�MN Association of School Administrators�

Legislative Training

December 6, 2023

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Why advocacy is important

• Legislators need information - they can’t possibly know everything that’s going on, so they rely on their constituents to keep them informed.

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• You can make a difference on your issues and concerns.

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• Linking an issue with a face.

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• If you don’t speak up – others will, and you might not like the outcome.

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Perceived Barriers?

• Government can be complicated and hard to navigate.

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• It can be frustrating, and you don’t always get what you want.

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• People don’t believe their voice can make a difference.

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• People have other demands and live very busy lives.

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• We have a lobbyist!

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The Role the Lobbyist

• Lobbyists help associations, corporations, non-profit organizations or local unit of governments to get their voice heard by, and hopefully influence, our policy makers.

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• Lobbyists work to ensure government officials hear and understand both sides of an issue.

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• Lobbyists bring people together to share information and ideas.

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• Lobbyist help their clients understand the legislative process, how it works, and why decisions are made.

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• Lobbyists help clients understand when and how to engage in the process.

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• Lobbyists serve as the eyes and ears for their clients.

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How to Connect

There are several ways to reach out to your elected official to begin an initial conversation or to request a meeting.

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Some are more effective than others.

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• Email
• Telephone
• Mail
• Social Media

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Ways to Connect

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• Personal visits in their district.
• Visit at their Capitol office.
• Program or district tours.
• Legislative events in your district.
• Contact them via email or phone about a specific issue or relay information that might be interesting to them.
• Involve yourself in your professional organization that advocates on issues you care about (they will encourage and help you find ways to engage with the legislative process).
• Follow them on social media.

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Preparing for the Meeting

Good things to know in advance of your meeting or discussion:

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• Political affiliation
• Background/biography
• Legislative committees
• Legislative priorities and bills chief authored

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It’s ok if you don’t know this information but if you do, it can help frame your message.

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Think about how you are going to frame your discussion and what you want to relay.

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Remember

• Introduce yourself, your connection to their legislative district and the issue you are contacting them about.
• Provide background information to help educate them on your issue but keep it simple.
• Stay away from jargon, acronyms and technical details that might distract them from the issue you are trying to discuss.
• Localize the issue. Show them why it’s important to your community, the clients you serve or your profession.
• Ask for specific action to be taken.
• It’s ok if you don’t know the answer to a question – offer to get them more information later.
• Follow up with a thank you note and reminder about your meeting.

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Telling Your Story

What do you want to do?

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• Raise awareness on your issue or concern?
• Show what is happening in your school district?
• Request a meeting or get to know a policymaker?
• Request a policymaker to support or oppose a specific bill?

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Remember:

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• Tell your story, not someone else’s
• Tell your story in a positive way
• Stay on message and be brief
• State all the facts and be 100% truthful�

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Telling Your Story

• Describe who you are and where you live or work.
• Share your connection to the elected official’s legislative district.
• Tell them about your program or profession.
• What is working?
• What is not working?
• Describe why the issue or issues are important to you.
• Describe what impact this issue has on you or the individuals you serve.
• Let the legislator know what they can do to support your priorities.

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Remember

• Elected officials expect and want to hear from their constituents. This is how they stay in touch with their community and learn what issues people care about.
• Be patient.  Change takes time and you might not succeed the first or even second attempt.
• Legislators are ordinary citizens and face the same life challenges we all do. They work hard to get elected and want to represent their communities as best they can. This work is ongoing and what might seem like a simple interaction could have a big impact.
• Make efforts to connect throughout the year. By doing so, you become a reliable source of information and a connection on our issues.

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Overview of Minnesota Legislature�

• 134 state representatives (70 Democrats and 64 Republicans).
• 67 state senators (34 Democrats and 33 Republicans).
• 35 percent of the 2023-2024 House members did not serve in the House last session. 36 percent of the 2023-2024 Senate members did not serve in the House last session.
• Makeup of legislature is increasingly diverse.
• Districts are determined by US Census every 10 years.
• House district = 35,000 residents
• Senate district = 70,000 residents
• State representatives serve two-year terms, and state senators serve four-year terms (except after redistricting).
• Legislators’ salary is set at $48,250 per year; legislators can also collect per diem for living and travel expenses.
• Legislative leadership, committee chairs, committee assignments – how are they chosen, what considerations are given, when does this happen?

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Legislative Timelines�

• Each legislative session is a two-year period, or biennium.
• The first year of the biennium, the odd numbered year, is for crafting the state budget that will be in effect for the following two fiscal years.
• The second year of the biennium, the even year, is typically for policy bills, the bonding bill and a smaller, supplemental budget.
• Constitution or state law dictates when a legislative session can begin and when it must adjourn.
• In odd-numbered years, the session begins the first week of January. In the even-numbered years it may start later.
• Session must adjourn no later than midnight of the third Monday after the third Sunday in May.
• Only the governor has the power to call a special session.

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How a bill becomes a law

• Bills start out as ideas– “There ought to be a law!”
• Bills are introduced for many different reasons.
• All legislation must be introduced as a bill, authored by a legislator, and given a bill number.
• Identical bills typically must be introduced in both the House and the Senate.
• Bills must meet deadlines to advance.
• Committee Chairs set committee hearing agendas and have the power to decide if a bill gets a hearing or not.

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How a bill becomes a law

• If a bill is given a hearing, it may be amended, and then voted on and sent to another committee or to the full body for a vote, laid over for further consideration, or defeated.
• If a bill passes on the House or Senate floor, it must also be passed by the other body in the same form.
• If there are differences, the other body can concur in the changes or send the bill to a conference committee to iron out differences.
• Once a bill is passed in the same form by both bodies, it goes to the Governor.
• The Governor can sign a bill, veto a bill, or allow a bill to become law without their signature.
• Legislature can override Governor’s veto with 2/3 majority vote by both bodies.

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Where to Find Information�

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www.leg.mn.gov

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• Look up information on bills, legislators, committees.
• Sign up for legislative or committee updates.
• Audio and video – live and archives.
• Find general information – parking, maps, directions.

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Questions?

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Valerie Dosland

valeried@ewald.com

612-490-3052

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