Updates From the National Association of Legislative Information Technology
Dear NALIT Members,
I hope this message finds you well! As we continue to navigate our busy schedules and the important work we do for our legislatures, I wanted to encourage all of you to take advantage of our NALIT group on the NCSL Groups platform.
The NALIT group is a space for us to share ideas, resources, and best practices. Whether you are looking for innovative solutions, need help tackling a challenge, or simply want to share your latest success story, the NALIT group is a great place to engage with your peers from across the country.
Your participation is what makes this community valuable. Even just a quick post or response can spark meaningful conversations and connections.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Johnathan Harris, NALIT Chair and deputy director/chief information officer, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky
The Benefits of NALIT
General NALIT Networking Benefits
Legislative information technology is a unique and challenging environment. Meeting IT professionals from other states gives you an opportunity to network with others facing similar conditions. This connection with others can help give new perspectives and ideas for solving the similar problems that we all face in the legislative environment. NALIT is a wonderful community where you can discuss, share and experience custom applications, vendor products and services, IT policies and best practices, and professional development.
If you are rewriting or designing a custom legislative application, chances are other states are working on a similar project. If you are searching for a software vendor in the legislative realm, you can discuss that product and experience with other states that have worked with that same vendor.
In legislative information technology we are working with a fast-paced ever-changing field and historic institutions grounded in rules and tradition. Meeting with and sharing experiences with professionals from that similar field is invaluable in maintaining and improving IT services to state legislatures.
Specific NALIT Networking Benefits—Testimonial
In North Dakota we have used our experiences at NALIT to improve the services the legislature provides to the public. Seeing how other states handled electronic testimony submission gave us a framework and inspiration to develop an open, secure, and accessible web application to facilitate public interaction with bills moving through the legislative process.
Cody Malloy, information technology services director, Legislative Council, North Dakota
NALIT's 2025 Joint Professional Development Seminar with LINCS
This one-of-a-kind seminar will take place in Juneau, Alaska, Sept. 8-11, 2025.
Registration will open for this event in early 2025 and space is limited.
The NALIT and LINCS Professional Development Seminar brings together state legislative IT professionals and communications/information, public relations and press room staff who are interested in advancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state legislatures through technology. The 2025 seminar provides a combination of educational sessions, legislative application showcases, tours and briefings, best practices, a vendors' reception and networking opportunities.
Proposed Topics:
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Productivity for Legislative IT Staff.
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AI—Where are we in 2025?
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Cybersecurity—It's Still a Threat, Are you Ready?
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Media Relations.
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Speechwriting.
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Communications Plan Development.
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Five Minutes of Fame.
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Applications Showcases.
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Birds of a Feather Roundtables.
NALIT's Communication Platform
Please note that the primary avenue for information on NALIT meetings and the newsletter is the new NALIT platform. You can also find the latest discussions on help desk ticketing, AI, closed captions, digital signage and much more. Please note that this platform is NALIT's main communication tool.
This platform is set up for weekly digests. However, you may want to change your notifications now that we are approaching the meeting season.
Not sure how to use the platform? 1) Make certain you know your NCSL login and password. 2) Visit www.ncsl.org and log in to your account. 3) In the address bar, navigate to groups.ncsl.org. NCSL's server will ask you for permission to access our database to verify you work for a legislature. You should see the NALIT logo. If you don't, please contact Kae Warnock for assistance.
2024-25 NALIT Legislative Exchange Program (NLEP)—Host States
The NALIT Legislative Exchange Program (NLEP) is entering its second year!
The NLEP provides an excellent professional development opportunity for legislative IT staff. Selected participants will spend a few days with another legislature's information technology office to learn about IT operations in another state.
The goal of the exchange program is to familiarize participants with all aspects of their host legislature's IT operations, with an emphasis on their job specialization. In addition to offering hands-on training, the exchange facilitates sharing of ideas and innovations between state legislatures, with the host office and exchange participants learning from each other.
The NLEP application process is open, and we are seeking to compile a list of legislative IT offices willing to host a participant in 2024. There is little or no cost for host offices, and it is a win-win experience for both the host office and the selected participant.
If you are willing to host a participant in 2024, please complete this host form by Dec. 15, 2024.
2024-25 NALIT Legislative Exchange—Call for Participants
On behalf of the Executive Committee, we are inviting NALIT members to participate in the NALIT Legislative Exchange Program.
Legislative IT personnel handle unique responsibilities and play essential roles within their institutions. The program gives selected participants the opportunity to learn about processes and procedures employed by other state legislatures. Additionally, the exchange facilitates the sharing of ideas and innovations, resulting in a mutually rewarding professional development experience.
Selected participants will be matched with a host state, where they will spend three to five days observing and working with legislative staff. The exact agenda for each visit will be worked out between the exchange participant and the host state.
Those participating in the program are responsible for their travel and lodging expenses. However, to help partially offset these costs, NALIT will award a small stipend to each participant. The amount of this stipend will be determined based upon the number of program participants.
We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your supervisor and apply for the 2024 program. For more details on qualification requirements, please see the attached NLEP application. Only complete applications will be considered.
The deadline for submissions is Dec. 15, 2024.
Please do not hesitate to contact Kae Warnock should you have any questions.
Interested in NALIT News?
If you would like to receive The NALIT News, or know a legislative IT professional who would, contact Kae Warnock.