Events
2026 National Forum Recap
July 23 - 25, 2026
Inside the 2026 National Forum: 200+ Lawmakers from Across the Country Collaborate on Lasting Environmental & Community Solutions
Overview
From July 23 to 25 in Chicago, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) celebrated 30 years of impact by hosting its largest National Forum to date. The gathering brought together over 200 legislators from 44 states and territories to explore complex challenges, learn from experts, and collaborate across state lines on actionable environmental policy solutions. Over three days, attendees took part in a mix of plenary and breakout sessions, dedicated learning tracks, and interactive activities focused on core topics such as energy affordability, disaster response, housing, transportation, and biodiversity.
By the Numbers: NCEL’s Largest National Forum
Anchored by strong state delegations and an increase in newly elected lawmakers, the record-setting turnout at the 2026 NCEL National Forum showcased the expanding reach and impact of NCEL’s network.
Inside the Sessions: From Challenges to Solutions
Developed based on the most pressing issues facing states, Forum sessions were led by a mix of subject matter experts and state lawmakers experienced in driving related policies. Across plenary and breakout discussions, panels delivered practical, state-tailored insights on:
- Clean Energy and the Grid: Energy affordability, ratepayer protections, renewables and energy efficiency deployment, and emerging technologies.
- Land and Water Impacts of Data Centers: Managing energy demand, water use, land development, health, and environmental justice impacts of rapidly expanding data centers.
- Nature, Biodiversity, and Coasts: Biodiversity restoration, state wildlife agencies, sustainable Blue Economies, and balancing clean energy siting with habitat protection.
- Health, Outdoors, and Resilience: Solutions for rising insurance costs, housing and transit reform, nature access, disaster resilience, and impacts from microplastics and pesticides.
Attendees heard welcoming remarks from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a keynote address from Chair of the California Energy Commission David Hochschild, as well as expert perspectives throughout the Forum from organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, UC Berkeley School of Law, American Farmland Trust, the Regulatory Assistance Project, Lawyers for Good Government, the New England Aquarium, and Native Peoples Action.
Hands-On Learning and Connections
Beyond plenary and breakout sessions, the Forum featured hands-on Learning Tracks and interactive experiences designed to deepen foundational policy knowledge and foster peer connections.
- 101 Learning Tracks: On Thursday, dedicated “101” Learning Tracks offered foundational overviews across three key issue areas — (1) Nature-Based Solutions, (2) One Health, and (3) Utilities and the Grid — helping lawmakers build core knowledge and explore practical state solutions ahead of standard Forum programming.
- Outdoor Activity: Following the Learning Tracks, legislators joined the “Routes to Resilience” walking and biking tour to explore Chicago’s active transit system as a blueprint for healthy, climate-ready communities.
- Issue-Specific Networking Meetups: Interactive meetups between formal sessions gave lawmakers dedicated space to collaborate on specific priorities — including toxic chemicals in everyday products, regenerative agriculture, regional grid oversight, and environmental justice.
- Evening Receptions: Receptions — including the Friday night reception at the Shedd Aquarium — provided opportunities for attendees to continue the day’s conversations and build strong cross-state relationships.
Celebrating State Leadership: Lightning Round
Throughout the Forum, attendees had valuable opportunities to learn and gain inspiration directly from legislators leading the charge on innovative environmental solutions.
During Saturday’s inaugural Lightning Round session, NCEL members from across the country highlighted successful policies on coastal protection, energy storage, plastic producer responsibility, and more. Presentations were delivered by Puerto Rico Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde, Virginia Del. Rip Sullivan, Maine Rep. Sharon Frost, Georgia Rep. Eric Bell, and New York Sen. Brian Kavanagh.
Celebrating State Leadership: 2026 NCEL Awards
Later in the day at the annual NCEL Awards ceremony, NCEL honored three state legislators for their leadership on environmental policy:
- New Mexico State Representative Andrea Romero received the 2026 Rising Environmental Leader Award for outstanding leadership on environmental issues early in her legislative career.
- Mississippi State Senator Hillman Frazier received the 2026 Renny Cushing Environmental Activism Award for persevering against the odds to promote justice, equity, and sustainability in his legislative work and beyond.
- Illinois State Senator Laura Fine received the 2026 Leon G. Billings Environmental Achievement Award for outstanding achievements on environmental policies throughout her career.
Looking Ahead
Amid shifting federal priorities and rising pressures on communities, the NCEL National Forum provided state lawmakers a space to collaborate, find inspiration, and build momentum heading into the 2027 legislative sessions. Lawmakers left Chicago better equipped to address their states’ most pressing challenges — from modernizing energy grids and safeguarding public health to reversing nature loss and building resilient communities.
This collaboration continues year-round. NCEL will round out its 30th year with a robust calendar of regional convenings, immersive learning tours, working groups, and cohort-based accelerators.
- Mark Your Calendars — 2027 National Forum: The NCEL team looks forward to reconvening the nationwide NCEL network for the 2027 National Forum in Atlanta, GA from August 5–7.
- Learn More & Get In Touch: Contact NCEL’s Network Engagement Manager, Rachelle Sanderson, to learn more about the issues we work on and explore year-round opportunities.
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors!
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
About NCEL: Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,400 environmentally committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.
Legislator Spotlights
I love the NCEL National Forum because it is full of substantive policy discussion on ways to move forward on protecting our environment and I get to learn from other state legislators who have been working on these issues.
Priya Sundareshan, Arizona State Senator
The NCEL National Forum continues to be one of my favorite events of the year because it is always a perfect mix of novel legislative ideas ready for implementation and networking with other legislators and professionals who care deeply about our environment.
Steve Yeager, State Assemblymember, Nevada
Of the different legislative conferences I attend, NCEL’s annual forum is always the most relevant and useful one. I appreciate the way NCEL connects policy discussions to model legislation and provides legislators with a wealth of resources for transforming ideas into bills that are the vehicle for implementing those ideas.
Nicole Lowen, State Representative, Hawaii
NCEL provides exactly the type of support I need to be an effective environmental legislator. Their topic briefing books, webinars, and working groups are great sources of information. The annual conference is a can’t-miss event. It’s an opportunity to meet legislators from other states and learn about the work that they are doing. Every session includes information about legislation introduced in various states that could be used or adapted to address the issues in the session.
Sheila Ruth, Maryland State Delegate
