Top 5 ways to be involved during the legislative session
Remember: progress isn’t a spectator sport!
The legislative session is a busy time for lawmakers. They are working on many different bills and trying to make sure that the laws we have in place are effective. While it can be tempting to stay home and watch from the sidelines, there are many ways you can get involved and make your voice heard. Here are the top 5 ways you can be involved during the legislative session:
TRACK LEGISLATION ONLINE
Keeping track of upcoming bills and changes in laws does not have to be a difficult or time-consuming task. If you already know a bill number, you can use the state legislature’s website to track it, but it’s not very user-friendly. Instead, we recommend using sites like LegiScan (free) or BillTrack50 (paid) to find and track proposed legislation that deal with the issues you care about. Both systems will send you email alerts as bills move through the legislative process (although sometimes that’s too late to take action!)
With that said, sorting through hundreds (or thousands) of bills can be time-consuming, and, let’s face it, often legislation isn’t written in a way that’s clear or easy to understand. Fortunately, there are dozens of organizations that exist for this purpose, which is why our next recommendation is…
Get involved with grassroots advocacy groups
Joining a grassroots advocacy group is a great way to stay involved with the legislative process. Through this type of organization, you'll be part of a larger movement for social change. By working with other passionate individuals, you can help spread important information and ideas about awareness, participation, and even protest locally. You don't need to have any experience either - by getting involved with a grassroots advocacy group, you can learn the skills necessary to promote your cause.
There are local advocacy groups for just about every issue and cause - public education, health care, LGBTQ rights, children, food security, criminal justice reform, voting rights, budget and taxation, economic development, and more. Many topics have advocacy groups on “both sides” of the issue, so be mindful when signing up. If you need help finding the organization(s) working on a particular issue, feel free to contact us and we’ll get you connected.
Contact legislators in support or opposition of a bill
Once you know what bills are being considered and where they are in the process, contacting your state legislators is an easy and effective way to ensure your voice is heard in the political process. Taking a few minutes out of your day to reach out with an email, letter, or even a phone call can be a powerful way to influence legislative decisions. No matter the size of the issue you are passionate about, making contact with those who are in office can be impactful. By voicing your opinion on a particular bill either in support or opposition, you’re helping to ensure that elected officials understand what matters to constituents like you and me in our community.
Use this form to look up your state legislators. It will give you their office phone number and links to their email, website, and social media pages, if they have them.
If the bill you are tracking is assigned to a particular committee, it may be more effective to contact members of that committee. Again, grassroots organizations can be particularly helpful in giving you talking points and steering you toward specific members who may be most receptive to hearing from you.
Write a letter to the editor
Writing a letter to the editor is a great way to get your message out and make your voice heard on issues that are important to you. Before writing, it’s essential to research the topic thoroughly so that you can provide informed and accurate information in your letter. This includes examining both sides of an argument and assessing the potential outcomes. Most newspapers now require letters to be submitted online, and many have limits on how long the letter can be. Remember: you’re writing for a broad audience - the general public - so be thoughtful in how to frame your argument.
SEE THE LEGISLATURE IN ACTION
Attending a committee meeting or floor session at the Capitol can be an eye-opening experience. It gives you the unique opportunity to see democracy in action as people from all angles of life come together to bring their voices and expertise to the table. Watching officials discuss ideas and pass motions can invigorate your sense of civic duty and help you feel more connected to the issue. You’ll begin to understand the personalities and perspectives of some legislators, and that insight will help you be more effective at building relationships with them and advocating in the future. You'll likely leave feeling energized and proud that you've been able to contribute to something greater than yourself.
If you are unable to visit the Capitol in person, don’t worry - all committee meetings and floor sessions are streamed live on the House and Senate websites.
What are you going to do today to make your voice heard on the issues that matter to you?
