NCSL MEMBER SERVICES - Together, We are the Forum for America's Ideas

1. We Advance Your Ideas

• Research
  We are here to answer your questions and give you unbiased, comprehensive information as soon as you need it on issues facing state legislatures.  We answer more than 20,000 requests for information a year. Call us anytime or check out our issues list to see what we have online.
• Consulting Services
  Our consulting services on policy issues go beyond testifying. We help draft bills, organize workshops, and convene legislative-executive teams. NCSL staff are prepared to come to your state to work with legislators and staff on almost any public policy issue, or issue related to the management of a legislature. Contact your state's liaison to schedule a briefing or to learn more about this service.

2. We Bring You the Latest Ideas

Innovative, creative ideas for confronting and solving the problems that matter to Americans are the ideas that come from the states. Want to know the latest on state budgets, health care, education, human services, technology, criminal justice, legislative management, energy or the environment? Turn to NCSL.

• NCSL publications are a great resource for the newest and best ideas from the states.
• State Legislatures magazine is widely hailed as the most informative and influential state public policy monthly in the country.
• LegisBriefs are two-page briefing papers on current issues that can be used as backgrounders, talking papers and as information for responding to constituent requests. You'll get 48 of them on various topics each year.

State legislators and state legislative staff receive all of of NCSL's publications free of charge.

3. We Promote the Exchange of Ideas

• NCSL offers some 20 meetings and professional development seminars each year on the most important issues to states.
• Each summer, thousands of legislators and staff come together at the Legislative Summit, the largest legislative gathering in the nation, where they can attend 160 sessions on critical issues.
• NCSL's Standing Committees hold forums each year to discuss state and federal issues, share ideas and guide NCSL's lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C. We also provide special services for legislative leaders.
• Legislatures cannot operate effectively without professional, high-quality staff. NCSL offers a wealth of learning and professional development opportunities for legislative staff to share common problems and information through one of NCSL's 10 professional staff organizations.

4. We Take your Ideas to Capitol Hill

• Standing Committees
  NCSL's Standing Committees meet several times a year to discuss state and federal issues, share ideas, and guide NCSL's lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.
• Lobbying
  Our ability to lobby Congress successfully has made state legislatures an influential force in Washington, D.C., and that benefits you and your state.
• Testifying
  NCSL's most formidable lobbying resource is the political link between state lawmakers and members of Congress, and we call upon our members to testify on important issues before Congress .

NCSL provides the latest information on state-federal relations where you can review our policy positions and lobbying priorities.  Also, you can sign up to receive our Capitol to Capitol newsletter.

5. 50-State Searchable Legislation Database

You have online access to 50-state information and other legislative resources, such as weekly session schedules.

Find legislation in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Congress through NCSL's new 50-State Bill Information Service, a searchable database containing the full text of legislation for the current session. And, you can:

• Join listservs and discussion groups
• Search tens of thousands of documents
• Receive personalized information on your issues
• Access NCSL books and newsletters, and look-up your colleagues in the 50 states
• Take advantage of e-learning opportunities.