Your Legislators

The Catholic Conference of Kentucky subscribes to a service to make it easier for Kentuckians to receive legislative updates and to contact their elected officials. Click here to sign up. If there is specific legislation that CCK supports or opposes, you can send a message that the Catholic Conference of Kentucky has prepared for your adaptation and use.

Members of the general assembly pay close attention to their calls during a session and your telephone can be an effective advocacy tool. You can always leave your message if the member is not available (remember its a busy time and your representative is not likely to be available).

You must know the names of your state senator and your state representative. Then you need to learn how to find them. If you already know the names, then finding them is easy by visiting this page of the Legislative Research Commission website.

If you are not certain who your representatives are or in which district you live, visit this page on the LRC website and put your address in the box provided to learn the names of your State Senator and State Representative.

• Speak directly to a legislator (Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission’s switchboard): 502-564-8100
• Leave a message for your legislator: 800-372-7181 (7 a.m.–11 p.m.), en español 866-840-6574
• Send a fax to a legislator in Frankfort: 502-564-6543
• Legislative committee meeting schedules: 800-633-9650
• Check on the status of pending legislation: 866-887-9016
• Reach the TTY message line: 800-896-0305
• Public bill room (to request a copy of legislation): 502-564-8100  ext. 323
• Governor’s office: 502-564-2611, fax 502-564-2517

For other cabinets and branches, visit Kentucky’s government’s website.

A personal letter still counts in the ever expanding world of communications. When writing a letter to your representative or senator, remember to keep your message simple and sincere. Correct spelling, punctuation, and style still matter. The following formats for addressing your envelope and salutation are generally acceptable:

Dear Senator or Representative (insert name):

Address your correspondence to
Legislative Offices
Capitol Annex
Frankfort, KY 40601

Legislators face a big challenge during a General Assembly. More than 1,500 bills are filed for consideration during a regular session. Many bills deal with complex issues including Kentucky’s budget and tax system. They need concise and reliable information in a hurry.

As a citizen lobbyist, you can be a valuable source of information for your state senator and state representative.

Hundreds of individuals are registered with the Legislative Ethics Commission as legislative agents, also known as lobbyists or advocates. These paid professionals represent various interest groups, for-profit, non-profit, public and private. You name it, someone is paid to be there and get the ears of legislators.

Nevertheless, input from concerned citizens and grass roots coalitions can and does have an impact on those who are elected to represent us. 

All advocates, paid and unpaid, are seeking to influence how legislators vote on their issues.

Your credibility is vital if you seek to change hearts and minds of elected officials. To maintain credibility we suggest you adhere to the following:

•  Remember your ABCs—accuracy, brevity, and courtesy
•  Know the status of your legislation or any amendments
•  Know what the bill does, who it affects, and what it costs
•  Tell your legislator in plain language how a bill affects your community
• Communicate regularly and be persistent (mail, phone, fax, or email)
• Get to know your legislators and their staff
• Work with your legislators in your home district
• Be polite and know when to back-off from debate
• Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get discouraged

Building a relationship that lasts will benefit you and your cause in the long run.

• Never threaten retaliation
• Never be dishonest; if you don’t know the answer, say so and promise to find it
• Never make assumptions
• Never waste a legislator’s time; be brief
• Never criticize individuals or political parties
• Never be rude or discourteous