There is no debate that 2024 will be remembered as one of the most memorable and consequential in American political history. The inspired and engaged COS grassroots activists accomplished a great deal during this momentous lap around the Sun.
COS Resolutions
COS resolutions were favorably reported out of committees in several states in 2024.
Despite barking to the contrary by COS opponents, the effort to call an Article V convention is nonpartisan. This was again evidenced in 2024 when COS resolutions passed committees in the legislatures of two of the “bluest” states in the union: Hawaii and Massachusetts.
In February in the Bay State, the COS resolution passed the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, which included 13 Democratic committee members and three Republican members. The Massachusetts team's victory was one of the many reasons why it was selected as the COS State Team of the Year.
The COS resolution was approved on March 20 by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs with the unanimous support of the Democrats on the panel.
The Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee approved the COS resolution in late April. The committee was chaired by Sen. Chris Dush, who said “I’m a firm believer that the federal government has overstepped the role our Founders envisioned. Any powers beyond the scope of the Constitution are reserved to the states and the people.”
In Iowa, the COS resolution passed a House subcommittee and the House State Government Committee, and the resolution was approved by the Idaho Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee–marking the first time the resolution was approved by a state legislative committee in Idaho.
Surge Days
COS teams organized or scheduled Surge Days in 33 states, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Surge Days enable the grassroots (and sometimes a liberty-loving llama) to mobilize at their respective state capitols to hear from COSA leadership and engage with state representatives and senators in order to convince lawmakers to co-sponsor and/or support the COS resolution for calling an Article V convention.
As a result, over 370 state legislators across the country co-sponsored the COS resolution, 20 states filed a COS resolution during the legislative session, and 21 different legislative chambers assigned the COS resolution to various committees for consideration.
34|Ready
COS activists worked extremely hard to urge their representatives to introduce and pass “34|Ready” model commissioner legislation in preparation for convention.
Such legislation frames the processes for selecting commissioners who will represent their states at an Article V convention, lays out penalties (fines and/or imprisonment) for commissioners who deviate from their instructions, and lays a groundwork for legislative support of the COS resolution in states that have not yet passed it, by clarifying procedural details.
During the calendar year, 34|Ready legislation passed the Missouri Senate Committee on Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions, and Ethics, as well as the Kansas House Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
34|Ready legislation was also introduced this year in the Mississippi and Kentucky legislatures, the latter of which has 16 COS resolution co-sponsors.
F3 Legislation
COS volunteer activists do not lie dormant in states that have passed the COS resolution.
Work is done to maintain and extend relationships with state legislators by championing bills regarding issues such as election integrity, parental rights, and state sovereignty–issues that correspond with the principles of Federalism, Freedom, and Fundamental Rights. This is referred to as F3 Legislation.
In Georgia, grassroots lobbying efforts championed three separate election integrity bills in conjunction with The Heritage Foundation. The Georgia COS team made contact with Peach State legislators over 450 times in support of the bills. Two of the bills (HB 974 and HB 977) were approved by the legislature. HB 974 was signed by Governor Brian Kemp on May 6.
In addition, SB 233, the Georgia Scholarship Promise Act, passed the legislature and was signed into law.
The Louisiana COS team has made its presence well-known in Baton Rouge, and their work has yielded significant progress.
HB 763, another piece of election integrity legislation, passed the Louisiana legislature and was signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry on June 11. Also, HB 114, which establishes a clear process for updating the state’s voter rolls, passed the legislature and also received Landry's signature on June 11.
Legislation that bans international government organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Economic Forum from asserting any jurisdiction in Louisiana was signed into law by Landry on May 28.
In Tennessee, COS grassroots worked with Alliance Defending Freedom to move parental rights in education legislation through the legislature and to the desk of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who signed it into law.
"This bill codifies the fundamental rights of parents to direct and control their children's upbringing," said Convention of States Action (COSA) Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs Rita Peters.
The Kansas COS team toiled diligently to shepherd land rights legislation in the form of SB 370 through the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
Legislation banning transgender surgery from being performed upon minors passed the South Carolina legislature and was signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster on May 21.
On April 29, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 3156, which prohibits ranked-choice voting. The COS Sooner State grassroots were active in getting the bill through the legislature, again working with The Heritage Foundation.
New Year, New Opportunities
These significant accomplishments and milestones are the result of commitment to first principles, personal sacrifice, and perseverance by our grassroots activists.
The legislative process can be excruciating. Individual legislators must be convinced to introduce or co-sponsor bills, which must then clear subcommittees, full committees, and the whims of majority leaders and speakers before even being considered by the whole of one chamber or another. All of it takes a great deal of time, energy, and follow-through.
The COS grassroots army is not only steadfast in its work, but growing in influence and achievement. While 2024 was a great year, 2025 promises to be even better. To be a part of one of the most consequential political movements in American history, sign the petition below and add your time and talent to his noble effort.
