Texas
Legislative
Guide
2025-2026
Standing for Faith, Family
and Freedom in Texas
Quick Reference Guide
for Contacting Your
ELECTED
OFFICIALS
OUR CORE VALUES OF FAITH, FAMILY,
AND FREEDOM ARE PROMOTED IN
TEXAS THROUGH:
FAITH.
FAMILY.
FREEDOM.
OUR MISSION & VISION
Texas Values is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to
preserve and advance a culture of family values in the state of
Texas. We stand for biblical, Judeo-Christian values by ensuring
Texas is a state in which religious liberty flourishes, families
prosper, and every human life is valued.
Policy research
Public education and standing for truth in the media
Grassroots mobilization
Voter education
Reviewing legislation and providing legal analysis
Testifying before the Texas Legislature, State Board of
Education, and other governmental entities
group who promotes their values further than the voting booth.
The Texas Legislative Guide is designed as a quick reference guide to
educate you on the legislative process and give you confidence to boldly
enter the public policy arena.
Remember, you can make a difference! Did you know that writing one letter
to your elected official is regarded as representing the thoughts of 20
others?
This booklet will walk you through the steps to becoming an involved citizen
and empower you to:
Get Involved - The “How to Make a Difference” section will guide you
through understanding the legislative process and effective
communication skills. You will learn basic steps in the legislative process,
common terms heard around the Capitol, how to address public officials,
and how to write letters.
Contact your Legislators - The “Federal and State Directories” section
will provide you with contact information on your elected officials,
including district maps and committee membership. If you don’t know
who your elected officials are, visit our website at txvalues.org under the
“Get Engaged” tab, and type in your address on the “Find your elected
officials” link. This will identify your legislative districts and your elected
officials in each office.
As you continue to stay on top of the issues, we hope this guide will serve
you well and help you impact your state, community, and family!
Thank you and God Bless,
Dear Fellow Texan,
Congratulations! You are taking the first step to
becoming an active citizen and joining an elite
Jonathan Saenz
President, Texas Values
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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2025-2026 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE GUIDE
119th Congress • 89th Session of Texas Legislature
I. HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Chart: Basic Steps in the Texas Legislative Process
Chart: How a Bill Becomes Law in the U.S. Congress
List of Voter Registrars by County
Terms Heard around the Capitol
How to Address Public Officials
II. FEDERAL DIRECTORY
President and Cabinet
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives (Texas)
Congressional District Map
Capitol Hill Phone Numbers
III. STATE DIRECTORY
Statewide Elected Officials
Key State Numbers
State Senate: Committees, Contact Information, District Map
State House: Committees, Contact Information, District Map
State Board of Education, District Map
IV. OTHER RESOURCES
89th Legislature Dates of Interest
Online Resources
Active Citizen’s Journal
Produced by Texas Values
1005 Congress Ave Ste 830, Austin, TX 78701
512-478-2220 • txvalues.org
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11-12
13-15
16-18
19-28
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22-25
26-27
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29-72
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30
31-40
41-70
71-73
74-80
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HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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How To Make A Difference
How To Make A Difference
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is
for good men to do nothing.”
—Edmund Burke
The following are some helpful tips to keep in mind when you are trying
to influence a legislator or legislation:
DO
• Be specific and know your facts.
• Be honest, direct, positive, and brief.
• Attend hearings on specific bills and register in support or
against those bills.
• Testify for/against bills.
• Show your legislator how the legislation you support/oppose
will help/hurt the district.
• Check the progress of the bills that interest you as often as
possible.
• Treat your legislator as a friend and an intelligent citizen.
• Invite legislators to a local program in your area.
• Write a thank you letter after a visit or when your legislator
does something you support.
• Write letters to the editor or opinion articles for your local
newspaper.
DON’T • Be argumentative or abrasive.
• Press for an answer from your legislator on the first visit.
• Interrupt them when they are obviously busy or in a hurry.
CONTACTING YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL
Some effective means of communicating with your elected official
include letters, phone calls, emails, faxes, and personal visits. On the
following pages you will find guidelines to help you make the most of
these opportunities.
Texas Legislative Guide 2025-2026
Contacting Your Officials
The “Get Engaged" tab of Texas Values’ website, txvalues.org, is optimized to make it
easy for you to find out who represents you and make a difference by contacting your
officials. You may use the online tool to respond to action items or to contact your
officials on other matters. In a matter of minutes, you can send an email, call, or tweet to
your officials.
How to respond to an Action Alert:
When a pro-family issue requires action, Texas Values will notify you in our weekly
email or in an Action Alert. You can have your voice heard by clicking on the Action
Alert link in our email, or by visiting the Action Center at txvalues.org.
What if there are no active alerts?
If we do not have a specific campaign where we are focusing our efforts, the first screen
you see will be a page where you can input your contact information. This is your
opportunity to send a message to an elected official on any pro-family topic you choose.
Simply follow the instructions, which will guide you through selecting the recipients,
composing, and then sending your message.
What if I want to contact my elected official about a different issue?
If there is an issue of personal concern that is unrelated to the active issues online, you can
click “Elected Officials” to search for your officials' contact information using the
following pages to help you make the most of your conversation with your officials.
The following pages include tips on:
•
Writing Letters
•
Phone Calls
•
Fax
•
•
Personal Meetings
How To Make A Difference
THE LETTER
A letter can influence a legislator’s opinion:
• By persuading him/her to take a position on a new issue
• To reverse a position he/she has already taken
• To encourage the legislator to renew efforts on a position already
taken
Some tips to remember:
• Keep letters to one page, if possible.
• Limit letters to one subject.
• Write legibly or type your letter.
• Have your exact return address on the letter, not just the envelope.
• Letters should be dignified, respectful and sincere.
• Be specific in stating why you are writing, what you want your
legislator to do and how the legislation will affect the district, you,
and your family.
• Be objective and avoid exaggeration.
• Enclose documentation which supports your position.
• Identify your subject clearly (if you are writing about a specific
bill, note the bill name and number).
• If using a form letter, add in your own introduction and closing.
• Request an answer.
• Ask what their positions are on an issue or bill.
• Time your letters, if possible, to arrive during the middle of the
week (i.e. after the huge Monday mail delivery and before the
Friday rush to depart for the weekend).
• When appropriate, send a copy of your letter to a radio or television
commentator, newspaper editor, or other opinion molder (make a
notation on the original to let your elected official know that your
views will be considered by other influential people within their
state or district).
• Requests should be reasonable and possible to accomplish.
• Write your representative when he/she does something that deserves
recognition and praise.
Texas Legislative Guide 2025-2026
THE LETTER (cont.)
January 10, 2013
The Honorable Bill Smith
Texas Senate
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
Dear Senator Smith:
As a resident of the 32nd Senatorial District, I am an active
citizen in the Wabash community. There are a number of issues
currently before the Texas Legislature which are of concern to my
family and to others in my neighborhood.
Could you let me know your views on SB 000? I understand
this bill would make parental notification/consent a requirement
before a minor can submit to an abortion. What is your position on
this issue?
I am surprised that Texas doesn’t have such a requirement.
Parental consent is required for every other serious medical procedure.
In Texas, parents are responsible for raising their children. This
includes helping children learn to make mature decisions. How can
parents do this when their child can agree to a life-changing, surgical
procedure without their knowledge?
The state should do everything possible to help parents raise their
children to be responsible adults. Therefore, I ask that you fully
support this legislation. Your vote for SB 000 would be a sound
decision for the good of all.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. I appreciate
your commitment to responsive, common-sense government. I look
forward to hearing your views on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Jack Citizen
1234 Any Rd.
Wabash, TX 12345
214-555-1234
Find out your
representative’s
position on the
issue.
Cover only one issue and identify the
subject clearly. Use a House or Senate
bill number if you know it.
Include your
return address in
your letter.
Identify
yourself
as a
constituent.
Explain how the issue affects you and
your family. Offer constructive
alternatives.
Ask for a specific
action.
How To Make A Difference
THE PHONE CALL
Phone calls can help you establish a more personal rapport with your
legislators than written communications. All of the information you need
to reach your elected officials via phone is listed in the “Federal and State
Directory” section of the guide.
The following are some rules to go by when conducting a phone call
with your legislator:
• Identify yourself by name, address and hometown within their
district.
• Identify the bill by name and number.
• State briefly what your position is and how you would like your
elected official to vote.
• Ask for their view on the bill or issue; be firm in obtaining a
commitment to vote.
• Show appreciation for service on past votes (BE POSITIVE).
• Supply additional information, if asked, as quickly as possible.
(The legislative cycle moves extremely fast during the session.)
• Provide the same information to the elected official’s secretary or
legislative aide, if Congress or the legislature is in session.
E-MAIL COMMUNICATION
The Texas Values website allows you to immediately communicate
with your legislators through email. If you are not sending your e-mail
through our “Contacting Your Officials” link (Pg. 4), then follow the
guidelines on writing the letter (Pgs. 5 and 6) to draft your email. In the
email, remember to identify the topic in the subject line and blind copy
(BCC) all recipients if you are sending it to multiple people.
Texas Legislative Guide 2025-2026
THE PERSONAL MEETING
Personal meetings can be very effective. Approaching them with
kindness, good preparation, and a caring attitude will go a long way in
opening up communication.
PREPARE
• Pray for your meeting.
• Know your facts and be thorough.
• Develop a brief outline of the major points you need to cover.
• Consider possible questions and objections you may receive and
how you can best respond.
THE MEETING
• Be aware that you may meet with staff specializing in your
particular issue.
• Be concise and well-organized.
• Be kind and gracious.
• Do not get mad or threaten anyone.
• Do not talk poorly of other persons or groups.
• Follow your agenda and know your subject.
• Focus on your positive message.
• Tell your elected official the specific action you would like him/her
to take.
FOLLOW-UP
• Send a thank you and re-emphasize your key point in a positive
way.
• Thank staff members who assisted you.
• Continue to verify the status of the representative’s position.