March 2025 Edition

In this issue:

• Letter from the President's Desk
• Thank You to our Annual Luncheon Attendees
  
• Eileen Rosenblum Hosts Luncheon
  
• Nominate Yourself or a Friend to Join our Board
• Advocacy Corner:
  • Urgent Alert: Final Push to Oppose Taxpayer-Funded School Vouchers
  • House Public Education Committee: Key Updates and Hearing Recap
  • House Elections Committee Meeting Update
  • Comprehensive Advocacy Resources Now Available for Texas Voter Rights
  • Advocacy Resources and Research on Opposing Bills to End Countywide Voting
    
  • Key Voting and Election Bills in Texas
  • Our Immigration Webpage is Now Online
  • Local Advocacy Update: Say NO to Rezoning at Hampton and Clarendon
  • Stay Engaged: Why Local Elections Matter More Than Ever
• New Members

From the President's Desk

From the desk:

These brisk, overcast, rainy days match my mood. It’s time for sunny days to give us the energy to Rally, Speak Out and Take Action.

There is so much going on at the national and state levels, it would be easy to play ostrich, but we just cannot do this. We must be vigilant about what’s happening and being proposed.

Pay attention to the Take Action alerts from LWV TX and LWV US. These will come in emails if you sign up to their newsletters, and you can use those alerts to notify your Representatives and Senators about what is important to you. Several Dallas League members attended League Lobby Days in Austin in late February. We met with all the staff of Senators and most of the Representatives from our area to put forth the Texas Advocacy Priorities for 2025. Click here to see those priorities.

Action Alerts from TX and US Leagues are easy to use. Try it and see. Meanwhile, we are gearing up for our local elections in Dallas and surrounding communities within the County.

We need volunteers to register new voters, wrangle candidates to respond to Voter Guide and Vote411.org questions, and help with Candidate Forums. Send your interest to info@lwvdallas.org (inset link), and we will pass the information to the right League leader.

I can get on my soapbox about local elections. The actions and inactions of our city councils and mayors affect our daily lives often more than those of our state and national governments.

Dallas has a poor turnout in all elections, but especially local elections. Let’s do better.

In League,

Sandy Thornton

President – LWV Dallas

Thank You to our Annual Luncheon Attendees!

The League of Women Voters Dallas extends a heartfelt thank you to all who attended our 28th Annual Luncheon on February 21st, 2025! Everyone who joined us not only helped to make the luncheon and the silent auction a wonderful success, but also played a pivotal role in fueling our mission of empowering voters and safeguarding democracy for the year to come.

Eileen Rosenblum Hosts Luncheon

Nominate Yourself or a Friend to Join Our Board

 We have positions to fill for our board next year, including the president’s.  We are looking for energetic men and women who want to join our board or take on committee work. Please suggest people you know (current members, non-members or even yourself) who could bring their experiences and dedication to empowering voters and defending democracy.

Submit a nomination for our board using this form.

LWV-Dallas board is a working board, with each board member serving two years. Not all board positions are available every year, but the nominating committee keeps the list of suggested names for possible future use on the form linked above. Please send any questions to president@lwvdallas.org.

URGENT ALERT: Final Push to Oppose Taxpayer-Funded School Vouchers

NOW is the time for Texas House members to hear directly from voters in their districts — our public schools need your voice!

The Texas House is rapidly moving forward with HB 3, a bill proposing the creation of an “education savings account” voucher system. This initiative threatens to divert public funds to private schools without any accountability measures, undermining the strength and equity of our public education system.

A public hearing on HB 3 will take place before the House Public Education Committee:

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM

Location: JHR 140

Both invited and public testimony will be heard.

• Watch Live: LINK
• Testify in Person: INFORMATION
•   Submit Comments: LINK (available until committee adjournment)

The House floor vote on this critical issue is approaching fast — your advocacy can make a difference!

Susybelle Gosslee will be representing the League of Women Voters of Dallas, testifying against HB 3. Let’s stand together to protect public education!

Here’s how you can make an immediate impact:

1. Contact Your House Member: Call or email your representative and express your opposition to vouchers in any form — including the Education “Savings” Accounts (ESA) proposed in HB 3. (If your House member opposes vouchers: Thank them for their support and let them know you stand with them in defending public education.)
2. Spread the Word: Forward this message to friends, neighbors, family, and public education advocates across Texas. Ask them to contact their House members and share the message with their networks.

Why this matters: Hearing directly from constituents is the most powerful form of advocacy. People want to support their local schools but may not know how to help. A personal message from someone they trust can inspire action and amplify our collective voice.

Reaching House members in rural, small-town, and suburban districts is especially impactful — every call and email counts toward safeguarding public education for all Texans.

Let’s come together and make sure our legislators hear us loud and clear!

Where to find who represents you in the Texas House:

https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Where to find the email address and the phone number for members of the Texas House of Representatives:

https://www.house.texas.gov/members

(email address is under the photo of the representative)

House Public Education Committee: Key Updates and Hearing Recap

It was a packed week for the House Public Education Committee, with two full days of hearings focused on House Bill 2, Chairman Brad Buckley’s school finance bill. This critical legislation aims to reshape funding for Texas public schools.

For those who missed the live discussions, the committee meetings are available for rewatching here:

PART 1

PART 2

Stay informed and engaged as this bill progresses through the legislative process — your voice and advocacy can make a difference!

House Elections Committee Meeting Update

The House Elections Committee held an organizational meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in room E2.012. The session included invited testimony from key election stakeholders:

• Texas Secretary of State
•  Texas Department of Public Safety
•  Texas Association of Elections Administrators
•  County and District Clerks Association of Texas
•  Hart InterCivic, Inc.
•  Election Systems & Software

A summary of the meeting will be available soon. In the meantime, you can rewatch the full session here.

Stay tuned for more updates on the discussions and decisions that shape our elections process!

Comprehensive Advocacy Resources Now Available for Texas Voter Rights

Robin Lederer and Dr. Andrea Barreiro, Co-Founders of the National Coalition for Voter Rights, have collaborated with the SMU Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences to produce an invaluable resource for voter rights advocacy. This detailed document is designed to support League members in their efforts to engage effectively with Texas legislators.

The resource includes:

• Bill Summaries and Call to Action: Clear explanations of relevant legislation accompanied by a ready-to-use advocacy script.
•  Legislator Contact Details: A comprehensive table featuring contact information for Texas Senators, complete with direct links to phone numbers and emails. This is available as a PDF here.
•  Voting Records: Documentation of the April 2023 votes on the two key bills.
•  District and County Data: Insights into the counties within each Senate district, highlighting those that implement countywide voting.

This meticulously researched and verified information aims to empower League members with the knowledge needed for informed and impactful conversations with legislators and their staff. For those with established relationships with elected officials, these resources can enhance the effectiveness of ongoing advocacy efforts. Additionally, League leaders in the seven counties with available data are encouraged to engage directly to drive meaningful change.

For more information and ongoing updates, visit www.ncvr.org or follow their Substack at Voting: Use It or Lose It. The full text of their document will be included as the next article, and it is available here as a PDF.

Call Your Texas Senator, Share this Message with your Contacts!

Texas Republican Senators have reintroduced two bills for the 2025 legislative session that  were previously passed along party lines in April 2023. These bills have significant  implications for voting in Texas, aiming to reduce the number of constituents who  participate in local, state, and federal elections within a district. 

We need to let Texas Senators know we are paying attention to our voter rights in Texas:

1. The first bill, SB 76, refiled by Senator Hall (Collin, Dallas, Rockwall and others), seeks  to eliminate countywide voting in Texas. Currently, 80% of Texas voters can cast their  ballots at any polling location within their county—a system in place since 2009 with  bipartisan support. If passed, this legislation would roll back that convenience, forcing  voters to cast their ballots at a designated precinct polling place. Voter records show  over 50% of Dallas County voters have voted outside their precinct in recent elections. 

2. The second bill, SB 396, known as the 'Use It or Lose It' bill, imposes strict voter list maintenance measures on infrequent voters. Under this legislation, if you decide not to  vote for a few years—despite not changing your address—you could unexpectedly  receive a written confirmation notice from county elections requiring you to verify your  current address within 30 days. If you miss the notice and fail to vote in two consecutive  federal elections, you will be purged from the voter rolls and forced to re-register.

Why does this matter in Texas? Because Texas has one of the lowest voter turnout  rates in the country. The November 2024 election turnout in Texas was 56% of the  voting-eligible population (64% nationwide). * Our research shows that SB 396  could impact a staggering four million active Texas voters. The table below shows  almost 900,000 active voters could be impacted in just seven Texas counties:

Here’s a suggested script for a phone call to your Senator. Please adjust the script based on how your Senator voted. This information needs to be shared with all Texas Senators. The bills will impact voter engagement for all Texas elected officials. Identical

Texas House bills were filed in 2023 without House action. Identical bills have been filed in the Texas House for the 2025 session.

Hello, I’m calling about two election bills that were passed in the Texas Senate on a party line vote in April 2023 and have been reintroduced for the 2025 session.

1. Senator Hall has filed SB 76 to eliminate countywide voting. 

I understand that 80% of registered Texas voters currently live in counties where they can vote at any polling location—a system that has been in place since 2009. Senator [XX] voted for this bill in 2023.   I live in a county that has countywide voting and many of us take advantage of it to vote.  I am very concerned to learn that Texas Republican Senators want to eliminate countywide voting.  

Can you share why the Senator supported this bill in 2023 and how the Senator plans to vote in 2025? At a time when Texas has grown to over 18 million registered voters, why is a bill that restricts voting access being given serious consideration?

2. Senators Kolkhorst and Bettencourt have introduced SB 396, which would move active, infrequent voters to 'suspense' status if they haven’t voted in 25 months.

Can you tell me why the Senator supports a bill that forces constituents to take extra steps to confirm their eligibility, simply because they decide not to vote in a few elections? Federal law clearly states that the right to vote is not contingent on participation.

I understand that when the county election office mails a written confirmation notice, the voter must respond to avoid being placed in suspense status. If they don’t respond and then fail to vote in two federal elections, they will be purged from the voter rolls and must start the voter registration process all over again.  And that means, in Texas, without an on-line voter registration system and within 30 days of an election. [Please note: the 2025 legislative session has several bills requiring the need for Texans to show documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.]

Recent research by a Texas professor indicates that SB 396, the Use It or Lose It bill, could impact four million active voters across the state. Is the Senator aware of how many constituents in their district would be affected if this bill becomes law? (See table above for county information and additional counties will be added.)

3. What does the Senator expect will happen if these bills become law? How will he/she ensure that constituents are aware of the new election laws so they can stay registered and vote with confidence - versus an election with confusion and disruption?

4. Do these bills include funding to help the state and counties educate voters about these   changes to their voting rights? If not, how will voters be informed?

For more information on countywide voting, here’s an article from the Texas Tribune, February 2025, on Senator Hall’s bill. 

For more information on the Use It or Lose It bill, here’s an article from the Texas Standard from April 2023 in an interview with Mimi Marziani, former President of the Texas Civil Rights Project. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and a prominent civil rights litigator.  

Submitted by LWVD member: Robin Lederer, robin1117@mac.com

Robin Lederer and Dr. Andrea Barreiro

Co-Founders

National Coalition for Voter Rights 

www.ncvr.org

Substack:  https://substack.com/@votinguseitorloseit

Quantitative Research on Voter Rights 

SMU Dedman College of Humanities and Science

*University of Florida, Election Lab

Only Arkansas, Hawaii, Oklahoma and West Virginia had voting-eligible percent turnout below Texas in the November 2024 election.

Key Voting and Election Bills in Texas

As of February 28, 2025, a total of 163 bills related to voting, elections, and democracy have been introduced. For those interested in exploring the full list, it can be accessed here: Texas Voting Bills.

Among these, five key priorities have emerged as critical areas of focus:

• Documentary Proof of Citizenship: Proposals that could alter the requirements for proving citizenship when registering to vote.
•  Standard Voter Registration Process: Efforts to streamline or modify how voters register across the state.
•  Voting ID Requirements: Potential changes to the types of identification accepted at polling places.
•  Voter List Maintenance Removals: Bills addressing how voter rolls are updated and maintained, including criteria for removals.
•  Shifts in Elections Authority: Legislation that may change the oversight and administration of elections at various governmental levels. 

Staying informed on these issues is essential for effective advocacy and protecting voting rights across Texas. Keep an eye out for further updates as these bills progress through the legislative process.

Our Immigration Webpage is Now Online!

We are pleased to announce that our Immigration webpage has been revived. You will find this on our webpage within the drop-down menu underneath "Issues." Advocacy on immigration is a national issue that also affects our community profoundly. The goal of this page is education and connection to organizations working in this area. 

The updated webpage begins with LWV US "Principles and Program Positions" on immigration, and resolutions adopted at recent LWV US Conventions.  This will provide you with guidelines and information to advocate as a member of the community with confidence. Please note that only the President of the League may speak for the League, but everyone is welcome to speak to their own experience. One of our team, Caroline Brettell, Ph.D., has written articles for the "Resource" section addressing the economic aspects of immigration on our economy, a glossary of terms, and demographics. Also in the "Resource" section you will find talking points written by Beryl Flom, a member of the LWV US Immigration Discussion Group. We also have a list of books and articles. And, finally, a list of local, state and national organizations active in this area.

Over the last three months a small team of members who are interested in immigration have been working to gather and create this information. We hope you find this useful. Please share any information to add, suggestions, or corrections. We especially want volunteers who would like to help us compose the last section of the webpage: How bills in the current Legislature align with the LWV US positions.  

Please email me at info@lwvdallas.org to give feedback or if you would like to help!

In League,

Diane Tasian, Director of Volunteers

Local Advocacy Update: Say NO to Rezoning at Hampton & Clarendon

The Rayo Planning and Automotive Association of Oak Cliff are calling on the community to oppose the proposed rezoning at Hampton and Clarendon. Instead of a zoning overhaul, we urge the City to focus on enhancing walkability and fostering economic stability for current businesses and residents.

We advocate for policies that empower small business owners to own their properties or create entities that can manage land for long-term affordability. Without these vital protections, rezoning risks accelerating displacement and stripping Oak Cliff of its unique character — a change that would not serve the existing community.

Sign the petition to protect Oak Cliff’s future: LINK HERE

Upcoming Opportunities to Get Involved:

● Saturday, March 15 — Neighborhood Block Walking

○ Volunteers Needed | Time & Place TBD

● Sunday, March 16 — Community Carne Asada

○ 3 pm - 5 pm | 1003 S Hampton Rd, Dallas, TX 75208

○ Gather signatures and petitions to submit to the City of Dallas before March 20.

● Thursday, March 20 — City Plan Commission (CPC) Meeting

○ Begins at 1 pm | Dallas City Hall or join virtually

○ The CPC will discuss the proposed changes and hold a vote to decide if the request

moves to the City Council. The exact time of the case hearing is TBD.

Your voice and action are essential in preserving the community we love. Join us in standing up for Oak Cliff’s future!

Stay Engaged: Why Local Elections Matter More Than Ever

As we approach local elections, it’s essential to remember that these races are the foundation of our daily lives. The decisions made at the local level — from school district budgets to neighborhood streets and zoning concerns — directly impact our communities. Yet, with the noise of national politics and the complexities of today’s societal landscape, it can be easy to lose sight of the power we hold right here at home.

Now, more than ever, we must lean into our communities and rely on trusted, nonpartisan organizations like the League of Women Voters of Dallas. For over 90 years, we have been a steadfast resource, providing reliable information on candidates, local propositions, and essential civic education. We are here to equip voters with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions, and we are here to stay.

If you need to register to vote or want to understand how and where to cast your ballot, the League is here to help. Visit lwvdallas.org to find upcoming voter registration drives on our events page, or email us at info@lwvdallas.org to get connected.

Local elections are a powerful opportunity to shape the future of our communities. Let’s show up, stay engaged, and ensure our voices are heard where it matters most — right here at home.

The League of Women Voters of Dallas is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization committed to empowering voters and defending democracy in Dallas County. Join us in making a difference.

League of Women Voters of Dallas

6060 N. Central Expwy, Ste #500