Legislative Advocacy

1. Legislative Advocacy By Joe Tate

3. Direct Action

4. HB 2 Protests 2013

5. “All politics is local.” “Vote like your life depends on it. Because it does.“ - Justin Dart

6. Breaking down problems into issues

7. legislators with…. This legislative session….. the Texas legislature… will legislate.

8. The Texas Legislature • The Texas Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. • The regular legislative session lasts 140 calendar days • The lieutenant governor, elected statewide separately from the governor, presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House is elected from that body by its members. • Both the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House have the power to choose committee membership in their respective houses and have a large impact on lawmaking in the state

10. The Texas Legislature is composed of: • As of 2019, a majority of the members of each chamber are members of the Republican Party. • Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has term limits.

11. The Life of a bill A legislator may draft legislation personally or obtain the services of professional staff of the Texas Legislative Council. Legislation may also be prepared by organizations or individuals with a particular interest in certain matters. The bill, the most common type of legislative document, is the only means by which laws may be enacted, amended, or repealed. The Legislative Budget Board drafts the general appropriations bill. All bills except for general appropriations bills are limited to a single subject. A bill may originate as the idea of a single legislator or may grow out of the recommendations of a standing or special committee of the legislature that has conducted interim studies on specific issues of legislative interest.

12. No Yes

13. The Crucial Role of Committees • Basic business in both chambers is conducted according to the committee system. • Although virtually all bills are referred to a committee, a large number of bills are never reported out of committee. Thus, committee action is the first crucial step in the process by which a bill becomes law. • All committee business on a bill is required to be conducted in open meetings. No official action or vote may be taken except in a meeting that is open to the public.

14. Floor Action • After a bill has been read a third time on the Senate or House floor, a vote is taken for final passage. If the bill receives a simple majority vote, it is considered passed, and the chief clerk of the house or the secretary of the senate, as appropriate, certifies the bill’s final passage, noting on it the date of its passage and the vote by which it passed. • On receiving a bill, the governor has 10 days in which to sign the bill, veto it, or allow I t to become law without a signature.

15. www.legis.state.tx.us

16. TIPS FOR TESTIFYING • Make it personal. • Use your voice and your story. Your personal experiences are your most valuable tool. • Stick with the facts. • Stay on topic and be informative. Share your knowledge and resources when testifying. • Be passionate. • These issues impact your life. You have a short time to relay how important this topic is to you as a Texan. • Know that you must be brief. • Most testimony at the Texas Capitol is limited to 2 or 3 minutes. • Know your audience. • If conservatives are the majority of the legislature, then you must frame your argument in terms that they might be willing to meet. • Don’t reinvent the wheel. • It is likely, no matter your issue, that organizations and other individuals have already labored to construct a powerful argument that you can use.

17. Helping Hands

18. Testimony Checklist • I introduced myself • I stated the name of the bill or topic that I will testify on • I clearly stated that I am testifying: On, For, or Against the bill • I stayed on topic throughout my testimony • I made it personal • I stuck with the facts • I kept it brief • I thanked the committee for their time