National Conference of State Legislatures
A nonpartisan U.S. association that represents sitting state legislators and legislative staff while supporting state legislative effectiveness, interstate cooperation and state authority.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a nonpartisan association of sitting state legislators and legislative staff from the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. Established in 1975, it provides a national forum through which state lawmakers and legislative professionals exchange information, develop shared policy positions and coordinate advocacy before the federal government. Its work is centered on strengthening legislatures, improving legislative administration and protecting the role of states within the U.S. federal system. NCSL operates from offices in Denver, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Its membership and governance structure connect elected legislators with professional legislative staff. A legislator serves as the organization’s president, while a legislative staff member serves as staff chair; the presidency alternates between Republican and Democratic legislators. Day-to-day administration is handled by the chief executive officer, Tim Storey. The organization’s committees, task forces, meetings and research services allow members to compare approaches to issues that cross state boundaries or involve state-federal relations. Eight standing committees provide the principal structure for policy and professional collaboration. Their subject areas include budgets and revenue; communications, financial services and interstate commerce; education; health and human services; labor and economic development; law, criminal justice and public safety; natural resources and infrastructure; and redistricting and elections. Temporary task forces address issues that span several committee jurisdictions, including agriculture, cybersecurity, energy supply, immigration, state health-system innovation, insurance, international relations, military and veterans affairs, and state and local taxation. NCSL’s policy orientation generally emphasizes state sovereignty, state flexibility and resistance to unfunded federal mandates or unwarranted federal preemption. It develops and adopts state-federal policy positions through committee meetings held at events such as the NCSL Capitol Forum and the Legislative Summit, then uses those positions to inform federal lobbying and public policy work. The organization has supported measures including the Main Street Fairness Act, which would expand states’ authority to require sellers to collect sales and use taxes, and the SAFE Banking Act, which would improve banking access for legally operating cannabis businesses. Beyond advocacy, NCSL supplies legislative research, professional development, online information, webinars, leadership meetings and comparative material on state government. It also works with professional staff associations, including the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, whose publications and reference resources address legislative procedure and administration. NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit is its largest general membership event, while the Capitol Forum alternates between Washington, D.C., and other locations. The organization remains an active institutional resource for state legislatures and a participant in national debates over federalism, elections, taxation, public services and legislative management.
History
NCSL was established in 1975 as a national association for state legislators and legislative staff. Its creation followed a period in which state legislatures and their professional administrative organizations increasingly needed a coordinated voice on federal policy, legislative modernization and interstate issues. The organization brought together elected lawmakers and staff specialists so that states could share practical experience while developing common positions on matters affecting the federal balance. From its foundation, NCSL’s purpose extended beyond lobbying. It sought to improve the effectiveness, independence and integrity of state legislatures; encourage cooperation among states and with legislatures in other countries; improve legislative operations and management; and promote high standards of conduct among legislators and legislative employees. This combination of research, professional support, networking and federal advocacy became the organization’s defining institutional model. NCSL organizes its policy work through standing committees made up of legislators and legislative staff appointed by legislative leadership. The committees cover major areas of state policy and administration, including finance, education, health, economic development, public safety, infrastructure and elections. Members use the committees to compare state experiences, discuss emerging issues and formulate state-federal policy positions. Temporary task forces supplement the permanent committees when an issue cuts across several policy fields or requires a concentrated examination, such as immigration, cybersecurity, energy, insurance or state taxation. The organization’s two principal annual gatherings are the NCSL Capitol Forum and the Legislative Summit. These meetings provide venues for committee deliberation, adoption of policy positions, professional exchange and relationship-building among state officials. NCSL also provides webinars, leadership meetings, online documents and research material throughout the year. Its Legislative Summit is generally the larger gathering and is held in changing locations, while the Capitol Forum alternates between Washington, D.C., and another location. NCSL has maintained a dual presence in Denver and Washington, D.C., reflecting its two major functions: serving legislatures as a professional and informational institution, and representing state legislative interests in federal policymaking. It is regarded as one of the Big Seven organizations representing state and local government in the United States. The association also supports professional staff communities. One example is the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, founded in 1943 and incorporated into the NCSL structure in 1974 alongside other state legislative groups. Through such relationships, NCSL’s work includes reference publications, legislative-process information, professional journals, directories and international exchanges among legislative administrators. NCSL’s policy positions have generally emphasized state flexibility and opposition to federal mandates that impose costs without adequate funding, as well as opposition to federal preemption that limits state policymaking. Its policy agenda has included support for expanded state authority in sales-tax collection and improved financial-services access for state-regulated cannabis businesses. The organization continues to function as a nonpartisan platform for state legislative research, advocacy, administration and cooperation.
- 1998
First African-American NCSL president
[1]Representative Dan Blue served as NCSL president during 1998–1999, becoming the organization’s first African-American president.
- 1994
First female NCSL president
[1]Former Congresswoman Karen McCarthy became the organization’s first female president, according to the referenced account.
- 1975
NCSL established
[1]The National Conference of State Legislatures was established as a nonpartisan association of sitting state legislators and legislative staff.
- 1974
Professional legislative groups join to help form NCSL
[1]The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries joined with other state legislative organizations in the period immediately preceding NCSL’s establishment.
- 1943
American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries founded
[1]The professional association later associated with NCSL was established to improve legislative administration and communication among clerks, secretaries and legislative support staff.
Products and positioning
A nonpartisan, member-based resource and advocacy organization for U.S. state legislatures, positioned around state authority, legislative effectiveness, interstate cooperation and practical policy research.
Research and information services
Legislative research and policy information
NCSL produces and distributes comparative information on state laws, legislative procedures and policy developments. Its research supports lawmakers and staff who need to examine how other states address shared problems and how state interests intersect with federal policy.
Conference
Legislative Summit
The Legislative Summit is NCSL’s principal annual meeting for the general membership. It brings together legislators, legislative staff and other participants for policy discussions, committee work, professional exchange and consideration of state-federal issues.
Policy forum
NCSL Capitol Forum
The Capitol Forum is an annual NCSL gathering focused on committee activity, state-federal policy and interaction among state officials. It alternates between Washington, D.C., and a changing host location.
Legislative administration
Professional staff resources
Through affiliated professional staff associations, NCSL supports resources such as legislative-process guides, professional journals, directories and administrative reference materials for clerks, secretaries and other legislative personnel.
Brand decisions
- Advocacy for state authority and against unfunded mandatesStrategy
Background
NCSL’s mission and policy framework focus on strengthening the role of states in the federal system and protecting state legislative flexibility.
Action taken
The organization develops state-federal policy positions through committees and task forces and uses them to inform advocacy in Washington, D.C.
Aftermath
This approach remains a central part of NCSL’s identity and public-policy work.
- Support for expanded online sales-tax collection authorityOther
Background
NCSL identifies sales-tax collection by online and other remote sellers as an issue affecting state revenue and tax administration.
Action taken
The organization supported the Main Street Fairness Act, which would authorize states to require sellers to collect sales and use taxes under a simplified framework.
Aftermath
The position forms part of NCSL’s broader advocacy for state fiscal authority.
- Support for the SAFE Banking ActOther
Background
State legalization of cannabis created a conflict between state-regulated businesses and restrictions affecting access to banking and financial services.
Action taken
NCSL supported the SAFE Banking Act to facilitate banking access for the legalized cannabis industry.
Aftermath
The position reflects NCSL’s interest in preserving state flexibility where state policy diverges from federal restrictions.
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