Fall and The Legislative Season: What Should Your Organization Be Thinking About?

The legislature is coming back for a brief time. What does this mean for your organization? How should you be thinking? This means they will have a brief period where they can discuss what legislation to support before the holiday breaks in December and November. They start preparing for next year.

Legislative session, regardless of state, is 9 months long. This means that any organization that wants to engage in this process needs to be aware of when the breaks occur and how do we act accordingly according to them. For the end of the year, this means not starting on fresh legislative ideas but following up on current legislative ideas that you’ve been working on throughout the year. For example, if your organization has been in contact with the legislative office and working with them on any level of legislative action, it’s finding out where that legislative action is at this point of the Year. This could mean any of the following actions occur:

1. Emailing a designated representative. To check on status.
2. Requesting a meeting with that office to discuss next steps after breaks in legislative session.
3. Revaluating entire strategies to get a better chance in the next legislative year.

Which one of these steps your organizations take depends on the success rate of the legislative action throughout this current legislative year. Your organization needs to consider where they are in the process. This will help it determine how to proceed forward.

Regardless of what stage you are in in the legislative process, it is always good to stay engaged in the legislative arena when trying to engage with legislative representatives.

This means attending their events. Maintaining a positive relationship. Keeping in mind you may be an organization, building new relationships with new representatives as people move in and out of offices. This is a normal part of the process. Keep your legislative goals at heart. Be prepared for any adjustments that may need to be made according to financial or other larger factors considered by the state. The best way to approach the process is with an open mind, aware that any changes can come down. Some are within the control of the legislative bodies, others are not. Take each conversation into consideration when talking to the legislative body. Even though each office is a public representation of their sector or better known as constituency. They also must pay attention to any oversight committees, etcetera, that determine financial actions of state. For an organization, this means being aware of these factors. And planning legislatively accordingly. Enjoy the holiday seasons, go to the events, enjoy yourselves as organizations but always be aware of the conversations you may have with the legislative body and be ready to adjust your legislative approach appropriately. This will increase your chances of success. If you need further guidance, do not hesitate to reach out to our organization.