Legislative DOs and DON’Ts How to constructively engage with your legislators both within your district and at the capitol

Today’s Presenters Mr. Johnny W. Hill, CPA Lake Travis ISD Assistant Superintendent of Finance Michelle Smith, PhD Fast Growth School Coalition, Director For documents, go to Advocacy >>> Interest Areas

Topics to Cover Why is this important? How does the Legislature work? What happens during a committee meeting? Legislative advocacy within your district What to do when your legislator isn’t on your side

Why is This Important? Increasingly, districts are under a microscope. There’s a continuous push for more transparency even though school districts are one of the most transparent forms of local government. Many of our current legislators are not supportive of traditional public schools. Interestingly, once they engage in a conversation with districts, their support increases. There is great value in what you are doing in your district. It’s important to make others aware.

How does the Legislature Work? The Texas Legislature is a bicameral legislature that meets regularly in each odd-numbered year. There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and 31 members of the Texas Senate. The Legislature works through a committee process to pass legislation. Committee members are selected by the presiding officer of each chamber-the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, who oversees the Senate.

How does the Legislature Work? Once a legislator files a bill, it is sent to the appropriate committee for a hearing. The committee assignment is determined by the subject matter of the bill. Each committee holds hearings on its assigned bills. Testifiers sometimes include superintendents, CFOs, school board members, or association representatives.

What Happens During a Committee Meeting? Once you arrive at a committee hearing to testify, you will be required to sign a witness affirmation form (or online form) stating: your name; your school district and/or your organization your contact information the bill or issue on which you are testifying; and, whether you support/oppose/wish to remain neutral When the hearing begins, the committee chair will announce the bill number being considered and will begin calling witnesses who have signed up to testify on the bill.

Tips for Preparing Testimony Notify your legislator’s staff that you plan to testify! Begin your comments by thanking the committee. Limit your comments to between three to five minutes, or the time limit imposed by the chair. Develop a concise message. Do not read straight from your notes. Get the facts straight. Avoid repetition. Make eye contact. Be honest and helpful. Avoid confrontation. Dress conservatively.

Remember… By testifying on an issue, you are making a valuable contribution to the creation of the policies that govern Texas’ public schools. One of your goals is be perceived as an “expert” on your issue—to be someone legislators and staff can lean on for information.

Legislative Advocacy Within your District Develop a concise list of Legislative Priorities get feedback from all stakeholders be brief and factual (limit to one page; front/back) get board approval (resolution or proclamation) explain the impact to your district personalize the message do not be afraid to take a stand on issues do not be argumentative or confrontational do not use jargon or acronyms

Legislative Advocacy Within your District Get to know your Legislators his or her political party committee assignments the voting record familiarity with a Legislator’s interest, politics and positions on issues get to know the Legislator’s staff

Legislative Advocacy Within your District Interact with your Legislators attend a town hall meeting or legislative coffee invite your Legislators to visit your district write letters and s to your Legislators provide written material and contact information always write a thank you note when your Legislators visit when your Legislators visit, take the opportunity to get a photo for the local newspaper/social media develop relationships with Legislator’s staff

Legislative Advocacy Within your District Educate your stakeholders have a clear message and designate one person who will be the primary person to deliver the message, while allowing others to chime in know your issues thoroughly and know what questions are likely to be asked emphasize examples of how legislation will impact your particular local district/community always be courteous even when people disagree with you

Legislative Advocacy Within your District Join coalitions and/or associations find groups with similar structures, values, challenges and goals allows members to combine their resources and have a more powerful voice enhance abilities to handle complex issues, where technical or personnel resources of any one organization would not be sufficient develop new leaders and build a lasting base for change

What to do when your legislator isn’t on your side… Keep your data polished and transparent at all times. Tell simple and compelling stories. Remember that relationships take time. Find mutual contacts and work through them. Find ways to engage that are not threatening for him/her. (Football games, concerts, awards…) Remember that legislators are real people.

Remember… By pursuing legislative advocacy within your district, you are positively impacting your district, your community and your state.

Now is the time to engage your community and legislators! Mr. Johnny W. Hill, CPA Lake Travis ISD Assistant Superintendent of Finance Michelle Smith, PhD Fast Growth School Coalition, Director For documents, go to Advocacy >>> Interest Areas For more information, contact: Michelle Smith, Executive Director Fast Growth School Coalition (512)

Legislative DOs and DON’Ts How to constructively engage with your legislators both within your district and at the capitol