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OPA Advocacy Toolkit 2026
Welcome to OPA's Advocacy Toolkit, our members' one-stop-shop for engagement in our legal and advocacy work outside of our Committees.
Current Legislative Priorities and Action Items (updated XX/XX/2026)
Training Videos
These training videos are easy initial resources for engaging in political advocacy.
- Training Video 1: The Basics
- Video 1 covers the legislative basics and general information about OPA advocacy in preparation for Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026. Start here to better understand the legislative process both here in Ohio and nationally and get some tips on better knowing your legislators and legislation we support.
- Training Video 2: A Deeper Dive
- Video 2 takes a deeper dive into state politics: OPA Lobbyist Michelle Fitzgibbon prepares student pharmacists for Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026 by outlining a bill's journey through the State Legislature, highlighting important positions and officeholders to know, and how to be an effective advocate for our profession
- Video 2 takes a deeper dive into state politics: OPA Lobbyist Michelle Fitzgibbon prepares student pharmacists for Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026 by outlining a bill's journey through the State Legislature, highlighting important positions and officeholders to know, and how to be an effective advocate for our profession
- Training Video 3: Mock Legislative Meetings
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Video 3 is our attempt to provide a run through for what legislative meetings can look like, made specifically for Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026. The video is divided into three parts.
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Part One shows a basic interaction with a more friendly and engaged legislator and shows the complete process from knocking on the door to the office to saying thank you, goodbye, and leaving our Legislative Priorities Leave-Behind (a very important part of Student Legislative Day, but leaving something behind for legislators to hold onto is very important for all legislative meetings). Whether you are meeting with a legislator or one of their aides, most meetings will likely be like this example, even if the legislator doesn't agree with OPA's legislative priorities.
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Part Two shows an interaction with a less friendly and less engaged legislator. While these conversations can be briefer, the focus is to ensure we share what we need: who we are and what our legislative priorities are.
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Part Three shows the storytelling aspect of legislative meetings. It's important for legislators to learn more about our profession and especially your process of starting it! As time allows, talk about what interested you in this career, what the journey has been so far, and what area of practice you work in. There are very few pharmacists in government, and many legislators are unfamiliar with the specifics of our career.
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- And this video just for fun
Legislative Updates
OPA's lobbyist tracks and updates priority legislation our members are supporting or working against. Find out the latest initiatives and bills that are being pushed through the Ohio General Assembly.
Get engaged
Get engaged in the Association's advocacy work through our Committees, Special Interest Groups, Workgroups, or through our Rx Advocacy Team
As a member-driven Association, we need YOU to advance OPA and our profession, and you can do so by joining a committee, SIG, and/or workgroup. These groups act on issues of importance to the profession, the Association and its members.
The most effective way to protect and enhance the profession of pharmacy is at the local level, where crucial relationships with legislators are formed. To assist our legislative efforts, OPA would like to know which state and U.S. Representatives and Senators you are familiar with, or if you are interested in getting to know your legislators for the first time. Legislators like to hear from pharmacists from their districts, and you have a unique opportunity to serve as your legislator's pharmacy information source!
Contribute
The Pharmacy Political Action Committee is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of pharmacists who are interested in promoting good government and public health. Pharmacy PAC money contributed by pharmacists goes to help candidates who support pharmacy in Ohio.
The OPA Legislative Defense Fund was created in 2014 at the request of an independent pharmacy owner seeking to help OPA boost its advocacy efforts for pharmacists. Unlike a Political Action Committee (PAC) fund, where personal funds are given directly to political campaigns, both personal and corporate funds are accepted by the LDF to enhance our government affairs endeavors, and there are no limits on the amount you can give. Contributions from corporate funds may be tax deductible as a business expense.
