NHMA Policy-Setting Process
NHMA’s legislative policies originate with its members and the Committee on Government Affairs (CGA). The CGA consists of 75 elected and appointed local officials, including the 31 members of the Municipal Advocacy Committee (MAC), who represent all regions of the state, and all sizes of towns and cities. In the spring, before each new legislative biennium, the CGA solicits legislative policy proposals from member municipalities. Three policy sub-committees review these proposals and make recommendations to NHMA’s Legislative Policy Conference, held during the fall of the same year. At the Conference, NHMA members consider and vote on the policies recommended by the CGA sub-committees. Every member, regardless of size, is entitled to one vote at the conference.
2013-2014 Legislative Policy Proposal Form
Does your municipality have an idea that could help local government work more efficiently or to serve its citizens better?
If so, please fill out the 2013-2014 Legislative Policy Proposal Form. All we ask for is a brief policy statement (one or two sentences), a statement about the municipal interest served by the proposal, and an explanation that describes the nature of the problem and/or concern from a municipal perspective. Each proposal must come from one or more municipal officials. The deadline for submitting legislative policy proposals is May 4, 2012.
Policies adopted at the Conference guide the actions of the Government Affairs staff in addressing legislation during the ensuing legislative biennium. For the highest-priority policies—identified by the Legislative Policy Conference as action positions—the Government Affairs staff will draft legislation to implement the policies, identify and work with sponsors to introduce the bills, and support them through the legislative process. Review the NHMA 2011-2012 Legislative Policy Positions (PDF) adopted at the 2010 Legislative Policy Conference.
NHMA also uses a set of guiding Legislative Principles, which are reviewed and reaffirmed as appropriate by the Legislative Policy Conference, to develop positions on legislation that have not been expressly addressed in the biennial Policy Positions. Examples of legislative principles include: opposing unfunded mandates; working to maintain existing revenue streams to municipalities; and advocating to maintain existing local authority.
During the legislative session, the Government Affairs staff regularly reports to MAC on legislative developments. During any legislative session, new issues arise which were not contemplated by the current Policy Positions. MAC has the authority to establish legislative policy positions between Legislative Policy Conferences, in order to provide timely, continuing guidance to the Government Affairs staff.