To the inexperienced, a piece of proposed legislation can be confusing. Bills aren’t exactly written with the average person in mind. There are no pictures, no hobbits with magical drip or wizard schools that serve butterbeer…pretty dry reading all around. But if you’re looking to testify at a hearing or drum up support for a bill, you should understand what’s actually in the thing. Even the most experienced lobbyists can sometimes miss details and unintentionally take the wrong position.
Sometimes the language truly is confusing. This can even be deliberate. That’s why it’s our job to make sure policies are not contradicting each other and are doing what our elected leaders say they are doing. So here are some tips on how to read, review, and understand legislation.
Where to find bills: Bills can be searched and downloaded on your state’s legislative website. Federal bills, on the other hand, can be found at congress.gov.
Never judge a bill by its title. An important thing to keep in mind is that the title of a bill can be vague and misleading. Again, this is sometimes intentional.
Do some light detective work. Check the bill’s sponsor or sponsors. Understanding their platform or voting history can give some context to the true intention of the bill.
Form subcommittees within your organization to review the bill. Get multiple sets of eyes to look it over. Having an attorney on board is helpful for understanding the legalese and ways in which the bill could affect your industry. A person who is good with accounting can help decipher funding breakdowns.
Highlight or take note of any vague or confusing terms. Remember, you don’t need to have a clear position on a bill. You can ask the sponsor questions during the hearing.
Try to offer solutions. Make note of any suggestions you have that would clarify the language.
Cross check references. Check any statutes referenced in the bill to ensure there are no contradictions or redundancies.
Check in regularly with the bill’s status. Your state legislature’s website should have calendars, journals, and dockets detailing every amendment and vote. Sometimes folks don’t realize their complaints have already been addressed. Don’t be that guy.
There’s really no easy way around it – you’re just going to have to dive in and read the language. So make yourself comfortable, grab a mug of butterbeer, and do your best.
Have any other questions on deciphering legislation? Comment below!
Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash