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NCSL liaison visits Senate Administration Committee, offers research, training and state comparisons
Summary
Erica McKellar of the National Conference of State Legislatures told the Senate Administration Committee on April 3 that NCSL can provide research, testimony and training to help the Legislature on topics including homelessness policy, contingency planning for federal funding changes and technical policy questions.
Erica McKellar, fiscal affairs program liaison for the National Conference of State Legislatures, told the Vermont Senate Administration Committee on April 3 that NCSL can serve as a point of contact for research, training and inter‑state comparisons.
McKellar said NCSL conducts research by request, organizes in‑person and virtual meetings and offers committee and caucus training. “I am Erica McKellar. I'm with the National Conference of State Legislatures. I am in our fiscal affairs program, and I focus mainly on state fiscal commissions and state budget process issues,” she said, adding that she serves as NCSL’s liaison to the Vermont Legislature and expects to visit annually.
The committee was discussing budget and policy work when members asked McKellar to follow up on several topics. One member asked about whether NCSL maintains a central inventory of how states are responding to federal policy changes; McKellar said NCSL is tracking executive orders and has staff who track responses by program area rather than a single consolidated list. She also offered to compile summaries or white papers on request and to connect committee members with subject‑matter experts.
Why it matters: Committee members signaled interest in practical, state‑level comparisons and technical assistance on pressing policy questions. McKellar offered NCSL resources on housing and homelessness policy, fiscal contingency planning and other issues the committee flagged.
Committee members asked McKellar specifically for help on homelessness policy and contingency planning in the event of a federal funding downturn. McKellar said those topics are common across states and that NCSL can collect examples of contingency processes and contingency language other states use, or identify staff who track particular program areas. She also noted NCSL holds topic‑specific conferences and that its major legislative summit will be held in Boston in August.
Committee members and staff accepted McKellar’s offer to follow up. McKellar said staff can request research products, testimony and summaries and that NCSL’s Denver and Washington, D.C., offices coordinate research and state‑federal relations work.
The meeting moved immediately after the presentation into a long agenda item reviewing agency “web reports” and budget sections.
A follow‑up: McKellar offered to send the committee information on upcoming meetings and training opportunities and to collect state examples requested by committee members.
