Laurel Hesse joined the ACLU of Montana in December of 2020 as one of two Legislative Program Managers for the 2021 legislative session. She is tasked with working collaboratively to develop and execute the ACLU of Montana’s legislative agenda, including tracking legislation, delivering testimony, and lobbying. She acts as the lead on legislation related to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, privacy rights, and 1st Amendment rights.
Before joining the ACLU, Laurel advocated for social justice issues while working for a number of local non-profit organizations including The YWCA of Missoula, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, and the ACLU of Montana during the 2017 legislative session. She was also on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice Montana for 6 years. Most recently she worked for the Missoula Criminal Justice Services Division.
Laurel was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and holds a bachelor’s degree in Drama from Colorado College. Laurel deeply values her friends and family and enjoys attending the occasional ballet class, collecting houseplants, and taking long hikes.
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