Therefore, it is vital that someone assume responsibility for coordinating the response from your municipality. Take a position early and follow through. Establish a quick and simple procedure to enable your city or town to take positions on bills discussed in the Legislative Bulletin and on other bills of interest to your area. Take a position early and follow through. Establish a quick and simple procedure to enable your city or town to take positions on bills discussed in the Legislative Bulletin and on other bills of interest to your area.
Municipalities use a variety of methods to determine their positions on bills.
A good place to start is the League's Statement of Policies and Goals, which enumerates the official association stance on a variety of issues. It is important to take a position early in the legislative process because there is a greater opportunity to have an impact on the outcome of a bill. Also, officials will be prepared to respond quickly to subsequent requests for action. Most important, provide follow-up responses as requested throughout the legislative session. Bills are heard before several committees, and letters are not usually distributed with the bills as they travel through the process.