Legislative and Executive Branch Lobbying Services

The vendor is required to provide executive branch, legislators, and legislative staff on matters that directly or indirectly affect the city.
- Lobbyist will:
•    Experience and knowledge: demonstrate that the staff assigned to the city possesses substantial, relevant experience with legislative and executive branch representation, with particular emphasis on knowledge of the city, the region, and issues affecting the state. 
•    Expertise: possess, or have immediate access to, legal and legislative expertise necessary to perform all tasks and responsibilities in a thorough, competent, and professional manner. 
•    Proactive engagement: provide a verifiable track record of actively monitoring and identifying state funding opportunities for municipalities.
•    Relationships: maintain established, longstanding, and positive working relationships with members of the state legislature, legislative staff, committee staff, and state agency personnel. 
•    Ethics and compliance: adhere to all state requirements regarding ethics, transparency, and accountability in lobbying activities.
- Lobbying services – roles and responsibilities
•    Availability and engagement: be available, upon reasonable request, to meet with the mayor, city council, city staff, and other designated officials to perform assigned responsibilities. 
•    Legislative awareness: review and monitor the agendas of the house and senate leadership to assist the city in strategically pursuing funding opportunities and policy changes. 
•    Representation: attend meetings, hearings, and legislative sessions as needed, representing the city’s interests before all branches, departments, and agencies of state government. 
•    This includes meetings with the governor, cabinet members, legislative committees, and state agencies on matters relevant to the city. 
•    Policy and legal interpretation: while not required to provide formal legal opinions, understand and analyze proposed laws, administrative actions, and legislative measures under consideration. 
•    Advise the city on potential impacts, legal implications, and strategic approaches. 
•    Monitoring and reporting: monitor proposals, hearings, and activities of state administrative agencies. 
•    Review meeting agendas, notify the city of pertinent issues, and provide timely reports on outcomes. 
•    Advocacy: proactively engage and lobby committee members, legislators, and other decision-makers in advance of and during meetings to advocate for the city’s desired positions.
1. Consultation
•    Consult with the mayor, city council, city manager, and designated staff to develop the city’s annual legislative agenda. 
•    Identify grant opportunities on a monthly basis and provide recommendations, including arranging agency meetings, drafting letters of support, and advising on competitive strategies. 
•    Review all existing and proposed state policies, programs, and legislation on a monthly basis; identify issues that may affect the city or its citizens; and regularly inform the city. 
•    Weekly reports are required during legislative committee weeks and sessions. 
•    Review legislative and policy statements adopted by other government associations to identify issues that may positively or negatively affect the city. 
•    Assist in coordinating the city’s interactions with state agencies, the legislature and its committees, as well as regional entities, universities, school boards, and relevant federal agencies. 
•    Provide quarterly updates to the city council, and in-person representation at council meetings as requested.
2. Legislative advocacy
•    Lead the city’s lobbying efforts in coordination with the city manager’s office to ensure consistent and effective representation. 
•    Communicate the city’s positions on legislative actions to members of the state legislature, legislative staff, state agencies, and other interest groups through direct advocacy. 
•    Work with the city manager and palm beach county legislative delegation to develop special or general legislation aligned with the city’s legislative program. 
•    develop and implement strategies to support, oppose, or amend legislation affecting the city. 
•    Testify and advocate before the state senate, house of representatives, governor, executive branch, cabinet, and committees as needed during regular, extended, or special sessions. 
•    Coordinate appointments and meetings for city officials with state legislators, committee staff, or agency representatives as requested. 
•    Attend legislative sessions, committee hearings, and agency meetings on behalf of the city.
3. State budget and appropriations
•    Work with the city manager and city departments to prepare and submit appropriation requests.
•    Provide timely notice to the city manager of any potential conflicts between representation of the city and other clients. 
•    Inform the city manager of relevant meetings, events, or opportunities tied to the city’s legislative or funding agenda. 
•    Maintain daily contact during legislative session and provide at least weekly reports on appropriations, legislation, and issues of concern.
•    Weekly summaries of legislative action, appropriation status, and anticipated issues. 
•    A final session report within one (1) week of adjournment summarizing outcomes related to the city’s priorities. 
•    A detailed follow-up report on specific legislation affecting the city within 60 days of session close.
4. Monitoring and bill tracking
•    Monitor year-round all state policies, programs, and legislation that may affect the city. 
•    Review policy statements from the state association of counties, and other associations for potential impacts on the city. 
•    Collaborate with city officials to develop long-term and short-term legislative priorities across issue areas such as public safety, infrastructure, transportation, environment, housing, economic development, revenue, grants, and mandates. 
•    Develop legislation in support of the city’s adopted program and strategies to advance or oppose bills as appropriate.
•    Monitor state legislative committee meetings, state agency hearings, and related proceedings relevant to the city’s interests. 
•    Obtain, track, and share all bills, resolutions, and regulations affecting the city, including providing copies to the city manager and elected officials. 
•    Maintain and update a list of the city’s legislative positions.
•    Provide access to a consultant bill-tracking system, if available.
5. Reporting requirements
•    Hold at least two (2) meetings with the city manager or designee before the start of session to develop priorities and strategies. 
•    Provide direct notifications to city leadership of critical deadlines or issues affecting the city. 
•    Written reports in memo format summarizing legislative activity, status of appropriation requests, and relevant agency actions. 
•    Provide a final detailed report on legislation or policies affecting the city within two (2) weeks of adjournment.
6. Logistical support
•    Coordinating and scheduling strategic appointments or negotiation sessions for city officials. 
•    Providing local transportation for city officials to and from legislative sessions, agency meetings, or other official business.

- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: October 10, 2025