89th Texas Legislative Hub

The 89th Texas Legislature is in session in Austin to make decisions that directly impact you and those you love. There's a lot at stake. As Texans, we want better jobs, affordable health care, quality public schools, and a reliable power grid to keep the lights on. Yet, greedy politicians and corporations make decisions every day that leave us worse off.

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Together, we can demand that the Texas Legislature rewrite laws and fund programs for the people they represent — not the billionaires lining their pockets — so that every Texan can build a good life. No exceptions.

There’s no better defender of our civil rights than YOU – an informed and engaged Texan.

The state government has already wasted more than $11 billion on the anti-immigrant program Operation Lone Star (OLS) — designed to racially profile, harass, and detain people based on the color of our skin and the languages we speak.

This legislative session, we oppose bills that enable the state government to seize further control of immigration, spend more on OLS, or threaten undocumented students’ access to public education.

All Texans should have the opportunity to seek safety and a better life — no matter where we come from.

State officials regularly undermine our First Amendment rights and erode our democracy by trying to silence views they don’t like.

This session, we will defend Texans’ right to protest and advocate for inclusive public schools free from censorship and discrimination.

During the last legislative session, Texans faced more anti-LGBTQIA+ bills than any other state legislature in history. But Texans across the state showed up in support of LGBTQIA+ people.

This session, we oppose legislative efforts to undermine trans people’s ability to access gender affirming care, deny gender marker updates on identity documents, block trans and nonbinary people from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender, or restrict LGBTQIA+ students from showing up to school as their authentic selves.

Trans Texans will never be erased. And every Texan — no matter our gender, race, or background — deserves to live our fullest lives free from discrimination and bullying.

Extremist politicians in Texas have passed civil and criminal laws banning abortion care and putting our communities at risk.

We oppose bills that try to criminalize the possession of abortion medication or restrict people from supporting someone seeking out abortion care.

Every person in Texas should be able to make the deeply personal decision as to whether, when, and how to have children — no matter where we live or how much money we make.

Texas locks up more people than any other state — and racism is evident at every stage of the criminal legal system.

We oppose legislative efforts to restrict pretrial release and bail or undermine accountability for law enforcement. Texans deserve a criminal legal system that is fair, just, and equitable.

Texas is one of the most difficult places in the country to vote — and state politicians continue to make voting even harder.

We oppose bills that try to eliminate countywide polling, remove people from voter rolls, or expand state officials’ ability to take over elections and deny the will of the people.

Texans deserve a state where registering to vote is easy, casting a ballot is simple and convenient, and historically disenfranchised communities can fully participate in the democratic process.

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Have more questions about the legislative process and what it means for Texans? Become an ACLU of Texas Advocate today and be the first to know about our expert-led trainings that break down how the legislature works — and how it should work for us.

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You have a say in what goes on in your community. Use your voice to create a better Texas for all.

Below are a variety of ways you can share your voice with legislators and with the general public. Both audiences are important. Learn how to contact your lawmakers – through calling, emailing, or visiting them – as well as how to testify at the Texas Capitol and how to write a letter to the editor.

During the legislative session, there are three key moments when advocacy is particularly important:

• When a bill is being considered in a committee.
• When a bill has passed out of a committee but isn’t on the calendar yet for a floor vote.
• When a bill is up for a floor vote.

Join fellow Texans in getting in-depth update and up to the minute calls to action by signing up to become an ACLU of Texas Advocate.

Your elected representative works for you! Lawmakers listen to constituents who reach out to them directly.

Find your legislators: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
Physical Address of State House: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78701
Website: https://capitol.texas.gov/

Urge your elected officials to vote for or against certain bills. Remember to include the following things in your message:

• Who you're calling: You'll need to know which Senate district and House district you live in and the name of the legislator you're trying to contact. You can find that information out here.
• What you're calling about: Say the House bill number or Senate bill number you're calling in reference to and what action you'd like your legislator to take (ie. "please vote no on HB XXXX!").

A well-written, personal letter or email is an invaluable way to make your voice heard. Tips for writing to your legislators:

• Keep it short: If your legislator is receiving a lot of mail about certain issues, you’ll want to make your point quickly.
• Tell a story: The more personal your letter is, the more compelling it will be to your legislator. Tell your legislator how bills will affect you, your family, or your friends.
• Problem, solution, action: In the letter be sure to include the problem, the solution, and the action you want taken (i.e. “Vote no on HB XXXX!”).
• State who you are and what you want upfront: In the first sentence, tell your elected official that you are a constituent. State your name and address. You should also clearly identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by bill number (HB ___ or SB ____) or simply state the issue in general terms.
  • Example: Dear Senator, my name is Jane Smith and I live in your district at 111 Anyplace Lane in Denton, Texas. I am writing to you about SB XX because XYZ. I urge you to support these values and this important bill.

Meeting your legislators in person is an effective way to talk to them about what matters to you.

Tips for meeting with your legislator:

• Schedule your meeting: Email, mail, or call your legislator to request a meeting. When you do this, be sure to tell them what you want to talk about. If you’re their constituent, tell them. If you’re bringing another constituent or someone else to the meeting, let them know. Don’t ambush them with unexpected guests.
• Once you have a meeting scheduled, it’s time to educate yourself: Is the legislator a co-sponsor of a measure you support? Have they supported issues important to you in the past? Do you have connections in common with the legislator? Can you personalize your relationship? (Do your kids go to school together, for example?)
• Decide on your goals and what you hope to get out of this meeting: Are you hoping to introduce yourself? Do you want the legislator to understand your point of view on a certain topic? Are you asking for their support or opposition to a particular bill?
• Follow up: After the meeting, don’t forget to send a thank you note to leave a lasting impression and strengthen the relationship you’ve established.

You can speak directly to lawmakers by testifying at the Capitol in Austin. When a bill is being heard before a committee, the public is invited to testify for or against that bill. It is important that lawmakers hear from individuals who will be directly impacted by the proposed law, as well as from individuals who have unique expertise related to the bill.

How do I know when I can testify?
The easiest way to stay informed about opportunities to testify is by signing up to be an ACLU of Texas Advocate.

What should I say?
You’ll have limited time, so focus on a couple key points that make your perspective unique. Give reasons for supporting or opposing the bill. Make it personal. Share how it will affect you, those you love, and/or your community. You can prepare a statement ahead of time and read from it.

Will I be asked questions?
Committee members may ask you questions. It’s a sign that they’re engaged with what you have to say. If you cannot answer the question, don’t worry, tell the committee you will get back to them with more information. Don’t guess the answer.

Shaping how the general public thinks about an issue is an important part of advocacy work. You can easily reach a large audience by submitting a letter to the editor to a local or statewide newspaper or magazine. Not only do lawmakers track what gets printed, but media outlets also take note of what readers care about. So even if your letter doesn’t get picked up, you’ll be encouraging the paper to report on that issue. It’s a win-win.

How do I write a letter to the editor?
If you’ve never written a letter before, or even if you have, it’s helpful to review what letters a specific newspaper has published over the last few weeks. It will give you a sense of the length and tone.

There are a few general tips:

• Keep it short: Most letters should be 150-200 words at the most. Focus on one or two main points.
• Write from your personal experience: A newspaper is most likely to publish your letter if it’s unique — a perspective or experience that the paper otherwise hasn’t featured.
• Do research: Your chance of getting published is also higher if you reference a recent article. That way, you’re in conversation with the newspaper.
• Name names: If you’re trying to influence a legislator, mention them by name.
• Proofread: Be sure to check for typos and grammar.

Where do I submit my letter?
Google “submit letter to the editor” plus the name of the publication(s) you have in mind. Each newspaper has their own submission process. We've included links to the submission guidelines for a few larger Texas papers below:

• Austin American-Statesman
• Dallas Morning News
• El Paso Times
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• Houston Chronicle
• San Antonio Express-News
• Texas Monthly

For support and guidance when writing a letter to the editor, sign up to be an ACLU of Texas Advocate.

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