Get to know your legislators now
Legislators appreciate hearing from constituents. Building a relationship prior to a legislative session makes contacting your legislator more effective. Attend local events and fundraisers that feature and support your local legislators. Introduce yourself and briefly share information about your business and/or legislative issue of concern. When you contact your representative during the busy legislative session, it's helpful if they already know who you are and are familiar with your business and issues of concern.
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How do I know who my legislator is?
Visit https://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/ and enter your home address. You'll see your Minnesota representative and senator, as well as your congressmen in Washington, D.C. |
Contact legislators from your district
Legislators are most receptive to their own constituents...the people who elected them. It is usually ineffective to contact legislators who do not represent your home or place of business. When contacting your legislators, be sure to identify yourself as a constituent or an employer in their district.
Legislators are most receptive to their own constituents...the people who elected them. It is usually ineffective to contact legislators who do not represent your home or place of business. When contacting your legislators, be sure to identify yourself as a constituent or an employer in their district.
Be concise and specific about your request
Legislators receive many requests and communication from various avenues. When you reach out to them it is important to concisely identify the issue and specifically what you are requesting them to do. For example, “On March 15th, the Commerce Committee will be hearing HFxxxx …… This bill will help/hurt my business because..... Please vote for/against HFxxxx."
Legislators receive many requests and communication from various avenues. When you reach out to them it is important to concisely identify the issue and specifically what you are requesting them to do. For example, “On March 15th, the Commerce Committee will be hearing HFxxxx …… This bill will help/hurt my business because..... Please vote for/against HFxxxx."
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What do I say?
Issue briefs outlining Hospitality Minnesota's position and supporting statements on its advocacy priorities are available on our Advocacy Priorities Page. They are available as both a resource to you and an easy-to-read explanation for legislators. You are welcome to print copies of them or link to them in an email message. |
Offer to be a resource
Legislators are often looking for information on how bills impact their community. Always offer to be a resource and provide information to them on issues affecting your business and other businesses in your community.
Legislators are often looking for information on how bills impact their community. Always offer to be a resource and provide information to them on issues affecting your business and other businesses in your community.
Be polite—don’t burn bridges
Never be rude to a legislator. Even if they do not vote with you on a specific issue, there will always be other opportunities to work with them down the road.
Never be rude to a legislator. Even if they do not vote with you on a specific issue, there will always be other opportunities to work with them down the road.
Contact via phone, email or letter
If you choose to write a letter or email, avoid a form letter or postcard. Use talking points (take from Hospitality Minnesota's issue briefs) and include pertinent facts about the impact the particular legislation will have on your business and your community. Be brief and to the point. Be sure to ask for your legislator’s support to either pass or defeat the legislation of concern.
If you choose to write a letter or email, avoid a form letter or postcard. Use talking points (take from Hospitality Minnesota's issue briefs) and include pertinent facts about the impact the particular legislation will have on your business and your community. Be brief and to the point. Be sure to ask for your legislator’s support to either pass or defeat the legislation of concern.
If you choose to write a letter or email, avoid a form letter or postcard. Use talking points (take from Hospitality Minnesota's issue briefs) and include pertinent facts about the impact the particular legislation will have on your business and your community. Be brief and to the point. Be sure to ask for your legislator’s support to either pass or defeat the legislation of concern.
If you choose to write a letter or email, avoid a form letter or postcard. Use talking points (take from Hospitality Minnesota's issue briefs) and include pertinent facts about the impact the particular legislation will have on your business and your community. Be brief and to the point. Be sure to ask for your legislator’s support to either pass or defeat the legislation of concern.
Follow-up is important
An important aspect to any grassroots effort is follow-up. Timely follow-up with your legislator after the hearing or vote of concern is vital. A personal thank-you note for their attention to your issue will go a long way the next time you need to ask for their support.
An important aspect to any grassroots effort is follow-up. Timely follow-up with your legislator after the hearing or vote of concern is vital. A personal thank-you note for their attention to your issue will go a long way the next time you need to ask for their support.