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First, know who your legislative reps are!
Confirm who your legislative reps are by going to the Oregon Legislative website and typing in your full address in the lower right corner of the page as shown below:
Get to know each legislator through online content (their websites, their biographies, their committees, and their environmental and climate voting records via Oregon League of Conservation Voters scorecards, etc.).
How to follow a bill in the 2025 Legislative Session.
To learn more about a bill (sponsorship, committee assignment, actions, etc.) go to OLIS, The Oregon Legislative Information System:
- Scroll down to “Search Bills.” Enter the bill number and click (make sure to enter a space between the letters and number – for example, SB 88)
- On the new screen under “Filter Your Search” select “2025 Regular Session.” The new screen offers your options.
- Select the correct bill number (you might have to scroll down). The new screen is about the bill.
- You can read the overview, full text, analysis, amendments, and testimony. It also offers options to register and submit testimony.
What is lobbying? What do I need to know?
- When we advocate for specific bills, we are lobbying.
- When we inform and try to influence our elected officials’ actions and votes, we are lobbying.
- Our advocacy might include writing, calling, and visiting elected officials to share our perspectives and encourage them to take certain action.
- Lobbying by ordinary people is effective because officials know we are motivated to take the time to reach out. They also know we are not paid – and we vote. Our lobbying and advocacy show how deeply we care. Through lobbying, we educate, we build constructive relationships, and we also learn!
How to make sure your support is heard: Speak Up!
You’ve probably seen Action Alerts encouraging Third Actors to submit testimony supporting important bills that are under consideration by the Oregon State Legislature.
You might ask: “How do I testify?” “I’m not an expert. Why would they want to hear from me?”
Legislators hear from the “experts” and paid lobbyists, but all too often they don’t hear from us. In a democracy, elected officials care about what we think! We are experienced and our testimony can sway them!
Here’s how to get started: How to submit written testimony and provide oral testimony.
Some hints for effective testimony
Explain your position the same way that you’d explain it to a friend – in a simple, understandable, interesting, and compelling way.
- Explain who you are and why you care.
- What is the problem this bill can solve based on YOUR experience. Statistics have nothing on personal stories!
- Make a clear “ask”. Refer to the bill number, lead sponsor, and ask for their vote.
- Use talking points provided by Third Act or other organizations to help you write your testimony.
- When you submit written testimony, you provide contact details (these are not shared publicly). In your testimony, do not insert personal information that you do not want shared publicly (such as address, phone number, etc.).
Above all, be persuasive and respectful. Go to this webpage for How to Submit Written Testimony.
Oral Testimony: consider delivering your testimony in a hearing or a legislative visit.
- Count on having only 2 minutes. Time yourself! Your written testimony can be longer.
- Nervous? Say so! It humanizes you and breaks the ice. Everyone can relate!
- You can read your testimony but be sure to make eye contact with committee members.
- If you plan to speak, it is a good idea to write it out first. Consider giving the committee a written copy. (It can be longer than your oral testimony.)
Here are guidelines for how to provide oral testimony in Oregon.
This video by Washington State social studies teachers is a helpful introduction to providing testimony.
Watch Third Act Central’s How to Lobby webinar (Passcode: +J*30trN)
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Meet Your Legislators!
What can I do?! This is the question on everyone’s mind. “What can I do to make a real difference”? One thing that can make a real difference is to influence state policy.
Our elected officials are busy right now debating bills such as how Oregon should regulate storage of explosive fossil fuels, how to help people afford heat pumps, how to reduce the influence of the fossil fuel industry, and how to advance clean energy for data centers.
It turns out that in-person contact with lawmakers and their staff has more influence on their decisions about such issues than most other types of advocacy. Our voices make a difference because we are voters, we are taking time to reach out, and we are not paid lobbyists.
As elders, we know that direct contact with others helps build trust. And trust – along with organizing – is what builds movements and leads to change. Third Actors bring expertise, experience and wisdom, and a commitment to the wellbeing of future generations to the legislature.
We need to know what to advocate for. Along with using the expertise of many Third Actors, we also partner with other organizations that have capabilities and staff to help us with training and legislative strategies. Whether you are an expert or not, your voice matters.
The 2025 Legislative session ends in late June. There is still lots to do!
Join us in Salem for a rally or lobby day, attend a public hearing, submit testimony about a proposed bill that is important to you. Watch our newsletters, action alerts, and our website for ways to get involved. Let family and friends know what you’re doing and encourage them to join you.
After the legislative session ends in June, try to meet your State Senator and State Representative to discuss your concerns, and express a willingness to work with them on areas of common interest. Third Act Oregon will continue to work on pro-climate and pro-democracy actions.
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What To Do When the Legislative Session Ends?
The Oregon legislature is in session only part of each year. But our State Senators and Representatives work continues. This means our work also continues. We can use this time to enhance our advocacy and influence.
But how?
First, we can continue to work on our issues and be ready for the next legislative session, prepared to fight for laws that matter. For example, we will continue to work on the proposed constitutional amendment for the Right To a Healthy Environment (RTHE) and the Superfund bill. This newsletter has information about these and more. If you’re not sure which TAO team is best for you, let us know and we’ll help you find something!
Second, we can build our relationships with our State Senators and Representatives.
But how?
To begin, find out more about your Senator and Representative. What are their interests? Do our interests coincide in some ways? Build a relationship. Meet them! Go to town halls and community meetings. As Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” Introduce yourself and TAO. Stop by their offices in Salem and meet the staff (leave a note with your name and areas of interest).
Share helpful expertise and experience. They work on bills from “soup to nuts” and can’t possibly know everything they need to know. Can we assist?
Even when we don’t agree with some of the bills they have supported—there’s usually something we can agree on. In any case, we are always polite and respectful, but clear about our positions.
If we really like what our legislator is doing, we can help with their reelection. This is deeply appreciated. It helps us too: We get to know staff and the candidate better. And canvassing is a great way to get know the community better!
And our next legislative session will be here before we know it!
Let us know (email Oregon@thirdact.org) if you have questions or want to talk about how to get involved in legislative advocacy with Third Act Oregon!