Legislative Summit on Track for Success in Louisville

And they're off!

The 2024 Legislative Summit gallops out of the starting gate tomorrow morning in the world's horse racing capitol, Louisville, Ky., as NCSL kicks off a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary.

"The Summit offers the opportunity to share challenges and ideas with your colleagues from across the nation, to talk about what works-and what needs to change," NCSL CEO Tim Storey says. "As you connect, I invite you to think about the next 50 years, and what you will do to help the legislative institution evolve and grow even stronger."

Unfolding over three days at the Kentucky International Convention Center, the Legislative Summit offers a staggering array of sessions on policy and strategy geared to both legislators and staff alike.

AI in the Spotlight

Artificial intelligence plays a front-and-center role in Summit programming, beginning with the opening session featuring Jennifer Pahlka, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center and the Federation of American Scientists. She'll address how states can harness technology and attract tech talent to reimagine the way government benefits its citizens.

More AI sessions include AI uses and abuses in elections, how to harness AI for better health and human services, building an AI-ready workforce, and managing and regulating AI use by the legislature.

Wednesday morning's breakfasts for legislators only will feature White House senior advisor Tom Perez, who will speak to Democrats, and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader, who will address Republicans.

Rounding the final turn in Wednesday's closing general session, political strategists Kellyanne Conway and Donna Brazile will dissect the upcoming election from the right and the left.

Other general session highlights include brain scientist John Medina on sharpening our critical thinking skills to evaluate data and differentiate between fact and falsehood, and communications consultant Eric Bailey on "The Cure for Stupidity: Understanding Why They Don't Understand You."

Attendees will saddle up for a herd of policy and strategy session topics: the future of education; juvenile justice; capitol security; finding critical minerals; supply chain resilience; "forever" chemicals; U.S. economic forecast; housing availability; engaging young citizens in the legislative process; the effects of hosting major events like Formula One auto racing, soccer's World Cup and the Olympics; food safety; crime trends; redistricting; cybersecurity; and a wrap-up of the consequential and controversial Supreme Court term.

The largest-ever and always-bustling Exhibit Hall will feature a diverse array of products, services and advocacy from 268 companies and organizations.

NCSL at 50

Topping off this year's Summit, NCSL launches its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, which will culminate at the 2025 Legislative Summit in Boston.

NCSL and the nation's legislatures have grown up together over the past five decades.

"Although there are plenty of similarities between today's legislatures and the ones in 1975, there has been significant evolution since then," Storey says. "The professionalization of legislatures brought more highly talented staff into legislative service and many new staff agencies."

He adds, "Legislatures are far more diverse today than in 1975, in every sense of the word. Fewer than 5% of legislators were women in 1975 compared with nearly 35% today. Smoked-filled rooms? Those are gone now that every capitol is a smoke-free workplace. Transparency is light years from where it once was. NCSL has helped legislatures become stronger as fundamental democratic institutions."

Stayed tuned in the months ahead as NCSL marks its role in those changes with special events, podcasts, videos, publications and more.

Mark Wolf is a senior editor in NCSL's Communications Division.

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