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Follow Lawmakers Home

The survey showed that 87% of public affairs professionals say in-person meetings are the top channel to communicate with lawmakers, and 62% said “growing legislative champions” is something they hope to improve. That’s why serious public affairs teams have a strategy for outreach in legislative districts, often with face-to-face conversations. “In-person is the way to do this,” said David Rowley, COO and director of government and community affairs at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It's me building these relationships that are allowing us to get things done, and it's not just just during the session ... I've been doing business for 30-plus years and my in-person exchanges have always been more impactful.” Unlike during the session, when lawmakers consider hundreds of bills in a very short period of time, summer and fall allow more time for serious policy discussions. If you are eager to present your organization’s position and to change hearts and minds, this is a good time to do it. Equally important is the message you send when you visit a lawmaker in their district. It shows that you care enough about their point of view, and their constituents,  to come and have a personal conversation. That’s a strong statement. [post_title] => Now is the Time to Build Better Relationships With State Lawmakers [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => build-relationships-state-lawmakers [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9881 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [queried_object_id] => 9881 [request] => SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = 'build-relationships-state-lawmakers' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'resources' ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9881 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_content] => When state legislative sessions wind down, lawmakers and staff across the country take a breath. The work doesn’t end—legislators head to their districts to catch up on business back home—but the pace slows considerably. Experienced public affairs teams know that exhale is the sound of opportunity. The third quarter can be the best time of year to build and enhance relationships with state lawmakers for teams that are willing to book legislative meetings, attend conferences, plan site visits, and otherwise take advantage of a time when legislative action throttles down. It’s no secret that state government is expected to become far more important in the year ahead, as an increasing number of issues are decided at the state level. Quorum’s State of Government Affairs Survey, released earlier this year, showed that 83% of public affairs professionals think that state legislation will become more critical and 74% said their organization will focus on state legislatures (more than the 67% who said they will target Congress). An investment of time and effort that starts now and takes place throughout the rest of the year can yield solid results when the sessions start again in January and the legislative pace accelerates. Here are four ideas to help build better relationships with state legislators:

Follow Lawmakers Home

The survey showed that 87% of public affairs professionals say in-person meetings are the top channel to communicate with lawmakers, and 62% said “growing legislative champions” is something they hope to improve. That’s why serious public affairs teams have a strategy for outreach in legislative districts, often with face-to-face conversations. “In-person is the way to do this,” said David Rowley, COO and director of government and community affairs at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It's me building these relationships that are allowing us to get things done, and it's not just just during the session ... I've been doing business for 30-plus years and my in-person exchanges have always been more impactful.” Unlike during the session, when lawmakers consider hundreds of bills in a very short period of time, summer and fall allow more time for serious policy discussions. If you are eager to present your organization’s position and to change hearts and minds, this is a good time to do it. Equally important is the message you send when you visit a lawmaker in their district. It shows that you care enough about their point of view, and their constituents,  to come and have a personal conversation. That’s a strong statement. [post_title] => Now is the Time to Build Better Relationships With State Lawmakers [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => build-relationships-state-lawmakers [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9881 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 1 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9881 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_content] => When state legislative sessions wind down, lawmakers and staff across the country take a breath. The work doesn’t end—legislators head to their districts to catch up on business back home—but the pace slows considerably. Experienced public affairs teams know that exhale is the sound of opportunity. The third quarter can be the best time of year to build and enhance relationships with state lawmakers for teams that are willing to book legislative meetings, attend conferences, plan site visits, and otherwise take advantage of a time when legislative action throttles down. It’s no secret that state government is expected to become far more important in the year ahead, as an increasing number of issues are decided at the state level. Quorum’s State of Government Affairs Survey, released earlier this year, showed that 83% of public affairs professionals think that state legislation will become more critical and 74% said their organization will focus on state legislatures (more than the 67% who said they will target Congress). An investment of time and effort that starts now and takes place throughout the rest of the year can yield solid results when the sessions start again in January and the legislative pace accelerates. Here are four ideas to help build better relationships with state legislators:

Follow Lawmakers Home

The survey showed that 87% of public affairs professionals say in-person meetings are the top channel to communicate with lawmakers, and 62% said “growing legislative champions” is something they hope to improve. That’s why serious public affairs teams have a strategy for outreach in legislative districts, often with face-to-face conversations. “In-person is the way to do this,” said David Rowley, COO and director of government and community affairs at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It's me building these relationships that are allowing us to get things done, and it's not just just during the session ... I've been doing business for 30-plus years and my in-person exchanges have always been more impactful.” Unlike during the session, when lawmakers consider hundreds of bills in a very short period of time, summer and fall allow more time for serious policy discussions. If you are eager to present your organization’s position and to change hearts and minds, this is a good time to do it. Equally important is the message you send when you visit a lawmaker in their district. It shows that you care enough about their point of view, and their constituents,  to come and have a personal conversation. That’s a strong statement. [post_title] => Now is the Time to Build Better Relationships With State Lawmakers [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => build-relationships-state-lawmakers [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-07-10 14:37:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9881 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 1 [max_num_pages] => 0 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => 1 [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => 1 [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 8fe204a68a4c660e3d96f777b0d24903 [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )
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Now is the Time to Build Better Relationships With State Lawmakers

Now is the Time to Build Better Relationships With State Lawmakers

When state legislative sessions wind down, lawmakers and staff across the country take a breath. The work doesn’t end—legislators head to their districts to catch up on business back home—but the pace slows considerably.

Experienced public affairs teams know that exhale is the sound of opportunity. The third quarter can be the best time of year to build and enhance relationships with state lawmakers for teams that are willing to book legislative meetings, attend conferences, plan site visits, and otherwise take advantage of a time when legislative action throttles down.

It’s no secret that state government is expected to become far more important in the year ahead, as an increasing number of issues are decided at the state level. Quorum’s State of Government Affairs Survey, released earlier this year, showed that 83% of public affairs professionals think that state legislation will become more critical and 74% said their organization will focus on state legislatures (more than the 67% who said they will target Congress).

An investment of time and effort that starts now and takes place throughout the rest of the year can yield solid results when the sessions start again in January and the legislative pace accelerates. Here are four ideas to help build better relationships with state legislators:

Follow Lawmakers Home

The survey showed that 87% of public affairs professionals say in-person meetings are the top channel to communicate with lawmakers, and 62% said “growing legislative champions” is something they hope to improve. That’s why serious public affairs teams have a strategy for outreach in legislative districts, often with face-to-face conversations.

“In-person is the way to do this,” said David Rowley, COO and director of government and community affairs at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s me building these relationships that are allowing us to get things done, and it’s not just just during the session … I’ve been doing business for 30-plus years and my in-person exchanges have always been more impactful.”

Unlike during the session, when lawmakers consider hundreds of bills in a very short period of time, summer and fall allow more time for serious policy discussions. If you are eager to present your organization’s position and to change hearts and minds, this is a good time to do it. Equally important is the message you send when you visit a lawmaker in their district. It shows that you care enough about their point of view, and their constituents,  to come and have a personal conversation. That’s a strong statement.

“
“It’s me building these relationships that are allowing us to get things done, and it’s not just just during the session … I’ve been doing business for 30-plus years and my in-person exchanges have always been more impactful.”
David Rowley, COO and Director of Government and Community Affairs, Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce

The turnover among lawmakers and staff that took place after the last election make this year’s efforts especially important because the education process is still ongoing. “When you’ve got new people, you’re really focusing on educating on who you are, what it is that you do and how you can be beneficial while you build those relationships,” Alan Stachura, senior manager of government relations at CT Corporation, said earlier this year.

CT Corporation helps companies handle corporate compliance. Stachura’s team is focused on state governments, and not just the legislatures. Secretaries of State, which regulate corporations, are also important. After the 2022 election, that position turned over in 17 states, he said. “There’s a lot of great new ideas, but also a ton of changes being introduced into the system,” he said, adding that, “it’s a new adventure every day.”

Conduct Impactful Meetings

To make the most of your outreach in the states, here are some ideas:

  1. Show Your Impact. Make sure that lawmakers understand the impact you have in their district. If you are a significant employer or have a large number of members or volunteers, for example, let them know up front.
  2. Bring New Information. Polling, surveys, and other data that speak to state and local sentiment on your issue can be extremely helpful in a state legislative district, where resources are often constrained. If you can generate this information, use it to present your case.
  3. Use Constituent Voices. Any policy argument will be made stronger when communicated by constituents. If you can bring an employee, a member of your organization or a volunteer with you to tell their story, the results can be powerful. Lawmakers use these stories to develop their policy positions and then defend them.
  4. Keep It Tight. Though they are less busy than during the session, a lawmaker’s schedule is still full. Plan to communicate your information and ideas in 15 minutes. If you get more time, consider it a bonus.

Support Your Champions By Listening

When meeting with lawmakers, make sure that communication flows both ways. Successful interactions are not just about presenting your point of view. You have to listen, too.

These meetings are a good time to find out how you can support the lawmakers who champion your legislative agenda. What do they need? What can your organization do? Every lawmaker has to communicate with constituents and educate them on policy issues. Help in this department is often appreciated, but it must be guided by the lawmaker, who knows what will resonate in their district and what will not. Here are some ideas you may want to discuss:

  1. Media Opportunities. Op-eds, commentaries, and letters to the editor can help lawmakers defend and advance their legislative positions. So too can social media campaigns and digital advertising. Ask what you can do to be helpful.
  2. Constituent Education. Ask what you can do to help lawmakers educate their constituents. Many participate in town halls, either virtually or in person. Can your organization give a presentation, take questions or contribute information? Or you could hold an event that features the legislator. Help with education is often appreciated.
  3. Constituent Stories. Lawmakers need anecdotes to communicate their positions. Connecting them with constituents who can tell personal stories about the impact of policy can help, especially when it comes to communicating with other state and local politicians. There’s a reason that so many floor speeches make reference to people back home.
  4. GOTV Efforts. All state lawmakers eventually stand for reelection and many appreciate efforts to register voters and get them to the polls.

Educate Legislative Staff

Staff are more than just gatekeepers. They are the lawmaker’s radar system, policy advisors, and attention span. Lawmakers rely directly on staff to help manage the load; ignoring or mistreating legislative staff is always a mistake.

Unlike Congress, where thousands of staffers serve in the House and Senate, many state legislatures are perpetually shorthanded. In small states, it is common for lawmakers to share staff. At the same time, state lawmakers are faced with digesting hundreds of bills and forming a position on dozens of policy issues in a compressed time frame each session. Help is often welcome.

The best public affairs shops function as an arm of legislative staff, offering expertise, data, and information that help them make informed decisions. If your team is not helping to educate and support staffers, you are missing an opportunity to participate directly in the legislative process. Book meetings directly with staff, just as you would a lawmaker, and ask them about their needs. If you can meet those needs, you are on your way to a solid relationship.

Conferences and Site Visits

Meetings with lawmakers don’t have to take place in a district office. There are many opportunities to gain facetime with lawmakers in other venues that can be equally—and perhaps even more—productive.

Conferences are a good example. The National Conference of State Legislatures annual legislative summit, for instance, draws state lawmakers and staff from all over the country, who come to participate in discussions, hear panels, and network. It can be a good place to meet with lawmakers at a time when they are focused on educating themselves and discussing policy.

Lawmakers themselves also hold events, such as fundraisers, and they attend events in the district, all of which can represent opportunities.

“We’ve really ramped up some of our efforts to try to get more face time and attend more events,” said Craig Sepich, assistant director of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which represents property and casualty insurers, auto rental companies and others.

“If we can make those personal connections, put a face to the name and shake somebody’s hand, people know who our organization is.” he said. “When we come around later with an issue, they can at least recall, ‘I met that person.’ How valuable is that? It’s huge.”

You can also invite lawmakers to your location. If you have an office, factory, warehouse, or other facility in their district, a site visit gives them a first-hand look at your operation, the chance to address your staff and some quality meeting time. It is also an opportunity to take photos and video, which can be used in campaigns later on.

Of course, there are many things that your organization can do to build better relationships with state lawmakers. But taking advantage of the summer and fall, when the action slows, is a key opportunity. Organizations that book district meets, attend conferences, and host lawmakers onsite are taking steps to become full-time partners, showing interest when there is no bill on the floor and no immediate need at hand. That’s how the best legislative relationships are built—and those relationships will pay off when legislative sessions start up again next year.

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