State lawmakers and legislative staff from Montana are among the attendees expected at the 2026 National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit, set for July 27 through 29 in Chicago. The annual gathering brings together legislators from all 50 states and U.S. territories to share policy research and hear from national speakers on issues ranging from budget and taxation to public safety and infrastructure.
The summit's theme this year draws on the national motto "e pluribus unum" — out of many, one — framing the gathering as an opportunity for legislators from opposing political traditions to find common ground on shared governance challenges. That framing carries particular weight in the current political climate, where state legislatures have increasingly become the arena for policy debates that once played out primarily at the federal level.
For Helena residents, the practical value of these conferences often shows up in the next legislative session, when Montana lawmakers return with model legislation, research, or contacts from other states that shape bills introduced in the Capitol. The Montana Legislature's next regular session is scheduled for January 2027. Details on which Montana legislators attended the Chicago summit were not immediately available.