National Conference of State Legislatures

NCSL's policy website tracking legislative action on scope of practice laws for health professional has moved. Read more: https://bit.ly/3T66PS2

ICYMI | In November, 5,836 legislative seats, or about 79% of the nation’s total, are up for reelection. But, with many legislatures run by one party or the other, that doesn’t mean control of the chambers themselves is likely to change. Read more: https://bit.ly/4g2EdD2 #NCSLsummit

As of August 2024, forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands offer early in-person voting to all voters (this includes states with all-mail elections). Three states—Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire—do not offer early in-person voting, though they may provide options for eligible absentee voters. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fS4uns

In this issue of #CapitoltoCapitol: NCSL submits Summer EBT Program comments, final rule on Head Start Program, food shortages in tribal programs and more. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Xm3jV9

The U.S. federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Since then, 30 states and four territories have increased their minimum wage—Washington, D.C., tops the list at $17.50 per hour—while 20 states and one territory still follow the federal law. Here is a look at the minimum wage in each state: https://bit.ly/3Mk07US

In today’s NCSL This Week: Even in a presidential election year, if you care about public policy, look to the states; strategists Donna Brazile and Kellyanne Conway have thoughts on the election; and in a recent survey of civic knowledge, a third of respondents could not name all three branches of government. Also, 30 states and four territories have increased their minimum wages since 2009.

In a letter to Secretary Vilsack, NCSL commends the USDA for its efforts to provide the option for states to support child nutrition through Summer EBT. To read the full comment letter, go to: https://bit.ly/47fBe6t

Join NCSL as an intern this fall! Are you interested in gaining real-world experience in public policy? NCSL is seeking fall interns across a variety of programs and policy areas, including: ✅ Children and Families ✅ Education ✅ Financial Services, Technology, & Communications ✅ State-Federal Affairs - Washington, D.C. ✅ Women's Legislative Network ✅ Operations/Human Resources As an NCSL intern, you'll have the opportunity to develop valuable workplace skills while exploring a wide range of public policy issues. Key Responsibilities include: ➡️ Track and analyze state legislative bills ➡️ Conduct policy research ➡️ Respond to information requests ➡️ Assist with drafting research briefs and other policy publications ➡️ Support and maintain web resources ➡️ Collaborate with NCSL staff on various projects Hours & Compensation: Internship hours typically range from 15-25 hours per week during the school year. Depending on available funding, internships may be paid or unpaid, with a potential pay rate of up to $18.29 per hour on a bi-weekly basis. Apply Now! To learn more and submit your application, visit: https://bit.ly/476tOSL Deadline: Applications are due by Thursday, September 12, 2024. Late applications may be considered on a rolling basis.

A panel discussion at the 2024 NCSL Legislative Summit covered ways to get veterans the help they need to stay out of jail and prison. Read more: https://bit.ly/3X5bK78

While the presidential race is important, state legislative races often impact Americans’ lives more deeply. Here are three questions ahead of these all-important legislative contests in November. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Azg0nH