Are you new to Austin? Are you new to trying to comprehend Texas politics? Are you bored and accidentally clicked on this link?
Perfect! Because we're going to try and explain the ol' Texas Legislature to you (AKA the folks who write the laws of the State of Texas).
First of all, the Legislature is made up of the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and the 31 members of the Texas Senate. You can think of them as our own Texas version of Congress. Not sure who represents you? Just click here: Who Represents Me?
Texas has a part-time legislature that meets for 140 days every other year, from the second Tuesday in January through the end of May. Because they are part-time, legislators in Texas are paid $600 per month (i.e., $7,200 per year) plus a $190 per diem for every day that they are in session.
While the Lieutenant Governor, who is elected statewide, is the presiding officer of the Senate, the members of the House choose their Speaker amongst themselves. The Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor wield a lot of power in Texas government thanks to their ability to choose the membership and chair for committees, which is quite a big deal.
Photo: Texas State Capitol
Committees are the lifeblood of the legislature and are where many of the long hours of sessions are spent. A bill that wants to see the glorious day where it turns into the law of the land must first be filed, then referred to the appropriate committee for whatever the subject matter of the legislation is. Want to give music venues an exemption from business taxes? Your bill will be heard by the Ways & Means Committee.
Committee hearings on legislation represent the step in the process where you get a chance to be directly involved. Whenever a committee hears a bill, the members will hear both invited and then public testimony. That is your time to shine! While you might have to wait a bit for your chance to talk, you will always get at least a couple minutes to tell the committee why they are about to make the best/worst decision possible. And during COVID-19, the session will be virtual but that doesn't mean you can't still make your voice heard. They'll still be taking public testimony! Keep up with the upcoming dates here.
How do I know what bills are being heard in committee, and find out what members are on that committee, you might ask? Lucky for you, the good folks over at the Texas Legislative Council have made keeping tabs on things a breeze. Simply click over to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/. Once at the Texas Legislature Online (TLO), you will find links to everything above, and more.
Photo: Texas State Capitol
Once a bill is out of committee and if it makes it to the House or Senate floor, it is up to the members to debate and decide. And believe it or not, they want to know what their constituents think. So call or email their office and let them know how you feel about a bill that is being debated soon. Find that information at the Texas Senate Membership Directory and the Texas House Members Directory. And if they won’t listen to you, don’t worry, the next election is only 13 months away!
Photo: Texas State Capitol
The 2021 session will cover everything from the state budget and education policy to healthcare and the impact of COVID-19. Follow along with the Texas Tribune as they break down everything about this year's session.
Useful links for getting involved in the Texas Legislature:
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