Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes is a full service government relations and association management firm. 

State Legislative Advocacy

Full service advocacy and consulting on legislation:

For client-sponsored legislation, MWH works with an author for bill introduction and follows through to implementation.  MWH will:

• Develop strategy for new legislation or amendments to existing legislation.
• Provide timely and appropriate testimony before legislative committees.
• Build coalitions to gain support and/or remove opposition.
• Provide technical assistance, through analysis and tracking of legislation.

MWH also assists clients to stop opposed legislation.  MWH will:

• Develop strategy for defeating or amending the proposal to meet client needs.
• Provide timely and appropriate testimony before legislative committees.
• Build coalitions to expand opposition.

State Board Administrative Appeals

• MWH represents clients before the State Board of Education on regulatory issues affecting clients.
• MWH represents clients before the State Allocation Board appealing Office of Public School Construction decisions that are opposed by the client.

State Agency Administrative Advocacy
Interpretation by a state agency of newly-enacted statutes frequently has a significant impact on the operation of individual school districts. Our firm has developed extensive expertise in advocating for client interests as state regulations are developed, and work regularly with the following state agencies:

• The Department of Education
• The Office of Public School Construction
• The Department of Finance
• The Division of the State Architect
• State Treasurer
• Department of Industrial Relations

Federal Advocacy
MWH provides clients with federal lobbying services.  With staff who have 25 years of experience lobbying on federal issues and relationships with Washington, D.C.-based lobbyists, MWH can provide targeted federal lobbying.  MWH and the federal lobbyist have helped clients receive funded earmarks, legislative amendments and access to federal agency decision-makers.

MWH currently provides federal lobbying for the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) and manages the federal lobbying for the Californians for School Facilities (CSF) association.

General Consulting Services
Our firm also provides the following general educational consulting services:

• Consulting Services for Attorney Firms: Expert testimony on state and local school facility issues.
• Determine the impact of proposed legislation and/or budget proposals.
• Assist clients in applying for existing grants and programs.
• Provide assistance to clients with developing School Facility Program applications and facility financing strategies.
• Assist clients with State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction Education Code waiver requests.
• Provide assistance to clients in developing school facility bond campaign teams.