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POLICY ADVOCACY

Safety, Justice, and Opportunity

TCFV seeks to make systemic, policy, and legal changes to benefit Texas domestic violence survivors and their families. TCFV advocates before the Texas Legislature, Congress, and relevant state and federal agencies to create access to safety, justice, and opportunity for all. Before each state legislative session, TCFV works with allied partners, family violence advocates, and survivors themselves to craft an agenda in support of survivors of domestic violence. TCFV also seeks to meaningfully implement laws and create systems change via participation in the state and federal regulatory process which is commonly referred to as the rulemaking process.

Legislative Updates and Resources

Read about our current and past legislative priorities and learn more about our past legislative advocacy successes

89th Legislative Bill Priorities
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89th Legislative Session Funding Priorities
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Past Legislative Updates

At the close of each legislative session, TCFV releases a comprehensive update that not only outlines our legislative accomplishments but acknowledges all those who lent their time and voices to effect change in the movement to end domestic violence.

Our Priorities

TCFV advocates to support and create access to safety, justice, liberation, and opportunity forall survivors of domestic violence. TCFV recognizes that domestic violence survivors live multifaceted lives and as such interact with different systems and community partners. Equally we know that survivors most often will seek support from family, friends, and peers– commonly referred to an informal support. As a part of the larger movement to center and support safety and end family violence, TCFV’s policy team seeks to undertake system and legislative change that centers survivors and includes their expertise.  Our priority areas include, but are not limited to:

Centering Survivor and Marginalized Texans’ Access to Support and Response Systems
Systems Change
Prevention, Culture Shift and Centering Youth
Privacy and Safety Protections for Survivors
Economic and Housing Stability
Survivor Health & Behavioral Health and Access to Care
Child Protection and Custody
Crime Victims’ Rights and the Criminal Legal System
Firearm Transfers
Offender Accountability

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE

Allied Advocates

TCFV follows a deliberate process in developing its substantive legislative priorities. A key component of this process is our Public Policy Committee, comprised of a diverse group of those involved in addressing family violence response in our state. The committee includes victims, family violence advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, educators, the judiciary, and others. The committee’s feedback and guidance represent an instrumental component of vetting ideas and focusing on measures that will be most impactful and achievable. Members of the committee also play a critical role in strategy and advocacy throughout the legislative session.

Act to Impact

Every voice counts! Join us as we continue to create new and innovative ways to engage advocates, increase awareness, and magnify our message.

Learn About the Legislative Process and Policy Advocacy

Legislative Advocacy Resources

The legislative process can feel intimidating at times. Getting information about how the Texas’ legislature operates and learning how to do things like track and read bills, watch committee hearings and engage with your legislators helps to clarify the legislative process and makes it easier to get involved!

View Resources
TCFV Statements and Media

Browse statements TCFV has prepared in response to the passage of laws or other events and their impact on survivors. You can also check out media articles and videos featuring TCFV staff speaking out on policy issues that matter to survivors.

Statements and Media

Take Action to Support Survivors

Engage Your Legislator

Advocacy begins at the grassroots level. Establishing relationships with your legislators and community leaders is key. Find out who represents you.

Who Represents Me?
Capitol Day

Each session in February, advocates join together at the Texas Capitol to urge lawmakers to prioritize funding for survivor services and pass bills that create a safer Texas.

More About Capitol Day
Capitol Crew

TCFV sends pertinent legislative updates and alerts via email relating to survivor advocacy through this listserv.

Email to Sign Up
Action Alerts

TCFV will post urgent opportunities to call on your legislators to advocate for family violence survivors as they arise here.

Read Action Alerts
Testify

Centering survivor and advocate voices at the Capitol is a vital part of our work. If you’re interested in testifying at a hearing and sharing your voice, please reach out to us.

I Want to Testify
System Advocacy and Implementation

Click here to learn more about our advocacy beyond the Legislature and to access our legislative implementation guides.

Explore Advocacy Guides

Help Support Texas Survivors with a Donation to Support Legislative Advocacy!

At The Texas Council on Family Violence, we receive grants that fund most of our work; unfortunately, we are unable to use these grants for legislative advocacy efforts at the Capitol. TCFV has an influential and effective Policy team, one of the largest of any state domestic violence coalitions. Everything is bigger in Texas! But to continue our vital state and federal legislative advocacy, we can’t do it alone—we need help from people like you! Consider donating to support our policy efforts that center on survivors’ safety, choices, and healing, and the family violence services that support them.

$25 supports a policy team member reviewing a bill

$50 allows for a meeting with a legislative office about TCFV’s policy agenda

$100 supports a Staffer Day for legislative office staffers to learn more about TCFV’s mission, staff, and policy agenda.

$500 supports our Capitol Day event in February

$1000 covers the travel and meal expenses of two to three survivors or advocates who will come to the Capitol to testify