Legislative Champions

We're looking for Legislative Champions. Think you could be the perfect fit?

Legislators are selected by you and they should represent your community and your interests. Your voice is essential to ensure that the laws they pass lead to equity, justice, and opportunity, especially for the most marginalized Californians.

Advocating to pass laws that protect civil rights is one way to bring about change in the lives of Californians. A bill will often undergo multiple changes from the time that it is introduced to actually becoming a law. Advocacy is needed all along the way to make sure that impactful bills become law. Oftentimes, it is the voice of everyday people in their communities that can push a lawmaker in the right direction.

Sound like the right opportunity for you? Click here to express your interest today!

Express your interest

2024 Volunteer Opportunities

Each legislative session, the ACLU works on a legislative agenda that moves our state forward by sponsoring bills to advance policy change on a broad range of issue areas. Below you'll find moments to support our efforts:

Lobby Day: Join us for our annual Lobby Day at the Capitol in Sacramento on Monday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The legislative session is back in full swing here in California, and it's time we make our voices heard.
In-District Visits: Every year, the California State Legislature pauses for the summer. Official duties stop and legislators return to their home districts. This is when we mobilize and advocate for our priority bills! We need volunteers like you to join lobby meetings. Sound like the right opportunity for you? Express your interest by clicking here and we'll reach out.

When you hear "Legislative Champion," we want you to think of YOU!

Because it's that simple. You can advocate in your home district, at the Capitol, via text and so much more. We will provide trainings and information that help you prepare to take action.

Need more encouragement? Hear from some of our most dedicated Legislative Champions.

We spoke with our most active Legislative Champions, Victor and Chowning, about their experience volunteering with ACLU NorCal. Chowning and Victor are long-time volunteers in their local chapters. They are Legislative Champions who have participated in multiple lobby visits and led teams of constituents as lobby captains. Here's what they shared:

Victor (he/him)

Question #1 - Please share why you volunteer to participate in the Annual Lobby Day and/or Summer Recess In-District visits?

Victor's Answer - I am very impressed with how they share their personal experience that is relevant to the bills at hand, how we help one another, support one another, and learn from one another.

Question #2 - What does the phrase, “It’s a process” mean to you in terms of legislation?

Victor's Answer - With a process, there are many steps, e.g. committee hearings and floor hearings. At each step, there is opportunity for advocacy, e.g. community sign-on letter, public comments, lobby visits.

Chowning (she/her)

Question #1 - What was your biggest ACLU NorCal legislative win and what was your role in that success?

Chowning's Answer - The passage of SB 2 in 2021 was a legislative victory that allowed for the decertification of abusive police. The law brought California in line with nearly every other state and was a step in the right direction for public safety to ensure that police engaged in serious misconduct cannot continue to work in law enforcement. My role in that victory included leading a group of community members to lobby our local legislators, informing them about the bill and encouraging them to vote for it. Our efforts were successful, as I believe both representatives voted in favor of the bill.

Question #2 - How does the ACLU of Northern California equip you to participate in lobby visits?

Chowning's Answer - The knowledgeable staff at the ACLU of Northern California have a deep understanding of the bills. They provide analysis of the legislation, key talking points, training, and are available to answer questions. Whether it is your first time lobbying or your fortieth, you are given the tools for a successful meeting with your legislator.

A Guide to the California Legislature: Learn how a bill becomes law, the general duties of legislators, and more about our advocacy approach.
How to Call Your Legislator: Calling is one of the most effective ways to contact your legislators. Here are some tips for what to include in your message.
How to Write Your Legislator: Letters and emails are a very useful advocacy tactic. Check out our guidance on the ideal format for written communication.
How to Research Your Legislator: Find the best ways to research your legislator.

The wins below are just a snapshot of all our hard work and a direct result of our entire community coming together. These wins would not have been possible without volunteers stepping up. Still, the work continues.

Learn more below and consider how you can support these efforts.

Senate Bill 2

In 2021, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), the Kenneth Ross, Jr. Police Decertification Act. SB 2 established a statewide system to decertify or suspend officers who have committed serious misconduct. Now the work begins. The public can report police officers to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). We have been working with communities to identify bad actors and partnering with them through the decertification process.

Use of Force

In 2019, California passed AB 392 which states that peace officers can only use deadly force when necessary. Volunteers and community activists across California mobilized to pass this bill. After the bill passed, grassroots groups and ACLU members worked to ensure that police departments across the state updated their policies and procedures to conform to the new law.

TRUTH Act & Values Act

In 2016, California passed the TRUTH Act to provide information to immigrant communities about their rights and to create transparency around how local law enforcement was participating in federal immigration enforcement. Now, county Boards of Supervisors host annual TRUTH Act Forums where law enforcement must answer community questions about their involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In 2017, the ACLU and our partner organizations passed the California Values Act, which says that no state and local resources can be used to assist federal immigration enforcement and that our schools, our hospitals, and our courthouses are safe spaces for everyone in our community.

We use TRUTH Act forums to learn about how resources are being used and ensure that the Values Act is being upheld.

We choose bills based on their potential impact, local and community support, and need.

The first factor to determine if we will support, co-sponsor, and prioritize a bill is if it is related to our work and helps to advance our long-term goals, civil liberties, and civil rights. Generally, our work falls under six categories: Criminal Justice, Technology and Privacy, Immigrants' Rights, Gender, Sexuality, and Reproductive Justice, and Racial and Economic Justice.

We choose bills based on their potential impact, local and community support, and need, including:

The impact that we believe the bill will have on Californians.
If a bill will have a large, positive impact and seems unlikely to pass without a lot of support.
Similarly, if we believe that a bill will have a large, negative impact, we may choose to oppose it.
We also want to make sure that the bills that we focus on are supported by directly impacted communities and have a broad base of support from community partners who invite our participation.

Our legislative work builds on our local work both by taking what is learned at the local level and translating it into state law and also by supporting a state law that will provide a catalyst for local advocacy.

Legislative Champions

We're looking for Legislative Champions. Think you could be the perfect fit?

2024 Volunteer Opportunities

Each legislative session, the ACLU works on a legislative agenda that moves our state forward by sponsoring bills to advance policy change on a broad range of issue areas. Below you'll find moments to support our efforts:

When you hear "Legislative Champion," we want you to think of YOU!

Need more encouragement? Hear from some of our most dedicated Legislative Champions.

Victor (he/him)

Chowning (she/her)

Tools and Resources

Check Out Our Recent Wins

How does the ACLU NorCal make decisions about bills?

Become a Member