Priorities, Primer, and Partnering with Lewisville's Superintendent

Greetings PTA leader,

While the legislative session is still months away, we are gearing up for the 89th and have a lot of information to share.

Recently, we released Texas PTA’s priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. Volunteers from the Texas PTA Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors considered lessons learned from previous legislative sessions and stakeholder feedback to finalize the list. Setting priorities doesn’t take away from the importance of all of our resolutions and positions. Instead, it helps keep our focus on the issues our members feel are most urgent. We want to thank the 1,116 stakeholders who provided input through one of the five listening sessions or the member survey.

“It is in our best interest to adhere closely to our agenda” and “not make the mistake of dissipating our energies along other lines. No matter how worthy they may be.”

Ella Caruthers Porter

We also hope you will reserve February 24 on your calendar for Rally Day 25: Legacy in Action! Registered Texas PTA leaders should have received a registration link to the next Rally Day training webinar on November 14.

Finally, it is the season to vote and we are proud to share the Legislative Primer below to keep you in the know!

Jennifer Easley
Texas PTA President

Michelle Jackson
Texas PTA Executive Director

Voter turnout rate for the 2020 presidential election was among the highest in over a century when 66% of the 17 million registered Texas voters cast ballots. It is expected that this presidential election year will also have higher turnout than recent years, and with additions to the state’s population, Texas has over 18 million registered voters. Make plans to be a part of this historical turnout!

VOTE!!! Important Dates to Support Public Education

Early Voting — ends November 1st
Election Day — November 5th

What identification do you need to bring to vote?
Under Texas law, there are seven acceptable forms of ID to present at the polls:

Your Texas driver’s license
A Texas election ID certificate
Your Texas personal ID card
A Texas handgun license
U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
U.S. military ID card
U.S. passport (book or card)

When does the legislature meet? The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every two years in odd-numbered years. The session begins at noon on the 2nd Tuesday in January (the 89th Session starts January 14, 2025).
How many legislators are in each chamber? The Texas House of Representatives has 150 members, and the Texas Senate has 31 members.
How long do legislators serve? Members of the Texas House of Representatives serve two-year terms, and members of the Texas Senate serve four-year terms. There are no limits on the number of consecutive terms a legislator can serve.
How do I find out who my representative or senator is? The Texas Legislature Online has a tool that allows you to find your state and U.S. representatives and senators by using your street address, zip code, county, and/or city.

Who leads each chamber? The Texas House of Representatives is led by the Speaker of the House, who the House members elect at the beginning of each session. The Texas Senate is led by the Lieutenant Governor, who is elected by the voters of Texas every four years. These presiding officers appoint all committee members and are generally in charge of each bodies’ agenda.
How does a bill become law? The Texas Constitution and the rules of the House and Senate set the procedure which a bill must follow to be passed into law. For more, see the The Legislative Process in Texas: Process for a Bill.
When is the last day a bill can be introduced? With a few exceptions, bills and joint resolutions may be introduced during the first 60 calendar days of the regular session.
How can I track a bill from the current session? Up-to-date information about bills from the current session can be accessed through the Texas Legislature Online site.

Monday, November 14, 2024 The first day legislators and legislators-elect may file bills for the 89th Legislature.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 ‖ Day 1 ‖ Regular Session Begins
- The 89th Legislature convenes at noon.
- The Comptroller of Public Accounts delivers the Biennial Revenue Estimate to the governor and the 89th Legislature.

Tuesday, January 17, 2025 Legislative Budget Board budget estimates delivered to the governor and the 89th Legislature; Governor’s State of the State address to the 89th Legislature.

Friday, March 10, 2025 ‖ Day 60
- Deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions.
- First day non-emergency bills can be heard on the House and Senate floors.
- Committee hearings begin in earnest.

Monday, May 8, 2025 Last day for House committees to report House bills and joint resolutions.

Friday, May 26, 2025 Last day for the House to act on Senate amendments (concur or request a conference committee).
Sunday, May 28, 2025
- Last day for the House to adopt conference committee reports or discharge House conferees and concur in Senate amendments.
- Last day for the Senate to concur in House amendments or adopt conference committee reports.

Monday, May 29, 2025 ‖ Day 140 ‖ Regular Session Ends
- Last day of 89th Regular Session (sine die).
- Only corrections may be considered in the House and Senate.

Sunday, June 18, 2025 ‖ Day 20 After Session Adjourns
- Last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular session.

Monday, August 28, 2025 ‖ Day 91 After Session Adjourns
- Bills without specific effective dates, other than bills with immediate effect, become law.

The Lewisville ISD Council of PTAs is celebrating its 50th anniversary and kicked off this milestone with a district-wide pep rally in September. This celebration event highlighted the many accomplishments of their PTAs and their positive impact on campuses and the community and served as a key moment to emphasize the importance of grassroots advocacy.

As we approach the upcoming legislative session, our senators and representatives will make critical funding decisions in Austin to determine whether schools remain open, whether districts have enough funds to make payroll, and whether programs and services are cut.

Lewisville ISD Council of PTAs Advocacy Chair Julie Foughty stresses the importance of community involvement and using your voice, while Superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp echoed the need for active advocacy. PTA advocacy can be woven into every PTA program and event to highlight the power of our collective voices in our communities, the state, and the nation.

Congratulations to the Lewisville ISD Council of PTAs for using this joyous celebration to spotlight your achievements and the vital role of advocacy in shaping the future of education in their district.

Rachael Abell
Texas PTA VP Advocacy

PTA leaders across Texas each bring their distinct personalities and approaches to their roles. Whether assertive, cooperative, compassionate, or strategic, they all share a common commitment: to act in the best interest of children. Advocacy takes many forms, but the dedication to supporting our students and schools is a universal thread that unites all our PTA leaders.