AMTA Government Relations Update 8-15-2025

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

AMTA and CBMT once again shared an exhibit booth during the recent NCSL Legislative Summit. This year’s gathering was held in Boston, with over 9,000 attendees, as NCSL celebrated its 50th anniversary. Our two organizations have been participating in this annual event since 2018, and this year we exceeded the number of exhibit visits from prior Summits. This event allows the AMTA and CBMT national team to meet withlegislators representing all states and territories. The Summit environment provides time to discuss the need for state recognition of music therapy and the MT-BC credential through state statutes and regulations, without the usual pressures of the hectic legislative session schedule.

Next steps include working with state task force members across the country to follow-up with the connections made during this event. We met with over 50 legislative contacts from over 30 different states!

State Task Force Connections

2025 marks 20 years since AMTA and CBMT created the State Recognition Operational Plan.  Since that time, we have had the privilege to support task force members in a total of 48 states.  Some legislative journeys have been VERY long, and some have been surprisingly short. Whether offering advocacy trainings for music therapists and students, nurturing relationships with bill sponsors, hosting Hill Days, preparing state fact sheets, developing coalition partners, educating legislators, providing hearing testimony, attending MANY Zoom meetings, and responding to a wide array of questions about the profession from state agency officials, one of the best parts of this initiative is the relationships formed with fellow music therapists along the way.

This past year, I have been fortunate to visit with several different task force members across the country actually meeting some of them in person for the first time and not just on Zoom!  These incredible professionals devote countless hours advancing music therapy and pursuing state recognition. Their efforts to increase access to quality music therapy services in their communities deserves more thanks than any words can describe. I know that my CBMT colleagues, Dr. Dena Register and Dr. Kimberly Sena Moore, join me in celebrating their commitment to this national initiative. Working together really does make a difference and continues to generate energy and excitement for the “government relations” world!

THANK YOU!

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