The Next Policy Cycle Has Already Started

It’s my favorite time of year. The season slows down a little, the days get quieter, and everyone seems focused on family, rest, and resetting. But while most of us are easing into the holidays, the policy world is already moving. In Mississippi, the governor just released his budget recommendation, which is more than a spending plan. It is a statement of priorities. It signals what he wants to advance, what he wants to avoid, and where the political energy will be when the legislature returns on January 6. 

This is the part of the policy cycle most people never see. Long before lawmakers walk into the Capitol, agencies begin shaping proposals, fiscal committees start reviewing numbers, and legislative staff map out which issues are likely to rise in the first weeks. Coalition partners reassess where they agree, where they can compromise, and what stands a chance in a shifting political landscape. 

For nonprofits and advocacy groups, this is not the pause people imagine. It is preparation season. If you wait until the gavel drops in January to get organized, the major decisions will already be in motion. The organizations that use this time to refine their goals, update their materials, and strengthen their messaging will be the ones with a seat at the table when conversations begin. 

The holiday season creates a natural break, but it also creates opportunity. This is the moment to evaluate what worked this year, to identify the gaps that became clear during shutdown disruptions and political changes, and to prepare the strategy that will guide your work when the session starts. That includes refining your narrative, identifying champions, reviewing the budget, and determining which priorities are realistic in this new landscape. 

At Chase Gen Strategy Consultants, we help organizations move from reflection to readiness. When the session begins on January 6, the groups that prepared now will enter with clarity, alignment, and momentum. Policy moves fast. Successful organizations move first. 

Learn more at www.chasegen.com.