Mission
To educate and encourage women to become informed about and actively involved in the legislative process
History
For more than two decades, Women's Legislative Days has been helping Texas women find their voices in legislative politics. Over the years more than 7,000 women have attended to learn about the state-level issues that affect women and what they can do to impact legislative decision-making.
The first meeting on women's legislative issues in Texas, held in 1983 at the Copper Skillet restaurant in Austin, was standing room only. Clearly there was a need for a larger event. The following year, the Governor's Commission for Women held an issues conference at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University at San Marcos). During that event, a group of women met informally to discuss the need for coordination among various women's organizations regarding legislative issues of special concern to women, as well as the need for education and outreach on those issues. A planning committee was formed, and the first official Women's Legislative Days took place during the 1985 legislative session.
Women's Legislative Days has been fortunate to have some amazing women come to speak at our events - as well as some great men. Past speakers include:
- The Honorable Bob Bullock
- Molly Ivins
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
- The Honorable Glen Maxey
- The Honorable Susan Molinari
- The Honorable Irma Rangel
- The Honorable Ann Richards
- Cecile Richards
- Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
- The Honorable Pat Schroeder
Women's Legislative Days committee members remain deeply concerned about the severe shortage of women in state government, both in Texas and nationwide, and about the lack of attention paid to women's issues in recent years. Our goal is make ourselves obsolete by working towards a day when women's interests and issues are not a special project, but a vital daily concern in politics and policy.