Editor’s Note: Sen. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, is contributing a column to this week’s print edition. The Colorado Statesman is publishing the column in serial form online this week.

Looking ahead to 2016, it’s important that grassroots activists understand how the legislative process works and how to effectively communicate with legislators. Every resident of Colorado has one state representative and one state senator. We work specifically for the people who live in the respective district that we represent. Get to know each of those people and be comfortable asking of them the four most powerful words in advocacy, “How will you vote?” It’s 100 percent acceptable to ask that question of a legislator. It’s also a good idea to follow up his or her answer with the time tested, “Why?”

Those of us who press through the 120-day session together each year need to remind ourselves that the public isn’t equally familiar with our terminology and how the bi-cameral process works. For me, it’s a subject that I truly enjoy discussing with people outside the Capitol. Those who follow me on Facebook will recognize my “Effective Advocacy 101” posts that are intended to help inform people about the Colorado legislative process.

Consider that all 100 state legislators can introduce up to five bills per session with the title (subject matter) of each of those bills being entirely up to the originating sponsor. Whether you want to see another attempt at a full repeal of the “mag ban,” an attempt at a “30-round compromise,” or something else entirely, then start talking to legislators. The 2015 session will end at or before midnight, May 6, but we’ll be back in January 2016 with a base of 500 new bill titles. All you need to advance your idea is for one legislator to agree to sponsor a bill for you; he/she can then have state employee drafters take it from there.

— Sen. Chris Holbert is a Republican representing northern and western Douglas County.