LOUISVILLE, Ky.—President Pro Tempore Wayne Harper of Utah became the 53rd president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the annual Legislative Summit in Louisville. Harper, a Republican, succeeds Democratic Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island. Kennedy is now formally NCSL’s president emeritus.
NCSL, a bipartisan organization that serves the nation’s 7,386 state lawmakers and more than 30,000 legislative staff, alternates its leadership annually between the two major political parties.
“I’m truly honored to have the opportunity, through NCSL, to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration among legislative leaders from all states and across the aisle, working together to promote effective legislative processes and policies that serve the best interests of our communities,” Harper said. “I am excited to engage with legislators to share insights and tackle the complex challenges we face in our respective states. This collaboration will be particularly beneficial for Utahns as it is a unique chance to bridge gaps, build consensus and drive positive change through exchanging ideas and best practices to address local challenges even more effectively.”
Harper was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1997, before being elected to the state Senate in 2013. He started his career in public service as a city council member for West Jordan, Utah.
He has been an active member of NCSL, having previously served on the NCSL Executive Committee and several subcommittees and working groups.
Harper is a real estate and community development consultant and serves on several community and national boards. He is a business and economic development consultant for Taylorsville City, where he resides. Throughout his professional career, he has been affiliated with the Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists, the International Economic Development Council, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Harper earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Master of Science from Brigham Young University.
Other newly elected officers:
Illinois Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr. (D), president-elect: Elected to the House in 2012, Evans serves as assistant majority leader and chairman of the Labor and Commerce Committee under House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. He has been actively involved with NCSL since 2016, serving on the Executive Committee, the Task Force on State and Local Taxation, the Task Force on Energy Supply and numerous others.
Montana Sen. Barry Usher (R), vice president: After serving five years in the Montana House, Usher was elected to the Senate and serves as a majority whip and vice chair of the Judiciary Committee under Senate President Jason Ellsworth. He is an active member of NCSL, serving as a co-chair of the Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Standing Committee.
Rhode Island Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Kennedy (D), president emeritus: Kennedy has served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives since November 1988. He has led several House committees and currently serves as the speaker pro tempore. He has served on numerous NCSL committees, including the Executive Committee and the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, and recently co-chaired the NCSL Executive Task Force on Insurance.
John Snyder, staff chair: John Snyder, transportation committee staff administrator in the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, has been part of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission for over 34 years. Snyder has served on standing committees, staff chair and vice chair of both the Transportation Committee and the Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the Executive Committee.
Lonnie Edgar, staff vice chair: Lonnie Edgar has been a member of the Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) since 2005 and has served as the PEER Committee’s deputy director since 2021. Edgar currently serves on NCSL’s Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee, he previously served on the Executive Committee, and he was the staff co-chair of NCSL’s Standing Committees.
Sabrina Lewellen, immediate past staff chair: Lewellen serves as the deputy director and assistant secretary of the Arkansas Senate. She has over 19 years of legislative service, including 14 years in senior management. Lewellen has been involved with NCSL since 2005, serving in several capacities with the Executive Committee, the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee and the Research, Editorial, Legal and Committee Staff section (RELACS).
NCSL is governed by a 63-member Executive Committee, elected yearly, which includes both legislators and staff, under the leadership of seven officers.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.