1. Making the Connection Working with the General Assembly on Environmental Issues

2. Truth, Justice, and the American Way Some basics… Be as upfront as possible. Anticipate opposing arguments – acknowledge them. Tell the whole story. Don’t get angry. The person who disagrees with you today may be tomorrow’s biggest ally. Always keep your word. The General Assembly is all about relationships. Some basics… Be as upfront as possible. Anticipate opposing arguments – acknowledge them. Tell the whole story. Don’t get angry. The person who disagrees with you today may be tomorrow’s biggest ally. Always keep your word. The General Assembly is all about relationships.

3. Before Approaching Your Delegate or Senator… Identify the root of the problem or issue. Does it require legislative action, or is it a: Policy or procedural issue? Regulatory issue? A local government issue? Get as specific as possible. Broad positions are OK to start with, but... The more specific your idea, the better chance there is of having action taken. What specifically should be changed? What are the facts to back up your argument? Identify the root of the problem or issue. Does it require legislative action, or is it a: Policy or procedural issue? Regulatory issue? A local government issue? Get as specific as possible. Broad positions are OK to start with, but... The more specific your idea, the better chance there is of having action taken. What specifically should be changed? What are the facts to back up your argument?

4. Before Approaching Your Delegate or Senator… Check for past similar legislation: http://leg1.state.va.us Contact the patron. Find out what happened. Anticipate your allies and your opponents: Contact potential allies first – ask for their support. Can potential problem areas be addressed up front? Determine who you will need to convince: What committee/subcommittee is likely to consider the bill? Check for past similar legislation: http://leg1.state.va.us Contact the patron. Find out what happened. Anticipate your allies and your opponents: Contact potential allies first – ask for their support. Can potential problem areas be addressed up front? Determine who you will need to convince: What committee/subcommittee is likely to consider the bill?

5. Be prepared to spend the time needed to get your bill passed.

6. TIMING For legislation: Start early. Pre-filing for legislation started on July 17 th. Pre-filing ends on December 11 th. Otherwise, all bills go to that member’s five bill limit. For budget items: Get it in the Governor’s proposed budget if at all possible. For legislation: Start early. Pre-filing for legislation started on July 17 th. Pre-filing ends on December 11 th. Otherwise, all bills go to that member’s five bill limit. For budget items: Get it in the Governor’s proposed budget if at all possible.

7. STUDIES Who would have thought that studies would be harder to get through than legislation? But it is true. House Rules Committee limits itself to 15 studies. Who would have thought that studies would be harder to get through than legislation? But it is true. House Rules Committee limits itself to 15 studies.

8. PRE-INVOLVEMENT Make yourself a resource. Find a way to get potential sponsors involved in something non-legislative. GMU example. Invited legislators to general overview. Paid attention to specific interests/concerns. Followed through with individual meetings and offer to serve as resource. Make yourself a resource. Find a way to get potential sponsors involved in something non-legislative. GMU example. Invited legislators to general overview. Paid attention to specific interests/concerns. Followed through with individual meetings and offer to serve as resource.

9. Choosing Your Champion There are lots of reasons to choose a specific legislator: Personal relationship. Connection to the legislative topic. Membership on a specific committee or subcommittee. Introduced similar legislation in the past. Geographic representation. Write or email, and request a meeting to discuss your idea. Follow-up with co-patrons – don’t let your second pick get away! There are lots of reasons to choose a specific legislator: Personal relationship. Connection to the legislative topic. Membership on a specific committee or subcommittee. Introduced similar legislation in the past. Geographic representation. Write or email, and request a meeting to discuss your idea. Follow-up with co-patrons – don’t let your second pick get away!

10. LEGISLATIVE SERVICES These guys are awesome! Pre-filing doesn’t mean the legislation is ready for prime time. A paragraph and a signature will get you on the way. These guys are awesome! Pre-filing doesn’t mean the legislation is ready for prime time. A paragraph and a signature will get you on the way.

11. Communicating Your Message Boil the message down to one or two pages. Can it be seen as a long-term investment? What will we save by changing behavior, investing in a new program, etc. Present a communications plan by the legislator. Plan on several ways of communicating the message. Leverage resources from organizations that have full-time staff. Boil the message down to one or two pages. Can it be seen as a long-term investment? What will we save by changing behavior, investing in a new program, etc. Present a communications plan by the legislator. Plan on several ways of communicating the message. Leverage resources from organizations that have full-time staff.

12. Communicating Your Message Treat the opposition with respect. Volunteer accurate information. Nothing is worse than a one-sided story. Have arguments both pro and con. Understand and acknowledge supporters. Anticipate who the legislator knows or would like to get validation from. League of Conservation Voters, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Council, Municipal League, etc. Treat the opposition with respect. Volunteer accurate information. Nothing is worse than a one-sided story. Have arguments both pro and con. Understand and acknowledge supporters. Anticipate who the legislator knows or would like to get validation from. League of Conservation Voters, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Council, Municipal League, etc.

13. CONSTITUENTS Legislators respond to constituents and contributors. Just a few emails or letters will do – don’t overwhelm the legislator. Constituent meetings are much better than officials from an organization. Limit your message to 5 or 10 minutes. Minimum wage bill. Motorcycle helmet bill. Legislators respond to constituents and contributors. Just a few emails or letters will do – don’t overwhelm the legislator. Constituent meetings are much better than officials from an organization. Limit your message to 5 or 10 minutes. Minimum wage bill. Motorcycle helmet bill.

14. Dealing with Committees and Subcommittees All meaningful work is done on the committee and subcommittee level. Don’t underestimate the power of testifying. People rely on testimony to make decisions. Be prepared to travel to Richmond. If testimony is one-sided, group think mentality kicks in. Subcommittees (5 to 9 people) can kill a bill. All meaningful work is done on the committee and subcommittee level. Don’t underestimate the power of testifying. People rely on testimony to make decisions. Be prepared to travel to Richmond. If testimony is one-sided, group think mentality kicks in. Subcommittees (5 to 9 people) can kill a bill.

15. Dealing with Committees and Subcommittees Think through what you are willing to back away from and what you are not. Be prepared to compromise. Lobbyists have time to think about how to neutralize a bill. You will have only a few seconds to react. Think through what you are willing to back away from and what you are not. Be prepared to compromise. Lobbyists have time to think about how to neutralize a bill. You will have only a few seconds to react.

16. Be Prepared to React Even if you don’t submit legislation, track and be prepared to react. Bad bills pass because no one challenges them. Even if you don’t submit legislation, track and be prepared to react. Bad bills pass because no one challenges them.

17. THANK YOU Win or loose, say thank you.

18. Chronology of a Bill HB 421 Closes a loophole in solid waste planning and when a permit is required. Brought to patron’s attention by Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Loudoun County. Pre-filed on the last possible day (December 12 th ). DEQ provided input on specific bill language, and several minor changes were made. Loudoun County helped by obtaining several strategic co-patrons and talking to waste authorities. Closes a loophole in solid waste planning and when a permit is required. Brought to patron’s attention by Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Loudoun County. Pre-filed on the last possible day (December 12 th ). DEQ provided input on specific bill language, and several minor changes were made. Loudoun County helped by obtaining several strategic co-patrons and talking to waste authorities.

19. Chronology of a Bill HB 421 Bill passed subcommittee. Bill passed full committee, with delegate from Charles City County voting against. Discussed and resolved issues. Bill passed full House. Evening before Senate committee hearing, patron got a call from a lobbyist representing a waste facility expressing concerns. Worked with DEQ, Loudoun, and waste representatives on substitute. Passed Senate unanimously and then the House. Bill passed subcommittee. Bill passed full committee, with delegate from Charles City County voting against. Discussed and resolved issues. Bill passed full House. Evening before Senate committee hearing, patron got a call from a lobbyist representing a waste facility expressing concerns. Worked with DEQ, Loudoun, and waste representatives on substitute. Passed Senate unanimously and then the House.

20. David Bulova Virginia House of Delegates 37 th District deldbulova@house.state.va.us (703) 310-6752 deldbulova@house.state.va.us (703) 310-6752