Lege Action Hub

Advocacy allows you to have a say in what goes on in your community, which leads to a better Texas for all.

This library contains a few specific ways you can share your voice with legislators and with the general public. Both audiences are important for advocacy work.

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

• 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 a supportive community of fellow advocates by signing up to be a Lege Insider with the ACLU of Texas.

Elected officials have a responsibility to listen to the public. You can contact a legislative office via email, letter, or phone to advocate for passing or blocking a bill. Calling the office is usually the most effective. 

Who do I reach out to?

You’ll want to contact:

• Your representative in the Texas House or your senator in the Texas Senate. You can find out who represents you using this tool: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
• The chair and/or someone who sits on the committee that will review the bill you’re advocating for or against.
  • Texas Senate committees are listed here: https://senate.texas.gov/committees.php.
  • Texas House committees are listed here https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/committee.pdf?v=88. 

What do I say?

When you reach out, be sure to give:

• Your name and the district you live in. You may be asked for your address. 
• The bill number and whether you support or oppose the legislation.
• Your reasons for supporting or opposing the bill. Make it personal. Share how it will affect you, those you love, and/or your community. 

For support and guidance when contacting a lawmaker, sign up to be a Lege Insider with the ACLU of Texas.

Elected officials have a responsibility to meet with members of the public, especially their constituents. You can call or email a legislative office to request a meeting. You’ll likely want to follow up via phone — schedules can fill up quickly. 

Who do I reach out to?

You’ll want to contact:

• Your representative in the Texas House or your senator in the Texas Senate. You can find out who represents you using this tool: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
• The chair and/or someone who sits on the committee that will review the bill you’re advocating for or against.
  • Texas Senate committees are listed here: https://senate.texas.gov/committees.php.
  • Texas House committees are listed here https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/committee.pdf?v=88. 

How do I prepare for a meeting?

If you don’t already know the legislator and their staff, look up their biography and familiarize yourself with their district. Identify the committees and caucuses they’re in, as well as any high-profile issues or legislation they’re working on.

Also, do a quick Google search to figure out whether the legislator has been in the news — and why.

Find out which legislators are working on the issues you care about by signing up to be a Lege Insider with the ACLU of Texas. 

What do I say?

When you meet with the lawmaker or their staff, you’ll want to:

• Give your name and the district you live in. You may be asked for your address. 
• The bill number and whether you support or oppose the legislation.
• Your 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 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 and quickest way to stay informed about opportunities to testify is by signing up to be a Lege Insider with the ACLU of Texas.

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. 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.
• Your chance of getting published is also higher if you reference a recent article. That way, you’re in conversation with the newspaper.
• If you’re trying to influence a legislator, mention them by name.
• Be sure to proofread!

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

For support and guidance when writing a letter to the editor, sign up to be a Lege Insider with the ACLU of Texas.