Many people believe that the Texas Legislature, statewide elected officials, and appointed leaders of the more than two hundred boards, commissions, and agencies – the highest levels of state government – are beyond the understanding, reach and influence of most individuals.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Voting in elections is a very important duty in deciding and holding responsible our leaders,
But the power of Texans from all walks of life to actually be part of the legislative process – how a bill becomes law – is not well-known.
A bill is a type of legislative measure that usually requires passage by both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives, and action by the governor, in order to become effective.
A bill is the primary means used to create and change the laws of the state.
I am a Texan with almost 20 years professional experience in the corridors of power at the State Capitol Complex, home of the Texas Legislature, governor, and major state government entities, which create and put into action the laws and policies the Lone Star State.
I work with FORMA Public Affairs and through our many services – including public commentaries such as this one – we help people easily learn how to make the legislative and political systems work for them.
As our latest public service, we are getting out this message statewide, educating Texans on how to be part of the solutions in their own behalf at the State Capitol Complex in Austin, rather than standing on the sidelines, feeling powerless from a distance.
There are many actions that can be taken by the Texas Legislature that regional and local governments, large and small businesses, labor groups, community organizations, even one individual can do to change their world for the better.
I know from first-hand experience, having worked for a combined 15 years as a legislative staff member with then-Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg and then-Rep. Gilbert Peña of Houston (no relation), on hundreds of bills and amendments.
An amendment is any proposed change to a bill as it moves through the legislative process.
So how does a person effectively and comfortably learn how create a bill, and equally important, become part of the legislative process?
And do so without spending a cent – and for just a few hours a month?
Today – or whenever the Texas Legislature as whole is not meeting in Austin – is a great time to become a player.
All legislative committees in the House of Representatives and the Texas Senate are and will be hearing ideas from the public on dozens of issues that will become bills for when the 88th Texas Legislature returns to work in January 2023 for its 140-day regular session.
Here is one major development going on right now to get involved from the very beginning of the legislative process:
In late June, Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, issued a series of “interim charges” related to the Texas-Mexico border.
Twelve committees received a unique charge, with each of these committees also receiving a general charge to review the distribution of federal pandemic recovery funds and their potential use to respond to the border crisis in addition to their individual directives.
The time period between Texas legislative sessions is referred to as “the interim.”
During this period, Senate and House committees are assigned certain topics to study, referred to as interim charges.
The committees develop comprehensive reports with recommendations to be considered during the following legislative session. Legislators submit suggestions for interim studies to the legislative leadership. From those recommendations, the final charges are selected. The Lieutenant Governor assigns charges to the Senate committees and the Speaker of the House assigns interim charges to the House committees.
“These interim charges present an opportunity for the Texas House to better understand the importance of what is currently happening along our state’s border with Mexico, and I expect each committee to get to work listening to the public studying these issues, and recommendations for the best course of action in response to these issues I’ve given,” the Speaker of the House stated. “Although the challenges along our border may be familiar, they demand continuously innovative solutions, and I look forward to the work these committees will do.”
Every interested Texan has the opportunity to become part of these legislative solutions that will have an enormous impact on all of us.
Editor's Note: The above guest column was penned by Maricela 'Mari' De León, a Rio Grande Valley-based Principal with FORMA Public Affairs. The column appears in The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with the permission of the author. De León (pictured above) can be reached by email via: Maricela@formagroup.net.
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