LOBBYING 101
2014 Florida
Chapter
Conference
WHAT IS LOBBYING?
 Lobbying:
 To influence or sway toward a desired action.
 To get something you want by talking to decisionmakers.
 Grassroots Lobbying:
 Asking the public to persuade a decisionmaker (elected or appointed) on a
particular piece of legislation or rule.
 e.g.-Holly sending out a flyer asking the public to contact their legislator to vote
yes on a bill.
 Federal and State limitations apply.
 Direct Lobbying:
 Asking a decisionmaker to vote in a particular way on a specific piece of
legislation or rule.
 e.g.- Holly talking to a Senator and asking them to vote yes on a specific bill.
 Federal and State limitations apply.
 Advocacy:
 General promotion of an idea though education.
 Unlimited!
THE BASICS
 There are 160 members of the Florida Legislature
 40 Florida Senate
 120 Florida House of Representatives
 Every year the Florida Legislature meets in March for a period
“not to exceed 60 calendar days” - that’s the Legislative
Session. Florida Legislature can call a “Special Session” as
needed
 Each House member is given six bill slots, there is no limit for
Senators
 2015 Leadership:
 President of the Senate: Andy Gardiner (R, Orlando)
 Speaker of the House: Steve Crisafulli (R, Merrit Island)
 Other leadership positions are TBD!
I’M JUST A BILL…
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
Bill is filed and given a number (HB for House, SB for Senate)
Bill must have three readings
Bill goes to committees (Committees of Reference)
Bill must be put on each committee agenda
Bill must pass out of each committee “favorably”
Bill must be voted on by both houses
Bill must go to Conference Committee to iron out language
dif ferences
 Conference Committee issues a report on bill
 Final vote occurs in both houses
 Governor signs or doesn’t sign within 15 days of transmittal
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KEY TERMS & ACRONYMS
 Committee Substitute (CS or CS1): A bill going through the committee
hearing process sometimes has numerous amendments or the amendments
change the original concept of the bill. The bill is then rewritten and
becomes a “Committee Substitute”
 Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute (CS/CS or C2)
 Companion Bill: A bill introduced in one house which is identical or similar
to a bill introduced in the other house.
 Engrossed Bill (E): The ver sion of a measure that incorporates adopted
floor amendments
 Enrolled Bill (ER): A measure approved by both houses and signed by the
legislative of ficer s which is sent to the Governor for action
 General Bill (GB, HB, SB): A bill of general statewide interest
 Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS): A proposal that represented the
changes that a committee intends to make to a bill. When voted on
favorably, it becomes a committee substitute
 Temporarily Postponed (TP): The postponing of considerati on of an
agendaed bill, sometimes referred to as “temporarily passed”, “temporarily
deferred” or “ TP’d”
 Withdraw (WD) : Remove from considerati on by the body
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
 Where is the decision made?
 State, Federal, Local?
 What Committees?
 Who are the decision makers?
 Who are the House & Senate leadership?
 Who chairs the committees?
 Who sits on the committees?
 Who are your champions- or who can become one?
 When is the vote(s) happening?
BUILDING RELATIONSHIP
 Relationship Building
 It takes time! Most bills take years to become laws.
 It’s not enough that you know your legislators name, they need to
know your name!
 Become a resource for legislators. They are always looking for
reliable, factual information.
 Have the courtesy to let them know if you oppose their legislation
BEFORE publicly doing so. And have some solutions ready to suggest,
just in case they want to reach a compromise!
 The composition of the legislature may change, but staff often stay
the same.
BUILDING A COALITION
Coalition Building
 Find like-minded
groups to meet the
same goal
 Don’t reinvent the
wheel
 If an alliance doesn’t
work for the cause,
drop it!
PLANNING
 Planning:
 Set goals and identify targets
 Define tasks and create roles: What steps need to be taken and who
will do the work?
 Use the campaign strategy worksheet
 Use multiple platforms:
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Education and awareness events
Action alerts
Public speaking
Media (LTEs/op-eds/ads)
Blogs
Social Media
Others?
TRACKING
 Sign up on the House
(myfloridahouse.gov)
and Senate
(flsenate.gov)
webpages for free bill
tracking.
 You will receive regular
emailed updates on the
progress of your
legislation including
which committees are
reading it, what the
vote count is, and who
voted which way.
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
Make an
appointment!
Contact the staff
member listed on
their website.
Visit their district
office, it’s easier
and usually more
effective!
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
Be on time
Dress to impress
Have literature and your request in writing
Be knowledgeable about the issue (but don’t worry about
knowing everything!)
 Make specific requests
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 Please co-sponsor this bill
 Please put this bill on your committee agenda
 Please ask the Speaker of the House to support this issue
 Follow up with a thank you note
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
 Know your audience and do research in advance!
 If supportive:
 Help them become a champion
 Give them resources, information and support
 If opposed:
 Move on, and think about ways to neutralize their opposition
 If undecided:
 Figure out what they need to become a supported (information,
public cover, personal testimony, etc.)
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
 Things you should NEVER EVER do:
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Whine
Threaten
Misrepresent facts
Malign the opposition
Personalize differences of opinion
Burn bridges
Promise endorsement
 Remember, influencing change requires positive, trusting,
long-term relationships!
THE LONG GAME
 Many bills take years to make it through the legislative
process
 Constant public pressure keeps the ball rolling
 They can’t ignore an issue that doesn’t go away
 Never give up!
THE LAWS OF THE LAND
 No substantial par t of the activities of Sur frider can go towards
propaganda or attempts to influence legislation. However, only
legislative lobbying is restricted, not lobbying in general.
 Approximately 20% of Sur frider’s total budget is allowed for all
lobbying and a quar ter of that (5%) is allowed for grassroots
lobbying.
 You must repor t funds and hour s to HQ
 For lobbying questions or concerns, contact Angela Howe at
ahowe@sur frider.org
2015 KEY DATES
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March 3 rd : 2015 Legislative Session Begins
March 3 rd : Deadline for filing bills for introduction
March 25 th : Surfrider Lobby Day at the Florida Capitol
April 21 st : Last day of Committee meetings
May 1 st : Last day of Legislative Session
RESOURCES
 Florida House:
 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov
 Florida Senate:
 http://www.flsenate.gov
 ChapterNET:
 http://chapternet.surfrider.org
 Special thanks to our friends at REThink Energy Florida for
portions of this presentation: rethinkenergyflorida.org