Notes from Catalyst 730

We Texans and TAG put on a training session on Saturday to teach people how Legislature in Austin works and how to interact with the process. I’ve come to realize that a citizen’s responsibility includes actively working to hold the government accountable and translate your wishes and values into action. (voting is not fulfillment of your responsibility, it takes more)

My notes on what I learned follow, including pictures of some of the handouts and swag.

Texas legislators are in session for 140 days every 2 years. This is when all laws and amendments get passed.
Much of the work in creating laws is done ‘the rest of the time: There are 730 days in a 2-year period.
“Lex Rex, not Rex Lex” : no man is above the law (the way it should be)
~5000 bills come through each session
1/2 die in committee
~1000 get passed into law
Texas House
- House has 150 members, each representing ~ 175,000 citizens
- Tax bills must originate in the house
- Speaker of house is elected and can vote
Texas Senate
- has 31 members, each representing ~800,000 citizens (more than federal congressmen, which is 700,000)
- Presiding officer of senate is Lieutenant Governor, not a speaker
Three types of constraints in force
- Texas Constitution
- Statutes -end effect of bills being passed
- Rules -might change slightly each year, can be suspended
Texas Constitution requires that a bill be read 3 times
- 1st reading: in committee
- 2nd reading: in House – for debate
- 3rd reading:
Readings are ‘summary only’
No citizen interaction on floor – only through rep
Citizen interaction during committee is main opportunity, also chances to talk to reps in halls and at appointments
Monitor calendar (online) to determine actions being taken
Rule of thumb by Smitty Smith about influence
- 5 letters = the boss (Representative) will see it
- 10 letters = it is a big deal
- 100 letters = it is a really big deal
- Form letters don’t count for much, but real letters do (short, bullet point style is good)
- Files on USB drive are available here
- Lobbiest use money to get attention of representatives, but citizens get more attention than money.