Many of the states in the United States have established the post of poet laureate to which a prominent poet residing in the respective state is appointed. The responsibilities of the state poets laureate are similar to those of the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and the equivalent Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in the United States, to make public appearances at poetry readings or literary events, and to promote awareness of poetry within their geographical region.

, 46 states and the District of Columbia have poets laureate, although a few are presently vacant. The terms can vary in length from state to state. Most states appoint a poet laureate for a one- or two-year term, fewer to several years, and some states appoint a poet to a lifetime tenure. Two states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, previously had such posts but abolished them in 2003. Michigan had a single poet laureate from 1952 to 1959. There has never been an official State Poet Laureate in Massachusetts. While Idaho does not have a post of "poet laureate", per se, the state appoints a "Writer in Residence", which can be held by a novelist or poet. Alaska has similarly expanded their program to include other genres of writing, calling the program the Alaska State Writer Laureate. The state of New York has both a State Poet and a State Author.

List of state poets laureate The following lists of state poets laureate below are divided by state. The name of the current poet laureate is in bold.

Alabama

The current poet laureate of Alabama is Dr. Jacqueline Allen Trimble. Alabama has had an official poet laureate since 1930. The Alabama Writer's Cooperative (formerly the Alabama Writers' Conclave), described as "a voluntary organization of Alabama historians, playwrights, fiction writers, poets, and newspaper writers" first recommended in 1930 Samuel Minturn Peck to Governor Bibb Graves. The state legislature approved a bill to create the office on March 5, 1931."Act No. 92", Acts of Alabama (1931).Alabama Department of Archives and History. "Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama: Poets Laureate of Alabama". Retrieved 22 January 2014. After the death of Dr. Peck, the position was not filled and was revived in 1954 due to the efforts Mary B. Ward, the president of the Alabama Writer's Conclave, who became the state's second laureate.

At present, a poet selected must have been an Alabama resident for at least 15 years prior to the appointment, and when commissioned by the governor, is appointed to serve on a four-year renewable basis. Before 1983, neither the organization or the state statute provided for a specific term length. The Alabama Writers' Cooperative will recommend candidate who is elected by the organization's membership at its annual meeting. The governor subsequently commissions the candidate. A candidate for poet laureate need not be a member of the Alabama Writers' Cooperative to be nominated or selected.

Alaska

The position of Poet Laureate was created in 1963 (House Resolution 25). The official name was changed in 1996 to recognize and honor all genres of writing. The position is selected by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.Library of Congress. U.S. State Poets Laureate: Alaska. Retrieved August 1, 2022.

Arizona

The state of Arizona established a state Poet Laureate position in 2013, appointing Alberto Ríos as the inaugural Poet Laureate.

Arkansas

Charles T. Davis, appointed in 1923, was the inaugural poet laureate of Arkansas. He served in the position until his death on December 21, 1945. The position was vacant from 1946 until 1953, when Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni was appointed. Upon Marinoni's death in 1970, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller named Ercil Brown interim laureate. When legislature reconvened, three candidates had emerged: Anna Nash Yarborough, Lily Peter, and Brown. The legislature declined to decide and instead in 1971 passed Act 90, which assigned the responsibility to the governor. Governor Dale Bumpers announced Lily Peter's appointment on October 6, 1971. Following Peter's death, Verna Lee Hinegardner was appointed by Governor Bill Clinton on October 4, 1991, serving until 2003. In 2003, Governor Mike Huckabee appointed Peggy Vining. Before this time, the poet laureateship had been considered a life appointment and publicity ensued but in the end the appointment stood. Peggy Vining served as Poet Laureate from 2003 until her death in 2017. The Legislature changed the term for Arkansas Poet Laureate during 2017 to 4 years. The current Poet Laureate of Arkansas is Suzanne Underwood Rhodes, who was appointed to a four-year term in 2022.

California

The state of California established a state Poet Laureate under Governor Hiram Warren Johnson and appointed Ina Donna Coolbrith on June 30, 1915. Coolbrith was later acknowledged as the "Loved Laurel-Crowned Poet of California" by a 1919 state Senate resolution, retaining the title until her death in 1928. Juan Felipe Herrera was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown in March 2012. It was last held by Dana Gioia from 2015 to 2018. The current poet laureate is Lee Herrick.

Colorado

Colorado Poets Laureate are appointed to four-year terms. They are nominated by Colorado Creative Industries and Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, and chosen by the Governor. The State of Colorado also appointed singer/songwriter writer John Denver in 1974.

The following have held the position:

Cities/Regions Aurora Jovan Mays (2013 - 2017) Assetou Xango (2017 - 2020) Ahja Fox (2022 - 2026) Boulder Reg Saner (1999 - ?) Denver Chris Ransick served as poet laureate of Denver 2006 to 2010. Fort Collins Matt Sage and Michael Bussman (2012 - 2013) Jason Hardung (2013 - 2014) Chloe Leisure (2014 - 2016) Aby Kaupang (2016 - 2017) Felicia Zamora (2017 - 2018) Natalie Giarratano (2018 -2020) Autumn Bernhardt (2020 - 2022) Ally Eden (2022 - 2024) Melissa Mitchell (2024 - 2026) Lafayette ZBassSpeaks, a.k.a. Z (2024 - 2026) Pikes Peak Janice Gould served as poet laureate of Pikes Peak, representing the Pikes Peak Library District which includes the greater Colorado Springs area, from 2014 to 2016.

Connecticut

Jose B. Gonzalez is the current Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate of Connecticut was established in 1985 by Public Act 85-221 of the Connecticut General Assembly. Five-year residents of the state with a demonstrated career in poetry are eligible for the honorary appointment as an advocate for poetry and literary arts.

Delaware

Poets are appointed to the position by the governor. The first poet laureate of Delaware was Edna Deemer Leach appointed in 1947. Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Albert Mills—twin brothers who are known as the "Twin Poets"—were appointed 17th Poets Laureate of the State of Delaware on December 13, 2015. According to the Library of Congress, they are the first co-laureates appointed by a state and the first siblings to share the position. Predecessors include Fleda Brown and JoAnn Balingit.

District of Columbia

The United States' capital, the District of Columbia, created the position of Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia in 1984 during the mayoralty of Marion Barry.DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "History of the Office of the Poet Laureate". Retrieved 22 January 2014. The position is filled by appointment from the mayor of the district the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The District of Columbia's poet laureate program is currently stalled. Only two poets laureate have been appointed since the creation of the position. Sterling Allen Brown was appointed by Mayor Marion Barry, serving from 1984 until his death in 1989. Dolores Kendrick was appointed by Mayor Anthony A. Williams, serving from 1999 until her death in 2017.

Florida

Poets Laureate of Florida are appointed by the governor and the Division of Arts and Culture. They first served lifetime, unpaid appointments, until June 20, 2014, when HB 513 established a four-year term. The first poet laureate of Florida was Franklin L. Wood, appointed in 1929 and died soon after assuming office. Vivian Laramore Rader was appointed in 1931 and served until her death in 1975. Edmund Skellings was appointed in 1980. A stroke that impaired his speech and limited his ability to do all of his official duties. He died August 19, 2012, leaving the post vacant.Florida needs a poet laureate but with term limits this time October 24, 2013 TimePeter Meinke currently holds this position and was appointed on June 15, 2015.

Georgia

Frank Lebby Stanton served from 1925 to 1927 as Georgia's first poet laureate. Successors include Ernest Neal, Conrad Aiken, David Bottoms, Judson Mitcham, and Chelsea Rathburn.

Hawaii

Prior to statehood Don Blanding, originally from Oklahoma, was unofficially referred to as the poet laureate of Hawaii. In 1951 Hawaii Territorial Senator Thelma Akana Harrison in concurrent resolution 28, declared Lloyd Stone, who was originally from California, poet laureate. When the modern program was established, Native Hawaiian Kealoha was appointed on May 3, 2012 by Governor Neil Abercrombie., and he is the first poet laureate for the state of Hawaii, serving through 2022. Brandy Nālani McDougall began her appointment as Poet Laureate of Hawaii in 2023, which she will serve through 2025.

Idaho

Irene Welch Grissom served from 1923 to 1948 as Idaho's first poet laureate. Sudie Stuart Hager served as the second poet laureate from 1949 to 1982. After 1982, the title was changed to Writer in Residence. Kerri Webster began her tenure as Writer in Residence in 2023.

Illinois

The state's first three Poets Laureate were named at the initiative of individual governors and served for life. In 2003 the title was made into a four-year renewable award.

The Illinois governor posthumously named songwriter John Prine honorary poet laureate in 2021.

Indiana

Indiana has the unique situation of having two posts: an official "state poet laureate" (created in 2005) and the unofficial post of "premier poet" created in 1929 occupied by Sarah E. Morin. Joyce Brinkman was appointed as the first poet laureate of Indiana, serving from 2005 to 2008. The position has been occupied by Curtis L. Crisler as of 2024.

Iowa

The position was created July 1, 1999 by Subchapter 303.89 of the Iowa Code with a two-year renewable term. Marvin Bell was Iowa's first Poet Laureate, from 2000 to 2004, followed by Robert Dana from 2004 to 2008, Mary Swander from 2009 to 2019, and Debra Marquart from 2019 to 2023. Vince Gotera is the current Poet Laureate of Iowa. His two-year term started in 2024.

Kansas

The current poet laureate of Kansas is Traci Brimhall, serving from 2022 to 2024. Predecessors include Jonathan Holden, Denise Low, Eric McHenry, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Wyatt Townley and Huascar Medina.

Kentucky