Weekly Newsletter July 28, 2025

Dear Democrats,

Confused about the bills being voted on in the special session of the Texas Legislature? Here are some resources to help make sense of it all, although the Republicans in Austin try to make the process as confusing and obscure as possible.

There is a great, official Texas Legislature Online (TLO) site to learn how things work, find bills, and find legislators’ names, addresses, and phone numbers: https://capitol.texas.gov/ Use it to see where a bill is and the committees involved. First go to the right side of the TLO page and click on “How a Bill Becomes Law” and “How to Follow a Bill.” These explain what terms like engrossed mean and how a bill goes from the House to the Senate and vice versa. Read these!

To look for a specific bill go to the middle of the TLO home page, press the button next to “Bill Number,” and enter the number. No redistricting bill yet, so let’s use HB-36, a bad bill relating to cities hiring lobbyists, as an example. The text of the bill is available on the HB 36 page and the history of the bill is at the bottom of the page.

Early days yet so not much activity on these bills. Look at the “Bill stages” tab to see how far along it is, using the “How to Follow a Bill” instructions to understand the process.

Watch for the schedule for public hearings, especially on the redistricting (gerrymandering) bills in the House and Senate. We can contact committee members and our own representative to tell them what we think.

Writing a letter to a representative is the most effective way to make your position heard but time is short. Better to call and/or email them, their addresses are on the TLO site. I think that you can also electronically submit public comments at https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c400 when it opens.

Upcoming events in the next few weeks

1. The Nacogdoches Federation of Women’s Clubs are having a reception to welcome NISD Superintendent Grey Burton on Tuesday, July 29, at 4:30pm in the Old University Building, 515 North Mound Street. The reception is open to the public. Maybe we could ask him his views on book banning?

2. Weekly Dem social is on Friday, August 1 at 5:00pm at the Fredonia Brewery, 138 North Mound Street. Come vent, plan, or just hang out with friends.

3. Our State Democratic Executive Committee representatives will hold a meeting for all County Chairs in Congressional District 17 on Saturday, August 9. More information forthcoming.

4. The Stonewall Baptist Church is holding their annual back pack giveaway on Saturday, August 9, from 9:00am to 1:00pm in Festival Park.

5. The Nacogdoches County Democratic Party will meet on Monday, August 11, in the Courthouse Annex, 203 West Main Street. The Executive Committee will meet at 5:30pm. This will be followed at about 6:00pm by the general monthly meeting.

Nacogdoches City Council

The Nacogdoches City Council will hold their regular meeting at 5:30pm on Tuesday, August 5, in the City Hall, 202 East Pilar Street. See the City’s “Friday Update” for more information about meeting and more on their Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/CityofNacogdoches. Agendas for city meetings can be found at https://www.nactx.us/agendas. Meetings are streamed at www.nactx.us/1198/Channel-21.

Commissions and Committees

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will meet on Monday, July 28, at 4:00pm in the C.L. Simon Recreation Center. The Historic Landmark Preservation Committee will meet on Monday, August 4, at 4:00pm in City Hall. The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, August 11, at 5:00pm in City Hall. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, August 21, at 4:00pm in City Hall.

Nacogdoches County Commissioners

The Nacogdoches County Commissioners Court will have a regular meeting on Tuesday, August 5, at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ Courtroom, Suite 170 of the Nacogdoches County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street. Recordings of meetings are posted on the county website.

NISD School Board meetings

The NISD School Board will have an Agenda Review meeting at noon on Monday, August 18, and a Regular meeting on Thursday, August 21, in the E.J. Campbell District Support Center Annex, 420 South Shawnee Street. Go to their website for more information.

Nacogdoches County Hospital District Nacogdoches County Hospital District Board of Directors will have a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 29, at 5:15pm in the Auxiliary Conference Center of Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, 1204 North Mound Street. For information about the Hospital District go to their website https://nachd.org.

Fight gerrymandering!

Mike Strong

Nac Dems