Austin Bureau Correspondent
The Texas Legislature is in session at the Capitol in Austin. Here’s what you need to know:
The Texas House and Senate meet on opposite ends of the Capitol to create new laws, promote policies and determine how your tax dollars are spent across the state.
The House — 150 representatives elected to two-year terms — is led by the speaker, who is selected by a majority vote of representatives at the beginning of each legislative session. Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was selected as speaker in January.
The Senate, comprising 31 senators serving four-year terms, is led by the lieutenant governor, who is elected statewide to a four-year term. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has led the Senate since 2015.
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Lawmakers convene in Austin at noon on the second Tuesday of January in odd-number years. These regular sessions last 140 days.
The 89th legislative session began Jan. 14 and ends June 2. The 90th session will run from Jan. 12 through May 31 in 2027.
They file thousands of bills — beginning on the first Monday after the general election and ending on the 60th day of the legislative session — to create, amend, rescind and clarify state laws.
Lawmakers can also propose amendments to the Texas Constitution, and senators confirm the governor’s appointments to various positions.
Each house has committees with jurisdiction over certain issues. Through public hearings and committee meetings, the panels shape and advance bills before they’re considered on the House or Senate floor.
The process begins with “first reading,” when the number and caption of newly filed bills are read aloud on the House and Senate floor before the legislation is directed to the pertinent committee.
Committees hold public hearings on legislation — the agenda of bills is typically set by the chair — before members vote on whether to send measures to the full House or Senate.
Bills are presented to the House and Senate on second reading, when the author can be questioned and amendments proposed. Most bills are approved by a simple majority vote, though proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution require support from two-thirds of both chambers.
If approved on second reading, bills return for third reading on the next business day in the House or often the same day in the Senate.
Bills approved on third reading are sent to the other chamber, where the process begins anew. Bills that are changed must return to the original chamber, where the changes can be approved or a conference committee formed to work out a compromise. The resulting compromise bill must be approved by the House and Senate.
Once approved by both chambers, bills are sent to Gov. Greg Abbott, who can sign them into law, veto them or let them become law without a signature.
Committees hold public hearings on legislation they’re considering. That’s where expert witnesses testify and the public can weigh in. Public testimony is typically subject to time limits.
Hearings are also streamed online.
Texas has a moratorium on political contributions that begins 30 days before a regular session and ends 20 days after the session ends.
The first 30 days of a regular session is devoted to introducing legislation, acting on emergency funding, confirming the governor’s recess appointments and passing the governor’s “emergency” items.
During the next 30 days, committees can hold hearings on all legislation.
Bill filing ends on the 60th day, except for local bills, which pertain to a limited area, emergency appropriations or the governor’s priorities. Filing a bill after the 60th day requires consent from four-fifths of the House or Senate.
The 140th day marks the end of the session, when the House and Senate adjourn “sine die.” This year, that’s June 2.
The governor lays out the executive branch’s policy priorities in a State of the State address. These priorities are known as emergency items, and they get priority consideration over other bills that may not be acted on until after 60 days.
The governor may call lawmakers back to Austin for a special session after the regular session ends to take up specific topics. The topics are chosen by the governor, and a special session can last up to 30 days.
There were four special sessions in 2023, three in 2021 and none in 2019.
Legislators are paid a $600 monthly salary and receive a $221 per diem for each day of the regular and any special session. Most legislators keep their full-time jobs.
A lawmaker’s term doesn’t end when the legislative session does. The speaker and lieutenant governor can direct House and Senate committees, respectively, to do interim studies that could produce legislation in the next session.
Nolan covers Texas politics. Before relocating to Austin in June 2024, he spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., reporting on national politics, including the White House, Congress and presidential campaigns. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University.
