As a new year and a new state legislative session gets underway, we sat down with Tim Storey, the CEO of NCSL, to discuss the coming legislative session and where he expects legislators to focus their efforts. 

Storey sees a mixed picture on budgets, with most states sitting on substantial rainy day funds but cautious about the revenue picture in the new year. Issues around Medicaid will loom large because of changes to the program included in H.R. 1, otherwise known as the big, beautiful bill. 

K-12 education, as it always is, will get plenty of attention from legislators who are concerned about a number of issues, including lagging student achievement following the pandemic and the alarming increase in mental health issues among young people. Storey also thinks AI, data centers, housing the workforce as major areas of focus in legislatures. 

And not to be left out is the unprecedented attention to mid-decade redistricting that has taken a lot of attention in a handful of states. 

Resources

• Special Report: Legislative Trends and Priorities for 2026, NCSL