Advocacy in action

Make your voice heard this legislative session.

By AWC staff

Part of your role as a city official is to advocate for your community and make sure legislators understand how their decisions in Olympia impact your city. By engaging directly with the Legislature, you can provide local examples of how a bill will impact your shared constituents—positively or negatively.

Legislators need—and want—to hear from local elected officials on the issues that matter to them. Just like you, they entered public service because they want to make a difference, but they need your local knowledge and expertise to make the most informed decisions.

As the 2026 legislative session gets underway, here are a few ways you can engage with the legislative process.

Testify on a bill

One of the most effective ways to advocate for your city is to testify on bills before legislative committees. By sharing the potential real-world impact on your city, you can help legislators better understand the implications of a bill.

You can testify in person or remotely. Either way, make sure you are prepared. Your testimony is generally limited to just a few minutes and in some cases may only be one minute. Be sure to have a short version of your testimony—and a shorter version. Don’t forget to thank the committee members for their time.

Providing facts and figures in your testimony can be especially powerful, as they provide concrete data legislators can use when deciding how to act on a bill.

Write an op-ed

Op-eds may seem like a thing of the past in today’s social media–driven age, but they remain an effective advocacy tool. Legislators rely on op-eds to stay informed on how their constituents feel about important issues.

In addition to reaching legislators who read their hometown newspapers, op-eds can be shared with legislators across the state, providing an easy way to amplify key messaging.

Keep in mind that op-eds are just one piece of the media puzzle. Reach out to your local reporters to talk about how your legislative agenda is faring and how the Legislature’s actions are impacting your community. Build your reputation as a trusted source of information by regularly updating your city’s website and actively sharing posts on social media.

Work together

There’s power in numbers. If an issue will have an impact on not just your city but the entire region, joining forces with neighboring cities to speak with one voice and share unified messaging can be particularly impactful.

For example, you could partner with cities in your region to draft a letter to the sponsor of a bill explaining the widespread impact of the proposed legislation. You could also collaborate with other cities by signing your name to letters and position statements AWC drafts on hot issues. Legislators pay attention to the number of individuals engaged on a particular matter, and by adding your voice to the chorus, you can help express the importance of that issue for cities across the state.

Remember, even if you think legislators have already heard your position on an issue from someone else, it’s important to speak up. If legislators don’t hear from you, they may incorrectly assume you don’t care about the issue or it has no impact on your community.

Keep in touch

While the legislative session is often the most visible aspect of advocacy work, vital work happens during the interim period between legislative sessions, too. By cultivating relationships with your local lawmakers year-round, you can become a trusted resource for them.

The interim is a great opportunity to meet with your legislators for more relaxed conversations or in-depth discussions. Take them on a tour of your city, including local infrastructure, housing, or parks projects. Discuss your budget and show them the direct impact of state funds and policies.

Don’t forget that AWC is here to help you every step of the way. Please reach out to the Government Relations team if you need assistance connecting with your legislators or have questions about a legislative issue. And when you’re in Olympia this session, feel free to stop by the AWC office to grab a cup of coffee, make a call, or simply take a break.