LWVNM Action Committee
LWVNM Action Committee – updated 12/5/2024
The LWVNM Action Committee is responsible for overseeing action/advocacy on state issues.
Structure
There is an Action Team that is responsible for planning action/advocacy agenda, events and actions. That team includes the Action Chair and other officers who choose to participate.
The broader Action Committee starts meeting in early December and starting in early January meets weekly at an agreed time.
What does the Action Committee do?
Reviews upcoming legislation and decides on legislation to support or oppose based upon LWVNM or LWVUS positions. Positions should be cited when proposing support or opposition to legislation.
Develops legislative priorities for the session to present to the LWVNM Board at a January Board meeting. Usually no more than three areas. An area can include more than one piece of legislation. For instance, Voting and Elections could include legislation on campaign financing, voting rights and redistricting.
Develops lobbyists for the legislative session. Lobbyists must be approved by the LWVNM President(s) and register with the Secretary of State. We need a core of lobbyists who can attend the Legislature in person, but some can testify virtually. Testimony should be approved by the Action Team. The LWVNM does develop fact sheets on most of the legislation we support or oppose. The info on those fact sheets can be considered approved by the Action Team.
Typical calendar for Action/Advocacy.
Starting in April – monitoring interim Legislative committees and inform interested Action Committee members of the meetings. Could also arrange the LWVNM presenting to those committees.
By early November – Set up League Day reception and events.
Year-round – setting up educational webinars on process or on individual issues.
Early January – set up Advocacy Workshop and a virtual event to present our priorities for the session Start to develop a Legislative tracking sheet, both a document and on our website.
During the session – weekly Action Committee Zoom meetings, coordinate testimony at Legislative hearings, update the Legislative tracking sheet daily. Coordinate Action alerts to our members to request action on our priority issues. Coordinate League Day activities.
After the session – request that the Governor sign/veto legislation.