Steal these ideas: 25 legislative website innovations that may surprise you.

• Author: Greenberg, Pam
• Position: TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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In 2007, State Legislatures featured "25 Great Online Ideas Worth Stealing," describing creative and innovative features on legislative websites. Since then, we've noticed a few suspiciously similar concepts on legislative websites along with more great ideas. Many of them address a growing need for transparency in government, especially online. There are many other impressive websites out there, so keep the great ideas coming!

NEW YORK

Committee websites: The New York Senate's committee Web pages offer a doorway into the real world of committee work. Start by viewing the featured video for a committee, or watch the live video if the committee is meeting. Learn when and where the committee meets, add the event to your calendar with the click of your mouse, or sign up for e-mail or RSS--Really Simple Syndication-updates from the committee. And filter the information to view just the topics you are interested in, to see press releases, or to read articles from blogs or newspapers that cover the committee.

MICHIGAN

One-stop bill information: When considering the merits of a bill, wouldn't you love to see an easy-to-read summary, clear arguments for and against the bill, a list of supporters and opponents, and a fiscal impact note? How about everything you need to find and track bills, how to interpret the text formatting and color-coded bill history, and more? And if you don't like the color of the website, change it!

CONNECTICUT

Citizen's guide: The Connecticut General Assembly's Citizen Guide gives simple but thorough information about the legislative process in a way that encourages participation. The site's "Guide to Testifying at a Public Hearing" and "Joining the Debate Video"--produced by CT-N, the state's Public Affairs Network--provide information that illuminates and demystifies the committee hearing process while encouraging citizens of all ages and backgrounds to participate.

VIRGINIA

A virtual tour: The Virginia General Assembly's online virtual tour shows off the newly restored Capitol. A student points out parts of the site that fit in with school lesson plans and academic standards, a restoration worker highlights the architectural features and improvements to the Capitol grounds, and an actor playing Thomas Jefferson tells about the historical information on the site. Visitors can click on specific items for more details and use their mouse to glide through a 360-degree panoramic view of skylights, floors and different perspectives. FAQs and an accessible version of the site round out the virtual tour.

WASHINGTON

Online oral histories: Insider stories about backroom negotiations, a hallway called "ulcer gulch," swinging chandeliers and gouges in legislators' desks--you hear it all through the storytelling on this site. You'll learn about turning points in Washington's legislative history and controversies related to redistricting. Visitors can choose to read, watch and listen to stories according to a timeline, by selecting histories of members of the Legislature, or by viewing a map showing the geographic distribution of...