NCEL's Year in Review - 2024

Overview

This year, NCEL supported a network of over 1,300 state legislators in making a lasting impact on the environment. Thank you to our members and state legislators across the country, whose work and dedication to ensuring healthy communities and the environment is unmatched! The following is a recap of NCEL’s 2024 impact, the latest resources on environmental issues, and some of this year’s biggest successes.

Events

Throughout the year, NCEL hosted 54 in-person and virtual events to inform, inspire, and connect state lawmakers around strong environmental policy solutions. 

In addition to our annual National Forum, NCEL hosted the annual Mississippi River Legislative Caucus Forum and Mississippi River Tour, launched our new series of regional events Building the Future of the Grid with events in the Northwest and the Southeast, held a 2024 Legislative Session Recap Briefing, and hosted NCEL’s first ever Post-Election Briefing! 

NCEL Network

Working Groups

NCEL’s issue-based working groups continued to provide educational and collaborative opportunities for legislators in different states around a variety of environmental topics. Some of the most active working groups this year included the Bold Decarbonization, Plastic Pollution, Wildlife Connectivity, and Outdoor working groups. 

• Get Involved: Are you a current legislator who wants to join an NCEL working group? Contact NCEL staff.

State Leads

NCEL has 39 State Leads across 34 states. State Leads play crucial leadership roles in the NCEL network, helping to organize in-state events, acting as the points of contact in their state, and engaging other legislators around environmental topics. 

• Thanks to our 2023-2024 State Leads, learn more about their work.
• Apply to be a 2025-2026 State Lead! 

Partnerships

This year, NCEL renewed its partnership and memorandum of understanding with Native Americans in Philanthropy and launched its new partnership with the University of Hawai’i!

• In our partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy, we are excited to continue enlightening lawmakers on ways to uphold Tribal sovereignty and to amplify Tribal leaders in decision-making. 
• At our 2024 National Forum, we announced our new partnership with the University of Hawai’i to equip state legislators with world-class environmental research and expertise. 

NCEL in the News

The work of the NCEL network received 100+ media hits from local, regional, and national news outlets such as E&E, MSN, Stateline, Route Fifty, and Hawai’i Public Radio.

Sign-on Letters

NCEL organized and circulated three nationwide sign-on letters with more than 200 legislators from 39 states and territories signing at least one. The sign-on letters called for: 

• Strengthening the National Old Growth Amendment through conservation, clear and enforceable guardrails, and the elimination of logging old-growth trees.
• Deploying dynamic line ratings (DLR) and other Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to increase transmission capacity at a lower cost.
• Encouraging urgent transmission planning and development as per the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 1920.

New Resources

Our bill tracking map helped state lawmakers and others keep up with policy trends nationwide – we tracked 2,500+ bills in 47 states in 2024. We also released eight new fact sheets and many more resources to give legislators actionable and engaging information to advance strong environmental policy. Some of our major publications include: 

• NCEL Transmission Briefing Book highlights ways to better coordinate and streamline transmission development. 
• State Policy Leadership to Conserve Nature guides state legislators through innovative land conservation policy tools in use across the nation.
• NCEL Climate Finance Briefing Book provides insight and policy options for addressing the economic threats of climate risk. 
• State of the States: A Look at How Far U.S. State Habitat Connectivity Legislation Has Advanced and What is Working explores 25 years of connectivity legislation and case studies of successful policy.
• NCEL Outdoors as a Health Solution Briefing Book examines the human health benefits of time outdoors and policy solutions to promote these benefits.
• Natural Legacy for the Future: State Laws for Endangered and Threatened Species highlights what is and isn’t working across the states, with spotlights on innovative cases of species recovery.
• NCEL Pesticides Briefing Book dives into pesticides and pesticide policies to promote community and ecosystem health.

Legislative Success

States around the country wrapped up their legislative sessions after yet another historic year for innovative and equitable environmental policies. NCEL saw major movement in polluter accountability, consumer rights to repair, and State-Federal collaboration on issues related to oceans, transmission, and more. In light of the 2024 elections and an upcoming change in administration, state action is important now more than ever – state legislators are prepared to build off this year’s successes in 2025.

National Forum

Legislators from across the country convened in Louisville, Kentucky in August at NCEL’s 2024 National Forum to network, learn about trending environmental solutions, and collaborate for a healthier planet and people. The Forum provides state lawmakers the opportunity to learn about and collaborate on emerging topics related to climate, energy, conservation, and environmental health. Learn more about the topics covered at the 2024 National Forum.

During the Forum, we recognized seven state lawmakers for their outstanding work to advance environmental legislation and programs.

2024 Award winners (top left to right clockwise): Kentucky State Rep. Nima Kulkarni, Indiana State Rep. Maureen Bauer, Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen, Oregon State Senator Michael Dembrow, Minnesota State Rep. Frank Hornstein, Wisconsin State Rep. Darrin Madison (attended virtually), and Utah State Senator Nate Blouin.

The 2024 Rising Environmental Leader Awards recipients were Utah State Senator Nate Blouin and Wisconsin State Representative Darrin Madison. The award recognizes NCEL members who demonstrate strong leadership on environmental issues early in their legislative careers. 

NCEL presented Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen, Oregon State Senator Michael Dembrow, and Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein with the Environmental Achievement Award. Named after NCEL’s founder, the award celebrates legislators who have shown a continued commitment to environmental success and impact throughout their careers.

Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni and Indiana State Representative Maureen Bauer received the 2024 Environmental Activism Award. Named in honor of Robert “Renny” Cushing, a former New Hampshire Representative, the award recognizes outstanding activism on environmental issues.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Thank you for being a part of NCEL and for all your hard work this year!

NCEL staff are hard at work as remote environmental staff for state legislators across the country. As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist with your legislative efforts.

• Learn more: Be sure to check out our Resource Center and the issues we work on.

Stay tuned in the new year for a preview of what we’ve identified as the trending policies for the new year.

Support our Work

As we reflect on the incredible progress of our network in 2024, we’re reminded that our work is only possible through the ongoing support of individuals like you. Your contributions ensure that NCEL can continue providing critical resources, organizing impactful events, and supporting legislators dedicated to advancing environmental solutions. Every donation helps strengthen our efforts to build a healthier, more sustainable future. We invite you to join us in making 2025 even more successful—please consider becoming one of our Sustaining Members with a monthly contribution of $15 or by making a one time donation to support our vital work. Thank you for your continued partnership!