The Municipal Association of SC legislative staff is taking a break from the open road and changing the way it gathers legislative priorities from member cities and towns. The Regional Advocacy Meetings that have taken place across the state each year are being replaced with a fall advocacy day in Columbia. Officials and staff can choose from a morning or afternoon session with lunch in between to gather and share ideas for the upcoming 2025-2026 legislative session.
Association staff will begin each session with a very brief overview of what bills passed during the 2024 legislative session. They will also explain the changes coming to the General Assembly from the election primaries in June and potential further changes with the November elections.
Then, municipal officials and staff will be asked to give input on Advocacy Initiatives and priorities for the new two-year session beginning in 2025. There will be time to share in small groups and then participate in a discussion with a larger group. Cities and towns of all sizes and from across the state are invited to send their mayors, councilmembers and city staff to share concerns, thoughts and ideas on potential legislation that would help all cities and towns, or possible legislation that would harm cities and towns.
Join the Municipal Association on September 25 at the Cooperative Conference Center in Columbia, either in the morning or the afternoon for an opportunity to share, discuss and set the priorities for cities and towns for 2025. The Association will email registration information after the Annual Meeting in July.
For questions about the new advocacy opportunity with the Municipal Association, contact Casey Fields at cfields@masc.sc.