LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Melinda Hugdahl, Staff Attorney
Legal Services Advocacy Project
What We’ll Talk About Today
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What is LSAP
A short primer on legislative
advocacy
Legislative process – from idea to
law
WHO IS LSAP?
What is LSAP?
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The Legal Services Advocacy
Project (LSAP) is the division of
Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance
that provides legislative and
policy advocacy to legal aid
programs statewide.
We advocate on behalf of lowincome Minnesotans on a variety
of civil legal issues such as family
law, consumer law, housing law,
public benefits law and health
care law.
What Does LSAP Do?
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Improve state laws and rules that affect our various
client groups
Represent low income clients’ issues at the Legislature
and before administrative bodies
Educate our clients and groups that work with our
clients about laws and issues (e.g., victims of domestic
violence)
How Lobbying is Like Courtroom
Work
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Negotiation skills
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Knowledge of the law
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Acting on behalf of a client
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Your reputation precedes you
How Lobbying is NOT Like
Courtroom Work
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It’s political
You must be brief – and know
how to message to the mass
audience as well as the
individual
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No level playing field
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Drafting skills
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Ex Parte
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There are many rules, but also
many exceptions
What do you know about people in
poverty?
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Can you buy alcohol or cigarettes with your EBT
card in Minnesota?
 NO!
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What is the average amount of time that a family
receives cash safety net assistance?
 27
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months
What percentage of safety net assistance recipients
have a serious, documented mental health diagnosis?
 48%
(of MFIP families – doesn’t include chemical health)
THE LEGISLATIVE LIFE CYCLE
Five Process Phases
Identification
and
Development
and an Idea
Drafting and
Introducing a
Bill
The
Committee
Process
On to the
Floor! (and
beyond)
The Governor
THE FIRST PHASE:
Identification and
Development of an Idea
Identification of an Idea
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Legislative proposals come from many sources
Most are from our attorneys, who tell us about
problems they see in their cases
Development of an Idea
1.
Research
2. Input and
feedback from our
practitioners
SETTING GOALS
AND STRATEGY
Lobbying 101
Defining the Goal
Touchdown? (i.e., Pass the bill? Stop the bill?)
First Down?
(Get part of what you want this time?)
Put the Ball in Play? (Introduce the concept?)
Planning the Strategy
Keys to Successful Strategy
Building/Maintaining Relationships
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Legal Aid
Legislators
Legislative Staff
Agency Staff
National Partners
Local Allies
Other Lobbyists
Keys To Successful Strategy
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Messaging,
Messaging,
Messaging…..
Keys to Successful Strategy
Finding and Working with Allies/Coalitions
Keys to Successful Strategy
Finding Unusual Allies
Keys to Successful Strategy
Tapping the grassroots
network
Keys to Successful Strategy
Working with Opponents
STRATEGY IN ACTION ADVOCACY
Strategy in Action - Advocacy
Keep on Keepin’ On
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Working with allies
Working with
Opponents
Activating Grassroots
networks
Check in on your goal:
 Realistic?
 Need
to change
course?
Keys to Successful Advocacy
Knowing the Process
Keys to Successful Advocacy
Knowing the Facts
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Bloomington and Minneapolis are the two farthest
north latitude cities to ever host a World Series game.
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The stapler was invented in Spring Valley.
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The nation’s first Better Business Bureau was founded in Minneapolis in 1912.
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Candy maker Frank C. Mars of Minnesota introduced the Milky Way candy bar in 1923.
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Madison is the "Lutefisk capital of the United States".
Keys to Successful Advocacy
Making a Persuasive (Legal and Other) Argument
Keys to Successful Advocacy
USE THE MEDIA
PERSEVERANCE
THE SECOND PHASE:
Bill Drafting and Introduction
Drafting the Bill
It Gets Introduced
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H.F. No. 979, as introduced - 87th Legislative Session (2011-2012) Posted on Mar 09, 2011
1.1A bill for an act
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1.2 relating to human services; requiring the commissioner to analyze the
1.3 establishment of uniform asset limits across human services assistance programs.
1.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
Section 1. UNIFORM ASSET LIMIT REQUIREMENTS.
The commissioner of human services, in consultation with county human services
representatives, shall analyze the differences in asset limit requirements across human
services assistance programs, including group residential housing, Minnesota supplemental
aid, general assistance, Minnesota family investment program, diversionary work program,
the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance programs,
and child care programs. The goal of the analysis is to establish a consistent asset limit
across human services programs and minimize the administrative burdens on counties in
implementing asset tests. The commissioner shall report its findings and conclusions to
the health and human services legislative committees by January 15, 2012, and include
draft legislation establishing a uniform asset limit for human services assistance programs.
Meeting with Key People
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Legislators
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Staff
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Allies
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Opponents/Potential Opponents
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State agency officials
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Governor’s staff
THE THIRD PHASE:
Committees
Committee Process
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After a bill is introduced, it is sent to
the relevant committee in House and
Senate.
Committee Process
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We talk to the members to secure their
support or opposition
Committee Process
We testify
“Melinda Hugdahl, Legal Services Advocacy Project
staff attorney, said the bill’s goal is admirable, but her
concern ‘lies with the folks who don’t agree or don’t
have resources to develop a parenting plan and don’t
understand the ramifications.’ She is working with
Anderson to address these issues before the bill
receives its next hearing.”
 Session Weekly
Committee Process
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We bring in others to testify
THE FOURTH PHASE:
On to the Floor!
On the Floor
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After a bill gets through all the committees, it
goes to the House and Senate floor where the
legislators debate the merits of the bill.
On the Floor
Then they vote!
Conference Committee
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For non-identical bills
Keeping the good in, keeping the bad out
THE FIFTH PHASE:
The Governor
Governor Signs (or Vetoes) Bill
The Final Product: A Session Law
2008, Regular Session
CHAPTER 174--S.F.No. 2910
An act
relating to landlord and tenant; modifying expungement of eviction
records;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 484.014, by adding a subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 484.014, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Mandatory expungement. The court shall order expungement of an
eviction case commenced solely on the grounds provided in section 504B.285, subdivision
1, clause (1), if the court finds that the defendant occupied real property that was subject to
contract for deed cancellation or mortgage foreclosure and:
(1) the time for contract cancellation or foreclosure redemption has expired and the
defendant vacated the property prior to commencement of the eviction action; or
(2) the defendant was a tenant during the contract cancellation or foreclosure
redemption period and did not receive a notice under section 504B.285, subdivision 1,
clause (1), to vacate on a date prior to commencement of the eviction case.
Presented to the governor April 2, 2008
Signed by the governor April 4, 2008, 4:07 p.m.
What Some Perceive to Be the Final Product
LSAP Accomplishments
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Over the years, LSAP’s work has improved:
Training and employment opportunities
 Food supports
 Health care
 Child support collection and enforcement
 Domestic abuse protections
 Tenants’ rights
 Housing opportunities
 Consumer protections
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POST SESSION
What we do (just kidding)
YOGI BERRA WAS WRONG
IT’S NEVER OVER -----EVEN WHEN IT’S OVER!
Post Session Work
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Session Summaries
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CLE Work
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Task Force/Agency Working Groups/Hearings
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Rulemaking/Agency/Judicial Branch Comments
Getting Ready….
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After session ends, the process starts again. We
typically meet with practitioners, allies, agencies
and others to start discussing issues for the next
session.