Pennsylvania Legislative and Advocacy Guide

Disrupting human trafficking requires a strategic and holistic approach – this includes collaborating with policymakers to promote long-lasting, system-changing legislation.

But enacting policy reforms requires your help.

Here is a quick guide on the Pennsylvania legislative process, with advocacy tips that align with two main strategies:

1. Educating and contacting lawmakers. Urge your representatives to introduce and vote for reforms, whether through letters, phone calls, social media, emails, or even visits to their capitol or district offices.

   • Find your lawmaker here.

2. Engaging in grassroots collaboration. Amplify your voice through public awareness and education initiatives that may include joining social media campaigns, press conferences, awareness events, legislative hearings, joint meetings with lawmakers, media outreach, and peer conversations.

   • If you are an impacted stakeholder privately or professionally (e.g. a survivor, law enforcement official, legal professional, service provider), consider sharing your story or lending your voice as a credible messenger/expert.

Before you begin advocating: first equip yourself to speak accurately and powerfully by learning about needed reforms, proposed legislation, and effective communication tactics. Sign up for bill alerts on the General Assembly bill webpage and follow Greenlight Operation to stay informed on when and how to act. By reading this document, you have taken the first step!

The Pennsylvania Legislative Process

1. Bill Drafting

   • A lawmaker “prime sponsor” in either the House or Senate Chamber introduces a bill, often at the urging of constituents and in consultation with industry experts. Additional co-sponsors will sign on – more co-sponsors signals greater support.

   • The bill receives a House or Senate Bill number (H.B. or S.B.).

   • Advocacy Tip: Collaborate closely with anti-trafficking leaders to educate lawmakers and urge them to introduce or cosponsor a bill.

2. Bill Introduction and Committee Assignment

   • The House or Senate leader assigns the bill to a committee.

   • Members review and debate the bill, sometimes holding public hearings in which experts and stakeholders can submit testimony and/or testify.

   • Members then vote on the bill.

   • Advocacy Tip: Committee chairs are not obligated to move a bill – making this a vital time to urge committee chairs and members to support the bill while also building a groundswell of grassroots support.

3. Caucus and Floor Votes

   • Majority and minority party members meet in separate caucus rooms to review and decide whether to support or oppose the bill on the chamber floor.

   • The full chamber will discuss and vote on the bill three separate session days. They may also vote to send it to a different committee for consideration (step 2).

   • Advocacy Tip: Build upon the tactics from step 2, reaching out to lawmakers who aren’t on the committee and urging peers to join you. Contacting legislative leaders is especially impactful, as they significantly sway colleagues and decide whether to hold a vote.

4. Concurrence in the Other Chamber

   • A bill receiving a majority vote moves to the opposite chamber, repeating steps 2 and 3. An amended bill must subsequently also receive a “concurrence” vote in the original chamber.

   • Advocacy Tip: A bill often stagnates at this stage. Continue your previous advocacy activities while also publicly and privately thanking supportive lawmakers. Celebrate with your coalition! Recognition spurs the positive, trusting relationships necessary for ongoing advocacy success.

5. Governor’s Signature

   • If both chambers concur, the bill goes to the governor who may 1) sign or allow the bill to become law or 2) veto or line-item veto the bill.

   • Advocacy Tip: Reach out to the governor’s office and join in united, public pressure.

6. Policy Enactment and Monitoring Enforcement

   • If the governor doesn’t veto the bill, it becomes law.

   • Advocacy Tip: Celebrate! Thank everyone who supported the bill.

   • Advocacy Tip: Use the momentum to highlight additional reforms/legislation. It is also important to monitor the new law’s enactment and impact assessments, using it to learn best practices and inform next steps.