Mike Apfelberg

Like many individuals and organizations, United Way of Greater Nashua often weighs in on legislative issues at the federal, state, and local levels. A beautiful aspect of our system of government is that it affords all of us many opportunities to give input on various legislative priorities, including fiscal and policy perspectives. Legislators hopefully take our collective input into account in the final outcome of their bills and proposals.

Since we engage in advocacy–lending our informed opinion to the process–quite a bit, I am often asked about the best and most effective way to get involved in legislative and policy advocacy. While I find the question flattering, I admit that I don’t have a definitive answer. However, I can share our approach, which might help you lend your voice to the conversation in service of our great state.

Understanding the Legislative Process

Our citizen legislators–424 strong–in Concord produce hundreds of bills and proposals each year, sometimes exceeding a thousand. These proposals cover a wide range of interests, from landfill siting to affordable housing investment, school supplies provision to vehicle inspection requirements. Our legislature deals with all manner of human activities in the state.

Focusing on Relevant Issues

To determine where to begin, we focus on issues directly related to our mission: supporting the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. We call this the safety net. To identify relevant bills, policies, and budget priorities, we rely on several trusted sources:

• Housing Action New Hampshire (housing-related issues)

• New Hampshire Hunger Solutions (food security)

• New Futures (social services, mental health, substance use, early childhood education)

• New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (budget-related issues)

These sources provide advocacy alerts that help us focus without wading through hundreds of bills.

Deciding on Advocacy Level

Once we identify the policies and proposals to follow, we decide the level of advocacy to pursue. Some bills are likely to fail or succeed regardless of our perspective, and we tend not to spend much time on these. Others might be politically sensitive, and we avoid those to remain non-partisan and issue-oriented. When we decide to get involved, we craft a letter for written testimony and present it in Concord, always aiming to be respectful and issue-oriented.

Engaging with Legislators

It’s important to remember that legislators are real people, passionate about many issues. Even if we disagree, we all aim to create a world reflecting our values and beliefs. Legislators deserve respect and should be spoken to from a place of respect, as they are volunteers serving our state and citizenry.

Navigating Legislative Alerts

Legislative alerts will teach you that each bill has a number, starting as an LSR (Legislative Service Request) and later becoming an SB (Senate Bill) or HB (House Bill). The NH Gen Court website (https://gc.nh.gov/) is a useful tool for researching bills and finding opportunities to lend your voice.

Example of Advocacy

For instance, this year we opposed HB415, which would have eliminated the requirement for schools to provide feminine hygiene products. We believe this would lead to negative outcomes, such as girls being shamed or skipping school during their periods. After testifying, the committee voted the bill down as “inexpedient to legislate,” which we consider a win.

Offering Effective Testimony

When offering testimony, bring a written copy to submit to the committee. Keep your remarks brief, especially if many people are testifying. Personal stories and data can make your testimony unique and impactful. Active listening to other testimonies and legislators’ questions can also enhance your contribution.

Conclusion

I welcome conversations and questions and appreciate that many Granite Staters care enough to participate in our legislative process. Our legislators appreciate this effort, even if they disagree with what’s said. In the end, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED. Bringing YOUR voice to our legislative process helps ensure this is the case!

Mike Apfelberg is president of United Way of Greater Nashua.