Texas House Bills: Laws In The Making

The process of a Texas House Bill becoming law is a complex one. The Texas Legislature, which includes 150 members of the House of Representatives and 31 members of the State Senate, meets every two years to write new laws and address the state's problems. This process involves several stages, including introduction, committee action, and floor action, and must occur during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session. Once a bill has passed through these stages in both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the Governor, who can approve or veto it. The Governor also has the power to call short, special sessions to address specific issues. This article will explore the steps a Texas House Bill takes to become law, outlining the key players and procedures involved.

Bills are drafted by legislators, with input from citizens and agencies

The Texas Legislature is bicameral and includes 150 members of the House of Representatives and 31 members of the State Senate. The legislative process begins with an idea for a bill, which can come from an individual, a group, a legislator, an agency, or the Governor. The bill is then written, often with legal assistance from the Texas Legislative Council, a legislative agency that provides bill drafting services, research assistance, and other support for legislators.

Once a bill has been drafted, it is introduced by a member of the House or Senate in their own chamber. Sometimes, similar bills about a particular issue are introduced in both houses simultaneously by a representative and senator working together. However, any bill increasing taxes or raising money for use by the state must start in the House of Representatives. After a bill has been introduced, a short description called a "caption" is read aloud during the chamber session so that all members are aware of the bill and its subject. This is known as the first reading, and it is during this stage that the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee.

The committee process is an important part of the legislative process. Committees are responsible for studying and considering bills, holding hearings, and creating reports. The chair of each committee decides on the meeting schedule and which bills to address. Committees can meet in public hearings, formal meetings, or work sessions, depending on the nature of the bill and the input required. Public testimony is typically solicited to allow citizens to present arguments on different sides of an issue. Notice of committee hearings and meetings must be posted in advance to ensure transparency and provide an opportunity for interested parties to participate.

After a committee has considered a bill, it may choose to take no action or issue a report with recommendations. The committee report includes the committee's vote, the text of the bill, a detailed analysis, and any necessary fiscal or impact statements. This report is then distributed to the members of the House or Senate, depending on the chamber. In the House, the report is sent to the Committee on Calendars or the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on a calendar for consideration by the full House. In the Senate, local and non-controversial bills are scheduled for consideration by the Senate Administration Committee, while other bills are placed on the regular order of business.

Bills are introduced in the House or Senate, and assigned to a committee

The process of a bill becoming a law in Texas begins with the introduction of the bill in the House or Senate, after which it is assigned to a committee. A bill can be introduced by a representative or senator who gets an idea for a bill by listening to the people they represent and then working to solve their problem. The bill may also arise from the recommendations of an interim committee study when the legislature is not in session. Once the idea is researched, and the bill is written, it is introduced by a member of the House or Senate in their own chamber.

Sometimes, similar bills about a particular issue are introduced in both houses simultaneously by a representative and senator working together. However, any bill that increases taxes or raises money for use by the state must start in the House of Representatives. Bills can be introduced on any subject during the first 60 calendar days of a regular session. After 60 days, the introduction of any bill other than a local bill or a bill related to an emergency declared by the governor requires the consent of at least four-fifths of the members present and voting in the House or four-fifths of the membership in the Senate.

After a bill is introduced, a short description of the bill, called a caption, is read aloud while the chamber is in session so that all members are aware of the bill and its subject matter. This is called the first reading, and it is at this point that the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee. This assignment is announced on the chamber floor during the first reading of the bill.

There are 31 committees in the House, each dealing with a different subject area, and five committees that deal with procedural or administrative matters for the House. Most members serve on two or three different committees. The chair of each committee decides when the committee will meet and which bills will be considered. The house rules permit a house committee or subcommittee to meet in a public hearing where testimony is heard and where official action may be taken on bills, resolutions, or other matters; in a formal meeting where members may discuss and take official action without hearing public testimony; or in a work session for discussion of matters before the committee without taking formal action. In the Senate, testimony may be heard, and official action may be taken at any meeting of a Senate committee or subcommittee. Public testimony is almost always solicited on bills, allowing citizens the opportunity to present arguments on different sides of an issue.

Committees study the bill, hold hearings, and create a report

The committees that study legislation are selected by the Speaker of the House or the Lieutenant Governor, who is the presiding officer of the Senate. The Speaker of the House is elected by the Representatives, while the Lieutenant Governor is elected by the people.

There are 31 committees, each dealing with a different subject area, and five committees that deal with procedural or administrative matters for the House. Most members serve on two or three different committees.

The chair of each committee decides when the committee will meet and which bills will be considered. The house rules permit a house committee or subcommittee to meet in a public hearing, a formal meeting, or a work session. In the Senate, testimony may be heard and official action may be taken at any meeting of a senate committee or subcommittee. Public testimony is almost always solicited on bills, allowing citizens the opportunity to present arguments on different sides of an issue.

After considering a bill, a committee may choose to take no action or issue a report on the bill. The committee report includes the committee's recommendations regarding action on a bill, a record of the committee's vote, the text of the bill as reported by the committee, a detailed bill analysis, and a fiscal note or other impact statement, as necessary. The report is then printed and a copy is distributed to every member of the House or Senate.

In the House, a copy of the committee report is sent to either the Committee on Calendars or the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for placement on a calendar for consideration by the full House. In the Senate, local and non-controversial bills are scheduled for Senate consideration by the Senate Administration Committee. All other bills in the Senate are placed on the regular order of business for consideration by the full Senate in the order in which the bills were reported from the Senate committee.

The bill is debated and voted on, requiring a two-thirds majority to pass

The process of passing a bill in Texas requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. This means that for a bill to become a law, it must be passed by at least two-thirds of the members present and voting in each chamber.

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, it will be studied, and a report will be created. The committee will hold hearings and may make amendments to the bill. The bill is then sent to the Calendar committee, which assigns the report to be read on a specific day.

During the debate on the bill, any member of the House or Senate may offer an amendment. Amendments at this stage require a simple majority for adoption. After the second reading, the bill is considered again on the third reading and final passage. At this point, amendments require a two-thirds majority.

If a bill receives a majority vote on the third reading, it is passed and sent to the opposite chamber, where it follows the same process. If the second chamber makes amendments, the original chamber can either accept the changes or request a Conference Committee to discuss the differences and create a final version.

The two-thirds majority requirement is an important feature of the legislative process in Texas. It ensures that a substantial majority of legislators agree on the content of the bill before it becomes a law. This helps to protect against the passage of controversial or divisive legislation and encourages consensus-building and compromise.

The bill is sent to the Governor, who can sign, veto, or allow it to become law without a signature

Once a bill has been passed by the Texas House of Representatives and the State Senate, it is sent to the Governor, who has the power to sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without their signature. The Governor has 10 days to take action on the bill, or 20 days after Sine Die (the last day of the session) if the bill was passed within the final 10 days of the legislative session. If the Governor does not act within this timeframe, the bill becomes law without their signature.

A two-thirds majority in each chamber is required to override a veto. However, the Legislature must be in session to do so. Therefore, bills passed towards the end of a legislative session that are vetoed can be nearly impossible to override.

Once a bill becomes law, it takes effect on the 91st day after final adjournment unless otherwise specified. Constitutional amendments, meanwhile, are put to Texas voters for approval in the following November election.

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