Texas Advocacy Playbook

By Marlene S. Lobberecht, M.S., CFCS, CFLE

Texas Advocacy Playbook

Helpful Links:

• AAFCS Public Policy Page

• Deliberative Guides-Financial Literacy and Obesity

      Obesity Guide

      Financial Literacy Guide    

• AAFCS Public Policy Toolkit

• AAFCS Resolutions 

• Resolution, Financial Literacy

• Parent Advocacy Tool Kit
      Texas Early Childhood Coalition (2008)

• Kettering Issue Forum Guides

TAFCS Social Media Policy

"This policy may be updated at any time without notice, and each time a user accesses a social networking site, the new policy will govern, usage, effective upon posting. To remain in compliance, review the Policy at regular intervals. By continuing to post any content after new terms are posted, you accept and agree to any and all such modifications to this Policy."

By posting on any site below, you are bound by the Social Media Policy:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

TX Legislative Online How To’s for Contacting Members or Tracking Bills

How to Contact Your Legislators:

• Using your web browser, go to www.capitol.state.tx.us
• In the rightmost column, under the “Who Represents Me?” heading, choose your desired method of search.
• Key the requested information; then click on Submit. The Address method results in the most specific information.
• Clicking on a Texas State Legislature member’s name will take one to that member’s website, where there is a wide variety of information, ranging from contact info to press releases to bills authored by the member.
• Some websites even have a link to send emails to the member. All sites have links to other components of the total Texas State Legislature universe.

How to learn about bills in progress:

• Using your web browser, go to www.capitol.state.tx.us
• In the middle of the home page, locate Search Legislation – click on 81 (R) -2009, the current session.
• Then click on Bill List or Subject.
• Type in the pertinent information into the search area, click go.
• Information is linked to the tool bar that appears above the bill history information (bill text, author list, actions, amendments, captions and bill stages)
• If you search by a subject, will bring up a list of bills. The ‘relating to’ sentence tells a bit about each bill. Status is also indicated.
• Clicking on the bill number takes one directly to the bill to read its language.

Setting up My TLO (My Texas Legislature Online) bill tracking:

• Click on Track Legislation with Bill Lists
• Click on Account Options: New User?
• Provide e-mail address and create a password. Submit.
• 81st Legislature category should appear, if not, select it.
• Type in the bill name (HB ### or SB ###) with a brief description.
• Click on create.
• If you pull down “Selected Bill List” tab from the tool bar, insert the appropriate information and it will provide you a bill list. Follow the instructions as directed.
• If you want e-mail alerts or set up an RSS feed, click below My TLO on “Receive Bill & Meeting Alerts” and/or on “Subscribe to RSS Feeds”.
• Provide the requested information, click the appropriate category or feed.
• Finished and it is a free subscription!