Interconnectedness Unites Policy Priorities at NCSL Conference

By Katie Dzurec 
Director, State Public Policy Outreach 

More than 9,000 attendees turned out for this year’s 50^th annual National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Boston last week, the largest gathering of U.S. state legislators in its history. While summit sessions addressed many key topics that are priorities for state legislators, regulators, industries, actuaries, and myriad stakeholders, a major through-line for all the sessions was a concept that has become very familiar at the Academy: interconnectedness-across areas and across people.  

One health breakout session included two panels covering the key trends in health policy.  

A diverse panel of legislative leaders followed a lightning round of recent health care changes presented by NCSL staff. Legislators highlighted the work their states have done and the ways they’re thinking about what’s ahead for health. Their approaches have varied significantly in some ways (as distinct as their respective states) but were clearly the result of collaborative efforts in other respects. 

Perhaps it’s no surprise that there were animated conversations given the challenging realities of balancing state budgets, working toward better access to care, and embracing innovation (e.g., artificial intelligence, technology) that every state legislator is facing. Moreover, it was clear that the legislators at the summit knew they were not alone in their struggles, and the event allowed and supported a shared celebration of their victories, as well as an opportunity to discuss lessons learned and ways to address future challenges.  

Similarly, a panel of state regulators and property/casualty (P&C) experts shared some of the challenges they face in the homeowners’ insurance market. Severe weather and catastrophic events have drastically altered P&C markets. As with the health trends, all of the panelists had state-specific experiences. When it came to troubleshooting and looking for solutions, they all focused on a holistic and partnership-driven approach, considering state realities, experiences from across the nation, and even incorporating relevant lessons from across the globe. 

Every policy approach-when it comes to access, affordability, and oversight-has to acknowledge that pulling one lever will have an impact elsewhere, and sometimes in unexpected ways. Once again, the message was clear: to ensure accessibility and accountability while supporting innovation, state legislators recognize the need to take a collaborative, whole-system approach. 

The summit also addressed the shared concern over the growing frequency of violent attacks on elected officials. NCSL leadership and several external speakers spoke about the current political landscape and the need to find ways to connect and respectfully disagree, across the aisle and across the nation. During the opening keynote, the recent assassination of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and the increasing frequency of attacks on elected officials were addressed. 

In a recorded message, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, who was shot the same day and by the same alleged gunman who took Speaker Hortman’s life, encouraged everyone to “[r]ise above the noise. Work in the light,” and to remember that “public service is about the public.” While the message from the still-recuperating lawmaker was largely geared toward legislators and their staff, it also resonates for Academy staff and volunteers especially as we bring back critical policy insights and work every day to carry out the Academy’s mission to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession.