Capitol Watch is the TSHA Legislative Team’s vehicle for keeping members informed of activity at the state capitol and in other state regulatory meetings.
If you have questions regarding this or other CAPITOL WATCH postings, please contact a member of the TSHA Legislative Team:
Legislative Information
Anything you want to know about the legislative process may be found online.
- Who your State Senator or Representative is.
- How to contact them at their district office or capitol office
- The legislative process for passing a bill
- How your Senator or Representative voted on a bill
- Bills filed and their status
- Bill content and amendments
- Bills passed or failed
- And much more!
Click here to learn more.
87th Legislative Session
More than 6,000 bills were filed during the 87th Legislative session in 2021. The TSHA Legislative Team closely followed more than 75 bills that could have directly affected or otherwise had relevance for the speech-language pathology and audiology professions.
TSHA worked cooperatively with other professional organizations such as the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education (TCASE), Texas Academy of Audiology (TAA), Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on issues affecting the professions.
TSHA PAC Contributions 2022
The TSHA PAC supports candidates based on their previous support of issues of importance to TSHA or on their position in state government that places them in a position to help TSHA achieve legislative success in the near future. The TSHA Legislative Team has never tried to advise members on how to vote but simply has urged our members to meet the candidates, work for a candidate of their choice, and vote.
With the funds available, TSHA PAC Chair R.J. Vasquez authorized $21,000 in contributions to the campaigns of the following candidates in August 2022, upon the recommendation of the TSHA Legislative Team:
Senators
- JUDITH ZAFFIRINI
- ROYCE WEST
- NATHAN JOHNSON
- JUAN HINOJOSA
- LOIS KOLKHORST (R)
- CHARLES PERRY (R)
- LT.GOV. DAN PATRICK (R)
Representatives
- RYAN GUILLEN (R)
- TODD HUNTER (R)
- ALMA ALLEN
- JAMES FRANK (R)
- HAROLD DUTTON
- STEPHANIE KLICK (R)
- THRESA MEZA
- SPEAKER DADE PELAN (R)
Important Dates for 88th Legislative Session
- Tuesday, November 8: General election for federal, state, and county officers [Sec. 41.001, Elections Code]
- Monday, November 14: First day legislators and legislators-elect may file bills for the 88th Legislature
- Tuesday, January 10: Regular session begins when 88th Legislature convenes at noon [Sec. 5(a), Article III, Texas Constitution; Sec. 301.001, Government Code]
- March 10: 60-day deadline for bill filing
- Monday, May 29: Sine die
How To Start Preparing for the 88th Legislative Session
- Get to know your legislators and their staff.
- Help in their campaigns by putting out signs, walking your block, or answering phones.
- Let them know who you are and that you are a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist.
- Talk with them about what you do in their district, including where you work and how much good you do for children and adults with communication disorders.
Next Week in Capitol Watch
- If you do not have a particular issue to discuss with your Senator or Representative, the TSHA Legislative Team will offer some suggestions. The TSHA Executive Board approved a list of issues and the Association’s positions on them for you to consider.
- Legislators love to hear from their constituents, particularly during election season.