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A Citizen's Guide to Lobbying the Minnesota Legislature (pdf)

Table Of Contents

Introduction: What is Lobbying and Who are Lobbyists?

Part I: How an Idea Becomes a Law in Minnesota

• How does a bill get introduced?
  
• What happens when a bill gets introduced?
  
• Are there different types of bills that can be introduced?
  
• How does a bill move through the committee process?
  
• What happens after a bill has been considered by all committees?
  
• What happens once a bill has passed both houses?
  
• What is the Governor’s Role in this Process?
  
• How does the Minnesota Legislative Session Work?
  

Part II: How to Plan an Effective Legislative Campaign

• How do I develop a sound legislative campaign plan?
  
• How can I be an Effective Citizen Lobbyist?
  
• Why do citizen lobbyists need to understand the legislative process?
  
• How do I lobby in an ethical manner?
  

Conclusion

Appendices

• Appendix A: Understanding the Legislative Process
• Appendix B: How to Use the Minnesota Legislature's Website
• Appendix C: How to Read Bills and Amendments
• Glossary: Making Sense of Legislative Language

Contact your legislators

Who is your Legislator?

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp

Call your Legislators:

Senate: (651) 296-0504 or 1-888-234-1112
House: (651) 296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550

E-mail your state Senator:

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/info/alpha.htm

E-mail your state Representatives:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housemembers.asp

Mailing Address for state Senators:

Senator [Insert Senators Name]
75 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155

Mailing Address for state Representatives:

Representative [Insert Representatives Name]
50 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155

How to Plan an Effective Legislative Campaign

Why do citizen lobbyists need to understand the legislative process?

There are several reasons why an understanding of the legislative process is essential for citizen lobbying. Mainly, it provides activists with the knowledge and capability to get involved in the process in a variety of ways.

Citizen lobbyists can use their knowledge of the legislative process to their advantage. Here are some ways in which a citizen lobbyist can impact the passage of legislation:

• Find and prepare an effective author for your legislation. This includes providing an author with the information needed to defend the bill throughout the committee process and on the House or Senate floors.
• Get involved during the committee process (provide testimony, meet with committee members and legislative leaders).
• Get involved in meeting with agency staff who would be affected by the bill.
• Get involved in meeting with governor’s staff
• Get involved in building coalitions of people who support your proposal.