State Action Network

Nearly one of every four legislators in America takes part in the CPA State Action Network. So many legislators participate because this unique Network helps them advance progressive policy like no other legislative association or organization in the country.

CPA employs a variety of methods to keep legislators connected to one another and informed of the latest progressive policy successes, strategies, and resources:

State Action Network staff make at least 15 State Visits each year, traveling to statehouses across the country. They meet legislators, distribute policy toolkits, hear about new proposals and controversies, and connect lawmakers with national experts on a variety of issues.

CPA organizes Leadership Circles, through which legislators who focus on similar issues are able to share information and tactics from state to state. Leadership Circle members receive detailed policy briefings at legislative conferences, during conference calls, and by access to password-protected pages on CPA's website. There are currently four Leadership Circles, supporting advocacy in the areas of: workforce investments, reproductive health, criminal justice reform, and marriage equality.

CPA's Summit on the States, held in Washington, D.C. each December, is one of the largest gatherings of progressive state leaders in the country, attended by more than 300 legislators and advocates representing 40-45 states. This conference is a unique roll-up-your-sleeves working event with policy and skill-building panels.

CPA plays a key networking role in Washington, D.C. as founder and chair of the State Issues Forum (SIF), an official arm of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). CPA convenes meetings and staffs the Forum, which brings together progressive advocacy groups, research organizations, and unions to coordinate intelligence gathering and policy campaigns across the states. It also makes CPA the only nonprofit organization that has a (non-voting) seat on the NCSL Executive Board, and the only nonprofit that sponsors panel discussions on the official agenda of NCSL's annual convention.

In addition, CPA works with other national legislative associations, including the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), and the Women Legislators' Lobby/Women's Action for New Directions (WiLL/WAND).