STEM Leadership Convening
Policy Workshop
June 14, 2016
Schoolhouse Rock – Texas Legislature
• 140 days every odd-numbered year
• 150 House members
• Elected to two-year terms
• 40 standing committees
• 31 Senators
• Elected to two- or four-year terms
• 16 standing committees
• 6,452 bills filed in the 84th Legislative Session
From the April 21st House Calendar:
• HB 2493 – Relating to the self-directed and semi-independent status of the State
Securities Board; authorizing fees.
• HB 2702 – Relating to alternative composition of a board of directors of a regional
mobility authority.
• HB 369 – Relating to designating May 24 as Lung Cancer Awareness Day.
• HB 275 – Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxes of farm products.
• HB 2113 – Relating to the taxation of fireworks.
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Texas Legislature – A “Citizens’” Legislature
Sen. Larry Taylor (R) – Friendswood
• Chair of Senate Education
• Insurance agent
• First term Senator
• Served in the House for five terms
• Served on Elections and Insurance
committees
Rep. John Zerwas (R) - Richmond
• Chair of House Higher Education
• Physician
• Fifth term in House
• Served on Appropriations, Human Services
and Public Health
4
Varying Perspectives
5
Current Reality
New House
Public Ed Chair
and
Appropriations
School Finance
Lawsuit
Social Policies
Uber and Lyft
Tuition
Deregulation
Interim Discussions
Dual Credit
Teacher Preparation
Assessments and Accountability
HB5 Implementation
Pathways
Counseling
Time to choose your own
policy adventure …
What do you want to tell your legislator?
Problem
Outcome
Change
•What problem are you trying to address?
• What outcome would you like to see?
• What needs to change to achieve that
outcome?
Have you considered the implications?
Program
Funding
Staffing
Resources
What implications is
your legislator
considering when
she or he receives
your
recommendation?
What do champions look like?
Who else
should be
helping tell
your story?
Questions????