The RV Industry Association (RVIA) used the 2026 Legislative Summit hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures to engage policymakers from 40 states and outline its legislative priorities for the 2027 state legislative session, according to the association.
Held during the last week of July in Chicago, Illinois, the Legislative Summit brought together more than 7,000 attendees, including state legislators, legislative staff, exhibitors, lobbyists and government affairs professionals.
The association said the event is the nation’s largest state government affairs conference and provided an opportunity for its State Government Affairs team to discuss policy issues affecting the RV industry with lawmakers from across the country.
The association’s State Government Affairs team exhibited a 2026 Winnebago 22RBS Thrive travel trailer on the exhibition floor, where legislators and legislative staff toured the RV while meeting with association representatives.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association also participated alongside the RVIA, displaying a 2026 MasterCraft NXT22.
According to the association, the two-day event enabled its State Government Affairs team to network with policymakers and legislative staff from 40 states while highlighting industry priorities ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
“The event is incredibly valuable for the opportunities it presents to get in front of policymakers and bring awareness to some of the more pressing issues for our industry, like state RV franchise laws, right to repair laws, and PFAS bans and manufacturer reporting requirements,” Gaby Gilbeau, the RV Industry Association’s director of state affairs, said in a News and Insights report of RVIA on August 6.
Gilbeau said the summit also serves as an important planning milestone for the association’s state advocacy efforts.
“The connections we make and the information we learn at the Legislative Summit act as a compass for the State Team as we are planning for 2027,” Gilbeau said. “The takeaways from this event help us decide what issues and states we will focus on, giving us plenty of time to meet with legislators and other interested parties to advance the RV Industry Association’s priorities.”
The association said insights gathered during the summit will help guide its legislative strategy for 2027, including determining which policy issues and states will receive priority attention as it continues engagement with legislators and other stakeholders before state legislative sessions begin.