Learn where to start your advocacy with state legislatures

State advocacy requires more planning and advanced research than outreach to Congress does, because there is a lot of variance in legislatures from state to state. Additionally, state legislatures often operate on a much more compressed timeframe and with fewer resources. However, because federal issues can trickle down to the states, or state issues bubble up to the federal level, it is important to cultivate relationships with state officials. If you are unsure where to best invest your time, the Advocacy Office can help you identify areas where state-level advocacy is particularly needed. The following are some pointers on how to get started:

1. Learn your state legislature’s session schedule.

State legislative sessions vary—some meet year-round, others hold sessions for only a few months or weeks out of the year, and some meet only every other year. Their offices might not be fully staffed while they are out of session. When they are staffed, it is not unusual for multiple offices to share the same administrative staff. The National Conference of State Legislaturesopens in new window lists the state legislative session schedule for each year and is updated annually.

2. Identify your state legislators.

Ballotpediaopens in new window can help identify your state and local officials, and provides links to their websites which should include contact information. There is also a brief video on how to navigate the Ballotpedia websiteopens in new window. Please contact your state or local officials to inquire how to schedule a meeting with them, as their processes might vary. Once you have a meeting scheduled, review these best practices for a successful meeting. 

3. Consult your state, territorial or provincial association for further guidance.

They often have either state lobbyists or volunteer legislative committees who can advise you on the state political climate, legislative efforts relevant to psychologists, or state coalitions that are working on issues that interest you.

4. Reach out to the APA Advocacy Office for more information on how state policies and federal policies intertwine.

Our team regularly monitors the interplay between state and federal policies and can give you guidance on where, how, and when your involvement would be most impactful.