Legislative Resources
You'll want to familiarize yourself with some of the key legislative concepts. Texas Legislature Online is the official website of the Texas Legislature. A list of some of the most commonly-used features of this website follows.
- "MyTLO." This free feature allows you to create custom lists of bills to follow and receive email alerts if there is activity on these bills, be notified of committee and calendar postings, and other legislative activities.
- How a bill becomes a law. For the more visually inclined, a diagram of the legislative process is also available.
- Bill text search. This feature allows you to search for legislation under consideration that may interest you.
- Legislative glossary. A number of specialized terms are used in the legislative process. Use this link to learn more about many of these terms so that you can "speak the language."
- Legislative calendar. There are a number of important deadlines that help determine what bills get passed and what bills fail.
- Who represents me? Use this link to find out who your elected officials are.
The Texas House of Representatives and Texas State Senate also have online homes. You can use these sites to:
| Get information on individual legislators | House | Senate |
| Learn more about legislative committees | House | Senate |
| Watch/listen to floor and committee debates You will need RealPlayer to access this media | House | Senate |
| View the calendar of bills scheduled for debate on a particular day | House | Senate |