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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah state Sen. Wayne Harper became president of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Wednesday, a position he will hold with the bipartisan group for the next year.
Harper, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Taylorsville, was named vice president and president-elect of the organization last year, and took over for outgoing president and Rhode Island Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat, on Wednesday during the group's annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I'm truly honored to have the opportunity, through NCSL, to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration among legislative leaders from all states and across the aisle, working together to promote effective legislative processes and policies that serve the best interests of our communities," Harper said. "I am excited to engage with legislators to share insights and tackle the complex challenges we face in our respective states.
"This collaboration will be particularly beneficial for Utahns as it is a unique chance to bridge gaps, build consensus and drive positive change through exchanging ideas and best practices to address local challenges even more effectively," he said.
Harper was first elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1997, where he served until advancing to the Senate in 2013. He currently serves as the president pro tempore of the Utah Senate, and chairs the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee and the Senate Retirement and Independent Entities Committee.
The National Conference of State Legislatures serves nearly 7,400 state lawmakers and more than 30,000 staffers nationwide.
