Mary Murphy, the longest-serving woman in the Minnesota Legislature, died Christmas Day after a brief illness. She was 85.

In her role as a program coordinator, Grace Minix supports NCSL's Elections and Redistricting Program. Prior to joining NCSL, Minix worked in administrative support roles in both corporate and non-profit sectors. She earned a bachelor’s...

Colleagues remember Minnesota Sen. Kari Dziedzic as a rare politician who shunned the limelight and consistently found common ground across the aisle. Dziedzic died last month after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 62.

Eric Mayo focuses on child care and other early care and education issues. Prior to joining NCSL, Mayo worked as a policy manager for a social services agency in Illinois and spent time as staff for a New York State Senator. He earned his...

An NCSL training specialist offers five strategies to help perfect your public speaking, giving you confidence, command and credibility—traits needed to captivate an audience and deliver a message successfully.

Bryan Law oversees NCSL's Energy Program. Prior to joining NCSL, Law worked extensively as a legislative staffer in the Texas and Rhode Island state legislatures on energy and health policy respectively. Dedicated to the ideals of state...

A New York state legislator talks about the world-renowned Bronx Zoo, which lies in his district and recently celebrated its 125th birthday.

January 2025 issue of the News Reactor, NCSL’s nuclear newsletter. 

Forgoing a full damage assessment, parametric insurance products pay out a set amount based on the magnitude of the fire, flood or other event.

Research points to a new understanding about when adolescents become adults, and to new ways of thinking about their treatment in the criminal justice system.

In this issue of Capitol to Capitol the 118th Congress Health and Human Services Legislative Wrap-Up, Proposed Rule to Increase Protected Electronic Health Information, and more.

Nonpartisan science policy fellowships help build relationships between scientists and state policymakers, allowing scientists to engage in the policy process and providing legislators quick and direct access to research.

The United States suffers from a teacher shortage, and the solution might come from innovative programs designed to get middle and high school students thinking about a career in the classroom.

In this issue: A Move to Expel or Censure: Arizona’s Changing Landscape (Krystle Isvoranu and Joshua Babel); Impeachment Procedure in the Texas Legislature (Jeffrey Hedges); Puerto Rico's Minority Parties Clause (Erick J. Vázquez...

Since the November election, the Minnesota Legislature has faced ongoing uncertainty about which party controls its chambers in the 2025 session. There have been at least three shifts in the House and Senate, and now a Jan. 28 special election...

A new study finds that model state retirement systems focus on member financial security, fiscal sustainability, planning for uncertainty and investment transparency.

Three little numbers are playing an outsize role in preventing people from taking their own lives: 988, the nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number. Since its launch in 2022, the service has received more than 10 million contacts from...

Small increases in earnings can trigger sudden and often unexpected decreases in public benefits—the so-called benefits cliff. This story covers ways to mitigate their potential to destabilize household finances and add to administrative...

At the start of each year, we sit down with NCSL CEO Tim Storey to discuss the most important issues facing state legislatures in the upcoming session. Tim discussed state budgets, technology, education policy and how the new federal...

In an era of digital transactions and online interactions, the risk of fraud has never been higher. Representatives of federal agencies told NCSL Base Camp attendees what they are doing to safeguard consumers.

Tim Storey, chief executive officer of the National Conference of State Legislatures, released the following statement in response to the passing of former President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29, 2024. 

In her nearly two-decade career in election administration, Tammy Smith, administrator of elections in Wilson County, Tenn., has dedicated herself to ensuring fair and accurate voting processes.

In this issue of Capitol to Capitol Congress approves EXPLORE Act, WRDA, Social Security Fairness Act, Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act and Stopgap Spending Bill.

Join Utah Sen. Ann Millner and Oregon Sen. Michael Dembrow for a discussion on the future of higher education and the roles federal and state policymakers play in shaping higher education policy.