How to follow legislation and comment on it

Important dates to watch

Monday: Session opens

Tuesday: Governor's State of the State address

Feb. 14: Last day for bills to be considered in their house of origin (tentative)

March 3: Last day for bills to be considered in the opposite house (tentative)

March 9: Session ends

How to track legislation

Legislature home page: Identify your senator and representatives, get links to all legislators, find lists of legislative committees and their agendas, read proposed bills and track legislation: www.leg.wa.gov

Legislative hot line: Call toll-free for information about the legislative process or to leave a message for a particular lawmaker: 1-800-562-6000

TV coverage: Watch coverage of both the House and Senate on TVW, Washington state's version of CSPAN. TVW also provides online audio and some video coverage of all committee hearings, and podcasts all hearings and debates. For broadcast schedules, access to online audio and video, and podcasting: www.tvw.org

Washington Votes: Nonprofit Web site lets you check a lawmaker's voting record, track legislation, post comments and send e-mails to legislators: www.washingtonvotes.org

How to contact key lawmakers

Gov. Christine Gregoire:
(360) 902-4111, www.governor.wa.gov

Senate Majority Leader

Lisa Brown, D-Spokane:
(360) 786-7604 or www.sdc.wa.gov/brown.htm

Senate Minority Leader

Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla:
(360) 786-7630 or www1.leg.wa.gov/senate/hewitt

House Speaker

Frank Chopp, D-Seattle:
(360) 786-7920 or www1.leg.wa.gov/house/chopp

House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Centralia:
(360) 786-7896 or www1.leg.wa.gov/house/debolt

Lobbying tips

Write a letter: Lawmakers pay attention to their mail, but personal letters carry more weight than form letters. Letters should be concise, polite and include your name and home address.

Send an e-mail: E-mail is a quick way to contact a lawmaker, but keep in mind the huge number of e-mails politicians typically receive. An e-mail should be polite, concise and include your name and home address. You can e-mail any lawmaker through the Legislature's Web site at www.leg.wa.gov.

Visit in person: If you call or visit a legislator's office, state who you are, where you live, what you want to talk about, and what you want the lawmaker to do.

Source: OMB Watch