How to Kill a Bill

Since 2009 the Massachusetts legislature has on average filed 7,500 bills every session. However, the Commonwealth only enacts a small handful of the bills that are introduced each session. Massachusetts passed 0.41% of bills that were introduced in 2021, making it the lowest ratio of bills introduced compared to enacted in the nation. That does not mean there is a zero-chance of a piece of legislation making its way to the Governor’s desk. Instead of working to pass a bill, you may find yourself in a position of needing to stop a bill from moving through the legislature. In this week’s blog, we go through steps of effectively killing a bill before it is enacted.

Build a Case

The argument that you present to kill a piece of legislation should be organized and leave the audience with a clear understanding of your stance. The inclusion of powerful messaging is necessary to heighten your argument. Through research, you may find that the bill will have unexpected impacts on certain industries or demographics. This is information that you can incorporate into your argument against a bill that may play well with legislators who have ties to those players.

Find Support in Leaders

It is important to have heavy-hitters on your side when it comes to shutting down a piece of legislation. Some legislators have the ability to kill legislation through their leadership positions, such as a committee chair, speaker, or majority leader. The simplest retaliations against a piece of legislation is not bringing it before a committee or testifying against it. If you can find a leading member of the legislature to join your side, consider it a major win for your team. InstaTrac provides contact information for all legislators and available staff members so you can easily correspond with individuals in the State House about your legislative initiatives. 

Maintain the Count

Vote counts can change in the blink of an eye, so it is important for your coalition to keep a close watch on the legislators on either side of the bill. Consider the vote count as the main determinant of your strategy. If the count is not going in your favor, you may need to shift your tactics on gaining votes in certain chambers or committees. InstaTrac compiles the breakdown of votes on each bill as they happen, making it effortless for you to stay on track of your legislative strategy.

Listen to Public Opinion

Having public support on your side of a bill can change the trajectory of your campaign. If you can show lawmakers that the public thinks unfavorably about the legislation, you may be able to convince a vote or two in your favor. This can be in the form of a poll, demonstration (if you have the numbers), or submitted testimonials in support of your stance.

Create a Coalition

There is strength in numbers, especially when it comes to opposing legislative agendas. By gathering a large group of supporters together to spread your message, there is a larger likelihood it will be heard by legislators. With that, ensuring that you have a diverse group of voices will only strengthen your coalition. Strive to have your coalition include individuals and organizations from different sectors and backgrounds to provide an assortment of testimonials on the legislation. InstaTrac also provides available lobbying information on bills that have public support or opposition from organizations. This information may come in handy when you look to grow your coalition.

Make Your Voice Heard

Momentum and change starts from the ground up, so make sure that you use your voice effectively. By using personal stories, you can bring a grounded viewpoint to the table for legislators to consider. The power that you hold in sharing your life stories as they pertain to the legislation is unmatched. Include written testimonials in letters to legislators from people in your coalition so they have a clear understanding of the widespread personal impact the bill has on their constituents.

Play the Procedural Game

Often legislation can be killed just due to the nature of the legislative process. Between filibusters and points of order, bills can be stalled just by lack of time. A point of order stalls the debate while legislators review whether there is a violation of established rules. However, this is a risky tactic to rely on as leadership may not issue a point of order for the legislation. 

InstaTrac makes it effortless to find and track bills as they make their way through the State House. Simply search the piece of legislation that you are campaigning against and select “Track this Bill” to receive alerts when votes or changes to the bill occur. You can even leave comments that are only visible to individuals in your organization directly on the bill pages. This way, correspondence is kept in a centralized space to easily access thoughts and ideas on the bill. Email us at info@instratrac.com and follow us on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Substack, Medium, and Youtube!