SALT LAKE CITY – Utah state Sen. Wayne Harper was nominated Wednesday as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a post he will hold in 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 from 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 am truly honored to have the opportunity through NCSL to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration among leaders from all states and all parties, and to collectively promote effective legislative processes and policies that serve the interests of our communities,” said Harper. “I look forward to working with legislators to share insights and address the complex challenges we face in our respective states.”
“This collaboration will be particularly beneficial to Utahns as it represents a unique opportunity to bridge divides, build consensus and drive positive change by sharing ideas and best practices to more effectively address local challenges,” he said.
Harper was first elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1997, where he served until moving to the Senate in 2013. He currently serves as President pro tempore of the Utah Senate and chairs the Senate Committee on Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology and the Senate Committee on Pensions and Independent Business.
The National Conference of State Legislatures represents nearly 7,400 state legislators and more than 30,000 staff across the country.
