1. Helpful Tips for Effective Legislative Advocacy
Joe Dacca
UW Director of State Relations

2. Yes, you can:
Engage in the political process as a private individual using private resources
Educate elected officials and state government leaders on a policy issue or serve as an “expert” on a policy
Respond to direct legislative requests for information
Directly lobby a legislator (or executive) as a UW employee using UW resources as long as you report it. Direct lobbying typically means asking for something (policy, funding, etc.) or asking them not to specifically do something.
Lobby a legislator on a personal topic using your UW affiliation as long as you lobby on your own time and explicitly state you are speaking for yourself and not the University
**Please coordinate UW advocacy with the State Relations Office**

3. No, you can’t:
Engage in grassroots lobbying as a UW employee using UW resources. Grassroots lobbying is typically includes a “call to action” in support of specific funding or policy change
Participate in political campaigns during work hours or donate to campaigns using public funds
Work to pass or defeat a ballot initiative using UW time or resources

4. Advice for meeting with a legislator or testifying before a committee
Be early – time in session is precious
Be concise – time in session is precious
Be flexible – schedules often change
Be gracious – do not disparage other institutions, programs, legislators, or opposing political parties
Use concrete examples that connect policy & funding to the needs of the state and it’s residents
If you don’t know the answer, that’s ok, we’ll find it together and follow up

5. 2018 UW State Legislative Agenda
Joe Dacca
UW Director of State Relations

6. 2018 Session At a Glance
With special election results in 45th District, a “Democratic Trifecta” now exists in Olympia, with Ds controlling House, Senate, and Governor’s Mansion.
With razor-thin (1 vote) majorities in both chambers, progress will still require bipartisan compromise.
60 Day Supplemental (short) session, minor changes to 2-year budget passed last summer.
Capital Budget still not passed, being tied to Hirst Supreme Court ruling (rural water rights).
Uncertainty in Washington DC may spur action in Olympia.

7. UW 2018 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – Part 1
Operating Budget Priorities:
An adjustment to the proportion, or “fund split,” of state-related expenses funded by tuition revenue. We request that state funding be adjusted to cover 50% of expenses in the state operating budget for employee compensation and central services.
This would leave 50% to be covered by tuition revenue, which would align the UW’s share of new expenses with every other public 4-year university in the state. The current fund split (66% - UW / 34% - State) attributed to the UW significantly over-estimates actual incremental tuition revenue, and further institutionalizes recession-era ratios.
$1.3 million in M&O funding in FY19 In order to provide essential maintenance, operation, and access to the state-funded Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering (formerly CSE II) on UW’s Seattle Campus.

8. UW 2018 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – Part 2
Pass the Bi-Partisan Biennial Capital Budget
As it stands:
-$24.2 million for the state’s New Burke Museum
-$15 million for construction of the Population Health research building
-$10 million to design a replacement for the aging Magnuson Health Sciences “T-Wing” facility
-$1.5 million to plan for new growth and soil remediation at UW Tacoma
-$3 million to design a new STEM education building at UW Bothell
-$20 million to support the Center for Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Technology
-$10 million to renovate the aging Parrington Hall, home of the Evans School
-Access to student-supported Building Account funds, which would fund over $70 million in preservation, maintenance, and seismic improvements on campus buildings. In addition, these funds support over 100 employees who help maintain and operate UW facilities.
Additional request not included in the bi-partisan bill:
-$600,000 in the supplemental capital budget for the College of Engineering for pre-design funding of a collaborative student-focused facility.

9. Please and Thank you: Fill out BillTracker when asked
Get your fiscal notes in on time
Be a problem solver – understand we’re all on one team
If you are lead on a major bill or issue, provide day and evening contact information so we can get a hold of you
If you plan to visit Olympia, please give us a heads up
If you need me and can’t get me, don’t panic – call Jillian or Marissa!

10. QUESTIONS?
State Relations Team Contact Info:
Joe Dacca:
Jillian Kilby:
Marissa Ingalls: