there weren’t some surprises, however.
ELECTION 2020
NCSL’s executive director, Tim Storey, and other elections experts discuss the outcomes of state legislative races and ballot measure questions after an election that resulted in little change in most chambers nationwide.
NCSL NEWS
Even before the pandemic hit, high school seniors’ test results were lackluster. Average scores in 2019 were unchanged in math but lower in reading compared with 2015, and scores decreased in both subjects for the lowest performing students, according to the latest Nation’s Report Card.
POLICY BRIEF | HEALTH CARE
State performance in providing long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers remains steady, and more than 20 states showed improvement in a handful of areas, according to a new report.
POLICY BRIEF | FINANCIAL SERVICES
A recent decision to grant national bank status to companies that do not accept deposits as traditional banks do would preempt state regulatory authority and undermine the dual banking system established by Congress.
POLICY TREND | SCHOOL FUNDING
As states grapple with budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic, funding for elementary and secondary education will inevitably be reduced for at least the next two fiscal years.
ELECTIONS | BALLOT MEASURES
Nationwide, voters decided on a total 124 ballot measures, 38 of them citizen initiatives. Besides a couple of staple issues—taxes and abortion—voters weighed in on marijuana, redistricting, gun rights and reestablishing an endangered species.
LEGISLATURES
What to expect for legislatures in 2021? Nearly a year’s worth of pandemic-related adaptations could give state lawmakers guidance in planning their upcoming sessions.
ELECTIONS | PARTISAN CONTROL
Democrats failed to break the GOP’s grip on state legislatures Tuesday, bolstering conservative policy priorities and giving Republicans increased power leading into the crucial redistricting process in 2021.
EDUCATION | REOPENING SCHOOLS
With schools concerned about their liability as students returned to the classroom this fall, some legislatures have considered measures to provide them with state-level protection.
POLICY BRIEF
From aiding in the pandemic response to helping in the fight against invasive Burmese pythons, lawmakers put unmanned aerial systems to a broadening variety of uses this year.
ELECTIONS
Nearly 100 million Americans had already cast ballots when the polls opened this morning. And while the presidential and congressional results are top of mind for many, on Election Day, NCSL is your go-to source for news and analysis on what’s happening in state elections.
ELECTIONS | SAFETY AT THE POLLS
With tensions high and many observers concerned about voter intimidation, local election officials plan to add security at polling places and police prepare to face challenges they haven’t encountered in modern memory.
WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION
Since 2018, women have won seats in state legislatures in record numbers. Many of the more than 3,400 female candidates in this year’s election hope to build on that progress.
TWILIGHT ZONES
In the last five years, virtually every state has considered bills to stop changing our clocks in and out of daylight saving time, with 13 states enacting such measures. Still, federal law prohibits states from enacting DST permanently, so the states will need help from Congress.
REMOTE HEALTH SERVICES
By letting health care providers screen, triage and treat symptoms remotely, states are coping with workforce shortages and reducing the risk of patients being exposed to coronavirus while visiting health care facilities.
LEGISLATORS | DEMOGRAPHICS
The average legislator today is a white male baby boomer with an advanced degree—just as in 2015. But that seemingly static, big-picture takeaway belies significant shifts in legislator demographics over the past five years.
EDUCATION | ONLINE LEARNING
Funding streams available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act are helping states to provide students with the resources they need to keep learning online during a pandemic-disrupted school year.
HEALTHY HOLIDAYS
As Halloween approaches, complete with a rare blue full moon, a group of private partners has launched a website that breaks down how to get in the spooky spirit while minding health officials’ safety recommendations.
HEALTH INSURANCE | ACA
The pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis have led to a disruption in coverage for many, especially those losing employer-sponsored insurance. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear arguments to overturn the entire federal health law.
NEWS BRIEFS
Most people around the world trust scientists to act in the public interest and say the development of artificial intelligence has been good for society, according to a new survey. And robotic dogs are doing potentially dangerous tasks so the police don’t have to.
ELECTIONS | ABSENTEE VOTING
Supporters of drop boxes say they make voting easier and safer, especially during the pandemic. Opponents say they worry about ballot security. The conflict has led to court cases, political back-and-forth and uncertainty for local election officials and voters.
POLICY BRIEF | MAIL VOTING
With just two weeks to go until the election, absentee/mail voting continues to be a headline issue among election administrators and policy pundits. What have states done to ensure the election operates smoothly?
TOOLBOX | WORKPLACE DIVERSITY
There are various ways to reveal exclusion and unconscious bias in an organization—and eventually eradicate them—but you can start the process by asking yourself these three questions.
ELECTIONS | VOTER COMMUNICATIONS
The nonpartisan Voter Communications Task Force is making voting easier by providing, and helping others to distribute, accurate information about when, where and how to cast ballots.
NCSL NEWS
NCSL’s two-day virtual meeting “Afterschool During COVID-19 and Beyond” spotlighted the importance of the 21st Century Learning Centers initiative and the renewed urgency of the “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids” report, which shows that kids and communities benefit when students have access to afterschool programs.
INNOVATIONS | TELEWORK
Legislative staff directors and human resources staff are working hard to create and refine remote-work policies and to find new, creative ways for staff to get their jobs done from afar—without impeding the legislative process.
POLICY TREND | UNEMPLOYMENT
Workshare or short-time compensation programs can help businesses survive a virus-constricted economy by letting employees work reduced hours and still receive a portion of their typical pay.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
National experts joined NCSL Base Camp to share their thoughts and experiences, and to challenge assumptions, broaden worldviews and provide potential solutions to racial disparities.
TAXATION
With millions of people working remotely, and business experts predicting that many of them will continue to do so after the pandemic ebbs, tax departments in more states will be examining the feasibility of taxing remote workers.
IN MEMORIAM
Tim Rice, former executive director of the Illinois Legislative Information System who served a term as NCSL staff chair, and who was an enthusiastic supporter of the National Association of Legislative Information Technology, died Oct. 2. He was 64.
COMMUNICATIONS
The legislative process relies on input from the public. Contacting a legislator may sound straightforward, but it’s not always so easy—especially if someone has a disability. Legislatures, however, are making public participation easier by offering reasonable access to auxiliary communication mechanisms.
POLICY TREND | TRAFFIC SAFETY
Lawmakers continue to allow local officials to lower vehicle speed limits, while they raise limits on highways and interstates. A new challenge is reining in the surge in speeding brought on by the pandemic in some states.
EDUCATION
School looks and feels different this fall. In some communities, if school buildings are open at all, it’s only to teachers and administrators who guide instruction remotely. Other districts have welcomed students back but with strict health-safety rules. Still others are combining face-to-face teaching with distance learning.
ELECTION 2020 | POLL WORKERS
Election officials in many states are looking for people to run the polls on Nov. 3. The pandemic has exacerbated an already-critical shortage of poll workers at the same time many people anticipate a larger-than-average voter turnout.
POLICY TREND | PUBLIC PENSIONS
Market losses incurred in the early weeks of the pandemic have largely been offset by recent rebounds, but increases in market volatility and uncertainty resulting from the crisis have prompted concern over the investment portfolios of many individuals and institutions.
POLICY TREND | UNEMPLOYMENT
Scammers have seized the opportunity to defraud state unemployment systems out of millions of dollars. A report by the Secret Service found that the scams are being operated by organized crime using stolen personal information to submit false applications.
POLICY TREND | REDISTRICTING
In an era where the Supreme Court hears fewer than 100 cases per term, why would redistricting hold such a prominent position in its docket? The answer lies in the procedural rules set out by Congress.
POLICY TREND | HEALTH
Citing the stark racial health disparities evident before and magnified by the coronavirus pandemic, the Nevada Legislature passed a resolution declaring systemic racism a public health crisis and urging action to address it.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
In a year unlike any other, legislative leaders have been thrust into the spotlight—guiding their chambers through a global pandemic’s myriad challenges. At NCSL Base Camp last week, five legislative leaders shared what they learned about leading and legislating beyond crisis.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Jessica Buchanan was working as a humanitarian aid worker in 2011 when she was kidnapped by Somali land pirates and held outside in the scrub desert for 93 days before being rescued by Navy SEALs. She shared the lessons she learned and offered advice during a salute to legislative staff session.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
In this session, six legislators—Wisconsin Senator Kathy Bernier (R), Kansas Senator Elaine Bowers (R), Nebraska Senator Adam Morfeld (D), Nevada Senator Pat Spearman (D), Indiana Senator Greg Walker (R) and New Jersey Assemblymember Andrew Zwicker (D)—kindly agreed to take part in an unscripted election exercise.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
In addition to shining a spotlight on horrendous personal behavior, the #MeToo movement launched a wide-ranging dialogue resulting in significant state legislation aiming to fill legal gaps in laws dealing with workplace inequities and discrimination.
SPOTLIGHT | EDUCATION
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically reshaped higher education. From admission to graduation, no aspect of the college experience is unchanged, and the disruptions are far from over. States face daunting funding challenges, and the very survival of some institutions is in doubt.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Those attending the NCSL Base Camp session “Transportation: Predictions for 2021” made it clear from the start what was on their minds: money. Specifically, where can we get more of it to pay for roadway and transit improvements?
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Ohio Senator Matt Huffman (R), North Carolina Senator Dan Blue (D) and Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the nonpartisan Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, kept attendees engaged with their insight and advice for the upcoming round of redistricting.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
“A legislature is a constant clash of agendas and goals and objectives,” Curt Stedron, NCSL’s director of legislative training, says. “If we’re always negotiating, are we doing it in the best possible way to come up with the most optimal solutions?”
SPOTLIGHT | PRIVACY
Facial recognition technology has state lawmakers, government officials, businesspeople and consumers everywhere exploring the opportunities and benefits it may offer. So why have Amazon, IBM and Microsoft announced plans to limit their sales of the technology?
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
NCSL hosted a discussion on the state and federal role in shaping energy markets and resource mix with experts Ari Peskoe, director of Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative and Richard Doying, executive vice president of markets for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
The deaths this year of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Daniel Prude, among others, during confrontations with law enforcement have sparked demonstrations and national conversations about policy, along with calls to create better police accountability.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
The former U.S. education secretaries, joined Gavin Payne, an education policy consultant and former legislative staffer, to discuss what kinds of impacts the coronavirus has had on the American education system.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Larry Kudlow and Ben Harris presented NCSL Base Camp 2020 attendees with two very different visions of the current state of the economy in what sometimes seemed like two different countries.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Every time Tim Storey gives a presentation on legislative elections, he notes, in earnest, that, “It’s a big election year in the states.” Well, this year it’s a really, really, really big election year in the states, NCSL’s executive director told a session of NCSL’s Base Camp 2020.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
When a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, manufactured and distributed, the final decisions on its delivery into Americans’ biceps will be heavily influenced largely by state and local officials, says Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Much is being said about the unprecedented time we’re living in. COVID-19, ongoing racial unrest, wildfires in the West, an emotionally charged election season. And all of this is, Johnny C. Taylor Jr. reminds us, the backdrop for work.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
Are state governments in a position to handle these growing threats, and what can lawmakers do to help prevent them? Those were among the questions addressed in the web presentation “Taking Advantage of a Crisis: Cyberattacks in the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
The actor, along with actor/producer Mark Kassen and tech entrepreneur Joe Kiani, recently launched A Starting Point, a video-based website and app aimed at creating bipartisan communications between elected officials and voters.
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
The national editor of The Cook Political Report presented a session on the November election, noting that, at this point, Biden's lead in the polls, along with other factors, point to the president remaining “a very serious underdog for reelection.”
NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
The U.S. economy is growing but is largely moving sideways. That was the view from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, during the first session of NCSL’s Base Camp 2020.
SPOTLIGHT | ELECTIONS
Labor Day is in the rearview mirror, campaigning is in full swing and pundits are out in force. And yet there are only two safe predictions any of them can offer: November’s elections will be unlike any other (just like 2020 as a whole is a year unlike any other), and—eventually—we’ll know which party will have control of Congress, the presidency and state legislatures.
TOOLBOX | EMAIL
Writing and reading emails consume a considerable chunk of time for many employees every day. Don’t waste people’s time. Here are three ways to ensure sure your message isn’t confusing or misunderstood.
NEWS BRIEFS
For the week of Sept. 7: Flying cars are up, up and away in New Hampshire; some legislative candidates tilt toward QAnon; and a new Nevada law protects hospitality workers from the virus and employers from lawsuits.
2020 CENSUS
This decade’s census has been rocked by uncertainty based on a global pandemic and eleventh-hour administrative changes. COVID-19 has forced the Census Bureau to reevaluate and redesign its plans. As questions keep swirling around census operations and data, here are the best answers we have.
POLICY TREND | ELECTIONS
Advocates want to amend state constitutions to make voting a right that includes people on probation and parole, people who haven’t paid court costs and people in prison. But ongoing legal disputes show how complicated the issue is.
POLICY TREND | EDUCATION
According to NCSL’s latest tracking, 27 states have allocated a total of $11.5 billion of CRF aid for education, with $7.2 billion for K-12 education and $4.3 billion for higher education.
POLICY TREND | TRAFFIC SAFETY
Alcohol-impaired driving continues to kill thousands of Americans every year, while drug use compounds the problem. Lawmakers continue to seek strategies to use in battling this persistent public health issue.
POLICY BRIEF | HEALTH
Dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons and other oral health professionals, who face an especially high risk of exposure to the coronavirus, found teledentistry helpful during the worst of the pandemic.
TOOLBOX | VIRTUAL MEETINGS
Since it looks like meeting remotely and attending virtual sessions are here to stay, at least occasionally, it’s time to look at what we’ve learned over the past few months on what works. By following these simple principles, and coaching your co-presenters in advance to do so as well, almost anyone’s virtual gathering can improve.
NEWS BRIEFS
More Americans would rather put their lives in the hands of state government than in those of either congressional leaders or the president, and a recent ranking of states by their level of patriotism.
NEWS BRIEF | CIVICS EDUCATION
The American Democracy Game teaches the concepts of representative democracy—that every individual has equal rights and value, for example, that compromise is necessary at times and that the minority still has rights under majority rule.
ELECTIONS
Recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service have raised concerns about mail delivery, particularly for absentee ballots given that mail voting has skyrocketed this year. Some states may consider pushing back their deadlines for requesting and returning mail-in ballots. Others will focus on educating voters to cast ballots early and make use of drop boxes. And still others may maintain the status quo.
ON THE SAME PAGE | CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Lawmakers are questioning the value of a “once a criminal, always a criminal” mentality. Having a record, even for minor offenses, can affect a person’s job and housing choices, voting rights and educational opportunities.
NEWS BRIEF | STUDENT-ATHLETES
California's “Fair Pay to Play” law, enacted in September last year, lets student-athletes endorse products and use their name, sport and school to identify themselves, but prevents them from using school logos or other trademarked property in the endorsements.
POLICY TREND | HIGHER EDUCATION
College costs a lot more than the tuition. Some institutions rarely mention housing, food, transportation and other related expenses, which can catch students by surprise. Several states want to change that.
STATE LEGISLATURES SPOTLIGHT
Tune into the new edition of State Legislatures Spotlight, a video series that takes an in-depth look at our feature stories. In this episode, we chat with NCSL’s Suzanne Hultine, co-author of “Are High Unemployment Rates Here for the Long Term?” The story looks at industries hit especially hard by the pandemic, what states are doing to keep workers safe and what’s new on the jobs horizon.
NEWS BRIEF | FISCAL
After the Great Recession, larger companies needed four years to recover their contribution to the GDP, but small businesses on average took six years to rebound, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
POLICY TREND | ELECTIONS
As of Aug. 17, voters across the country will weigh in on at least 106 ballot measures on Election Day, though that number will likely inch upward through September as states continue to certify measures for November.
STATE-FEDERAL
New this month: NCSL, Big 7 coalition host congressional briefing on FMAP; NCSL’s Living Room Town Hall series on federal stimulus funding; state, local groups press Congress and administration to find agreement and more.
LEGISLATOR PROFILE
Kirk Haston, who won a scholarship to Indiana University to play basketball under legendary coach Bobby Knight and had a brief stint in the NBA, is now a freshman member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. But much to his surprise, there’s one aspect of legislative work that reminds him of his playing days: the sportsmanship present on the House floor.
POLICY TREND | HEALTH CARE
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on all levels of medicine, not least of which are primary care doctors, whose patient visits dipped as low as 30% of normal as people avoided routine doctor visits during the height of coronavirus infections.
STATE BUDGETS | FISCAL LEADERS
No one sees a promising short-term outcome to the current fiscal disaster, but legislators on the front line of budget battles have some suggestions about what to do and where to find hope, reminding us that disruptions like the pandemic often drive innovation and create opportunities.
NEWSMAKERS
Alaska Representative Gary Knopp dies in plane crash, Georgia Senator Nikema Williams replaces the late U.S. Representative John Lewis on November ballot, former Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma retires, Ohio elects new speaker, and more.
NCSL NEWS | NCSL BASE CAMP 2020
NCSL created NCSL Base Camp 2020 for state legislators and state legislative staff to meet online Sept. 15-17. The event is a three-day experience providing unique opportunities to engage with national thought leaders, ask burning questions and walk away with new ideas, covering every angle of state policy.
POLICY BRIEF | UNEMPLOYMENT
In June, 10.3 million young people—double the number in February—were either unemployed or not attending school. That is the highest number for June since 1989 and an indicator of the difficulties young people are facing during the pandemic.
POLICY TREND | BUDGETS
As Congress debates a fourth stimulus bill, state lawmakers and governors have been doing the hard work of deciding how to spend the funds from the previous stimulus, the CARES Act, which provided $150 billion in direct assistance to state, territorial and tribal governments.
POLICY TREND | RURAL HEALTH
Federal money has helped struggling rural hospitals stay afloat. But as Congress considers additional aid, advocates and policymakers would like to move beyond stopgap measures to change the hospitals’ long-term trajectory.
TOOLBOX
Redistricting is filled with conflicting legal mandates, and newly adopted maps are often litigated. Because redistricting requires so many specialized skills—data analytics and GIS proficiency, legal acumen, negotiation prowess—these 10 pieces of advice will help you navigate the process successfully.
POLICY FEATURE | CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Lawmakers are examining all parts of their criminal justice systems with an eye toward making meaningful reforms, based on data. They’re learning that data is essential to improving pretrial practices and refining the rules on who goes to jail or prison and for how long.
NEWS BRIEFS | CORONAVIRUS
New Census Bureau survey measures food and housing security and physical and mental well-being; racist behaviors directed at Asian Americans increased with virus’ arrival in U.S.; only 44% of Americans are planning an overnight vacation in 2020, according to a survey conducted for the hard-hit hotel industry.
POLICY TREND | HEALTH INSURANCE
The early panic over possibly large increases in health insurance premiums because of COVID-19 has not played out as previously anticipated—at least not yet.
U.S. SUPREME COURT
The U.S. Supreme Court heard fewer cases than usual this term due to the coronavirus outbreak, but as always, its decisions were of interest to the states. The court’s recent rulings on abortion, “faithless electors” and copyright of statutory annotations are discussed below.
NCSL NEWS FROM THE HILL
The House passed the Great American Outdoors Act, 310-107, on July 22, sending the bill to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is anticipated to sign it into law, given the bill’s broad support and his encouragement of it on Twitter.
LEGISLATOR PROFILE
Since his election in 2016, Texas Representative Tom Oliverson—an anesthesiologist who is vice chair of the House Committee on Insurance—has earned a reputation for civility, for working across party lines and for learning about the nuts and bolts of policy.
NEWS BRIEF
Republicans and Democrats largely disagree over the seriousness of several major problems currently facing the country, even as the United States grapples with issues including a surge in new coronavirus cases and an economic recession.
POLICY TREND | INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY
As the debate over climate change has heated up, so have protests targeting energy pipelines, electric power lines and other projects, sometimes causing significant delays to work. In response, several states have passed laws criminalizing unlawful entry to such facilities or enhancing penalties associated with those offenses.
TOOLBOX
Research suggests that a high EQ is far more important than a lofty IQ in determining our success at connecting with and influencing others.
INNOVATIONS
From March Madness to the Olympics, cancellations due to COVID-19 are unprecedented. Even NCSL’s Legislative Summit was canceled. No legislative sessions were completely canceled, however, and legislatures found ways to operate: innovating, getting creative and temporarily changing business as usual.
POLICY TREND | MARIJUANA
Recreational marijuana was first legalized in 2012, through ballot measures in Colorado and Washington. The movement has since spread to 11 states, the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands. As legalization has increased, so too has legislation to clear the records of those convicted previously of minor cannabis offenses.
STATESTATS
Decreased consumer spending and shuttered businesses have lowered sales tax revenues. Travel restrictions are cutting into lodging, car rental and other tourism-related taxes. Job losses and weak economic activity will reduce personal and corporate income tax collections.
SPOTLIGHT
Every legislature’s—indeed, each legislator’s—experience during the coronavirus pandemic has been different. Yet chamber leaders across the country tell similar stories. They are trying to coordinate with their governors while coping with budgets that suddenly went from sound to sapped.
FEATURE STORY
Lawmakers have introduced bills in the Mississippi Legislature for at least 40 years to replace the flag that prominently displays the Confederate battle emblem. The bills have always suffered a quiet death on deadline day, however, so no one had reason to think this year would be different. They were in for a big surprise.
NCSL PODCAST
NCSL jumped on the podcast bandwagon at the end of 2016, and posts its 100th podcast today. “Our American States” has hosted a number of remarkable people and has focused on topics of interest to legislators and staff: election security, marijuana legalization, cybersecurity, the opioid crisis, and many more. What will the next 100 cover?
NEWSMAKERS
Pennsylvania Representative Bryan Cutler (R), was elected the chamber's 141st speaker (watch his speech), Senate Republicans name a new minority leader in New York, Delaware's longest-serving lawmaker retires and more.
LEGISLATOR PROFILE
The only Alaska Native woman serving in the House, Zulkosky is something of a rising star, with a professional background that has prepared her well for membership on the Energy, Education and Environmental Conservation committees and for her role as chair of the House Health and Social Services Committee.
FROM THE EDITOR
It wasn’t an easy decision, but after 45 years of producing State Legislatures, NCSL’s magazine that covers state policy and politics, we’ve decided to take the publication digital, offering a new online version to better keep you updated on the people and news surrounding state legislatures. Love it in print? Watch out for two keepsake editions each year for in-depth looks at the issues our members care most about.
ON THE SAME PAGE
In Washington, D.C., lawmakers face a large gap to bridge as Democrats and Republicans are split on banning chokeholds and qualified immunity, among other partisan policy differences. Iowa’s legislation, meanwhile, achieved unanimous support in both chambers after two days of deliberation. Including the drafting of the bill, the whole process took a total of 10 days.
STATE LEGISLATURES SPOTLIGHT
Tune into State Legislatures Spotlight, a new video series that takes an in-depth look at our feature stories. In this episode, we chat with Alan Greenblatt, author of “Legislative Leaders Pivot to Non-Virus Challenges in a Spirit of Cooperation,” about how leaders are dealing with the pandemic, working virtually and an increased spirit of cooperation.
POLICY TREND | EMPLOYMENT
The legislation was the culmination of decades of political activism by and for the 50 million Americans living with a disability who were seeking equal rights after centuries of discrimination, isolation and dehumanization. It's also one of the rare pieces of legislation that has touched the lives of every American.
POLICY TREND | ELECTIONS
Since COVID-19 hit, interest in casting absentee ballots—aka voting by mail and voting at home—has increased due to concerns about maintaining social distancing at polling places. Here’s how some states fared during primaries with increased voting by mail strategies in place.
TOOLBOX
Is “working from home” beginning to feel more like “living at work?” Check out this expert advice on how to maintain a work-life balance—along with tips on decreasing distractions and feelings of isolation—when your office is simply a few steps down the hall.
CAPITOL STORIES
Fire has always been an enemy of old buildings. State capitols are no exception: Fire destroyed at least 25 of our early state capitols in the 19th and 20th centuries, and at least five of Virginia’s pre-independence capitols burned down. Here’s how capitol restoration teams are adding safety measures and suppression systems to prevent losing more of these treasures.
POLICY TREND | ENERGY
Hydrogen, regarded as a potential clean energy solution for decades, may finally be ready for the spotlight. The gas burns cleanly, can be used in power plants like natural gas, or in fuel cells to power vehicles or buildings. And it’s declining production costs and ability to produce power free of carbon emissions are driving interest in a “hydrogen economy” in which the gas could take the place of traditional fuels.
NCSL ON THE HILL
NCSL hosted its first virtual Capitol Hill briefing recently to educate select staff on the dire fiscal conditions states are facing due to the pandemic. Watch the briefing and read more on the latest news from D.C.
POLICY TREND | TRANSPORTATION
With more than 1.2 million electric vehicles in the United States—a number predicted to soar to 18 million by 2030—concerns of the recovery, safe handling and recycling of the lithium-ion batteries used to charge them is emerging. Learn what states, as well as the federal government, are doing to address the issue.
NCSL NEWS | HUMAN SERVICES
To deepen its support for policymakers with an interest in prenatal-to-3 policies, NCSL’s Children and Families Program is partnering with the new Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
POLICY TREND | TRANSPORTATION
Starting July 1, Idaho, Indiana and South Dakota began banning drivers from using cellphones behind the wheel, unless they’re hands-free. They join 22 states and the District of Columbia, which already have hands-free laws for all drivers.
LEADERSHIP | COVID-19
COVID-19 moved quickly through the states, and legislatures sprung to action just as swiftly. It didn’t take long for lawmakers to realize the disease was going to be more devastating than first believed.
POLICY TREND | LABOR
The way we work is evolving. Technological advances demand highly skilled workers, and gig jobs require people who can be paid by the task or project, not by the position they hold in a company. The transformation of today’s workplace has left businesses, educators and policymakers playing catch-up. COVID-19 has only accelerated the pace of change.
STATE STATS | FISCAL
To prepare for a possible recession, state lawmakers have been building up their budget stabilization—or rainy day—funds for nine years straight, reaching a record combined total of $74.9 billion in fiscal year 2019, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.