Report offers tools for journalists to easily track and understand how each state legislature works

CQ Roll Call has created a free downloadable report that explains how state legislatures work, how bills are considered and how anyone can begin tracking legislation. It's a handy tool, especially for journalists new to covering politics.

The report includes State Track, which tracks legislation in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. State Track uses a search tool where users specify issues they want to follow; a personalized dashboard continually updating the latest legislation and regulation; committee hearings with a calendar tool; web publishing; state-by-state news coverage; customizable alerts and reports; full text of every bill; and a note-taking tool.

The report also includes information on understanding how the system works, how states differ, how bills move, how committees work, how to track a piece of legislation, what happens after final passage of a bill and dates of when each state legislature convenes and adjourns. (CQ Roll Call map)