the flags over the Capitol building in Austin, the largest of all our nation's capitols (including the one in Washington, D.C.
Looking up that same dome from inside the capitol.
The Members of the Texas Senate gear up for roll call Monday afternoon with much to before the session ends on Memorial Day.
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst meets with her Lavaca County constituents over lunch Monday inside the capitol building.
It takes all of working together to get these bills passed each session, Kolkhorst told those attended Lavaca County Day Monday.
Citizens packed the hallways of the capitol, each with a cause and lawmakers to see.
Citizens listen as Kolkhorst describes some of the bills making waves this session.
Lawmen had a heavy presence around the capitol as well as well as within Lavaca County's group.
Lavaca County Auditor snaps a few quick frames of the Capitol Building Monday as the group makes its way inside.
Most of Lavaca County's 40 gather for photo before splitting up once more to visit with various lawmakers.
State Rep. Geanie Morrison also got a placard from her constituency in commemoration of Lavaca County Day at the Capitol.
Another shot of the Lavaca County 40 in Austin.
For it being one of the smallest towns in the county, Moulton had a surprising sizable contingency represented in Austin that day..
County officials meet with the vice chair of the county affairs committee in the House.
Morrison, who serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee (which pays for everything in state government), reiterated just difficult it will be in coming weeks tom get all those bills out of committee.
Lavaca County Precinct 2 Commissioner Wayne Faircloth, a former member of the Texas House, seem to fall right back in step with his running buddies Austin legislative chambers. He's pictured here with State Rep. Lynn Stucky, Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenny Siegel, and County Judge Keith Mudd.
Sen. Kolkorst gears up for her rousing speech on the importance of Lav aca County, delivered from the floor of the Texas Senate as part of the day's business meeting for lawmakers.
Kolkhorst asked that the Lavaca County group stand and be recognized Monday. They were happy to oblige.
From Moulton, we have Councilman Adam Nieto, Mayor Mark Zimmerman, Mayor Pro Tem Craig Hughes, and Police Chief Daniel Beyer.

Forty local residents made their way Austin on Monday, March 13, to take part in the inaugural Lavaca County Day at the Texas State Capitol.

Those who attended the first-ever event were treated to tours of the capitol and got the opportunity to meet with various lawmakers and elected officials now taking part in the 88th Texas Legislature.

For those from Lavaca County, the meant hearing from District 18 State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and District 30 State Rep. Geanie Morrison, about some of the key issues facing Texans and conservatives this session and how their leaderships on the committees they serve will help mold policies around those issues.

One such issue involved Chinese purchases of Texas lands for disconcerting uses, despite that country posing one of the greatest single threats to our nation. There have reports of such land deals taking place by the thousands of acres up north off an active Air Force Base, and closer to home, at the old Stewart and Stevenson plant near Sealy.

Once a facility where they made and tested military grade vehicles and armaments for the war on terror, even building a personnel transport vehicle that could climb straight up a wall, if need be, and would have rendered the enemies IEDs and mine warfare tactics utterly useless (though the federal government opted for cheaper options, a missed contract that ultimately led to the company's return north. Regardless it left a rather military grade production facility, complete with testing grounds that was bought up for the People Re4public of China, Sen. Kolkhorst said was now coming to light, when she joined the Lavaca County delegation over lunch Monday.

Whatever they may be up to with such purchases, it just doesn't feel right, the senator said.

It's why she filed the bill she did that would restrict such buys by any nation viewed as threat to the livelihood and well-being of Texans and others in our nation, and though a few key leaders (like the governor) have voiced support for her bill, it will no doubt face some challenges as it moves through committees to get the votes it needs to pass.

The deadline for new bill already passed, the biggest challenge before lawmakers now is getting their bills out of committee and onto the floors of both chambers so that can be voted on and sent to the governor's office. Thousands of bills were introduced already this session, and weeding through all of those to get the scant few that will ultimately be put to a vote is an arduous process they face each biennium, especially with so few days available in a session.

The session runs, in its entirety, from Jan. 10 to May 29, with only the governor permitted to call a special session afterward. That leaves a little more than 10 short weeks for lawmakers to wrap this up for the 2023 session.

Still, with a very full plate and committees already shifting bills around for their hearings, both chambers took time to recognize the Lavaca County citizens present.

Sen. Kolkhorst even gave a rousing oratory that afternoon from the Senate floor on the many historic, economic and cultural contributions that have been made by those in the county and its towns to the great state of Texas.

We hope you enjoy our slide show of the events Monday. These pictures were taken by Lavaca County Today's Bobby Horecka.

Forty attend inaugural Lavaca County Day at Texas State Capitol