Shop Talk: Legislative Monitoring 101: Systems & Tools Peer Exchange

Legislative Monitoring 101 — Systems, Tools & Peer Exchange

Keeping up with legislation doesn’t have to be complicated—or require expensive tools. This complimentary members-only Shop Talk will explore practical ways to build a consistent legislative monitoring process using free legislative information and tracking resources. Together, we’ll walk through how to find and follow bills, identify recent amendments and updates, review vote histories and bill status, and set up alerts to stay informed.

Along the way, you’ll exchange ideas and approaches with fellow Associations West members and discover additional resources that can help strengthen your organization’s legislative monitoring efforts. Bring your questions & challenges for discussion!

By the end of this Shop Talk, you will be able to:

• Navigate state legislation platforms to locate relevant legislative and policy information.
• Review bills for amendments, recent activity, vote history, and current status.
• Identify and track legislation relevant to your association’s priorities and objectives.
• Apply practical tools and approaches to create a more consistent legislative monitoring process.

About the Facilitators

Greg Wilson, CAE MPPA, Founder & CEO of Greg Wilson Consulting

Greg Wilson brings nearly three decades of experience as an association executive, board chair, and advisor to organizations navigating complexity and change. He helps boards strengthen governance, advocacy programs, and decision-making practices while building productive relationships between boards and staff.

His work focuses on helping association leaders clarify roles, navigate challenging issues, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and translate strategy and policy priorities into action. He also advises organizations during leadership transitions, serving as interim CEO and assisting with executive searches and succession planning.

Greg has served as a board member and chair of Associations West and is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives. He holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation and Leadership Professional in Ethics & Compliance (LPEC) credential, as well as a master’s degree in public policy and administration.

Mark J. Bertler, CAE

Mark's career spans over 40 years in public health, human services, and non-profit and association management, with leadership roles across both board and staff positions. He began as a community organizer in Oakland County, Michigan, later becoming the first lobbyist for Michigan's Planned Parenthood affiliates and the founding Executive Director of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health. Nationally, he has worked with ASAE, the Public Health Informatics Institute, NALBOH, NACCHO, and the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. He has led organizations ranging from 3 to 1,500 employees and budgets from $500,000 to $130 million, with a consistent focus on sustainable organizations and high-performing teams. Mark is a Past Chair of CalSAE's Legislative Committee and has served on several credentialing boards. He remains active in community service in Santa Monica, CA.

Sheila Johnston, MPPA, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Luminari Partners

Sheila Johnston is the Founder and CEO of Luminari Partners, a management and consulting firm that works with associations and mission-driven organizations to navigate growth, change, and complex organizational challenges. With more than 20 years in association leadership, public policy, communications, and strategy, Sheila built Luminari Partners around a simple belief: big missions deserve bold thinking. Specializing in launching and scaling mission-driven organizations, she brings an entrepreneurial mindset to building the foundation for growth, unlocking new revenue, and expanding impact. Sheila also serves on the Board of Directors for Associations West.