Coming on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the Municipal Association of SC Hometown Legislative Action Day will take place sooner than its usual February date. It will also come just days after the first year of the two-year session begins on January 14.
HLAD provides an important time for city and town officials to connect with the state representatives and senators who serve their municipalities, either during the visit to the State House or the legislative reception. The 2025 HLAD will feature a session with the Municipal Association’s legislative team sharing tips on how to build a productive working relationship with a local delegation. It’s far from the only time that mayors and councilmembers should reach out to their delegation, however — they should maintain ongoing contact throughout not only the session, but also throughout the entire year.
Here are some key points to consider when keeping the advocacy channels open:
Build the relationship long before asking for anything.
While municipal officials and their legislators represent some of the same people, it’s important for municipal leaders not to assume that legislators have extensive knowledge of everything happening in their city. They should take the time to provide periodic updates about city projects, strategies and challenges. This can help the delegation better understand the city council’s decisions, can also help them identify possible funding opportunities or other resources. Follow up on meetings with additional information and thanks as quickly as possible.
Involve the delegation in hometown activities.
Invite legislators to council meetings where they can report on their State House priorities and learn about the council’s work, but also be sure to invite them to ribbon cuttings and other special events.
Thank legislators personally and publicly.
When legislators do something helpful for the city, be sure to drop them a note of thanks, but also thank them publicly through the city’s regular communication channels, and invite them to council meetings to thank them personally.
Stay on top of the issues at the General Assembly that matter most to the city.
The Association’s From the Dome to Your Home legislative report and podcast provide a critical source of information about legislative action throughout the session. Beyond following along, the reports can help officials understand the legislative process, and help them to provide accurate and consistent messages to their legislators at the right moment in time.
Find the full agenda and details for Hometown Legislative Action Day.