The International Ombuds Association (IOA) and the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Committee are pleased to announce the formation of a joint taskforce focused on next steps related to the Organizational Ombuds Practices Act. 

On February 9, 2026, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates unanimously adopted Resolution 503, urging states to enact the Organizational Ombuds Practices Act. This effort has been in the works for about ten years, and we are indebted to the many contributors in both IOA and ABA for their diligent work ahead of and during its adoption. The Act marks an important milestone for the organizational ombuds field and reflects growing recognition of the importance of confidentiality, independence, impartiality, and informality in organizational ombuds practice.  The new Model Act creates enabling legislation for states to adopt and, in concert with IOA’s Standards of Practice, would create protections for Organizational Ombuds in the United States if adopted wholecloth. 

The newly formed IOA/ABA Joint Taskforce will focus on developing a proposed advocacy and lobbying strategy related to potential state-level adoption efforts. The taskforce’s work will include identifying practical considerations, assessing strategic opportunities, and developing resources to support thoughtful and informed future advocacy efforts.

The taskforce is expected to develop:

• A proposed advocacy and lobbying strategy for state-level implementation

• Recommended criteria and a weighted assessment tool to help evaluate and prioritize potential states for future focus

• Communications resources and talking points to support advocacy and educational efforts

• Guidance related to escalation pathways and risk considerations during the legislative process

The taskforce will consist of approximately 5 members from IOA and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution with organizational ombuds experience and, where possible, experience related to lobbying, legislative processes, policy, or advocacy work.

All initial deliverables are expected to be completed by the end of August 2026 and will be shared with IOA leadership and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Committee for review and consideration.

This effort reflects continued collaboration between IOA and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution in support of the organizational ombuds field. We recognize that legislative and advocacy efforts require thoughtful planning, coordination, and long-term engagement. Recognizing the time-consuming work of legislative advocacy and lawmaking, we believe strategic assessment and coordination is critical to the success of any rollout plan, and appreciate the many volunteers and leaders who are willing to coordinate with us and contribute  to this important work.

We seek to be as thoughtful and intentional as possible - recognizing the potential volatility of the legislative making process - before seeking state legislative support.  If you are in a state you think is primed for possible adoption, please reach out to us. 

This truly is a defining moment for the field, and we are grateful to all those involved in shepherding the model act through the ABA House of Delegates, especially Natalie Fleury who led the work of the legislative subcommittee at the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. 

For more information, please contact Ellen Miller, Executive Director of IOA at [email protected] or Matt Ricke, Co-Chair ABA SODR Ombuds Committee at [email protected].   

Members of the Taskforce include Paul Sotoudeh, Bruce MacAllister, Sarah Klaper, Mark Patterson, Matt Ricke, with support and guidance from Ellen Miller from the IOA and Jen Michel from the ABA SODR.