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Texas Legislature 2019

"I'm honestly still stunned that I work here": Meet the staffers who keep Texas lawmakers in check under the dome

Behind the 181 members of the Texas Legislature, thousands of people work to keep the Capitol humming during legislative sessions. The work isn't always glamorous, but many view their small roles in helping state government function as an honor.

by Alana Rocha, Justin Dehn, Richard Loria, Todd Wiseman and Woojae Julia Song

Under the Dome

A mini-documentary series chronicling the cast of characters passing bills in the Texas Capitol.

 More in this series 

Patsy Spaw, the secretary of the Texas Senate, has been around longer than most of the senators. Others are experiencing their first legislative session in the building.

Some spend their days out of sight, ensuring the video feeds run smoothly. Others are a fixture on the live feed, reading legislation aloud so often that they end up getting recognized on the street.

They are all part of a cast of thousands who come to work in the Texas Capitol. Lawmakers know that without those supporting players, they wouldn't be able to get through the thousands of bills filed during each session.

Meet a few of the behind-the-scenes workers in the latest episode of our mini-documentary series, "Under the Dome."

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Information about the authors

Alana Rocha’s staff photo

Alana Rocha

Director of News Partnerships

Justin Dehn’s staff photo
Richard Loria’s staff photo
Todd Wiseman’s staff photo
Woojae Julia Song’s staff photo

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