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On February 20, 2025, TAAHP’s biennial Rally Day at the Texas State Capitol marked a pivotal moment in our efforts to shape the future of affordable housing in Texas. This year’s event highlighted the growing influence of TAAHP and the unwavering commitment of our members to drive meaningful progress during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Through face-to-face meetings with lawmakers, we directly influence policies that will have a lasting impact on our industry, ensuring affordable housing remains a top priority in the legislative agenda.
Teamwork: 20 Teams Leading the Charge
This year, TAAHP organized 20 Rally Day teams, led by members of our Government Affairs and Federal Legislative Affairs committees and Subcommittees, to spearhead legislative meetings. Each team—made up of an average of four members—conducted in-depth research on legislators and crafted detailed agendas, ensuring our meetings were both impactful and purposeful. Approximately 70 TAAHP, RRHA, and TALHFA members join us from 58 organizations.
A total of 85 meetings with legislators or their staff were scheduled. While we couldn’t secure meetings with every legislator due to the busy nature of the session, our members made sure we reached every office. For those offices where meetings couldn’t be arranged, materials were dropped off, ensuring that our message was delivered to every legislator. This effort made our 2025 Rally Day one of our most successful to date.
To show our appreciation, TAAHP gifted legislators custom padfolios filled with infographics, news, and key information about affordable housing issues. These high-quality binders served as a tangible reminder of our work and the ongoing partnership between TAAHP and the Texas legislature.
Top Meetings: Making Our Presence Felt
Our teams secured meetings with influential lawmakers and key government offices, providing crucial opportunities to advocate for affordable housing. Notable meetings included:
- ALL House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Members
- ALL Senate Local Government Committee Members,
- Governor’s Office, Lt. Governor’s Office & Speaker’s Office
- Top Committee Directors, such as the Senate Economic Development and Senate Local Government committees
These meetings provided critical opportunities to advocate for the issues that matter most to our members, ensuring that our concerns were brought directly to those who have the power to shape policy.
Senate/House Resolution: Officially Affordable Housing Day
A standout moment during this year’s Rally Day was the passage of a formal Senate and House resolution, officially designating February 20th as Affordable Housing Day. Thanks to Senator Menendez, the resolution was read in both the House and Senate, marking a historic milestone for TAAHP and underscoring how far we’ve come in securing affordable housing as a priority in Texas policy.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Rally Day wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of everyone involved. To all the members who traveled to Austin to participate in the meetings, thank you. Your efforts are what make Rally Day so impactful. We also want to extend our gratitude to the volunteers and staff, who helped organize and execute the event. Together, we made this year’s Rally Day a huge success!!