Do Your Homework Now: Back-to-School Season is Prime Time for New York’s 2027 Legislative Agenda
There’s something about back-to-school season that makes September feel like a fresh start.
The calendar fills up. Meetings return to the books. Priorities get organized. And, before long, the focus shifts from summer to what’s ahead. (To be clear: summer doesn’t end until September 22. You can’t take a second of Upstate New York’s summer for granted.)
For organizations that care about what happens in Albany, September should signal something else, too: it’s time to start thinking about 2027.
January is less than 120 days away, and the most effective advocacy campaigns aren’t built once lawmakers return to the Capitol. They’re built in the months before, when there is time to think strategically, strengthen relationships, sharpen the message and build momentum.
What did 2026 teach you?
Before jumping into what comes next, look back.
The 2026 legislative session likely produced a mix of wins, disappointments, surprises and unfinished business. Some proposals gained momentum. Others never got off the ground. The state budget may have delivered progress in some areas while creating new challenges in others.
But the more important question is: what did your organization learn?
Which messages connected with lawmakers – and with reporters? Which arguments fell flat? Who became an important ally? Where did you have influence – and where did you wish you had more? Those lessons should shape the strategy you bring into 2027.
Don’t bring a 20-item wish list to Albany
A lot of organizations get slowed down or tripped up by trying to advocate for everything at once.
The most effective advocacy is focused. It starts with understanding what matters most to your members, constituents and stakeholders – and then identifying the few issues where your organization can make a meaningful difference.
That might mean securing funding, advancing legislation, stopping a proposal, changing a regulation or simply making sure an issue gets the attention it deserves.
Whatever the goal, clarity matters. If you can’t explain your priority in a sentence, it’s probably not ready for prime time.
Relationships are built before you need them
Albany runs on relationships, and the best time to build them isn’t when you need a vote or a headline.
The months ahead offer an opportunity to reconnect with lawmakers and staff, introduce your organization to new faces, and make sure policymakers and journalists understand the people and communities behind your issues.
It’s also the right time to look beyond your usual circle. Who else cares about this issue? What organizations, businesses, advocates or community leaders could help tell the story?
A strong coalition doesn’t just create a louder voice. It can demonstrate that an issue extends far beyond a single organization or industry.
Don’t forget the story!
A good legislative strategy is about more than bills, budget numbers and meetings.
It’s about making people care.
That means thinking now about the stories, data, voices and real-world examples that will bring your priorities to life. It means considering how your message will sound in a legislator’s office, in a news story, on social media and around the kitchen table.
The organizations that stand out in Albany are often the ones that can make a complicated policy issue understandable, relevant and personal.
That work takes time.
January is closer than it looks – and we can help
Once session begins, the pace changes quickly. Budget negotiations, hearings, lobbying meetings, press opportunities and unexpected surprises can leave little room to step back and rethink the strategy.
Leanne Politi is Director of Public Affairs at The Martin Group. We help organizations develop advocacy strategies that advance policy priorities and strengthen engagement in Albany. Backed by an integrated team of communications and marketing professionals across New York State and beyond, we help clients navigate the legislative process and build momentum around the issues that matter most.
