Legislative Processes

• Effective legislative relations
• Techniques for communicating effectively, credibly & building trust with elected officials
• Federal bills and budget passage flow charts
• Delaware legislative process
• Lobbying restrictions for board members and staff

Conservation Districts are directly affected by actions of Federal, state, and local legislators. Sometimes there is a need for new legislation to handle a natural resource issues; sometimes the issue concerns state funding for District and natural resource programs. 

Elected officials react to what they read, hear, and with whom they speak. In order to influence the legislative  process, it is necessary to take action to educate, inform, and persuade.

To build effective legislative relationships, Conservation District members, especially District Supervisors should:

Personal Contacts

• Know your topic.
• Know when and where to contact a legislator (Tuesday through Thursday).
• Make an appointment.
• Be punctual.
• Dress professionally.
• Make clear who you are and who you represent.
• Be concise and leave an informative one-page fact sheet as reference.
• Aides can be just as important as elected officials
• Bring plenty of business cards!

Written Contacts

• The letter should be mistake-free.
• Get the elected official’s name right, and address the letter to “The Honorable”.
• Use your own words; avoid form letters.
• Time the letter so that it arrives when the issue is still in committee.
• Be concise and limit the letter to one page.
• Explain the benefits of your position to the elected official’s entire constituency.

Delaware Legislative Process Flow Chart:  https://legis.delaware.gov/LawsOfDE/LegislativeProcess 

Delaware Budget Process:  https://budget.delaware.gov/budget/index.shtml 

As a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, DACD staff are limited in  how much lobbying work is acceptable . Generally, the efforts of DACD staff focuses on education and outreach about the significance of conservation and the roles of the conservation districts rather than lobbying for a specific outcome on legislation or budget item. 

Board members are different! Because they are volunteers, board members can and should advocate for specific outcomes. Especially in cases where the districts’ interests affect you or your business personally, your input can be a powerful tool in shaping policy, budgets and legislation.

 NACD Advocacy Training , includes excellent handouts and worksheets

 PACD’s Legislative Toolbox  includes a step-by-step guide for planning a legislative event, sample invitation and press release

NACD District Guide, “Establishing And Maintaining Relationships With Lawmakers”, available on the Members Only section of the NACD website. Includes more tips and strategies on meeting with lawmakers and how to host a successful conservation tour.

• Are there specific examples of ways that funding or regulations impacted your own farm? Remember these for your interactions with elected officials!
• Are there additional opportunities that the districts should seek out to work with our elected officials?
• Do you have interactions with elected officials where you can advocate for conservation and the role of the districts?