As Texans, we often don't realize how much the decisions made in the state Capitol shape our lives, whether it’s the schools we attend, the roads we drive on or the rights we hold. However, understanding how these laws are created doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, knowing how the Texas Legislature works can help you feel more connected and involved in the decisions that impact you.

Similar to the U.S. government, Texas has three branches of government. The Texas executive branch is led by the governor, who is elected every four years during the U.S. midterm election cycle. The legislative branch is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. These legislators are elected every two years. Senators are elected based on geography (31 Texas districts), and the representatives are elected based on population. Lastly, the judicial branch consists of approximately 2,800 courts.

Every two years, Texas voters elect state senators and House representatives. There are 150 House representatives and 31 senators. These legislators have 140 days to decide how Texas will be governed for the next two years. This means that all 181 legislatures are trying to push their agenda simultaneously.

Once a legislator is sworn into office, they begin to start filing bills in November. They can continue to file bills until 60 days after the legislative session starts, which tends to be in the middle of March. Most legislators end up filing over 50 bills. In the last session, over 7,000 bills were filed. However, only about 1,000 bills were passed, and many weren’t even debated.

The legislative session begins in January and runs through early June. The first phase is slow, as both chambers establish procedural rules and legislators are assigned to committees. Each committee focuses on a topic such as public education or energy. There are about 10 representatives in each committee. 

Each bill filed gets referred to a relevant committee. For example, a bill about school enrollment would be referred to the public education committee. Committees hold hearings where the public and state agencies can provide testimony. After review, committees decide whether a bill should advance to the full House or Senate for debate.

Once the bill reaches the chamber floor, legislators will debate its merits and propose amendments. If a bill secures majority approval in the House, it moves to the Senate, where it undergoes the same process. If both chambers pass the bill, it heads to the governor’s desk. The governor can then sign it into law or veto it. If signed, the bill takes effect either immediately or on a designated date.

Along with all the bills being filed by individual legislators, the governor and lieutenant governor designate some bills as high priority for a given legislative session. These bills typically address key policy issues and are more likely to receive early consideration and expedited movement through the legislative process.

For example, the school choice initiative, commonly known as the school voucher program, is one of the top priorities for the lieutenant governor this 89th legislative session and a key item on the governor’s emergency action list. This program would allocate tax dollars to help cover private school tuition as an alternative to or alongside public school funding. The bill faced intense debate in the last legislative session and ultimately failed, but it has been reintroduced in the current session.

Keeping up with legislation is important because many bills directly impact your income or directly affect how you live. A simple way to stay informed is by spending 10 minutes reading the news every day. The Texas Tribune is a great resource for Texas politics and legislative updates.

If you feel strongly about a bill, reach out to your state representatives. Rep. Gina Hinojosa represents the area surrounding the UT-Austin campus. Legislators want to hear from their constituents to better represent their districts, as the more people who voice their opinions, the more influence they have on whether a bill passes.

While legislation can seem complicated, getting involved is not. Just call up your legislator.