NCSL - National Conference of State Legislatures

11/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/17/2025 10:32

Forecast ’26 Special Report

Related Topics:Children and Families Civil and Criminal Justice Education Elections Energy Environment and Natural Resources Fiscal Health Labor and Employment Military and Veterans Affairs Technology Transportation

With all eyes on Washington, D.C., and the questions and uncertainty around a federal government shutdown, it's easy to forget there are places where work always gets done.

In state legislatures nationwide, lawmakers are finding ways to address artificial intelligence and consumer safety, natural disasters, tax relief and all the other important issues facing their states-just as they always have.

And as always, NCSL has the facts, the figures and the forecast to help legislators and staff prepare for the new session. From education to the environment, from elections to energy, the stories in this State Legislatures News special report offer insights from NCSL experts on what lies ahead for state lawmakers in 2026.

What's trending for the new year? Explore the topics below to see what's in the forecast.

NCSL - National Conference of State Legislatures published this content on November 17, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 17, 2025 at 16:32 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]