Zephyr urges targeted public pressure, hallway conversations and protests to shape Montana policy

Representative Zoe Zephyr advised activists that the most useful public participation is targeted, consistent and timed to when legislators are most receptive. "Pick something specific and target it and put a full court press on a specific policy," she said, praising groups that ran focused campaigns to stop a $500,000 partnership proposal.

Zephyr said public comment and hall‑way conversations during session are particularly effective. "I think that's the most effective. Being in the halls are the most effective," she said, adding that when legislators ask questions during committee testimony, activists should follow up in the hall to lower guards and plant seeds for future votes.

She outlined a communication speed round for constituents: form letters are hit‑or‑miss; calls to the legislative central desk and personalized phone calls are effective; direct phone calls to a legislator's public line are useful if the legislator has one; social direct messages can work in the off‑season; and showing up in Helena to testify or speak in the halls is the most effective single method.

Zephyr also described how protests change the "temperature" around an issue and provide both talking points and a way to identify effective spokespeople to recruit as witnesses or long‑term organizers. She encouraged off‑session relationship building, saying legislators are more open to different language and framing when "the walls are down."

Why it matters: Zephyr framed coordinated public action as the complement to in‑office legislative strategy — protests and phone campaigns create pressure and provide organizers the people lawmakers rely on for testimony and expertise.

The session included audience Q&A with multiple questioners, including organizers and activists from Western Montana DSA.