Policy Take Policy Action

The Texas Legislature meets from January to May in odd-numbered years and may also convene for special called sessions.

The easiest way to stay informed about the proposed legislation is to read the local news. The Texas Tribune is a free online news source with extensive coverage of Texas policy and politics. Local newspapers also are a great way to learn about topics impacting your area. If you are interested in a specific topic, try subscribing to the newsfeed of non-profits or policy groups who work on that issue.

If you want to do your own research, the Texas Legislature Online website contains a wealth of current and historical legislation information. You can search for bills by number or by keywords, watch live or archived hearing broadcasts, get information about elected officials, and learn about the legislative process.

If you want to follow specific topics or bills, you can create an account on the MyTLO page and receive alerts for meetings, topics, or bills.
For information on sex education advocacy, visit Texas is Ready.

Get involved in a group advocating for a cause you believe in. They often have infrastructure set up to make it easier to mobilize.

Reach out to your local newspaper and write a letter to the editor or an editorial.

Share posts on social media, but stop and take a moment to verify that the information is accurate.

Lawmakers are most likely to listen to their own constituents, so it can be helpful to focus on your own elected officials.

• CALL: The most effective way to share your views with elected officials is often to pick up the phone and call. Be polite to the staffer answering the phone, and have a clear and concise message ready. If you are nervous or worried about forgetting key points, jot down a few notes beforehand. If you call the local or district office, you may have the best luck getting a human on the phone.
• VISIT: If it’s not too far away, dropping into the office or showing up at a town hall meeting is a good way to meet the elected official or a staffer face-to-face.
• WRITE: Emails or letters may be less likely to produce personalized responses, but they can be an effective way to make yourself heard, especially if you identify as a constituent of that official.
• CLICK: Most elected officials keep profiles on social media sites, like Twitter or Facebook. Following and commenting on posts can be useful.

To contact your elected officials, try using these tools:

• Resistbot: This app lets you quickly write to your state or congressional lawmakers via text message.
• Texas Legislature Online: This website has phone and office location for Texas lawmakers, as well as information on proposed bills and meetings and detailed maps of the Texas Capitol.

Use the Who Represents Me tool to find out who represents you in Congress and in the Texas Legislature. For more information on your local elected officials, visit Ballotpedia.

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