As we head into the final push towards the fall elections and the upcoming legislative session that begins in January, AADA members must work harder than ever to remain a leading organization in the Arkansas Capitol. This work includes developing and maintaining close relationships with our elected leaders. Every dealer in this association knows that business is built on relationships. We don’t simply sell a customer one car and forget them; instead, we learn their name, remember their kids, service their vehicles for years, and earn their trust so that when they need us, we’re the first call they make. This approach is exactly the one each dealer should use to get to know the people who represent their community at the State Capitol.

Why This Matters Now

On Nov. 3, Arkansans will elect many of the lawmakers who will serve in the 2027 regular session of the General Assembly. When that session opens in January, legislators will take up hundreds of bills. Some will touch our industry directly, including franchise protections, vehicle sales and titling, taxes and fees, consumer financing, and workforce issues. Others will affect us in ways that are hard to see at first glance.

Decisions made in Little Rock shape how we do business in every corner of this state. Those decisions are made by people. And people are influenced most by the voices they know and trust from back home.

Legislators Want to Hear From You

There is a common belief that lawmakers only listen to lobbyists and big donors. In my experience, that’s not true. A state legislator in Arkansas represents a community of neighbors. They shop at the same grocery stores, sit in the same church pews and cheer at the same Friday night football games. Most of them genuinely want to understand how the laws they pass will affect the people and businesses in their districts.

What they often lack is someone local who can explain the real-world impact of a bill. That’s where you come in. When a legislator knows the dealer down the road, knows that the dealership employs people from the district, sponsors the Little League team and has served local families for years, a policy discussion about our industry stops being abstract and instead has a recognizable face and name.

Our association staff and lobbying team do outstanding work at the Capitol, but this effectiveness multiplies when lawmakers have already heard from dealers in their own districts.

Don’t Wait for a Crisis

The worst time to introduce yourself to a legislator is the day you need their vote. If the first time they hear from you is in the middle of a heated session, asking for help on a bill, you’re a stranger with a request. If they’ve known you for years, you’re a trusted resource offering perspective.

Build the relationship first. Here are a few simple ways to start:

• Find out who represents you. Know your state senator and state representative for both where your dealership is located and where you live. They may be different people.
• Invite them to your dealership. Give them a tour. Introduce them to your service techs, your finance team and your sales staff. Let them see how many local jobs and local dollars your business supports and invests.
• Show up at local events. Attend town halls, chamber of commerce meetings and community gatherings where your legislators appear. A handshake and a quick hello go a long way.
• Engage during campaign season. Candidate forums and meet-and-greets are great opportunities to ask where candidates stand on issues that matter to small businesses like ours.
• Stay in touch after the election. Send a note of congratulations. Offer to be a resource when automotive issues come up. Follow up during the interim, not just during session.
• Respond when the association calls. When we issue a call to action during session, your personal outreach to lawmakers who know you can make all the difference.

This Is About More Than Our Industry

Getting to know your legislators isn’t just about protecting our businesses, although that matters. It’s about being good citizens and community leaders. Dealers have always been pillars of their hometowns. We sponsor, we donate, we volunteer and we employ. Participating in the civic life of our communities is a natural extension of who we already are.

My Challenge to You

Between now and the start of the 2027 session, I challenge every member of this association to have at least one meaningful conversation with a state legislator or candidate from your area. Invite them to your store and tell them your story.

If you’ve already built those relationships, thank you. Take it a step further and bring a fellow dealer or one of your managers along to the next conversation.

Our strength as an association has always come from our members. Together, and one relationship at a time, we can make sure that Arkansas dealers have a strong voice in every district across the state.