What is “dropping a card”?
Dropping a card refers to the action of officially registering your position (opposition or support) on a specific legislative bill at the Texas Capitol. Dropping a card logs your position on the bill and is submitted to the official bill record. Official records accompany the bill as it moves through the Legislature for representatives to review and take into consideration when they place a vote on the bill.
When to drop a card?
Dropping a card must be done on Texas Capitol grounds through the touch-screen kiosks onsite or through a laptop/tablet that is connected to the free public Capitol WiFi. A card can only be dropped on the day of the legislative hearing. The bill will generally be available for registering a position 30 minutes to an hour before the committee hearing is scheduled to start, and registration usually closes when public testimony is completed (might vary depending on length of hearing). For committee hearings in the Texas House of Representatives, there is an opportunity for people to submit public comments online without being at the Capitol. Comments must be submitted before the end of the hearing. The link to submit comments is posted at the bottom of the public notice announcing the committee hearing and the bills to be heard; but this option is not available for Texas Senate committee hearings.
How to Drop a Card: Step-by-Step Guide
Go to the Capitol
The Capitol is located at 11th and Congress in Austin (1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701). There is metered street parking near the Capitol or park at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage.
Log into Capitol Wifi
- The best device to use will be a laptop or tablet
- A cell phone will not work, but kiosks are available onsite if you don’t have a laptop or tablet.
Go to the House or Senate Witness Registration Page
- For House bills (HB ##) go here: http://hwrs.house.state.tx.us/
- For Senate bills (SB ##) go here: http://swrs.senate.state.tx.us/
- Click the “Begin” button on the bottom of the page
Step 1: Select your Committee Hearing or Search for the Bill
- You’ll see a page full of committee hearings happening on a specific day, so be sure to click “Select” on the item you’re looking for.
- If you don’t know what committee your bill is being heard in, you can select “Find a Bill.”
Step 2: Agenda Item Selection
- Once you find the committee or bill, click the “Register” button next to that item
- A pop-up window will appear to make a selection based on (1) your position on a bill and (2) whether or not you plan to testify.
- Select “Against” if it’s a bill you’re opposing or select “For” if it’s a bill you’re supporting.
- Additionally, be sure to select “Testify” if you plan to speak at the hearing about the bill or select “Not Testify” if you simply want to submit your position on a bill but not speak at the hearing.
Step 2b: Confirm your Agenda Item Selections
- You will now see your stance in the blue button for the particular bill.
- Select “Next” to continue.
Step 3: Provide Contact Information
- Enter all of your contact information.
- Select “Next” when completed.
Step 4: State Your Representation
- Unless you have explicit permission to represent an organization, you will select “No”
- It will ask for your occupation, so simply put whatever title you identify with best (e.g., student, parent, teacher, counselor, etc.).
Step 5: Acknowledgement
- Click on the box to acknowledge that all the information you have submitted is correct and that you are the person you say you are, that you are present in the Capitol (referred to as the “Capitol Complex” on the form), and that you electronically approve this form
