COTE Advocacy is dedicated to preparing AIA members to meet with legislators and other officials about key policies and programs.

What does the COTE Advocacy group do?

• Help develop AIA Minnesota’s policy positions related to sustainable design.
• Participate in meetings with policymakers.
• Assist with outreach to current and potential collaborators.

Who attends meetings with policymakers?

• You! An AIA Minnesota member who can speak from the perspective of architectural practice.
• A legislator who is working on a bill that may impact the profession, or a leader within a state, county, or local agency whose work impacts the profession.
• AIA Director of Advocacy Sheri Hansen and our AIA lobbyist usually join as well, especially if you are new to meetings like these.

How often?

• Typically 2-3 meetings during the Minnesota legislative session (January to May). You can put in as much or as little time as you have available.
• Meetings with agency staff and some legislators sometimes occur during the rest of the year (June to December) to address ongoing administrative issues or to prepare for the next legislative session.

What will we talk about?

• The purpose of meetings with policymakers is often to tell them why you support (or do not support) an upcoming piece of legislation or an administrative rule or regulation.
• Talking points are prepared for you by AIA Minnesota staff and discussed ahead of time.

What is the format?

• Brief, informal, 20-minute meetings with legislators or agency leaders.
• You offer your perspective, and they might have some questions.

Where?

• It depends on the policymaker’s preference: virtual, at the Capitol complex or State offices in St. Paul, or in the districts of individual legislators.
• AIA Minnesota staff assist with setting meeting locations and providing instructions on parking and getting to meeting rooms for in-person meetings. They also take responsibility for scheduling, finding times that work for you.

Are there other ways to advocate?

• AIA Minnesota members are occasionally asked to provide testimony to policymaking committees of the legislature. AIA Minnesota staff draft testimony with you, and handle all logistics to help you succeed with testimony if you are asked to provide it.
• AIA Minnesota staff may ask you to send emails or make calls to legislators on pressing issues during the legislative session.

Why you? To an elected representative or agency leader, your voice as a constituent carries weight. And as a subject matter expert in the area of architectural practice, you offer a unique professional perspective. These low-pressure, brief meetings can make all the difference in helping decision-makers understand how to support climate action in the built environment and sustainable design practice.

When you join COTE Advocacy, you’ll have opportunities to build your skills in legislative communications and share your expertise with decision makers throughout the year. You can put in as much or as little time as you have available.