Profiles in Service: Bernie McNulty retires from California State Assembly after a nearly 30-year career.

In this issue of Capitol to Capitol NCSL Urges Changes to Child Tax Credits, Proposal for States to Bear SNAP Costs, and more.

This page contains information for state legislators about applying to serve on the NCSL Executive Committee and as vice president.

Since 2021, lawmakers have generated more than 2,500 vaccine-related bills, about 400 of which were introduced during the 2024 legislative sessions, as reflected in NCSL’s State Public Health Legislation Database. "From...

When Mechelle Evans took a job with the Louisiana State Legislature as a full-time messenger in 1980, she had no idea it was the first step in a career that would span five decades—and counting. 

Despite a chaotic year for state budgeters, some states still expect revenue growth and are proposing either tax cuts or increased spending on new initiatives. Other states have been forced to close significant budget shortfalls and are...

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has released a new, first-of-its-kind resource exploring the use of solitary confinement on youth in juvenile justice systems across the country.

NCSL encourages Congress to update the Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the 45F Tax Credit to help states improve child care access and affordability.

Veteran Alaska legislative staffer Aurora Hauke helps build relationships and nurture connections in a state known for its bipartisan and multipartisan coalitions. NCSL spoke with Hauke for its series “Profiles in Service.”

With his knack for technology, fiscal analyst Jonathan Ball has modernized the Utah Legislature’s appropriations process and empowered lawmakers to answer their own research questions. NCSL spoke with Ball for its series “Profiles in...

In this issue of Capitol to Capitol NCSL Makes Its Voice Heard on Surface Transportation Priorities, Key House Committees Advance Reconciliation Plans, and more.

Every day, you and your colleagues work behind the scenes to support the work of state legislatures. From drafting bills to making statehouses accessible to the public to keeping computer networks secure, legislatures couldn’t function...

Recognize your colleagues with a shoutout or two and be entered to win! Prizes will be awarded each day, including four free registrations for this fall’s NCSL Base Camp, an online policy learning and professional development...

Dr. Sunita Sah, an organizational psychologist, is the author of “Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes.” In this podcast, she explains why defiance is often thought as a negative trait, but explains that it can actually...

The decade saw pivotal moments, from the disputed 2000 presidential election to the transformative impact of 9/11, as well as the continued rise of technology and evolving roles for state legislatures. 

Amy Carlson took a circuitous route to her current role as director of Montana’s Legislative Fiscal Division. An early interest in math and economics started her on a roundabout path to state budgeting work. NCSL spoke to Carlson as part of...

The 1990s were a time of both triumphs and challenges for state legislatures and saw legislatures navigating pressures of term limits, voter initiatives and corruption scandals, while embracing new technologies and public policy changes. 

As part of the current congressional budget reconciliation process, there have been proposals to cut federal funding to states for social service programs including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental...

NCSL submitted priorities to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as they begin work on the next comprehensive surface transportation bill.

Focusing on the critical role of school principals, NCSL recently spoke with Tricia McManus, superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, to learn more about her strategies for bolstering the principal workforce.

Joann G. Camacho is the executive director of the Guam Legislature.

New Competency to Stand Trial Resources and a roundup of front-end justice policy, research and news.



 

From the influence of Ronald Reagan's presidency, to the impact of federal cutbacks on state governments, to significant advancements for women in politics, the 1980s were spent navigating the political and social landscape of the times. 

NCSL was formed in 1974 amidst political turmoil, with its creation marked by the resignation of President Richard Nixon and a dramatic incident at a state dinner.