- 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?
Conclusion
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
How do I lobby in an ethical manner?
While there are many aspects to lobbying ethics, there are two areas, gift giving and lobbyist registration, which citizen lobbyists need to be particularly aware. The specifics of these issues are defined by the Ethics in Government Act of 1974.
National Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope
and U.S. Steelworkers President Leo Gerard discuss
policy at Blue-Green Alliance event, a coalition
formed between the Steelworkers and the Sierra Club
to promote green jobs, advance environmental
initiatives, and strengthen our economy.
Lobbyist Registration
Lobbyists in Minnesota are required to register as lobbyists with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. However, this requirement usually does not affect volunteer lobbyists because they are not being paid for their efforts. Activists engaged in citizen lobbying need not register as lobbyists in Minnesota as long as they:
- are not engaged for pay or other consideration and receive more than $3,000 from all sources in a year for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action
- are not an appointed local official or an employee in a political subdivision acting in an official capacity and spend more than 50 hours/year attempting to influence legislative or administrative action
- do not spend more than $250 of their own funds each year in attempt to influence legislative or administrative action.
Otherwise, volunteer lobbyists do not need to register as lobbyists, and can continue engaging in citizen lobbying.
Gift Ban
The Minnesota gift ban prohibits gifts given to public officials where the giver is a lobbyist, a lobbyist principal (an organization or business that the lobbyist works for), or a person or entity giving a gift at the request of a lobbyist or principal. Activists volunteering for the Sierra Club are likely banned from giving gifts in amounts greater than five dollars. Hence, citizen lobbyists who are not necessarily registered lobbyists must take caution when giving gifts. It is best to err on the side of caution when considering gift giving to an official in office. Potential law suits and fines severely outweigh the possible benefits of pleasing an official.