How to talk to your lawmakers about what your family needs

This page explains how to contact elected officials. It is general information, not legal advice. For who can vote and other ways to take part, see Who can vote, and how the whole family can take part in civic life.

Can I contact my lawmakers if I am not a citizen?

Yes. You live in their district, so they represent you. Lawmakers and their staff take calls, emails, letters and visits from the people they serve. You do not have to say your immigration status, and we suggest you don't unless you have thought it through. See How do I stay safe while I speak up?

Many important changes started because ordinary people kept showing up. A teacher who explains what her students face. A parent who describes a long wait for help. A pastor who brings ten neighbors to one meeting. Your story is evidence.

Who represents me?

You likely have five people to know about:

Also know your school board, which decides school policies. For immigration law, Congress is the one that can change it. For health care, schools, worker protections and how local police work with ICE, the state and your local leaders matter more.

Tip: The state tool asks for a street address. In East Palo Alto, ZIP code 94303 is split between two congressional districts, so a ZIP code alone may give you the wrong person.

What is the best way to reach them?

Every way counts. Pick the one that fits you.

• Call the district office. Short and quick. A staff member will take your message. This is great for a vote coming up soon.
• Email or use the web form. Good for a longer message. Include your mailing address so they know you live in the district.
• Write a letter. Put your return address on it. The U.S. Senate asks people who email or write to include their postal address.
• Visit. A meeting in person, or by video, is often the strongest way to be heard. You will often meet with staff instead of the lawmaker. That is normal, and staff matter. They brief the lawmaker.
• Go to a town hall or community event and ask a question.

For U.S. Senators, you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected.

What should I say?

Keep it short, true and personal. Staff hear many messages a day. Help yours stand out.

1. Who you are. "My name is ___ and I live in East Palo Alto." You can use just your first name.
2. What you want. Be specific. "Please vote yes on AB ___." Or "Please fund the immigrant legal services program."
3. Why it matters to you. One or two sentences from your life or work. "My children's school started a new plan to tell families when agents are on campus, and it helped us feel safe."
4. Ask for an answer. "Will the member support this?" Write down what they say.
5. Say thank you.

Tips that help:

• Know the bill number. Look it up on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Bills have numbers like AB 49 or SB 98.
• Be respectful, even when you disagree. You may need this office again.
• Follow up. Send a short thank you email. Say what you talked about.
• Bring others. A small group of neighbors with one clear message is powerful.

How does a California bill become law?

Knowing the steps helps you know when to speak up.

1. A lawmaker introduces a bill. Ideas often come from the public.
2. It waits at least 30 days. No bill except the budget may be acted on until 30 days after it is introduced, unless lawmakers waive the rule.
3. Committee hearings. The bill goes to a policy committee by subject. If it costs money, it also goes to an appropriations committee. This is a key time to act. Committee staff write an analysis that often lists who supports and opposes the bill.
4. Floor vote. If it passes committee, the whole house (Assembly or Senate) votes.
5. The other house. The same steps repeat in the other house.
6. The Governor. The Governor can sign it, let it become law without signing, or veto it. Most new laws start January 1 of the next year.

Letters to committees. Many committees accept support and opposition letters through the California Legislature Advocates Portal, which requires creating an account. At least one Assembly committee asks for letters five business days before the hearing to include them in its analysis, and asks that the letter state your position, show who it is from, and be signed. Check the committee's own page for its rules.

To see what California passed recently, read New California laws that help immigrant families this year.

Speaking at a city council or school board meeting

Local meetings are often the easiest place to be heard, and local leaders make decisions that touch your family every day.

Your rights at local meetings. California's open meeting law, the Brown Act, covers city councils, county boards of supervisors and school district boards. It gives you these rights:

• You may speak. Every regular meeting agenda must give the public a chance to address the board on items within its job, before or during discussion of that item.
• You do not have to give your name to attend. A local body may not require you to register your name or fill out a form to come to a meeting. If there is a sign in sheet, it must say that signing is voluntary.
• Interpreters get extra time. If the board limits speaking time, a person who uses an interpreter must get at least twice the time.

How to do it:

1. Find the agenda. It is posted before the meeting on the city, county or school district website. Look for the item you care about.
2. Learn how to sign up. Many boards use a speaker card. Some take comments online or by video. Ask the clerk.
3. Prepare one to two minutes. Most boards limit each speaker. Practice out loud. Bring a written copy to hand in.
4. Use the general public comment time if your topic is not on the agenda. The board may listen but usually cannot act on it that night.
5. Bring an interpreter if you need one, or ask the clerk ahead of time whether one will be there.
6. Send written comments if you cannot attend. Most clerks accept email before the meeting.

What to say at the microphone: "Good evening. I live in ___. I am here about item ___. I ask you to ___ because ___. Thank you." The rule that lets you attend without giving your name (Gov Code 54953.3) is about attending, not speaking. If the speaker card asks for your name, ask the clerk what is required before you fill it out.

For ideas on what your city and county can do, see What your city and county can do to protect immigrant neighbors.

How do I stay safe while I speak up?

Speaking up is your right. Use care, because public meetings are recorded and comments can be posted online.

• You do not have to share your status. You can speak as a parent, worker, church member or neighbor.
• Think before you share your story in public. Once it is online, it is hard to take back. If you have an open immigration case, talk with your lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative first. See What to know before you share your immigration story in public.
• Ask how your information will be used. Before a meeting or a letter, ask staff whether notes or letters are kept or made public.
• Go with a group. Community groups often organize visits and can speak for many people at once.
• Leave out private details about others, like names, addresses or cases.
• Plan for a march or rally separately. Protests have their own risks. See Can I go to a protest if I am not a citizen?

If your employer threatens you for political activity, see Can my employer punish me for political activity or joining a protest.

Quick answers

Do lawmakers only listen to voters? They pay attention to everyone in their district, and to groups that represent many people. Your story can change how a staff member explains a bill to the lawmaker.

Can teens contact lawmakers? Yes. Young people often make powerful advocates. Parents should help them think about privacy first.

What if I don't speak English well? Call the district office and ask if a staff member speaks your language. At local meetings, bring an interpreter and you get extra time.

What if they disagree with me? Say thank you and stay respectful. Then find others who agree, and come back together.

Is this lobbying? Advocacy groups sometimes call it that. For you, it simply means telling the people who represent you what your family needs. It is a normal part of civic life.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): publishes a legislative advocacy toolkit in English and Spanish at ilrc.org
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: for questions about your own case before you speak publicly, 650-326-6440, walk ins Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1861 Bay Road
• Your city clerk: for agendas, speaker cards and interpreter requests at council meetings

Is there a script I can print?

Your voice matters here. Laws are written by people, and people can be moved by the truth of your life. Start with one call this week.