1/ Today is the first day Texas legislators can file bills for the 87th legislative session.
Most of these bills will die. Some could become law. Here’s what you need to know. bit.ly/2IeuxKh
Most of these bills will die. Some could become law. Here’s what you need to know. bit.ly/2IeuxKh
2/ These bills can have a real impact on Texans’ lives. Last session, lawmakers filed and passed bills that...
—Raised the smoking age from 18 to 21
—Made clear that women can pump breast milk wherever they want
—Prevent surprise medical bills
#txlege bit.ly/3lfgF0T
—Raised the smoking age from 18 to 21
—Made clear that women can pump breast milk wherever they want
—Prevent surprise medical bills
#txlege bit.ly/3lfgF0T
3/ Each session, the state allows the filing of bills and resolutions on the first Monday after the general election.
Pre-filing frees up time to draft legislation during the session — which starts Jan. 12 — and gives leadership more time to review bills before advancing them.
Pre-filing frees up time to draft legislation during the session — which starts Jan. 12 — and gives leadership more time to review bills before advancing them.
4/ And this session, legislators need all the time they can get given the added task of redistricting on their plates. bit.ly/35eV96M
5/ Based on their wins last week, Republicans will start the session with control of both chambers and all the seats on the Legislative Redistricting Board.
They’ll control every phase of the process of drawing new political maps for the state. bit.ly/35eV96M
They’ll control every phase of the process of drawing new political maps for the state. bit.ly/35eV96M
6/ Along with redistricting and setting the budget, the Legislature considers thousands of bills. In each of the last 10 sessions, lawmakers filed an average of 6,212 bills and passed 1,409. bit.ly/3eItleg
7/ Last session, more than 400 bills were filed by noon on the first day of pre-filing. The first came from one senator, @JudithZaffirini, who typically has her staff line up outside the clerk's office hours before pre-filing starts. bit.ly/35aRoPQ
8/ Filing early gets a bill a lower number and a chance at the public’s attention before thousands are filed.
But the lowest numbers are often saved by the House speaker and lieutenant governor, who hold those numbers for their top-priority legislation. bit.ly/35aRoPQ
But the lowest numbers are often saved by the House speaker and lieutenant governor, who hold those numbers for their top-priority legislation. bit.ly/35aRoPQ
9/ In a normal session, the Legislature can meet for 140 days to review the thousands of bills filed.
But there are no laws requiring them to work that long or consider that many bills. During a pandemic, they might want to do a lot less. bit.ly/3eItleg
But there are no laws requiring them to work that long or consider that many bills. During a pandemic, they might want to do a lot less. bit.ly/3eItleg
10/ It remains unclear how the Capitol will function in January.
There are still questions about health precautions, like temperature checks and distancing 150 desks on the House floor, and whether the public will have access to the legislative process. bit.ly/3kfT9j7
There are still questions about health precautions, like temperature checks and distancing 150 desks on the House floor, and whether the public will have access to the legislative process. bit.ly/3kfT9j7
11/11 That uncertainty so close to session could have ramifications for one of the toughest sessions in recent years — legislators will have to tackle billions of dollars in shortfalls to the state budget and pandemic issues like health care and education. bit.ly/3kfT9j7
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