I'm in a few state orgs and we do this for issues that aren't partisan, basically off radar shit. the process is chill. there's a call center at the statehouse which is staffed during sessions. somebody answers and you say, I'm in [X] zip code so my state senate and house districts are [Y] and [Z] (they will look them up for you if you don't know) and they're friendly people and then you say I am for/against HB/SB x/y.

the representatives get a summary digest each day. you can give them your info and request to be contacted back. obviously, they can ignore it all or not. one time I left my info and my reps both left me VM thanking me for taking the time, blah blah blah. it was weird, because I didn't expect anything and one sounded lonely lol. "call my office direct anytime here's my number"

federal stuff is totally different and a waste of time, in my opinion as someone who has also done that a few times. the responses from their offices are always insulting. a lot of state shit is too, unfortunately with all the ALEC boilerplate austerity and posturing, but sometimes there are functional processes to participate in a project unique to your local region which hasn't been sucked up into a national organization with partisan alignment.

obviously worker orgs, mass line and direction action is how to get major structural gains, but the diversity of tactics cuts both ways and it took me maybe 10 minutes of looking through all the other bills on the schedule besides my org's focus and 7 minutes of phone call with a friendly lady.

out simply, this didn't interfere with my union activity, theory reading or other agitation/organizing.