Utah’s state legislature will consider hundreds of bills this session. Local chambers of commerce, policy organizations, and political action committees (PACs) monitor these bills and represent business interests. These organizations can inform business leaders of legislative impacts on the business community and help leaders make their voices heard.
Understanding proposed legislation
The legislative process seems straightforward: a legislator sponsors a bill, and then the bill is assigned to a committee for consideration. The hearing allows the public to speak in favor of or oppose the bill. If the committee decides to advance the bill, the legislative chamber considers it several times (readings) before sending it to the other chamber for consideration.
However, in between those steps are negotiations with legislators, amendments that change the substance of the bill, and the influence of lobbyists representing clients to influence certain legislative outcomes.
The title and summary of a proposed bill do not always provide all of this context. Scroll down to the underlined portions of the bill to read the proposed new language. Seer AI (www.withseer.ai) makes reviewing new language in the bills easy. You can reach out to legislators who 1) sponsor the bill, 2) represent your district, 3) represent your company’s district, 4) serve on the committee that hears the bill, and 5) serve in legislative leadership.
Reaching lawmakers is easier than you think
Like business leaders, lawmakers grapple with complex issues and value concrete examples from their constituents. Lawmakers may not always invite all impacted stakeholders to the table, so it’s important to communicate the real-world impacts of proposed legislation. Business leaders can help legislators shape policies for the better so they don’t inadvertently hinder business growth.
Each legislator has an assigned intern who can help schedule a meeting. Let them know how this legislation will impact your business and your employees.
Contacting legislators
- Find legislators’ contact information at: https://le.utah.gov/
- Meet with them in person
- Call or text them on their publicly listed phone number
- Provide public comment during committee hearings
- Email/write them a letter
Practical tips for successful communication
- Be respectful and professional.
- Clearly state your concerns and illustrate you have read the actual proposed bill.
- Provide specific examples of how proposed legislation impacts your business.
- Ask policy experts to suggest talking points.
- Avoid using inflammatory language or making personal attacks.
- Be prepared to answer questions about your company’s operations and goals.
- Be persistent. It may take time to make a difference, but your voice matters.
Business leaders should influence legislators to enact thoughtful legislation that allows our businesses to thrive rather than reactive legislation that complicates our ability to conduct business. Your engagement in the legislative process is vital. By providing insight and sharing your experiences, you help craft a business landscape that values diversity and equity—ensuring that Utah continues to thrive. Even in this current legislative session, business leaders have already made a difference in legislative outcomes. Reach out to a local chamber of commerce, organization or PAC in your community to get engaged.
Even though the legislative session is almost over, the off-season is a great time to build a relationship with legislators, who may have more available time to meet. Ongoing discussions can ensure legislators keep the needs of the business community in mind for upcoming sessions.