DFLEC Legislative Action!
The committee met. This is a summary of information conveyed to members at that meeting, and an invitation to join us if you have not already!
The DFLEC Legislative Committee met on Zoom Sunday evening.
You can download a copy of the presentation (as a PDF) here:
The links in that PDF file should work, but most of those links can be found in the overview below
Upcoming Events
Please note that with the unusual events happening in the Minnesota House, some lobby days or other events may be cancelled or moved to a new time. Please check in all cases to see if the event you wish to attend is happening on the day and time (and place) expected.
Here is our current list of events coming up.
Jan. 14, Forward Together: Rally for Equal Rights
Scheduled for Jan. 17, but delayed. Check with the organizers: Zero Waste Lobby Day
Jan. 18, Women’s March MN
Jan. 21 - DFLEC Forum with Rep. Patty Acomb, JT Haines (MCEA), Dr. Carrie Jennings (Freshwater). Register here.
Jan. 23 - Friends of BWCA Lobby Day. Double check the schedule before you go.
DFLEC Legislative Priorities for 2025
The committee leadership conducted a poll of members, and we have been in contact with key legislators, leadership in various environmental advocacy groups, etc. and put together a PRELIMINARY and PROVISIONAL list of DFLEC Legislative Priorities of 2025. We emphasize the preliminary and provisional nature of this list because we are always looking for more direction and ideas from membership. Also, with the state of the current legislature we may have to shift priorities pragmatically. Note that our climate change and energy related items are sparse as of this writing because we are still seeking information from legislative leaders.
The draft document outlining our priorities is here.
We are asking committee members to make phone calls, visit legislators, and send letters or emails to their own legislators or committee chairs. Also, finding the contact information for your legislators’ assistants and keeping in touch with them can be helpful.
We don’t expect every committee member to do everything that can be done, but amongst us all we will be able to do quite a bit.
Lobby Day(s)
We are planning a DFLEC Lobby Day in March. We need help with this. Please let us know if you can help with room reservations, arranging for guest speakers, and setting up the meeting itself, and organizing meetings with legislators. A lobby day typically involves a meeting with some training and/or contact with key speakers (usually a legislator), followed by organized visit between our members and their Senators or Representatives.
Do you know who represents you in the legislature?
Use the “Who Represents Me?” site” https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
Learn about your House Member: https://www.house.mn.gov/members/list
Learn about your Senator: https://www.senate.mn/members
These pages include addresses, phone numbers, and emails for Representatives and Senators. (In some cases, you will be directed to a contact form instead of an email.)
Click on their name and you will get a page with their biographical information, their committees, contact information for the Legislative assistant, and bills they authored or coauthored. You can also sign up for their newsletter.
Writing to your Senator or Rep
You may find this document helpful: Guidance on how to write effective emails or letters to your legislators
Finding out more about committees, how bill becomes a law, etc.
Find out about the committees here:
How a bill becomes a law: https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/howbill
The Minnesota Legislature has this PDF guide: From Idea To Law
You can use the Minnesota Legislature search system: https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/legis
You can use the “my bills” web page to track your favorite bills: https://www.leg.mn.gov/mybills/
Committee Meetings are listed on the combined legislative meeting calendar: https://www.leg.mn.gov/cal?type=all
The House Session Daily tracks House activity including Committee work: https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/
Sign Up for legislative mailing lists:
Messaging
One of the things we hear again and again from members is the need for more training in messaging. We are working with George Green at Connections Lab to develop opportunities for messaging training over the next several weeks. Stay tuned.
Are you a member of the DFLEC Legislative Action Committee?
No? Click Here!
If you are not a member of the DFLEC, please consider joining. Also, please consider making a donation to help us with these efforts.
On a separate topic, can you help Dave Gottfried win an important election???
