Texas Legislative Session Kicks Off

This week marked the start of the 84th Texas Legislative Session. Our main goal over the next 140 days will be to work to empower you to make your voice heard at the state capitol and to lead the effort to protect religious liberty, strengthen marriages and families, and defend the unborn. Our major priorities this session will include strengthening Texans religious freedom protection in our state constitution, stopping abuses by local governments that threaten their citizens’ religious freedom and free speech, protecting marriage in Texas law, supporting all efforts to protect the sanctity of unborn children and much more.

Texas Values Action is the only statewide family values organization that will maintain a full-time presence at our state capitol. The growing Texas Values team will be dedicated to working on these important issues and keeping you informed about how the actions of state leaders will affect your values. Throughout the session, stay engaged with us to keep updated on specific bills, action alerts, and talking points to engage your elected officials, friends and family, and church. We encourage you to use our website to find your elected officials and to send them a message to stand for our values.

Last Friday, the Texas marriage case was before the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for oral argument by the lawyers on this important case. This case about Texas’ one man, one woman marriage definition was heard and will be decided by a three-judge panel, which includes Judges Higginbotham, Smith, and Graves. Texas Values staff members were present in court for this case in New Orleans alongside our friends with the Louisiana Family Forum. Texas Values filed a legal amicus brief in this case supporting our marriage laws between one man and one woman, along with 20 other legal briefs that supported Texas marriage laws.

Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell did an exceptional job of presenting the oral argument in favor of Texas marriage laws. In the arguments, Mr. Mitchell made it clear that Texas’ law is based on acknowledging the biological uniqueness of a man and a woman who naturally create a child, and the social and economic benefit of encouraging parents to raise their natural child together in a married household. This reasoning by the state, and the democratic process followed by the people of Texas to create this law, is consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent and current rules of judicial review. Read more.

Listen to Texas Values President Jonathan Saenz’s talk with FRC’s Washington Watch Radio Program on this important case.

North Texas March for Life this Saturday

This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the disastrous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. While we praise God that Texas continues to lead the fight for stronger pro-life protections, there is still much work to be done to ensure that every unborn baby in Texas is protected. Help continue our momentum in building a culture of life in Texas – join with Texas Values and thousands of other pro-lifers in participating in the North Texas March for Life this coming Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Conventional Center in Downtown Dallas. Be sure to stop by our booth at the pro-life ministry fair. Get more details here.

Nicole Hudgens Joins Texas Values Team

Nicole Hudgens joined the Texas Values team at the start of the 84th Texas Legislative Session this week. Nicole has a passion to see the restoration of family values in her generation and the ones to come. While originally from Texas, Nicole has worked with the Heritage Foundation, Family Research Council, and recently for Congressman John Fleming in Washington, D.C. Nicole also co-hosted a talk radio show covering conservative issues including Texas’ Pro-Life Omnibus Law and the importance of marriage and family in society. Request a speaker for your group here.