Legislators need to hear from you — your voice helps shape decisions that impact services, supports, and rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). There are many easy ways you can reach out and share what matters most to you and your community.
This is a quick and easy way to connect with your legislators. Phone numbers can be found on the legislative website.
It can help to think about what you would like to say before you call. Planning your message ahead of time helps you stay focused, clearly explain your position, and make sure you mention the specific bill or issue you are calling about. If you need to leave a message, preparing in advance will help your message be clear, organized, and easy to understand.
Find contact information for your legislators
The Legislative Hotline is another way to let your legislators know how you feel about an issue or bill. When you call, you will speak with a staff person who will ask for your name, address, and which issue or bill you are concerned about. They will then ask what you would like your legislators to know.
The staff person sends your message to each of your legislators and the Governor. This way of reaching out only takes a couple of minutes, and it can make a big impact.
While the public list of legislator email addresses is no longer available to help prevent phishing and unwanted contact, you can still easily send messages to your legislators through the Washington State Legislature website.
When you use the online message form, you will:
Once submitted, your message is sent directly to the selected legislators.
If you prefer to send an email directly, you can use this format to determine your legislator’s or legislative assistant’s e-mail address:
firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov
Example: jane.doe@leg.wa.gov
How to send a message to a Washington State legislator
Each bill on the legislative website has its own page with detailed information, including the bill’s current status and changes made throughout the process. Along the right side of the bill page, you will find a button labeled Send a comment to your legislators.
After clicking the button, you will:
Search for Washington State bills
If you are planning to visit Olympia, you can schedule an in-person appointment with your legislators during the legislative session. Because legislators are very busy during session, appointments are usually brief and usually last about five minutes.
You can also schedule meetings over Zoom, which makes it easier to connect without needing to travel. When requesting a meeting, be sure to let them know that you are a constituent.
Meeting with legislators after session is also a great option, as they often have more time to hear your perspective and have longer conversations.
To request a meeting, contact your legislator’s office by phone or through the legislative website. Let them know that you are a constituent, what issue you would like to discuss, and whether you prefer to meet in person or over Zoom. A legislative assistant will usually help schedule the meeting and follow up with available times.
Find contact information for your legislators
