Why It Matters: Across the US, most legislative sessions have either adjourned or are in summer recess, meaning most legislators are back in their home districts. Requesting a meeting with your legislator(s) outside of the hustle and bustle of the legislative season is the perfect time for sportsmen and women to become familiar with their state representative’s stance on sporting issues as well as allowing them to share their personal perspectives and opinions on our sporting heritage.
Highlights:
- In the Mid-Atlantic Region, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia’s legislative sessions have adjourned, while Pennsylvania remains in session until the end of November, but is currently in recess until September. (they are a full-time legislature). This means elected officials in these states are likely already considering legislation for the 2027 legislative session.
- Meeting with your elected officials at the state government level allows you to familiarize yourself with their policy priorities and assists sportsmen and women in building rapport with their representatives.
- Working with your state representatives in the off-season allows sportsmen and women to get ahead of the curve when it comes to reoccurring issues in their state as well as ahead of any potential new legislative trends.
The Mid-Atlantic region is a great example of an area that is important for sportsmen and women to start getting more involved in the public policy process. This Mid-Atlantic, like many other regions, sees a vast array of legislation related to issues sportsmen and women should care deeply about. Looking back at the 2026 legislative sessions, CSF has currently engaged on 57 items in the region. some of the many topics in the Mid-Atlantic region included modern sporting firearms; lead ammunition; Sunday hunting; free and/or discounted hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses; and much more.
Scheduling a meeting with your state level elected officials now, instead of later, can help you further understand both the political environment and the public policy process, to help inform you of potential legislation for the upcoming legislative session. These meetings can be more than just beneficial for sportsmen and women; it can also be beneficial for your elected official. Meeting with your elected officials during the off-season keeps your representatives engaged and abreast of the issues their constituency cares about. Sportsmen and women can use this time to provide information to educate legislators on the impacts that their votes have on sportsmen and women in your state, and potentially, nationally.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) encourages all sportsmen and women to be actively involved in the public policy process and to pay close attention to all legislation and regulations that may impact their ability to participate in their beloved outdoor sporting heritage. Additionally, CSF encourages you to keep in contact with your legislators to share your stance on sportsmen and women’s policy issues.