Following are updates shared from submissions from ELCA-affiliated state public policy offices (sppos) this quarter. Submissions include updates on what has been going on at sppos across our network. Full list and map of sppos available.
MINNESOTA | OHIO | PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS | VIRGINIA
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Minnesota (LA-MN)
Tammy Walhof, Director
2025 Lenten/Lutheran Letter Campaigns: Lutheran Advocacy-MN is pleased with more participation this year in the campaigns, though we still struggle to have these campaigns known broadly.
End of Legislative Session:
The session closed with much work left undone. The governor pledged before session “end” to call a one-day Special Session, after bill differences are ironed out through House/Senate Conference Negotiations.
1) Overall Budget Negotiations – The House and Senate landed in very different places in nearly every budget area. Weeks of negotiations by the leaders and the governor finally resulted in a controversial agreement. Republicans wanted to end all healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. Protecting that coverage was paramount for progressive and POCI (People of Color/Indigenous) caucuses. Leaders finally compromised, pulling coverage from adult immigrants while keeping it for children, but reaching final passage remains contentious.
2) Affordable Housing – Thanks to lots of letters from Lutherans, steadfast advocacy by many Homes for All partners and great bipartisan collaboration by House legislators, the House passed a housing package increasing funding by $75 million and focused on four pillars of housing stability. Despite persistent advocacy, the Senate only passed an additional $3 million. Final Conference Committee negotiations added $18 million, primarily for rental help and homeownership support, with $50 million in bonding to build or rehab more housing.
3) Electronic Waste Recycling – We heard from bill sponsor Sen. Kupec that our Lutheran advocacy was making a big difference. Despite that, the bill became stuck after manufacturers objected to having to provide relatively tiny recycling collection costs. Our LA-MN Policy Council will discuss the possibility of starting an advocacy campaign to the companies that testified in opposition.
Participants at Hunger Network in Ohio’s Faith & Legislative Leaders Luncheon, photo credit: Pastor Aaron Layne of All Saints Lutheran Church in Columbus
Deacon Nick Bates, Director
The Hunger Network in Ohio hosted our third annual Faith & Legislative Leaders Luncheon on May 1, featuring Senator Blessing (R-Colerain Township) and Rep. Sweeney (D-Westlake) and over 100 faith leaders from across Ohio along with dozens of legislative officials and staff. The day also featured service spotlights from Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry in Cleveland, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, Canton for All People and the United Methodists laser focus on housing development in Ohio. Speakers shared about the importance of state budget policy to support Ohio’s affordable Housing Trust Fund, Foodbanks, Child Tax Credits and much more. Participants joined others in lifting up their prayers by adding paper plates to our ‘Paper Plate Prayer Chain.” Sadly, the Ohio House passed a version of the budget that falls far short but advocates are working to highlight the importance of these public services to our state Senators.
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Pennsylvania (LAM-Pa)
Tracey DePasquale, Director
Participants at Lutheran Day in the Capitol on the steps of the Pennsylvania state Capitol
On May 13, more than 215 disciples gathered to learn, worship and advocate for programs to fight hunger and support health care during Lutheran Day in the Capitol! Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Pennsylvania (LAMPa) broke the previous year’s record for turnout, with many advocates joining for the first time.
The Rev. Dr. Chad Rimmer offered the keynote and led workshops with Christine Mangale, Director of the Lutheran Office for World Community, on the theme “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” Rimmer’s keynote focused on relationships – creating ecologies of grace in an age of ecological breakdown.
In the morning, participants heard from LAMPa coalition partners on topics from our policy priorities, including hunger and food systems, housing, health care, energy and climate change, clean water, gun violence, peacebuilding, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and racial justice. In the afternoon, advocates headed to the state Capitol to urge their lawmakers to support state budget funding for anti-hunger programs as well as legislation to help prevent medical debt – a measure that passed the House with wide bipartisan support during our time in the Capitol. Advocates also urged lawmakers to call on their members of Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, explaining the harm such cuts would cause in their communities. Participants are encouraged to keep following up with letters, calls and in-district visits.
LAMPa has been working with our colleagues in the ELCA Witness in Society office to engage Pennsylvania Lutherans in advocacy with their members of Congress on issues such as hunger, Medicaid, clean energy and refugee resettlement.
Scott Atnip, Director of Public Witness
The Texas Legislature is nearing the completion of their 140 day biennial legislative session. ELCA members have been significant participants in multiple Texas Impact lobby days, including the three-day Family Matters: Faith Days at the Texas Capitol event, a three-day United Women in Faith Legislative Event, and a press conference and lobby day by faith leaders calling out religious extremism in the Texas Legislative Session.
Lutherans have also been key participants in issue teams with great ELCA participation in teams related to public schools, climate action, reproductive policy, ending gun violence, immigration and the Rapid Response Team. Each team is meeting virtually every week during the legislative session and provides opportunities for members to testify in committee, meet with legislators and attend issue-specific lobby-days.
The Texas Legislature has advanced many bills in opposition to ELCA and Texas Impact priorities, so planning is currently underway to encourage members and congregations to host “debrief” sessions with legislators to help constituents understand what happened during the legislative session and to engage in conversation about how decisions were made and how constituents can better work with their representatives moving forward to ensure policy is made with the local community’s priorities in mind.
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP)
Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Executive Director
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy concluded the Virginia General Assembly legislative session with notable achievements alongside significant setbacks. The intensive 45-day session demanded swift action and decision-making, during which Virginia’s faith communities and people of goodwill mobilized effectively, generating hundreds of emails and phone calls to state legislators and the governor in support of justice-oriented policies.
The organization achieved several key legislative victories:
- Successfully eliminated indiscriminate youth shackling practices within Virginia’s juvenile court system
- Secured approval for the constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to Virginians with felony convictions (pending second approval by the legislature before advancing to ballot initiative status)
- Preserved rural hospital maternity ward operations
- Advanced measures to streamline affordable housing development processes for faith-based organizations
Despite these successes, several priority initiatives did not advance, including legislation mandating implicit bias training for healthcare professionals and establishing universal paid sick leave rights for all Virginia workers. Our organization is conducting a comprehensive review of this session’s outcomes to inform strategic planning for the 2026 legislative cycle.
Given the significance of Virginia’s upcoming statewide elections—featuring races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and the entire House of Delegates—the organization has identified civic engagement and voter mobilization as primary focus areas for the summer months ahead.
Pastor Mack Patrick (he/they) is currently serving as Assistant to the Bishop in the Northern Illinois synod, where he oversees communications, stewardship, and youth ministry. With a deep passion for social justice, particularly in advocating for transgender rights and the rights of individuals with disabilities, they strive to bring positive change to their community.
