9 things you don’t know about the Texas Legislature

To keep Texas a great place to sell, buy, and lease real estate, Texas REALTORS® spends a lot of time at the state Capitol. But what really happens in the halls of power? Your Texas REALTORS® lobby team takes us behind the scenes of the Texas Legislature.

It’s not as divisive as it seems

Juergens: You may see representatives arguing at the microphones and then sharing a joke off to the side. At the end of the day, they’re friends. A lot of members are just regular people who would prefer you don’t call them by their title.

REALTOR® Day makes a splash

Parenteau: Everyone’s always impressed by how we communicate, how we stick to REALTOR® issues, and how detailed our information is. Not a lot of groups go to that level of effort.

REALTORS® have a reputation

Bates: The Texas REALTORS® brand is strong; when we walk in the room, there is that gravitas there. Legislators know we are always going to shoot straight. These representatives also know REALTORS® from their districts. REALTORS® helped get them elected. They know we represent a vast number of constituents in their district.

You have to be plugged in

Juergens: As the session goes on, the timing and notification system for committee hearings and votes becomes less reliable, so we’ve developed our own systems so we don’t miss important discussions. We’re also in constant communication with representatives and staff. If you pay close enough attention, you can get a pretty good idea of what may happen next just by watching the legislative body work from the gallery.

We work with top officials, too

Bates: Part of my job is to maintain relationships with key leadership such as the lieutenant governor and the governor. We have a great relationship with the speaker’s team. We want to check in about our priorities and where things are going.

You must account for turnover

Juergens: There may be a whole new office hired since the last session. Staff are moving up, moving around, and figuring out if they like working in the Capitol. That’s important to keep in mind as you explain REALTOR® positions on issues.

Legislators move fast

Parenteau: You may have a three-minute conversation with a legislator or a staff member about a bill. It doesn’t matter how complex it is, the representative has to make a decision for or against it. We have to communicate quickly and succinctly. You don’t get an hour to talk about policy.

REALTORS® can tell the story behind the policy

Bates: Representatives may have a position from their campaign. But they may not realize the full scope of that position. We can share with them the unintended consequences or how that stance may affect their constituents back home.

Building relationships is the entire point

Parenteau: That is our most important job. And we can see the results in all sorts of ways. Primarily it’s information, such as when a meeting would happen. But, beyond that, it’s the trust we’ve built so we can ask for their support or share our concerns.