Want to track a bill? Research how a law came to be? Find out who your state representative is? The Texas Legislative Reference Library gives you free access to all of this and more. It is your window into how state government works.

Why This Resource Matters

• Track Legislation: Follow bills from filing to becoming law

• Research History: Access bill files dating back to 1907

• Understand Process: Learn how the Texas Legislature works

• Free for Everyone: No subscription or special access needed

• Authoritative Source: Official legislative records and documents

Three hundred Fresnans came together with a big vision—to build an economy that creates opportunity for everyone. Five years later, the results speak for themselves. Fresno DRIVE shows what is possible when communities lead, when neighbors organize, and when everyone has a seat at the table.

Why This Matters for Organizers

• Proof of Concept: Community-led initiatives can move the needle on national rankings

• Replicable Model: Multi-billion dollar community-led investment plan created by residents

• Infrastructure Focus: Neighborhood Hubs build relationships, trust, and collective power

• Long-Term Vision: Five-year timeline shows sustained commitment produces results

• Systems Change: Addressing root causes of poverty, not just symptoms

In a rare moment of agreement across party lines, parents from all political backgrounds share deep concern about the impact of social media and smartphones on their children. This is not a left issue or a right issue. This is a parent issue.

Why This Matters for Your Community

• For Parents: You are not alone in your concerns. Data showing overwhelming consensus across political lines

• For Schools: Evidence supporting phone-free policies that most parents actually want

• For Policy Makers: Rare bipartisan issue where Americans agree on the need for action

• For Tech Companies: Clear signal that parents want better protections for kids online

• For Communities: A unifying issue that can bring people together across differences

Common Ground Spotlight

5 Healthcare Policies Texas Democrats and Republicans Agree On

By Alex Buscemi • September 9, 2025

Texas faces real healthcare strain—from hospital closures to families delaying care. Builders highlights five practical policies that Texans across party lines already support.

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Price transparency: up-front estimates for non-emergencies (HB 1314) so families can plan and compare.

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More mental-health access: allow licensed out-of-state counselors (incl. telehealth) to serve Texans.

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Cap out-of-pocket costs: limit what people pay for life-saving meds like insulin and inhalers.

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Pharmacist test & treat: enable pharmacies to handle common illnesses (strep, flu, UTI), especially for rural access.

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Medicaid expansion support: broad citizen backing—vital for keeping rural hospitals open.

This report quantifies the civic landscape across The Change Lab’s seven focus areas using IRS/NTEE–anchored directories (Cause IQ), labor statistics (BLS), and national volunteering data (AmeriCorps/Census). Within each focus area, we selected disjoint categories to minimize double counting. Cross‑domain overlap still exists; treat these figures as a conservative floor.

The Houston Food Bank invites neighbors to take simple steps that add up: learn the basics, speak up, and lend a hand. Below are quick, clear actions sorted by time. Pick one that fits your day and follow the button to their site.

Texas leaders approved steps that can reduce food insecurity and improve access to care. The state budget funds critical upgrades to the eligibility and enrollment system, HB 4226 makes it cheaper for food banks to operate trucks, and HB 26 authorizes “Food Is Medicine” supports—including a pilot for pregnant Texans. Together, these moves can help families get support faster and keep more healthy food moving to neighbors in need.

Why This Matters

Racism damages health, weakens civic trust, and fractures communities. The Center's facilitated dialogues build shared language and listening skills, helping people examine racial conditioning, heal harm, and take collaborative action across lines of difference.

Summary

During an era of exclusion and housing discrimination, a Black couple welcomed a Chinese immigrant family as renters. Eighty-five years later, that family has publicly honored the couple’s courage and kindness—an act of remembrance that highlights shared struggles and the power of cross-racial solidarity. The story underscores how everyday choices—like opening your door—can ripple across generations.

Summary

This Yale SPH Q&A explains how alcohol contributes to cancer risk and why U.S. leaders are exploring updated warning labels. Dr. Vasilis Vasiliou highlights mechanisms (e.g., acetaldehyde, oxidative stress), dose–response effects, and the way alcohol amplifies other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke. Guidance includes: don’t start drinking for health reasons; if you drink, keep it modest and consider personal/family risk factors.

Why This Matters

This deep dive into the food security crisis exposes racial and income inequality in our region. Communities of color and low-income households bear the greatest burden, and entire neighborhoods—like Greenspoint—are on the brink.