LWVSPA Guide to Working Effectively with Legislators

Tips for Successful Advocacy Work

General Guidance 

  • It’s all about relationships and building trust: take the time to develop and nurture them.
  • Timing is critical: schedule an introductory meeting well before the session opens and subsequent meetings just before critical committee hearings and votes.
  • Be well informed, tactful, and respectful and use a combo of personal meetings & public testimony.

Preparing for Meetings & Public Testimony

  • Know yourself:  be aware of personal biases; this will help you maintain objectivity by anticipating your own response in a given situation.
  • Know your organization: if you’re representing an organization, be fully aware of their positions and justification, as well as the relationships it maintains with other organizations (coalitions are a good thing). For meetings, bring along a colleague: two sets of ears (and voices) are better than one.
  • Know your legislator: try to understand the basis for his/her positions (e.g. voting record on related legislation, professional interests, committee assignments, tenure in the legislature, and constituent pressures); for FL legislators, start by looking at their website & info posted at https://www.myfloridahouse.govand https://www.flsenate.gov
  • Know how the legislative process works: there are a number of state/city-specific websites that can help with this.
  • Know your issue: educate yourself; learn the status of legislation and bill #s; identify brief and explicit points; prepare a one-page sheet with key points and your contact info.
  • Know your opposition: anticipate opposing viewpoints; respond to arguments with a positive tone.

During the Meeting (many points are also applicable to public testimony)

  • Thank the legislator/staff for taking the time to meet with you.
  • Introduce yourself as a voter in their district and/or a member of an organization.
  • Identify your issue: make brief and explicit points, why they’re important to you and the people they represent; be prepared to respond to questions and concerns; don’t hesitate to admit lack of knowledge & be willing to pursue answers and report back.
  • Ask about your legislator’s interests and concerns on your issue in order to understand their priorities and underlying interests; look for common ground.
  • LISTEN more than you talk; work to build a long-term relationship.
  • Make a single, concrete “ask” that entails a verifiable action (e.g. voting against HB # xx) and highlight a few facts that will influence his or her thinking; don’t be abstract: focus on specific legislation currently before the legislature or which needs to be introduced; focus on top priority and the most effective legislation – don’t present a laundry list.
  • Get the legislator to be specific in their response.