Challenges in 2006: states' top 10.

• Author: Moore, Nicole Casal
• Position: National Conference of State Legislatures

Here's a forecast of the hot policy issues facing legislatures this session.

2006 will be an intense year for state lawmakers. They'll react to the natural disasters, federal actions and court decisions of 2005. And they'll look years ahead as they craft energy, education and emergency preparedness policies to keep this nation strong.

Forty-four states have regular sessions this year, most convene this month. Here is NCSL's 2006 forecast of the issues we think will be hot. It's a testimony to the varied and complicated world the state legislature has become.

[1] PLANNING EMERGENCIES

The hurricanes of 2005 left unprecedented destruction in the Gulf states. They also exposed flaws in disaster response. The governors of Louisiana and Mississippi called special sessions to deal with the crises there in late 2005. Other states will confront disaster readiness this session.

"Given the problems in the Gulf states, all the states could review their evacuation plans and other emergency preparations," says Massachusetts Senator Richard Moore, a co-chair of NCSL's Task Force on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. "The task force will take a broad look at disaster preparedness and give our colleagues some guidelines."

Ideas the group will explore include requiring stronger building codes, upgrading infrastructure, and establishing "State Guard" systems to be deployed when the National Guard is overseas.

Public health will be part of the equation as well. States will look at how hospitals can plan for catastrophic events, including a pandemic influenza outbreak. In an address to the National Press Club in October, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt called on every state and local government to develop a plan for a possible pandemic flu outbreak.

[2] CLOSING THE ENERGY GAP

The violent hurricane season raised gas and home heating costs to staggering heights. States responded with legislation to help consumers. Some, such as Georgia and Michigan, temporarily eliminated gas taxes. Louisiana banned price gouging. New Hampshire called a special session to discuss ways to help the poor pay their energy bills. Pennsylvania, looking at the government's own consumption, scheduled workshops to help cities conserve. Others downsized their automobile fleets.

"The hurricanes and 9/11 were wake-up calls for energy," says Kansas Representative Carl Holmes. His state put together an energy task force that started meeting in December to prepare legislation for this session.

Watch for more states to examine the strategies of last year. They will also devise new ones as they look for long-term solutions. Ten states have adopted renewable energy portfolio standards in recent years, and more are expected to consider these programs in 2006. Such standards require energy retailers to derive a percentage of their fuel from renewable sources.

[3] TAX AND SPENDING LIMITS

In November, Colorado voters overrode a section of the nation's most restrictive spending limit, effectively giving up more than $3 billion in refunds...