2024 NCSL Legislative Summit Livestreaming

The Future of Education: Creating a Vision for Excellence

Monday, Aug. 5 | 10:15-11 a.m. ET

What does the future of teaching and learning look like? What's needed, what's possible and what's happening across the country and the world that is innovative, engaging and preparing students for the future of work? Join us as experts lay out a vision for teaching and learning, and the policies and practices that support future-ready students and schools.

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Vision for Future Education: The presentation emphasized the importance of envisioning the future of education, focusing on what students need now and what the classroom of the future should look like. This includes considering the role of AI, digital learning, and the organization of educational spaces.
• Core Elements of Successful Education Systems: Vicky Phillips, CEO of the National Center on Education and the Economy, highlighted four interdependent parts of successful education systems: Preparing young people for lifelong learning; cultivating high-capacity, forward-thinking educators; ensuring that young people thrive through community and systemic support; and rethinking systems leadership to adapt to rapid changes in education and the economy.
• Human-Centered Education: The need for human-centered education systems that focus on students' holistic development was stressed. This includes addressing cognitive, social and emotional needs and ensuring that education is relevant to students’ lives and future careers.
• Role of Legislators and Community Leaders: Legislators and community leaders were encouraged to engage in bold, ambitious efforts to reimagine education. This involves creating innovation zones, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and leveraging best practices from high-performing education systems globally.

Watch The Future of Education: Creating a Vision for Excellence

AI 101: Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges

Monday, Aug. 5 | 11:15-11:45 a.m. ET

AI has the potential to change all aspects of our society. Join this session to better understand the basics of this technology, how it is currently being used, and approaches states are taking to balance the opportunities and challenges AI presents.

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Introduction to Credo AI: Evi Fuelie, the global policy director at Credo AI, introduced the company, which focuses on responsible AI governance. Credo AI helps companies in various sectors develop and manage AI tools responsibly, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Understanding AI and Generative AI: The presentation provided definitions and distinctions between AI, traditional machine learning, and generative AI. Generative AI, unlike traditional machine learning, is designed to create content rather than make decisions.
• Applications and Risks of Generative AI: Generative AI can produce diverse content such as text, images and music. However, it also poses risks like misinformation, societal biases and impacts on job markets. The presentation highlighted the importance of understanding these risks and implementing safeguards.
• Regulatory Approaches: Various states and countries are adopting regulations to address AI’s challenges. Examples include California’s regulations on automated decision-making and Colorado’s AI Act, which focuses on high-risk AI systems and consumer protections.
• Importance of Standards and Equity: The presentation emphasized the need for standards in AI governance and the importance of equity. It highlighted the role of transparency, human oversight, and involving diverse teams in AI governance to ensure fair and responsible use of AI.

Watch AI 101: Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges

Building an AI-Ready Workforce

Monday, Aug. 5 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET

As the future of work rapidly changes, so does the demand for AI-ready and skilled workers. Hear from experts and policymakers on state efforts to create career pathways for every student and promote quality nondegree credentials that lead to the jobs of tomorrow.

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Integration of AI and Durable Skills: The session emphasized the importance of integrating AI and durable skills into the workforce. It highlighted America Succeeds' efforts in advocating for these skills and their significance in the job market.
• Modernizing Education Systems: There is a strong focus on the need for education systems to modernize by incorporating AI and durable skills into their curricula. This is essential to prepare students for future job markets.
• Impact of AI on Jobs: The presenters discussed AI’s dual impact on job creation and displacement. They stressed the need for thoughtful implementation and training to avoid widening economic disparities.
• Workers’ Perspectives and Public Sector Efficiency: It is crucial to include workers’ perspectives in AI-related discussions. The speakers also noted AI's potential to improve efficiency in the public sector.
• Government’s Role in AI Regulation: The speakers underscored the importance of government regulation to minimize bias and negative impacts on the workforce. They also touched on strategies to prepare current workers for AI advancements, including emphasizing digital and AI literacy, testing for bias, providing access to high-speed Internet and devices, developing AI training programs for professionals and students.

Watch Building an AI-Ready Workforce

Innovative Policies to Serve the Nation's Veterans

Monday, Aug. 5 | 2:45-3:45 p.m. ET

Military veterans and their families face a variety of challenges as they transition from military service to the civilian world. This session will highlight both these challenges and the innovative policies enacted by states to better serve our nation's heroes and their families.

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Veterans Justice Commission: The commission, led by former U.S. Defense Secretary Charles Hagel, aims to understand why many veterans end up in the criminal justice system and to propose policy changes. The commission’s research and outreach focuses on addressing challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, improving veteran diversion from incarceration and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment and supporting veterans during and after their time in the justice system to reintegrate into society.
• AARP’s Veterans and Military Families Initiative: Initiated in 2018, this program supports veterans through outreach, engagement, and programming around four main pillars:
• • Caregiving: Providing resources and support for those caring for veterans.
  • Fighting Fraud: Raising awareness about scams targeting veterans and offering tools to protect them.
  • Securing Employment: Assisting veterans in finding and securing jobs.
  • Connecting to Benefits: Helping veterans access the benefits they have earned.
• Challenges and Solutions: Veterans often struggle to access the services available to them, which can be overwhelming and complex. Veterans are frequently targeted by fraudulent schemes. AARP collaborates with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to combat these scams through resources like the Veterans Fraud Center and watchdog alert handbooks.

Watch Innovative Policies to Serve the Nation's Veterans

Communicating for Voter Confidence

Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 1:15-2:30 p.m. ET

What do you need to know about election processes to confidently respond to constituent questions? What worries do you hear about election policies and administration? Join your colleagues to share stories and strategies on communicating accurate information about what happens before, during and after elections. Be prepared to talk, too!

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Transparency: It’s crucial to openly share the election process's strengths and weaknesses. For example, if there are issues with voter maintenance lists, addressing them transparently helps build trust. In small communities, knowing local election officials and poll workers can reinforce the integrity of the system because people trust their neighbors who are involved in the process.
• Year-Round Commitment: Election officials work year-round on tasks like list maintenance, preparing for Election Day, and conducting post-election audits. In Rhode Island, every election is subject to a post-election audit to ensure accuracy and transparency. Legislators play a key role in providing the necessary resources and funding to support these efforts.
• Emotional Reactions: The 2016 and 2020 presidential elections sparked significant emotional reactions and allegations of fraud from both major parties. This emotional response can lead to distrust in the system. After the 2020 election, some states implemented new communication channels to address concerns and improve transparency.
• Involvement: Encouraging public participation, such as serving as poll workers or observing audits, helps demystify the election process. For example, in Colorado, the secretary of state’s office collects updated signatures over time to ensure accuracy in voter verification, which helps build confidence in the system.

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Surface Transportation: What's Ahead on the Hill?

Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 2:45-3:45 p.m. ET

Discussions around the next iteration of surface transportation legislation begin in earnest in fiscal year 2025. Join political and policy experts to learn more about the expected federal priorities and policies that will shape one of the largest and most consequential legislative packages in Congress.

AI-Generated Takeaways

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Future Legislation: The BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was highlighted as a significant achievement, providing the largest federal investment in surface transportation in U.S. history, totaling $1.2 trillion over five years.
• Discretionary Grant Programs: The session discussed the creation of new discretionary grant programs under the BIL, which have opened up funding opportunities for local governments and metropolitan planning organizations. However, smaller cities and local governments often face challenges in applying for and administering these grants due to limited resources and experience. More technical assistance and support are needed to help these communities build capacity and successfully implement projects.
• Safety and Resilience Priorities: Safety, particularly in work zones and for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, is a major focus. The session highlighted the need for continued funding for bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects, as well as measures to protect bridges from collisions.
• Funding Challenges: The sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund remains a critical issue, with the current gas tax revenue being insufficient to meet future funding needs. The session emphasized the need for alternative funding sources and pilot programs to explore options beyond the gas tax.

Watch Surface Transportation: What's Ahead on the Hill?

Cybersecurity: Expensive but Necessary

Wednesday, Aug. 7 | 10:45 a.m. to Noon ET

The risk of cyberattacks remains high for government and schools, and the costs of preventing, insuring against and recovering from them grow. Join us to learn how states have budgeted for cybersecurity, what federal grant programs are out there and how states can take advantage of them.

AI-Generated Takeaways

Cybersecurity Landscape: Speakers discussed ransomware and cyberattacks, which are growing threats to infrastructure, the economy, public health and safety. The landscape is constantly shifting, making it difficult for state and local governments to keep up. There also is a significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Existing training programs often lack sufficient funding to produce enough qualified professionals.

State and Local Government Efforts: Periodic audits and assessments are conducted to identify cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. However, many organizations lack the funding or capacity to address these issues alone. Collaborating is essential, with the idea that cybersecurity is a “team sport” requiring joint efforts across sectors and jurisdictions.

Federal Support: The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program provides $1 billion in grants to support state and local cybersecurity efforts. The program requires state matching funds and mandates that 80% of the funds be distributed to local entities.

Budgeting for Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity requires continuous investment and cannot be treated as a one-time expense. The importance of integrating security measures from the start of system development was emphasized.

Watch Cybersecurity: Expensive but Necessary

The Supremes: Unpacking Cases That Matter to States

Wednesday, Aug. 7 | 1:30-2:45 p.m. ET

Join us as we explore the most impactful cases considered by the nation's highest court, including federal agency authority, redistricting, elected officials’ use of social media and firearms possession.

AI-Generated Takeaways

Eighth Amendment and Public Camping Ban: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a public camping ban in Grants Pass, Ore., which prohibits unhoused individuals from using blankets, pillows and cardboard for protection. This decision was made by a 6-3 vote, with Justice Neil Gorsuch writing the majority opinion.

Domestic Violence and Firearm Possession: The case of United States v. Rahimi addressed the federal law prohibiting firearm possession by individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders. The Supreme Court reversed the 5th Circuit’s ruling, which had found the law unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

Chevron Doctrine Overturned: In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, which had allowed courts to defer to administrative agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes. Chief Justice Roberts argued that the Administrative Procedure Act intended for courts to decide legal questions using their own judgment, not deferring to agencies.

Fifth Amendment Takings Clause: In Dier v. Texas, the Supreme Court addressed whether a takings claim can be brought directly under the Fifth Amendment. The case involved Texas using private land to store stormwater, which flooded and damaged the land. The Court did not answer the constitutional question directly but allowed the case to proceed under state law for inverse condemnation.

Watch The Supremes: Unpacking Cases That Matter to States