1. Contract lobbyist would be retained to represent CBF before the Maryland General Assembly (MGA), Administration, and state agencies. 2. During the both the 2025 Regular General Assembly Session and any “Special Sessions” that follow, the Contract Lobbyist will serve as an official representative of CBF in the state legislature and before the Administration and provide the following services: - Attend CBF strategy and planning meetings to provide appropriate consultation and advice. - Regularly review General Assembly bill synopses and committee schedules and provide timely, proactive updates via email, text, and phone on legislation and meetings relevant to CBF’s policy priorities. - In consultation with the Maryland Staff Attorney, prepare and/or deliver testimony before the MGA and administrative bodies on CBF’s behalf. - In consultation with the Maryland Staff Attorney, assist in drafting priority legislation, identifying legislative champions and sponsors for CBF initiatives, and ensure that legislation is submitted in a timely manner. - Directly lobby the Administration and lawmakers on all CBF legislation and policy priorities. - Communicate regularly with sponsors, committee chairs, and committee staff regarding priority legislation, and assist in coordinating efforts to advance legislation. - Help draft and place desired amendments, including budget amendments and budget language. - Develop reliable vote counts in committee on major legislation and reliable vote counts on the floor when legislation passes committee. - Identify, target, and coordinate engagement with potential swing votes on key legislation. - Attend CBF’s organized legislative activities. - Upon closure of the MGA session, provide a thorough review and analysis of the session(s) as it pertains to CBF’s policy priorities. 3. When the General Assembly is not in session, the contract lobbyist will attend relevant CBF planning or strategic meetings, attend study sessions of the General Assembly relative to CBF issues and report back to the CBF staff, enhance the CBF’s legislative relationships by setting up strategic meetings with key legislators and CBF staff, work with staff to plan CBF’s special events as they relate to the legislative program and assist in the planning and development of the CBF’s grassroots and grasstops programs. The contract lobbyist will help develop and execute a strategy related to the Maryland budget, including the Capital budget and special funds. This strategy shall include how to deal with budget items that come before the Board of Public Works, how to support state agencies such as MDE, DNR, and Ag on their budget initiatives, and how to position ourselves for the budget items that will come before the General Assembly.
