Advocate at the Legislature: Your Voice Changes Policy
Make Your Voice Heard Where It Matters Most
Democracy works best when the people most impacted by policies have a voice in creating them. As a TCJE advocate, you join a powerful network of community members who bring lived experience, moral clarity, and strategic vision to the halls of power in Austin. Your participation doesn't just influence individual lawmakers—it builds the collective power necessary for transformative change.
Know Your Representatives
Who Speaks for You?
Understanding who represents you is the first step to effective advocacy. Your voice carries special weight with your own representatives because you're one of their constituents—the people they're elected to serve.
Find your representatives easily: Type in your address here to discover who represents you locally, at the Texas Capitol, and in Congress. Building relationships with these elected officials creates opportunities for ongoing dialogue about the issues that matter to your community.
Navigate the Legislative Process
Master the System to Change the System
The Texas Legislature operates through a complex but navigable system. Understanding how to track legislation, find committee hearings, and monitor the progress of bills empowers you to engage strategically and effectively.
Your legislative toolkit:
- Texas Legislature Online (TLO): This comprehensive website provides information about bills, committees, members, hearings, and more. Access it the TLO site here.
- Search and track: Use TLO to search for bills by session or keywords, check committee hearing calendars, and monitor legislation that affects your community.
- Stay informed: Create a "My TLO" account to set up personalized alerts for specific bills or committee hearings that matter to you.
When you understand the legislative process, you can anticipate opportunities to influence policy rather than simply react to decisions after they're made.
Testify in Person: Share Your Truth with Power
Your Story Can Change Minds
Personal testimony from community members is one of the most powerful tools for influencing legislators. When you speak from lived experience about how policies affect real people's lives, you provide lawmakers with perspectives they often don't hear.
House testimony process:
- Register in advance: Use the kiosk or your personal device to register ahead of time
- Come prepared: Know the bill number, committee name, and hearing location (available on TLO)
- Useful resource: Review this helpful guide to the Capitol registration system
Senate testimony process:
- Registration varies: Some committees use kiosks, others use written registration at the hearing
- Be ready: Bring the same information—bill number, your position, and key talking points
Plan for the day: Committee hearings can run long, and multiple bills may be heard. Bring snacks, water, and patience—your voice is worth the wait.
Submit Written Testimony: When You Can't Be There in Person
Every Word Counts
Not everyone can travel to Austin or spend a full day at the Capitol, but written testimony ensures your perspective reaches committee members who are making crucial decisions about policies that affect your community.
How to submit effectively:
- Check hearing notices: Each committee hearing notice specifies how many copies to prepare and where to submit them
- Track opportunities: Use this TLO page to monitor committee meetings and sign up for hearing alerts
- Write clearly: Focus on how the legislation would impact you, your family, or your community
Written testimony becomes part of the official record and can influence committee members' votes even when you can't testify in person.
