1. Bill Origins: - A bill can only be introduced by a legislator, although ideas for a bill may originate from outside sources, such as interested parties or committee studies. 2. Introducing a Bill: - The bill is first introduced in the legislator’s own chamber. Filing for regular sessions begins on the first Monday after the general election and continues for 60 days. After this period, additional bills require a four-fifths consent vote to be introduced. 3. The Role of Committees: - Bills are referred to committees that specialize in relevant subject matters. Committees conduct hearings, deliberate on bills, and report back to the chamber. 4. Committee Actions and Reports: - A committee can recommend a bill for passage, suggest amendments, or take no action. Approved reports include the committee’s recommendations and any amendments. 5. Calendar Considerations: - Bills are scheduled for consideration on the chamber's calendar. The House has various calendars based on priority, while the Senate has a more straightforward order for bills. 6. Floor Action: - Bills undergo debate and can be amended on the floor. A bill must pass a second and third reading, with specific voting requirements for each stage. 7. Inter-Chamber Review: - After a bill passes in one chamber, it's sent to the opposite chamber, where it goes through a similar process. If amendments are made in the second chamber, the bill returns to the originating chamber. 8. Conference Committee: - If there are disagreements between chambers, a conference committee may be formed to resolve the differences. The agreed-upon report must be approved by both chambers without amendments. 9. Governor’s Action: - The governor can sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature within a specified timeframe. 10. Effective Date: - If not specified, the bill takes effect 91 days after the session adjourns. It may specify an earlier effective date if passed with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. 11. Filing and Publication: - Once signed or allowed to become law, the bill is forwarded to the secretary of state, where it is published and made available to the public.

The public can get involved in the legislative process in Texas in several ways: 1. Attending Committee Meetings: Members of the public can attend committee meetings, which are required to be open to the public. This allows individuals to observe the legislative process and understand how bills are being discussed and evaluated. 2. Providing Testimony: During committee meetings, the public has the opportunity to provide testimony on bills. This is an important way for individuals to express their opinions, support, or concerns regarding specific legislation. 3. Contacting Legislators: Public involvement can also include reaching out to their elected representatives (either in the House or Senate) to express their views on various issues or bills. This can be done through phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings. 4. Following Legislative Processes: Individuals can keep up with legislative activity, including bill introductions, committee hearings, and voting schedules 5. Engaging with Organizations: Joining advocacy groups or local organizations that focus on particular issues can also help individuals influence legislation, as these groups often participate in the legislative process and represent community interests. 6. Submitting Proposals or Ideas: While only legislators can formally introduce bills, the public can engage in the process by suggesting ideas for legislation to their elected officials, who may then choose to draft and introduce a bill based on that input.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Texas every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

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1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.