Dates to Remember for Texas 4-H Congress Participation
- December 19, 2019 – Bill submission open
- February 3, 2020 – Lobbyist application open on 4HConnect
- February 3, 2020 – Press Corps application open on 4HConnect
- March 20, 2020 – Lobbyist application close
- March 20, 2020 – Press Corps application close
- March 30, 2020 – Lobbyist and Press Corps notification
- April 1, 2020 – Early Bird Registration opens on 4HConnect
- May 17, 2020 – Early Bird Registration closes on 4HConnect
- May 18, 2020 – Registration continues on 4HConnect at an increased fee
- May 22, 2020 – EVENT CANCELED
Bill Submission Requirements
Any 4-H member, regardless of age or planning on attending Texas 4-H Congress, must submit a legislative bill for consideration. Participation in the bill writing exercise allows 4-H members the opportunity to become engaged in the legislative process and the 4-H citizenship project. 4-H members attending Texas 4-H Congress will be required to submit at least one bill (this includes Texas 4-H Council, Tech Team, etc) prior to their registration to the event being accepted.
Committees are:
- Agriculture and Livestock (AGL)
- Education (EDU)
- Energy and Environment (EEV)
- Government, Finance, & Appropriations (GFA)
- Homeland Security and Public Safety (HPS)
- Judiciary and Juvenile Justice (JJJ)
- Public Health & Welfare (PHW)
To learn more on how to write and submit a bill download the “Preparing a Legislative Bill for Texas 4-H Congress” as well as work with your county Extension agent or a volunteer.
Lobbyist
The Lobbyist group is designed for 4-H members who have attended Texas 4-H Congress previously. The responsibility of the Lobbyist group is to identify certain bills and then lobby members of the House and Senate to either pass or defeat the bill. Lobbyists should be knowledgeable about Texas 4-H Congress and the schedule that it follows. Lobbyist members should be prepared to and be able to approach other 4-H members and persuade House and Senate members for support. The Lobbyist group will hold a private reception for certain House and Senate Members, along with Congress Leadership.
Press Corps
Texas 4-H Congress Press Corps members can be either first time or returning 4-H members. Individuals applying for the Press Corp should have strong skills in writing, word processing, interviewing, photography, and focused on making deadlines. The Press Corps is responsible for publishing a daily newspaper and helping maintain a web page/electronic communication. Press Corps members may not be able to attend certain events because of publishing deadlines.