Former Maryland House Speaker Casper R. Taylor and former Maryland fiscal director William Sawtelle “Bill” Ratchford II died this week.

Donna Stone, a longtime Delaware legislator and former president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, has died. She was 78.

Connecticut Rep. Quentin Williams, a man known for his energy, exuberance and infectious optimism, died in a head-on traffic collision on his way home from the governor’s inaugural ball in early January.

Rich Jones died Jan.  2, 2023, after a 2½-year battle with cancer. He spent more than 20 years at NCSL, including 17 years as director of Legislative Programs before joining Bell Policy Center in 2004.