State Legislator 101: Duties, Skills & How to Run

State legislators write, debate, and vote on laws that impact residents across their entire state. Every state’s legislature is a bit different, with variations in the number of members, session schedules, legislative procedures, and overall structure.

Legislators represent specific geographic districts and are tasked with advocating for the needs of their constituents at the state level. In some states, legislators are called delegates or assembly members, while members of the upper chamber are consistently referred to as state senators.

District maps are redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. Census to reflect population changes. Legislators serve 2-, 4-, or 6-year terms, depending on the state.

The size of legislatures varies widely:

California’s state senators represent nearly 1 million residents each, while North Dakota’s senators represent around 16,500 people.
New Hampshire’s House of Representatives is the largest with 400 members, while Minnesota’s Senate is the largest upper chamber with 67 members.

You can see the numbers for your state here.

Responsibilities

State legislators help shape public life in big ways, with duties that typically include:

Approving the state budget (funding for schools, healthcare, transportation, parks, and more)
Raising or lowering state taxes
Creating, maintaining, or reforming state agencies
Overseeing the implementation of state laws and holding agencies accountable
Developing policies in areas like education, public safety, infrastructure, and environmental protection

Legislators also serve on committees that focus on specific policy areas and may hold public hearings to gather input.

Helpful Skills

Key qualities for state legislators include:

Negotiation and compromise skills for working with fellow lawmakers
Strong written and verbal communication abilities to engage with both colleagues and constituents
Deep community roots and a demonstrated commitment to public service
Familiarity with budgeting and policy-making processes (helpful but not mandatory)

Legislative schedules vary by state:

Most legislatures meet once a year for several months, but they may also hold special sessions for urgent matters.
Workloads spike near deadlines for bill submissions, hearings, and votes.

When not in session, legislators spend time:

Meeting with constituents
Attending events and public hearings
Collaborating with colleagues
Preparing for re-election campaigns

The role is often considered part-time but is typically time-intensive, averaging more than 30 hours per week.

Salaries vary widely:

New York legislators: up to $142,000/year
New Hampshire legislators: $100/year plus a small per diem
New Mexico: no salary for legislators

Support staff also varies:

Leadership roles (like Speaker or Senate President) often have multiple staff members.
Rank-and-file legislators may have limited or shared staff and office space.

The National Conference of State Legislatures

Campaign size and cost depend heavily on the state and district:

In New Hampshire, campaigns can be run on a shoestring budget—sometimes as little as $5 and a good pair of shoes!
In larger states like California, Texas, or Florida, competitive campaigns can require $1 million or more.

State senate campaigns tend to be larger because senators represent bigger districts than state house members.

Regardless of size, nearly every campaign involves:

Door knocking/canvassing to meet voters
Mailers, digital outreach, and ads to expand reach
Significant time investment—often weeknights and weekends

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There are no formal education or technical credentials required to serve in a state legislature. Requirements vary by state but generally include:

Minimum age: Typically 18–30 for state senators; 18–25 for state house members
Residency: Must live in the district and state (exact duration varies)
U.S. citizenship and registered voter status
Some states have additional rules about district residency and length of citizenship.

Each state’s constitution outlines specific requirements. Be sure to research the exact rules for your state well in advance of filing.

State’s eligibility requirements

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Responsibilities

Helpful Skills

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