Online
These online resources make it easy to keep up in a news landscape that changes quickly.
| Online resources we like. Consider signing up for their newsletters and podcasts. | |
| The Texas Observer | |
| The Texas Signal | |
| The Texas Tribune | |
| Reform Austin News | |
| Every Texan -- Budget and taxes focus area -- Texas budget cycle one-pager -- Sign up for legislative update newsletter -- 2021 Legislative Priorities | |
| Listen online, via your local NPR affiliate, listen as a podcast: The Texas Standard, M-F. | |
| The Texas Standard | |
| Texas Legislature Online | |
| TLO | Track virtually anything going on at the Texas Legislature such as the committee meeting schedule and agendas. You can subscribe to get news alerts. |
| TLO Requests for Information | TLO page showing notices and written comments submitted to committees. |
| Here are podcasts you might like | |
| Party Politics Podcast | "Overwhelmed by the political news cycle every week? We get it — that’s why we’re ‘keeping the fun but losing all the drama’ of politics! Party Politics podcast is hosted by Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina, two smart and sassy University of Houston political science professors, who deliver a friendly, funny, and casually informative recap of the week’s biggest political news stories. " |
| Petrie Dish | "A weekly explainer on the coronavirus and its ripple effects with science journalist Bonnie Petrie from Texas Public Radio." |
| The top ten largest papers in our state often create special issues during the crazy calendar that is our Texas Legislative Session. | |
| The Dallas Morning News | Circulation: 413,480 |
| The Houston Chronicle | Circulation: 370,961 |
| The Fort Worth Star Telegram | Circulation: 173,833 |
| San Antonio Express-News | Circulation: 146,463 |
| Auston American Statesman | Circulation: 132,873 |
| El Paso Times | Circulation: 65,002 |
| Corpus Christi Caller Times | Circulation: 41,195 |
| The Monitor | Circulation: 39,467 |
| The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States | |
| Statistical Atlas | Great resource with an interactive map. Among many other things, find the boundaries of Texas congressional and senate districts. |
| Want to know who represents you in government? Check: | |
| Who Represents Me? | Shows state and federal representatives. |
| My Reps | Shows federal, state, county and local officials. |
| Check out current Texas House and Senate District maps: | |
| https://redistricting.capitol.texas.gov/ | Has PDFs as well as interactive maps in both desktop and mobile formats. |
Presentations, Training, and Other Useful Items
| Name | Description | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Texas Legislative Process | This was complied by Texas A&M as "A 4-H Members Guide for Participating in Texas 4-H Congress," (a 3-day session for students) but the first 28 pages are about how the overall legislature works and how to read bills. | http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-Texas-Government-Handbook.pdf | PDF document |
| TX Lege 101 training March 2019 | A high-level overview of what the Texas legislature is, how it works, and how we can influence it. | TX Lege 101 | PDF document |
| Lobbying notes March 2019 | TX Lege grassroots lobbying notes. | Google doc (notes) | Link to public Google doc |
Indivisible Rural Caucus
Are you in a rural area and want to connect others in your situation? Consider joining the Indivisible Rural Caucus.
About the 2019 Texas Legislative Session
Note: To get information on bills in the legislature, see Bills.
| SITE | NOTES |
|---|---|
| Texas Legislative Council | "... nonpartisan legislative agency that serves as a source of impartial research and information." |
| Legislative Reference Library of Texas | "your partner in legislative research" |
| Texas Tribune Texas Legislature 2019 | "...we focus on what Texans need to know about the biennial legislative session." |
| Texas House and Senate Livestreams | Provided via the Texas Tribune |
House Witness Registration
“House Witness Registration is the quick and simple new way to register for an upcoming House Committee hearing. House Administration has made the witness registration paperless. Now, you can complete the new 5-step registration process when you arrive the Texas Capitol by using one of the touch screen kiosk stations located in the Capitol Extension. You can choose to save your profile information to use for future hearings. ” More here.