The Texas Legislature is now in session. The Texas Constitution allows just 140 days every two years to do all of the people's business involving state government. The current session began on January 9, which means that we are now well underway.


Over the next few short months the Texas Legislature will consider more than 5,000 bills and resolutions, pass more than 1,300 of them, and approve a budget that will fund the State of Texas over the next two years.


I am often asked for advice on how constituents may effectively advocate for change while the legislature is in session. Let me share a few lessons I've learned over the years as a participant in the legislative process. Many of these things will seem like applied common-sense when you hear them, but they work.


First, given that so much has to happen in such a short legislative time-frame, one of the first keys to effectively communicating a message is doing it succinctly. A well-honed idea can be discussed in three minutes. If there is clear legislative interest, you can always flesh the idea out more.


So what should you do in three minutes? Here is what I recommend.

1. Define the problem. What is broken that needs fixing? What in state government could work better? Where is tax money not being used effectively? In short, what does your idea address.
   
   
2. Define a solution. If there is agreement that something needs fixing, then the next step has to be workable options for doing something about it.
   
   
3. Two main tools in our toolbox. Offer solutions that work within the two primary tools available to the Texas legislature, which are the ability to pass laws and adopt a state budget.
   
   
4. Make it specific. All legislative action focuses down to either a proposed bill or an item in the state budget. These are what come to the floor for a vote. If you have a good idea, thinking about how it can be turned into a bill or a budget item is critical. And, of course, if legislation has been filed that you like, make sure to let legislators know the bill number and author.
   
   
5. Always consider costs. Every bill must be reviewed carefully for its impact on the state budget. There are competing demands for every dollar and factoring in costs is a necessary part of the development of a proposal.
   
   
6. Savings money is always welcome. Few ideas will generate more legislative attention than finding ways to do something better for less tax money. If you see opportunities, please let us know! A lot of what state government does now that works better originated within the private sector.
   
   
7. Results matter. What legislators want to know are what results they can expect to see if something becomes law. They want to know what it means for both the state and for their district. The more comfortable they can feel that the results will be positive, the higher their comfort level. Seeing what happened in other states that tried the same thing is helpful. Research and data from credible sources matters.
   
   
8. Deadlines matter. A full series of deadlines for each stage of the legislative process are in place and missing any of them can kill a bill. For example, legislators face a firm deadline to file all of their bills by the 60th day of the session. After March 9, a great idea that needs legislation will have to wait until the next session. 
   
   
9. Relationships matter. Passing legislation is a collaborative process. It involves patience, collaboration, respect, and a willingness to work with others. It also means accepting that not all bills pass, even some good ones, and the best advocates are the ones who don't give up. They build on what they accomplished and try again.
   
   
   So what is the last tip I would leave you with? Here is the one piece of advice that I hope will weave all of this together.
   
   
10. Citizens matter. Texas is still "do it yourself government" where our citizens pick 150 House members and 31 senators to carry their views and voices to Austin. Texas' lawmakers return to private life after each session to live under the same laws as everyone else. This is still public service and we hold positions of public trust.

We care about what you think about the issues for a very good reason: you are the reason we are here in the first place.

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