LWVCCA Legislative Committee

LWVCCA Legislative Committee

LWVCCA Legislative Committee Promotes communication and advocacy among League members and legislators regarding legislation, programs and issues proposed/adopted locally, statewide, and nationwide. 

Chair: Suzanne Brock

Purpose/Key Objectives

• Follow all bills on which LWVMA has taken a position (support/oppose) with strong focus and actions on certain bills related to our League’s priorities and the Cape Cod region. (Ex: Environment, Voting Rights, etc.).
• Educate/inform members and local citizens on these bills and encourage them to take action.
• Assist our members and citizens in becoming more active lobbyists to influence state legislators/legislation.
• Raise LWVCCA’s visibility and influence with legislators and across the Cape region.

Role of Chair

• Lead Legislative Committee.
• With committee members, identify a group of related bills (Ex. Environment, Voting Rights etc.) and determine which ones will be followed by each member.
• Monitor LWVMA legislative activities to identify new bills and other relevant changes.
• Coordinate with LWVCCA committee chairs on bills relevant to their committee.
• On selected bills, recommend when and what additional local actions are needed to supplement those taken by LWVMA Legislative Action Committee (LAC).
• Recommend when and how LWVCCA will encourage citizen advocacy on these bills.
• Draft written external communications and submit to the LWVCCA board for approval and distribute final communications to Communications Committee.
• Be a liaison between the LWVCCA board and LAC (Legislative Action Committee).
• Organize annual Cape Cod Legislators Breakfast.
• Update Directory of Elected Officials.
• Coordinate LWVCCA members’ attendance at LWVMA’s Lobby Day, Day on the Hill or bill specific lobby day.

Role of committee members

• Follow designated group of related bills and monitor legislative activities.
• Work with LWVMA legislative specialists assigned to specific bills.
• Advocate for key bills with state representatives and senators.
• Advise other committee members and LWVCCA members when action is needed to advocate for selected bills.
• Coordinate with committee chair when public advocacy is needed.
• Help draft written communications and submit to the board for approval.
• Note: members can participate/advocate remotely (i.e. seasonal travelers) but computer literacy and access are required.

 Educational Resources

• The Citizen Lobbyist - Making Your Voice Heard (LWVMA document issued July 2017)
• MA Legislative Process – MASS Bar Association
• MA Legislative Process flow chart – Suffolk University
• Current Legislative Session Deadlines and Significant Dates
• Mass. League Action Newsletters (emailed monthly)

Websites

www.lwvcapecod.org – web page for the League of Women Voters Cape Cod Area
www.lwvmaorg – web page for the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
www.lwv.org – web page for the U.S. League of Women Voters
www.mass.gov – official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Additional Resources

• LWVMA Where We Stand
• LWV – Summary of Public Policy Positions
• Ideas of Working with your Legislators – MA Legislation Action Committee
• League Advocacy - LWVUS

Co-Chairs: Renate Sands, Elaine Dickinson

 

Committee Contact
Contact Name: 
Suzanne Brock
League to which this content belongs: 
The Cape Cod Area

All Posts Related to this Committee

Click below to make reservations for the March 24, 2023 DIALOGUE WITH CAPE COD LEGISLATORS
at Cape Cod Community College.

$10 for a single reservation, $20 for two reservations.

March 26 Legislative Forum Main Image
News

On March 26, LWVCCA, The Cape Women's Coalition, and the Cape Media Center invited the members of the Cape and Islands' statehouse delegation to be panelists in a webinar to discuss their priorities for the upcoming 192nd legislative session

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VOTER SERVICE COMMITTEE

Chair: Lynne Pleffner
Our Committee's role is:

Our Committees are where the real work gets done:

VOTER SERVICE COMMITTEE

Chair: Lynne Pleffner
Our Committee's role is: