According to their website, the mission of the Conference is: to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation .

In addition to the NCSL Capitol Forum and the Legislative Summit, NCSL builds the state legislative community by hosting various web seminars, leadership meetings, and access to relevant websites and online documents throughout the year.

Unlike the permanent Standing Committees, Task Forces are created for a specific period time and aim to develop positions on highly complex and controversial issues such as immigration reform and welfare.

Twenty years after its founding, NCSL was led in 1994 by its first female president, former Congresswoman Karen McCarthy.

The 2021–22 president of NCSL is Representative Scott Saiki of Hawaii, and the staff chair is J.J. Gentry of South Carolina.

Currently, there are eight task forces: In the most general terms, NCSL works to enhance the role of states in the federal system.

NCSL supports enactment of the Main Street Fairness Act, which would simplify existing sales tax collection laws.

The society includes an active membership of more than four hundred principal clerks, secretaries, and legislative support staff.

[8] Additionally, the Joint Canadian-American Clerks' Conference is held biennially in odd-numbered years.

The location is determined by joint recommendation of the ASLCS Canadian/American Relations Committee and the Canadian Association of Clerks-at-the-Table.