This time of year, we spend a lot of time telling you about the legislative session and different bills that might be important to your family. One reason we do that is that families are sometimes caught off guard when the legislature passes a law they didn’t know about—and then that law affects their family.
Another important reason we share this information with you is that you have valuable feedback to share with the legislators who represent you and your family. You know what is important to your family, and you know things that work and don’t work in the systems you and your children deal with. Remember that state legislators make the laws for Mississippi, including those governing how state agencies and some local systems are supposed to operate.
Almost every week during the legislative session, we give you an update on bills that might be relevant to you and your family. We encourage you to reach out to your legislators about any of those that interest you. But you can also reach out to your legislators about areas that generally concern you so they know how to consider potential laws in that light.
Right now, legislators are considering bills related to mental health, including measures that cover how the mental health system should be evaluated and how assisted outpatient treatment might be implemented. They are also looking at more uniform ways to set up the youth court system. They are considering how much data public school systems should be required to share. If you have feedback about any of these systems or other systems your child interacts with, we encourage you to share it with your legislators.
You don’t have to know what is in every bill. You can simply share your thoughts on what is working well and any improvements you recommend based on your family’s everyday, real-world experiences. That perspective is very valuable. Legislators have no way of knowing it unless you tell them. Remember—they represent you.
To find your state legislators so you can give them feedback on different issues, go to Plural Policy and enter your address. Your State Senator (upper chamber) and State Representative (lower chamber) will be the first two lawmakers listed. You can then click on their names to get their contact information.
We encourage you to call your state legislators rather than email them. They may not read emails quickly since this time of the year is very busy at the Capitol. You can also call the Capitol switchboard (601-359-3770) and leave your legislators messages. If you leave a message, remember to tell them that you live in their district.
