Texas Government Lobby 83rd Legislature Report: Translating Legislature Lingo to Plain English

Texas Government Lobby 83rd Legislature Report: Translating Legislature Lingo to Plain English

The following is a digest of an article that originally appeared at the Texas Tribune. The Texas Lobby Group is posting this summary and linking to the online tool as a public service for all Texans interested in the ongoing 83rd Legislative session, as well as for other lobbyists, government consultants, and other interested parties.

 Every group of hobbyists or professionals has their own collection of lingo, and the Texas legislature is no exception. There are a set of terms and phrases that are used in particular ways for Texas lawmakers. It takes a little getting used to.

Did you know that a “Christmas Tree” is a piece of legislation that is likely to be “ornamented” with a lot of unrelated amendments? Or that chubbing is talking for the purpose of delaying a legislative debate?  Or that “Sunset” refers to an expiration date on a state agency that must survive a periodic review to be allowed to continue?

The Texas Tribune has an informative test online where you can both see how well you understand “legi-speak” and learn some of the insider terms? Click here to take the test.