Organizations hire lobbyists to represent them in their state legislatures. Lobbyists are hard-working and dedicated to helping further their clients’ agendas.
Lobbyists, however, are not mind-readers. Unless the client tells the lobbyist what bills to support or oppose, they can’t act.
The volume of bills can be staggering, even in states with short sessions. While a lobbyist can highlight bills of potential interest, they can’t determine a group’s potential interest.
Time is of the essence when dealing with legislative issues. Usually there is not enough time to call a committee together to discuss issues and bring them to the board. Yet, it is essential that a board be aligned when an organization is taking a position.
The best way to expedite this process is for the Legislative Committee to develop a “legislative agenda” that is updated annually and approved by the board. Obviously, it is impossible to anticipate every bill that will be introduced, but it is generally possible to develop an agenda based on what legislation is under consideration, and or has been introduced in the past.
This document can be published widely and shared on the website; having such a document can improve member engagement visibility for the organization. This tool can help shift legislative action from reactive to proactive. You can also give the Legislative Committee the authority to act quickly and decisively when specific bills are under consideration.
A Legislative Agenda can be extremely helpful for board members and other members to testify in support of the organization’s agenda. It is also helpful for members to contact their legislators in support of the organization’s position.
Sometimes, however, serious problems can arise when a board member or former board member testifies as an individual, but mentions their present or even past organizational affiliation. Hopefully everyone is on the same page. It becomes a problem when the organization’s position is different from that of the individual. Being a member of an organization or its board does not mean that one loses the right to take an opposing position. Best practices say that a member or board member should state that they are representing themselves only unless they are specifically representing the organization and its position.
Legislative involvement is a wonderful way to bring in new members who feel strongly about issues. We find these days that advocacy is a hot topic for younger members, and they should not be left out of the organization’s legislative activities. Testifying that first time can lead to a lifetime of legislative commitment.
The organization and the lobbyist relationship is critical to an effective legislative presence. Lobbyists need the support of the board and membership to be most effective.
