The next legislative session is just a few months away, making now an important time for Washington Retail Association (WR) members to get involved. The interim provides an opportunity to build relationships with lawmakers, share your experiences, and help policymakers better understand how proposed policies can affect retailers, employees, customers, and communities across Washington.
Your experience matters
Retailers bring a perspective lawmakers need to hear. You understand what it takes to run a business, manage costs, support employees, serve customers, and keep doors open in a challenging economic environment. Sharing those experiences now can help lawmakers better understand the real-world impact of policy decisions before they return to Olympia.
Issues such as public safety, labor costs, consumer affordability, taxes, regulations, and the broader cost of doing business are likely to remain part of the policy conversation. Your firsthand perspective can help shape that conversation.
Small actions can make a big difference
Grassroots advocacy does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. Getting involved can be as simple as:
- Meeting with lawmakers in your district
- Hosting a store tour
- Sharing examples from your business
- Participating in a WR policy workgroup
- Attending a legislative or community event
- Responding to an action alert
- Contacting lawmakers about key policy issues
Even a small investment of time can make a meaningful difference. A conversation with a legislator, a quick email, or a firsthand example from your business can help connect policy ideas to their real-world impact.
WR will help you every step of the way
WR makes it easy to participate. We can help with scheduling, coordination, preparation, and follow-up so members can engage in a way that is manageable and worthwhile. Whether you are a business owner, operator, manager, team member, or industry partner, there is a role for you in this work.
Building these relationships before the session begins can make it easier to have productive conversations when lawmakers return to Olympia and legislation starts moving.
Help tell retail’s story
Retail is too important to be left out of the conversation. As the next legislative session approaches, make your voice part of the discussion.
To learn more about WR’s grassroots efforts or how to participate, contact WR Director of Policy & Government Affairs Crystal Leatherman at [email protected] or 360-884-0771.
