Federal legislation refers to laws enacted by the national government, while state legislation consists of laws passed by state governments. Federal laws have nationwide applicability and override conflicting state laws due to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In contrast, state legislation can address local needs and issues more directly but can vary significantly between states. Furthermore, federal legislation is often more complex due to Congressional procedures and requires approval by both the House and Senate, while state laws can often be passed with greater speed and ease through state legislatures.