State laws set the ground rules of what local governments can and cannot do when dealing with vacant structures and problem properties. When restrictive or outmoded state laws stand in the way of effective local action, the only option is to change them. In this session, we will first explore how state laws define the scope of local government action, and then present two examples where successful organizing changed state laws. This session will also cover the process of making change happen, including how to build coalitions and marshall legislative support around key issues that help revitalize communities and empower local governments to deal with problem properties.