Grass roots advocacy is when people engage in the legislative process by sharing their views with their elected leaders. It can take the form of writing or signing on to letters, testifying at hearings, attending town halls, visiting an elected leader at their office; or, here in Arizona, sharing their position on bills at the Legislature using the Request to Speak System.
The Importance of Engagement
When people engage in the public policy process by sharing what matters to them with their elected leaders, it makes an impact. When lots of people come together to engage on an issue, that makes an even greater impact.
Have you ever read about a new law or other decision made by your elected leaders and thought, why did they do that? In many cases, the reason is that people reached out, shared their concern or support on an issue, and the elected leaders listened.
Keeping up with what is happening at the State Legislature alone can be a daunting process. In this 2023 legislative session, over 1,600 bills were sponsored by legislators. AZBio’s Advocacy Team reads every bill and then highlights bills that relate to our life science and healthcare community on the AZBio Legislative Watch List. This page can be accessed under the advocacy tab on AZBio.org and is shared in the Government Affairs section of AZBio IN THE LOOP each week. Each bill includes a link to the legislature’s website where you can learn about the bill and see how it is progressing. The AZBio Advocacy Team updates the list each week so that you can quickly check on multiple bills in on place.
When you have a bill that is important to you, that is a great opportunity to engage.
Arizona’s RTS System Makes Engagement Easy
Once you are set up in the system, using the Request to Speak System (RTS) is an easy & effective way to let our elected leaders know what is important to you. Our legislators review the RTS system as they make their decisions on the prospective laws and investments that affect all Arizonans.
To start your set up process, go to www.AZLeg.gov and under the Legislative Information tab, select Request to Speak. At the top of the Request to Speak page you will see an option to Sign On. Choose the Create a New Account option and set up your account.
To enable your Request To Speak account, you need to log in to the system from a Legislative kiosk computer located in the State Senate, House of Representatives or the Tucson Legislative offices.
After you have been signed in from the kiosk the first time, your account is active.
Once you have an RTS account set up and activated at the Capitol, you can log in to the system and let our legislators know about bills you support, oppose, or are neutral on from your phone, tablet, or desk top by logging in from wherever you are.
Need help using RTS? AZBio can help. Contact us.
Impacting Arizona’s Innovation Future in 2023
With an account on the RTS system, you can share your support for two bills that will help shape Arizona’s Innovation Future.
NOW is an important time to sign in to RTS and make your position known.
Funding for the Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund Passes in Senate Appropriations
The Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund (AHIT) was established in 2022 to develop workforce programs; support small health innovation businesses; and provide other financial support that will drive growth in Arizona’s life science sector. On February 23, 2023, SB1084 was amended to appropriate $50 million in funding for AHIT in Arizona’s FY24 budget and declares that the Legislature intends that the Fund steadily grows to maintain a permanent endowment balance of at least $200 million. The amended bill received a Do Pass as Amended recommendation. SB1084 now moves to consideration by the Senate Rules Committee.
To learn more, click here.
Community Input on SB1084: appropriation; Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund
To view the community input in SB1084, click here and then use the RTS/Current Bill Positions tab to see input from people who are engaging in the legislative process.
Updates to Arizona’s R and D Tax Credits Under Consideration at Arizona Legislature
On February 23,2023, the Arizona Senate Appropriations gave a Do Pass Recommendation to SB1562 which updates and expands Arizona’s R&D Tax Credit program. SB1562 now moves to consideration by the Senate Rules Committee.
To learn more, click here.
Community Input on SB1084: appropriation; Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund
To view the community input in SB1562, click here and then use the RTS/Current Bill Positions tab to see input from people who are engaging in the legislative process.