Almost half of U.S. presidents also served in their state legislatures. But for current legislators eyeing the White House, history indicates the road probably will be a long one. 

This is the story of five Nebraska state senators who wound their way up the challenging 37-mile Machame Route to the top of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. It was six days of climbing. Steep hillside trails. One badly swollen...

On this episode of “Legislatures: The Inside Storey,” NCSL CEO Tim Storey, talks with David Toscano, a seven-term legislator in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Hometown:  I grew up in Edinburg, N.D., a town with about 300 residents about 30 minutes from the Canadian border in the northeast corner of the state.

American industries need employees. With nearly 11 million unfilled jobs but only 6.5 million unemployed workers, many employers are offering increased flexibility and higher wages to attract job applicants.

Beginning in southwestern Oregon and flowing into California, the North Fork Smith River and tributaries provide valuable plant and wildlife habitat and a variety of recreational opportunities. That’s why Oregon named the 28-mile river its...

Diabetes is a major health challenge in the U.S. About 30 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association estimates several million more are undiagnosed. Millions of people with diabetes use insulin to control...

Michael Stewart has retired after more than 27 years of service to Nevada, most of that with the Legislative Counsel Bureau. Stewart, who led the Research Division, said goodbye to colleagues at a retirement party in December.

I chose to work at the Legislature to experience a new challenge. I worked in the construction industry for 20-plus years, including doing electrical upgrade projects at the Capitol building. The operation of this building did not disappoint.

Some of the latest agriculture, energy, environment and transportation policy issues we are following in Washington, D.C., including: FERC Commissioner Hesitant to Use Preemption on Transmission Siting; Federal Court Undoes Only Oil and Gas Lease...

First responders are turning to deflection pathways to help connect individuals with substance use or mental health issues to community-based treatment and services as an alternative to making an arrest.

NCSL salutes two longtime legislative research librarians who have retired with a combined total of nearly 75 years of experience.

Reducing a criminal justice budget while maintaining public safety is no easy task. Programs in Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and Missouri offer some strategies.

After 45 years and 46 legislative sessions, 43 of them spent with the Minnesota House under seven different speakers, Bill Marx is riding into the proverbial sunset as one of the nation’s longest-serving chief fiscal analysts.

I actually stumbled into public service by chance. I have always loved living in Mississippi, so when my previous employer informed me that my position with the company would require me to relocate to the Florida Panhandle, I knew immediately...

This is the Winter 2022 edition of The Working Paper, the official newsletter of the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES).

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today, and that means only one thing: Six more weeks of winter. Thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., as members of the groundhog’s “inner circle” summoned...

Ty Masterson’s grandmother always said, “Don’t complain if you’re not willing to do something.” So, when he became frustrated with his local government, he followed her advice.

How can legislative leaders use the power of why to build a brand that truly increases support for their policy agendas?

This page contains links to articles in which NCSL is quoted or cited in February 2021.

The Winter 2022 NCSL Young and New Professionals Newsletter, a biannual collection of news, events and member profiles created by and for legislators and legislative staff who are new to the Legislature.

This issue reviews what's next now that redistricting is complete; what's going on with election administrators; and the election bill rubric.

Panelists at a recent NCSL webinar discussed how they overcame challenges related to two prenatal-to-3 issues impacting Ohio: child care and infant mortality.

Lawmakers are using allocations from the American Rescue Plan Act to address the unique health care needs of their states.