Stand together to support local authority
Legislative Advocacy
The LOC advocates for all Oregon cities, from the smallest cities to the largest, from Eastern Oregon to the coast, in the Legislature, state boards, commissions and agencies.
Our Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) team advocates on a broad range of topics, from water to land use to PERS to property taxes and more.
2023 Legislative Session
2023 Legislative Session Underway
The 2023 legislative session kicked off on January 17. Check this page often to stay engaged and up-to-date on what is happening at the Capitol.
Session Resources
How to Testify at the Legislature
How to Submit Written Testimony
2023 Session Preview
The LOC’s advocacy efforts in the 2023 legislative session, which started January 17, will face several challenges and unknowns. Public access to the Capitol is limited, and one-third of the Legislature will be newly elected.
2023 Legislative Priorities One-Pager
How Three LOC Priorities Will Have Local Impacts
4th Quarter 2022 Local Focus article
Building Relationships with State Legislative and Congressional Offices
Contact the LOC Advocacy Team - Reach out to the LOC Intergovernmental Relations team if you have questions or need more information on legislative bills and priorities.
Lobbying 101 Webinar
In this webinar, you will learn about the importance of building relationships with your legislators, how to develop legislation or funding asks specific to your city, how to move a bill through the process, and most importantly, how to lobby for your city.
Your role in our lobbying efforts is critical to our success, and the LOC needs your voices as much as legislators need to hear from you!
Watch nowFollow LOC at the Legislature
To stay informed on local government issues managed by the LOC lobby team during session, and to be most effective in their own advocacy efforts, cities can avail themselves of the many tools offered by the LOC. These include the following:
- LOC Bulletin – Delivered electronically every Friday, this publication has the most up-to-date coverage of the status and policy developments relating to bills being tracked by the LOC.
- Bill Tracker – Keep tabs on individual pieces of legislation.
- Social Media – Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to stay engaged and help us in our advocacy efforts by sharing and liking posts.
Finally, member cities are invited to call or email the LOC office at any time to talk with a member of the lobby team about a bill. Of particular interest to the advocacy team is local feedback or intelligence that can be offered about a bill, especially perspectives that might be provided concerning a legislator’s views on an issue.
How does LOC determine our legislative agenda?
The LOC’s IGR team receives advocacy direction from the Oregon Municipal Policy (OMP), the LOC Board of Directors, and the LOC policy committee process.
- The OMP is the is one of the League's foundational documents and describes policy stances adopted by the LOC membership.
- The LOC’s 8 policy committees meet during even numbered years and members serve a two-year term advising the LOC on policy related issues during a full legislative cycle. Each committee crafts policies for a ballot that sets the LOC’s priorities for long sessions (odd numbered years). Learn more about policy committees.
- The LOC Board of Directors reviews the policy priority ballot and solidifies the LOC legislative priorities for long sessions. Additionally, the LOC Board provides ongoing guidance on legislative advocacy.
How can our members help with our legislative advocacy?
The LOC encourages member cities to call or email our office at any time to talk with a member of the advocacy team about a bill, provide local feedback about a bill, or share perspectives of a legislator’s views on an issue.