Lobby Days

Lobby Days 2026

January 26 – 28

The Florida Legislative Session starts early this year. We will be going to Tallahassee for Lobby Days on Monday, January 26th and departing on January 28th.

Participants will be able to spend the night on the 26th and the 27th with a subsidy from the state budget for half the hotel rate. They will be provided with materials to take to their legislators’ offices.

Specific group activities will be dependent on the legislative schedule for that week, but we always try to visit and encourage the legislators who support our public policy principles. We will have a last-minute training session on Monday night and a dinner together at a restaurant on Tuesday evening. There will also be an allowance for travel based on mileage. Even with these subsidies, there will be considerable expense for lobby day’s participants, so branches are encouraged to help these people with their expenses if possible.

In addition to Tallahassee lobby days, we are encouraging lobbying at home where groups from branches contact their local legislators (or legislative aides) during the times they are available. Approaching lawmakers with our agenda will count towards the Public Policy star, a part of the national AAUW Five Star program.

Don’t forget about the Florida legislative preview on Tuesday November 18th at 6:00 PM. This is not just for lobby days participants, as we should all be aware of what the Florida legislature is doing.

Please register for the Forum at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/riFGhaSERpaWuLGzNL7yMw

Questions? Contact Public Policy Director, Pat DeWitt, Ph.D.

A Look Back at Past Lobby Days

2025

Lobby Days 2025 in Tallahassee were March 18th and 19th. We arrived on Monday March 17th, had a last-minute training in the evening, and visited our legislators Tuesday and again Wednesday morning.   Visiting the legislators in person was very effective to let them know what we supported or opposed.

Lobbyists enjoyed working with colleagues and seeing how things work at the Capitol. The Public Policy Committee provided position papers and talking points on all the bills we supported or opposed.

 

We stayed at TRYP by Wyndham on I-10.  AAUW Florida offered partial subsidies for travel, hotel (half the cost), meals, and transportation from the hotel to the Capitol.

                  2024                   

Members Shared Our Mission in Tallahassee

AAUW FL Co-Director for Public Policy, Pat DeWitt, and a group of AAUW FL members spent January 15 – 17 in Tallahassee for Lobby Days!  We carried our message to our own legislators and visited supportive legislators with thanks and enjoyed dinner together. The Naples, Vero Beach, Gainesville, Palm Beach and Jacksonville branches were represented.

AAUW FL Delegation at Lobby Days 2024

Rose Llanos with Leisa Wiseman and FL lobby members

FL AAUW Lobby Members with Representative Eskamani

2023

2023

The pandemic meant scheduling visits virtually in 2021 and 2022. But in 2023, we were back in person in Tallahassee, March 13-15, near the start of the legislative session. Branches represented were Tampa, St. Augustine, Venice, New Smyrna Beach, and Jacksonville.  An AAUW Florida State member also participated.  

Our public policy committee selects priority legislation each year and publishes talking points for attendees and conduct training sessions.  Priorities for 2023 were economic security, education and civil rights. Read a summary of priority legislation here. 

Ensure legislators understand AAUW issues

Meeting with legislators is an effective and exciting way to make sure they understand AAUW positions on our priority issues. And there’s strength in numbers. That’s why AAUW Florida sponsors Lobby Days each year, encouraging branches throughout the state to participate. 

 

Continue to advocate for gender equity

Lobby Days are over till next year, but that doesn’t mean advocacy efforts should end. In preparation for attending Lobby Day, participants did their homework. You can use the same preparations and get in touch with your legislators any time. You don’t have to wait till next year’s Lobby Days. 

  • Identify your legislators, and call or email them or their legislative aides to arrange meetings.   
  • Review our positions for the top priority bills on our legislative agenda and talking points.
  • Review the AAUW Public Policy Advocacy Toolkit for tips on meetings with legislators, and more.
  • Give legislators information about AAUW when you contact them. The state public policy committee will provide guidance.    
  • Sign up to be a Two-Minute Activist.    
  • Review AAUW Quick Facts.   

 

                           

 

 

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