Stapler Sidebar: Sine Has Not Die’d Just Yet
Session is over – congratulations! Now for a fall of rest and relaxation. Or more realistically, client government relations summits, contract renewal negotiations for 2026, and catch-up on work set aside during session.
Looking ahead to 2026, legislators will begin to introduce (or re-introduce) legislative concepts through the fall. Look for a flurry of these conceptual introductions in early December – a quieter media time and a great way to hit the ground running in January. From the beginning of January, expect a six or so week sprint to final bill introduction deadlines.
Along with the bill language itself, it’s important to think of the conversation and dynamics around a bill – whether you’re supporting or opposing. If you’re opposing a reintroduced bill and the sponsors didn’t learn from last year’s hearings – your opposition research has been done for you. For those of you reintroducing a bill, take those lessons learned as a warning.
Here are a few things to consider from a public affairs perspective as we gear up for 2026, the second year of the two-year legislative session and an election year, which may feature newly drawn congressional districts (fingers crossed):
Plan for Success: Start driving a broader conversation around your legislative priorities through earned and placed media, digital campaigns, community and legislative forums, professionally designed materials and other tools to cut through the chaos of information in and around the Capitol. Also, start building your coalitions now. Early, credible voices pay immense dividends in reaching key audiences, recruiting more partners, committee hearings and in the media.
Words on Paper: Familiarize yourself with new legislation, update messages from prior legislation that are similar and generally sharpen things so you can cut through. Well designed, easily updated collateral materials ease initial drop-by visits and serve as a reminder of your position.
Earn your Place: The easiest way to be in the final stories written about a bill, is to be in the first stories written about a bill. You don’t have to directly stake out a position (yet), however concisely stating concerns opens a door to a much longer conversation, both with reporters and legislators.
Surround Sound: Having a strong digital presence in front of legislators, staff and other influential people demonstrates a willingness and strength to those on the other side of an effort. In essence, it communicates you’re not playing around when a legislator’s mother-in-law who lives in Chatsworth sees something about a bill in their social feed.
Keep your Friends Close: A practiced and in-sync chorus livens up any event and certainly can make an advocate’s message stand out. Whether its reinforcement in a meeting with faces that are familiar to a legislator or experts quoted in earned media efforts, make your friends early.
This is a running start of a checklist of important items to consider for your public affairs toolbox as the kickoff of the 2026 legislative session looms in the not so far distance. As always, do not hesitate to contract with an experienced and knowledgeable public affairs firm early (and often). When the stakes are high, having the right team assembled and ready to go as the legislature gavels back into session in January puts you far ahead of the competition.