The decision-makers are your primary audience while the influencers are your secondary audience. Depending on the decision-maker you are aiming to influence, the process for affecting change can be different from decision-maker to decision-maker. In regard to supporting, altering, or enacting a new policy, the legislators (representatives and senators) are the decision-makers that you want to focus on and therefore are your primary audience.

Each state legislator is assigned to a committee and/or subcommittee. The legislators can also propose any legislation or vote to pass legislation. When a bill is filed, it is referred to several committees. It is very important to know which committees your bills have been assigned to and who is on that committee. This will allow you to effectively appeal to the legislators that have the primary authority and decide if a bill makes it to the floor of a house and senate. Visit the Florida Senate or the Florida House of Representatives websites to learn about Florida legislators, their committee appointments and their voting record. Remember, the more committees the bill is assigned to the less chance it has of passing because it takes time to have these committees in action. With respect to oral health related topics in Florida, you need to engage with the following committees: