How a Bill Becomes Law:82nd Legislature

This report summarizes the key constitutional provisions and rules governing bills in the Legislature, with

emphasis on House rules.

February 14, 2011

2 The bill in committee

6 The calendars system

7 Order of business

8 Floor consideration

14 Senate procedures

15 After passage by both houses

Number 82-2

16 Box: End-of-session deadlines

17 The governor’s role

TheTexasConstitutionandtherulesoftheHouseandtheSenategovernthemovementofbillsthroughtheLegislature.ThisreportsummarizesthekeyconstitutionalprovisionsandrulesgoverningbillsintheLegislature,withemphasisontheHouseRules.HR4bySolomons,adoptedbytheHouseonJanuary24,2011,containstheHouseRulesforthe82ndLegislature.Referencestobillsalsoapplytojointresolutions,unlessotherwisenoted.

Form and content of bills

EachbillfiledintheLegislaturemusthavethreeparts:

• adescriptivecaption,beginning,“ABilltobeEntitledanAct,”alongwithabriefstatementgivingtheLegislatureandthepublicreasonablenoticeofthesubjectofthebill;

• anenactingorresolvingclause,“BeitEnactedbytheLegislatureoftheStateofTexas”;and

• thebodyofthebill(Rule8,sec.1).

Eachbillmustpertaintoonlyonesubject,exceptforthegeneralappropriationsbill,recodificationbills,andjointresolutions(Constitution,Art.3,sec.35;Rule8,sec.3;Rule9,sec.1(b)).

Allrevenue-raisingbillsmustoriginateintheHouse(Constitution,Art.3,sec.33).

CertainlocalandspecialbillsarebannedbytheConstitutioninArt.3,sec.56.Examplesincludebillsthatwouldgrantindividualdivorces,changevenueincriminalcases,changethenamesofpersons,orlegalizeinvalidwillsordeeds.

TheHouseRulesalsoprohibitconsiderationofpopulation“bracket”bills,whichusepopulationrangestolimit

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abill’sapplicationtoaparticularcityorcountywithoutnamingthelocality.(Forexample,abillmightapplytocitieswithpopulationsofmorethan2,999butlessthan3,001.)However,billsmayuseapopulationminimumormaximumthat“bearsareasonablerelation”tothebill’spurpose(Rule8,sec.10(b)). Abillorresolutionhasoneprimaryauthor,whomaydesignate,bywrittenauthorizationfiledwiththechiefclerk,uptofourjointauthors.Also,membersseekingtobecomecoauthorsmustfileaformwiththechiefclerkshowingwrittenauthorizationfromtheauthorandfileanotherformtobedesignatedacoauthor.Coauthorsmaywithdrawtheirnamesbynotifyingthechiefclerk(Rule8,sec.5).

Filing dates. BeginningthefirstMondayafterthegeneralelectionprecedingtheregularsession,or30daysbeforeanyspecialsession,membersandmembers-electmayprefilebillsandresolutions(Rule8,sec.7).Amembermayintroduceanytypeofbillorjointresolutionduringthefirst60daysoftheregularsession.The60thdayofthe2011regularsessionwillbeFriday,March11.Afterthe60thday,afour-fifthsvoteofthememberspresentisrequiredtointroducebillsorjointresolutions,otherthancertainemergencymatterssubmittedbythegovernor,emergencyappropriations,andlocalbills(Rule8,sec.8).

Copies required. Ninecopiesofeachbillmustbefiledwiththechiefclerk.ElevencopiesmustbefiledifthebillrelatestowaterconservationandreclamationdistrictsgovernedbyArt.16,sec.59oftheConstitution(Rule8,sec.9).

Local bill requirements. Anoticeofalegislator’sintentiontofilealocalbillmustbepublishedinanewspaperintheaffectedlocalityatleast30daysbeforethebillisintroduced(Constitution,Art.3,sec.57;GovernmentCode,sec.313;Rule8,sec.10).Therearesixtypesoflocalbills:

• billscreatingoraffectingwaterdistricts;• billscreatingoraffectinghospitaldistricts;• billscreatingoraffectingroadutilitydistricts;• billsrelatingtohunting,fishing,orwildlife

conservationinaspecifiedlocality;• billscreatingoraffectingacountycourtor

statutorycourtorcourtsforoneormorespecifiedcountiesormunicipalities;and

• billscreatingoraffectingajuvenileboardorboardsofaspecifiedcountyorcounties.

Ifbillsofthelastthreetypesaffect“asufficientnumber”oflocalities,counties,ormunicipalitiessothat,ineffect,theyapplygenerallyorhavestatewideimportance,theyarenotconsideredlocalbills(Rule8,sec.10(d)).

First reading and referral to committee. Tobecomelaw,abillmustbereadintheHouseandintheSenateonthreeseparatedays.Thisrequirementmaybesuspendedbyafour-fifthsvoteofthememberspresent(Constitution,Art.3,sec.32;Rule8,sec.15).

Afterabillisfiledandthechiefclerkhasassignedanumbertothebill,firstreadingoccurswhenthereadingclerkreadsthebillcaptionwhiletheHouseisinsessionandannouncesthecommitteetowhichthespeakerhasreferredthebill.Thespeakersubsequentlymaycorrectthereferralandassignthebilltoadifferentcommittee,whichusuallyoccursshortlyaftertheinitialreferral.Thespeaker’sreferralalsomaybechangedbyamajorityvoteoftheHouse.Thespeakermaynotreferabillsimultaneouslytomorethanonecommittee(Rule1,sec.4;Rule8,sec.6).

The bill in committee

Nobillmaybecomelawunlessitisreferredtoandreportedbyacommittee(Constitution,Art.3,sec.37;Rule8,sec.11).MuchoftheLegislature’sworkoccursincommittee.

Rule3establishesthe36Housestandingcommitteesandtheirjurisdictions.Thirtyaresubstantivecommittees,whilesix–Calendars,LocalandConsentCalendars,RulesandResolutions,GeneralInvestigatingandEthics,HouseAdministration,andRedistricting–areconsideredproceduralcommittees.Althoughproceduralcommitteesgenerallydonotreviewandreportlegislation,thespeakermayreferbillstotheGeneralInvestigatingandEthics,HouseAdministration,andRedistrictingcommittees.

Thespeakerbyproclamationmaycreateselectcommitteesandspecifytheirjurisdiction,authority,duties,andduration(Rule1,sec.16(b)).SpeakershaveappointedselectcommitteesatthestartofthesessiontoallowtheHousetoconsideremergencylegislationbeforethestandingcommitteeshavebeenappointed.Anotherpurpose

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ofselectcommitteesistoconsidercertainissuesthatcrosscommitteejurisdictionallinesortofocusonparticularissues.Forexample,forthe82ndLegislature,SpeakerJoeStrauscreatedselectcommitteesonStateSovereigntyandonVoterIdentificationandVoterFraud.Duringtheinterimfollowingthe2009regularsession,SpeakerStrauscreatedseveralselectcommitteestoconductinterimstudies.

Committee chairs. Thechairsofcommitteesdetermineifandwhenabillwillbeconsidered,althoughtheyarerequiredtoconsultwiththecommitteemembersontheworkscheduleandtheorderofconsiderationofmattersbeforethecommittee.Theyalsoappointallsubcommitteemembersandchairs(Rule4,secs.6,44).

Committee meetings. Afterthecommitteesareappointedandorganized,thecommitteecoordinator,underthedirectionoftheCommitteeonHouseAdministration,preparesascheduleforregularcommitteemeetings.Committeesmaymeetatothertimeswhencalledbythechairorasdeterminedbythecommittee.Committeesalsomaymeetattimesandplacesdesignatedbythespeaker(Rule4,sec.8).

Analysis before committee action. ThecommitteestaffmustdistributeacopyofananalysisofabilltocommitteemembersandtheauthororHousesponsor(ofaSenatebill)beforethecommitteefirstconsidersthebill.TheauthorofthebillmayrequestthattheTexasLegislativeCouncilpreparetheanalysis(Rule4,sec.7).

Fiscalnotes. ThecommitteechairdetermineswhethertoasktheLegislativeBudgetBoard(LBB)toprepareafiscalnoteforabillreferredtothechair’scommittee.Billsthatauthorizespendingstatefundsandhaveastatewideimpactonunitsoflocalgovernment,spendlocalfunds,proposenewfeesorlicenses,orchangealocaltaxusuallyrequireafiscalnote.Fiscalnotesmustbedistributedtocommitteemembersbeforethecommitteeconsidersthebill.Ifthebillisamendedtoalteritsfiscalimplications,thechairmustobtainanupdatedfiscalnote.Fiscalnotesremainwiththebillthroughoutthelegislativeprocess(Rule4,sec.33).

Impactstatements. Aswithfiscalnotes,thechairdetermineswhetherabillrequiresanimpactstatement,whichispreparedbytheLBB.Impactstatementsincludeacriminal justice policy impact statement,forlegislationproposingachangeinpunishmentforfeloniescommitted

byadults;anequalized education funding impact statement,forlegislationproposingachangeinthepublicschoolfinancesystem;andawater development policy impact statement,forlegislationproposingtocreatecertainwaterdistricts.Tax equity notes,forlegislationthatwouldcreateoraffectastatetaxorfee,estimatehowtheproposalwouldchangethedistributionoftaxandfeeburdensamongindividualsandbusinesses.Actuarial impact statements,forlegislationaffectingapublicretirementsystem,arepreparedbytheLBBincooperationwiththeStatePensionReviewBoard.Adynamiceconomicimpactstatement,preparedforthegeneralappropriationsbill,estimatesthenumberofstateemployeesaffectedandtheimpactonprivate-sectoremploymentduetoanyspendingchangefromonefiscalbienniumtoanother.

Unlikefiscalnotes,impactstatementsneednotbecompletedbeforeameasureisconsideredincommittee.Ifcommitteeamendmentschangethepotentialimpactofameasure,thechairmustrequestanewimpactstatement,whichaccompaniesthebillthroughoutthelegislativeprocess(Rule4,sec.34).

Committee consideration. Committeesmayactonlegislationinpublichearingsorformalmeetings.Committeesalsomaymeetinworksessions,wheretheymaydiscusslegislationbuttakenoformalaction.Noticeofpublichearingsmustbepostedatleastfivedaysinadvanceduringaregularsessionand24hoursinadvanceduringspecialsessions.Formalmeetingsandworksessionsrequireatleasttwohours’advancewrittennotice,postedandtransmittedtoeachcommitteemember,oranannouncementfiledwiththejournalclerkandreadbythereadingclerkwhiletheHouseisinsession(Rule4,sec.11).

Housecommitteesarenotrequiredtoholdapublichearingbeforeabillisreported,buttheusualpracticeduringregularsessionshasbeentoholdapublichearingonalmosteveryHousebill.Publichearingsmustbeopentoattendancebyanyone.Formalmeetingsandworksessionsalsomustbeopentothepublic,exceptforcertainmeetingssuchastoconsideranimpeachmentorotherquasi-judicialmatter.Allvotesmustbetakeninopenmeetings(Rule4,sec.12).

Housemembershaveanunconditionalrighttotestifyatahearingonbillsthattheyintroduceorsponsorandgenerallytoopenandclosethetestimonyontheirownbills.Nobillmaybeactedonadverselyunlessitsauthor

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firsthashadanopportunitytotestifybeforethecommittee(Rule4,sec.30).

Anyonemaytestifyatacommitteehearing,subjecttocertainrestrictions.Thosewhowishtoberecognizedtoaddressthecommitteemustfilloutandsweartoastatementshowingatleasttheirname,address,andphonenumber;theorganization,ifany,theyrepresent;and,ifrepresentingthemselves,theirbusiness,profession,oroccupation.Theyalsomustindicatewhethertheyfavor,oppose,orareneutralonthebillbeingconsidered.Thechairindicatesonthestatementwhetherawitnessactuallywasrecognizedtoaddressthecommittee.Everyone,exceptlegislators,whosubmittedaswornstatementislistedinanattachmenttothecommitteeminutesregardlessofwhetherthechairrecognizedthepersontotestify(Rule4,secs.18,20).Alltestimonymustberecordedelectronically(Rule4,sec.19).

Committeesmay,byrecordvoteofatleasttwo-thirdsofthememberspresent,issuesubpoenastocompeltheattendanceofwitnessesortorequireproductionofinformation(Rule4,sec.21(a)).AnyonedisobeyingalawfullyissuedcommitteesubpoenamaybeprosecutedforcontemptofLegislature,amisdemeanoroffensepunishablebyafineof$100to$1,000andajailtermof30daysto12months(GovernmentCode,secs.301.024-.027).Thechairmaysummonthegoverningboardorotherrepresentativesofastateagencytoappearandtestifywithoutissuingasubpoena(Rule4,sec.21(b)).

Houseemployeesmayappearaswitnessesonlywhenthecommitteegrantspermissionbyamajorityvote(seetheHousekeepingResolution,HR3byGeren,82ndLegislature,sec.4.09).GovernmentCode,sec.556.006prohibitsstateemployeesfrominfluencingtheoutcomeoflegislation,otherthantoprovideinformationatalegislator’srequest.Whenstateagencyemployeesappearbeforecommitteesaswitnesses,theytestify“on”legislation,notfororagainstit.

NocommitteeorsubcommitteemaymeetwhiletheHouseisinsessionunlesspermittedbyamajorityvoteoftheHouse.IfpermittedtomeetwhiletheHouseisinsession,acommitteemaynotmeetintheHousechamber(Rule4,sec.9).

Committee action. Acommitteemaynottakeformalactionunlessamajorityofthemembers(quorum)ispresent.Votingbyproxyisnotallowed(Rule4,sec.16).

Certainmotionsthatwouldpreventactiononabillarenotpermitted.Acommitteemaynotadoptarulethatautomaticallywouldsendallbillstosubcommitteeorotherwisehavetheeffectofthwartingthewillofamajorityofacommitteeorsubcommitteetoactonabill.Abillmaynotbelaidonthetablesubjecttocallincommitteeexceptbymajorityvote.Nocommitteemotionisinorderthatwouldpreventacommitteefromreportingabill(Rule4,secs.13,25).

Acommitteemayadoptamendmentstolegislation.However,committeeamendmentsareonlyrecommendationsmadetotheHouse,whichmustvoteseparatelyoneachamendmentifthelegislationisconsideredontheHousefloor(Rule4,sec.39).Committeeamendmentsareattachedattheendoftheoriginalversionofabillonaseparatepage.Amendmentsthataltertheoriginalpurposeofabillarenotpermitted,althoughthisrestrictiondoesnotapplytojointresolutions(Constitution,Art.3,sec.30;Rule11,sec.3;Rule9,sec.1(b)).

Acommitteemayadoptasubstitutebillthataddressesthesamesubjectastheoriginalbill.Ifacompletesubstituteisadopted,thesubstitute,nottheoriginalbill,isreportedtotheHouse(Rule4,sec.40).Thecommittee’sworkonabillisconsideredfinalonlyifthecommitteereportsfavorablyorunfavorablyonthebillorreportsaninabilitytoact(Rule4,sec.26).

Amajorityvoteofthecommitteeisrequiredtoapproveamotiontoreportabillfavorablyorunfavorably.AtievoteorinabilitytoactisreportedtotheHouse,whichbyamajorityvotemayleavethebillincommitteeforfurtherconsideration,referittoanothercommittee,ororderitprinted,inwhichcaseitissenttotheCalendarsCommittee(Rule4,sec.27).

Ifabillhasbeenincommitteeforatleastsixcalendardays,anyHousemembermaymovetoinstructthecommitteeto“report,”oracton,thebill.Approvalofsuchamotionrequiresatwo-thirdsvoteduringthefirst76daysofthesessionandamajorityvotethereafter.IfinstructedtoreportbytheHouse,acommitteemustreportwithin

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aweek.Ifthecommitteefailstomeetthisdeadline,anymembermaymovetore-referthebilltoanothercommittee,withthevoterequiredtoapprovethismotionthesameasforamotiontoinstructacommitteetoreport(Rule7,secs.45,46).

Whenacommitteereportsunfavorablyonabill(thus“killing”it),committeemembersonthelosingsidemaynotifythecommitteeoftheirintentiontofileaminorityreport.Thisnoticegenerallymustbegivenbeforethecommitteeadjournsorrecesses.Minorityreportsmustbesignedbyatleastfourmembersofcommitteesof21ormoremembers,threemembersof11-to20-membercommittees,ortwomembersofcommitteeswith10orfewermembers.Aswithamajorityreport,aminorityreportmustbefiledwiththechiefclerkwithintwodaysofthecommitteevote.(Duringthefinal15daysofaregularsessionandthefinalsevendaysofaspecialsession,thefilingdeadlineisreducedtooneday.)TheHousethenhasfivelegislativedaystoadoptamotion“toprintthebillonminorityreport.”Thisrequiresamajorityvoteforbillsandatwo-thirdsvoteforjointresolutions.IftheHouseadoptsthemotion,thebillisforwardedtotheCalendarsCommittee(Rule4,secs.28,29).

Subcommittees. Committeechairsmayreferlegislationtoasubcommittee.Thesubcommitteechairdecideswhetherthelegislationwillreceiveasubcommitteehearing.Subcommitteehearingsaregovernedbythesamerulesascommitteehearings,exceptthatsubcommitteescannotissuesubpoenas.Asubcommitteereportmustbedistributedtocommitteemembersatleast24hoursbeforeconsiderationbythefullcommittee.Anyamendmentorsubstitutepreviouslyadoptedbythefullcommitteeisvoidedwhenabillissenttosubcommittee(Rule4,secs.43-50).

Committee reports. Everycommitteereportmustbeaddressedtothespeakerandcontainthefollowing(Rule4,sec.32):

• therecordvoteadoptingthereport;• thecommittee’srecommendations;• anyrecommendationthatlegislationbesentto

theLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteeforplacementontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar;

• thedateonwhichtherecommendationsweremade;

• forSenatelegislation,theprimaryHousesponsorandallHousejointsponsorsorcosponsors;

• anotationthatthelegislationhasbeenforwardedforpreparationofafiscalnoteorimpactstatement,ifapplicable;

• foraproposedconstitutionalamendment,thebillnumberofitsenablinglegislation,orforenablinglegislation,thejointresolutionnumberoftheproposedconstitutionalamendmentthatthelegislationwouldimplement;

• adetaileddescription,ineithersummaryorsection-by-sectionform,ofthebill’ssubjectmatter,includingbackgroundinformationonwhatthebillproposestodo,ananalysisofitscontent,andaseparatestatementlistingeachstatuteorconstitutionalprovisionthatwouldberepealed;

• astatementindicatingwhetheranyrulemakingauthorityisexpresslydelegatedbythelegislationandidentifyingthesectionswheretherulemakingisdelegated;

• astatementofdifferencesbetweenacommitteesubstituteandtheoriginalversion,ifapplicable,orabriefexplanationofeachamendmentadoptedbythecommittee;

• asummaryofthecommitteeaction;and• alistofpersonswhosubmittedswornstatements

indicatingthattheywerepresentatthehearing,thepersonsorentitiesthattheyrepresented,andtheirpositiononthebill.

Allcommitteereportsmustbesignedbythecommitteechairorbyamajorityofcommitteemembers.TheauthorofthebillandthecommitteemayrequestthattheTexasLegislativeCouncilpreparethecommitteereportanalysis(Rule4,secs.6,32).ThecommitteechairmustprovideacopyofthecommitteereportanalysistotheHouseauthororsponsorassoonasthereportiscomplete(Rule4,sec.32(e)).

Apointoforderraisedagainstacommitteereportanalysiswillbesustainedonlyiftheanalysisismateriallyorsubstantiallymisleading(Rule4,sec.32(f)).Omittingfromthelistofhearingwitnessesinacommitteereportthosewhosubmittedaswornstatementbutwerenotrecognizedbythechairtoaddressthecommitteealsowouldnotbeasustainablepointoforder(Rule4,sec.32(b)(10)).

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Recommitment to committee. TheHousemayrecommitlegislationtocommittee,eitherbyaroutinemotionorduringfloorconsiderationofthelegislation.Themeritsofthelegislationarenotdebatableduringconsiderationofthismotion,unlessthemotionistorecommit“withinstructions,”suchasforthecommitteetoreportbyaparticulartimeordate(Rule7,secs.18,19).Afterlegislationhasbeenrecommittedandreportedadversely,itcannotberecommittedagainunlessaminorityreporthasbeenproperlyfiled.Adoptionofamotiontorecommitagainunderthesecircumstancesrequiresatwo-thirdsvote(Rule7,sec.20).Iftheauthororsponsorwasgivennoopportunitytobeheardbeforeacommitteereportedabilladversely,theHousebymajorityvotemayorderthebillreportedadverselytoberecommitted,evenifnominorityreportwasfiled(Rule4,sec.30).

Legislationrecommittedonthirdreadingthatisreportedagainwithamendmentsandsetonthedailycalendarwillbeconsideredonsecond,notthird,reading(Rule11,sec.5).

The calendars system

Whenbillsarereportedfromcommittee,thecommitteereportisreferredtothecommitteecoordinator.Afterthecommitteereportisprinted,thechiefclerkthendeliversittoeithertheCalendarsCommitteeortheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommittee(Rule4,secs.37and38;Rule6,sec.19).ThechiefclerkisrequiredtonotifythememberselectronicallywheneveracommitteereportforaSunsetbillisdeliveredtoacalendarscommittee(Rule4,sec.38A).

AsubstantivecommitteemayrecommendbyunanimousconsentthatameasureconsiderednoncontroversialbesenttotheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteeforpossibleplacementonaLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar(Rule6,secs.22,23).OtherbillsandresolutionsgototheCalendarsCommittee.CongratulatoryandmemorialresolutionsgototheRulesandResolutionsCommittee.

Placement on a calendar for floor consideration. TheHousemayconsiderabillonsecondreadingonlyifitisplacedonacalendarforfloorconsideration.BillsmaybeplacedonacalendarbyeithertheCalendarsCommitteeortheLocalandConsent

CalendarsCommitteeorthroughamotionadoptedbymajorityvoteoftheHouse.

Within30daysafterreceivingabill,theappropriatecalendarscommitteemustvoteonwhethertoplacethebillonacalendarforfloorconsideration.Ifacalendarscommitteevotesnottoplaceabillonacalendar,thecommitteeisnotprecludedfromvotinglatertoplacethatbillonacalendar.Thecalendarscommitteesmustfollowallrequirementsapplicabletosubstantivecommittees,includingadvancenoticeofmeetings;openingallmeetingstothepublic,press,andothermembers;andrequiringaquorumandarecordvotetotakeaction.Nomotionisinorderthatwouldpreventacalendarscommitteefromplacingabillonacalendar(Rule6,sec.20;Rule4,sec.25).

IftheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteedecidesthatabillorresolutiondoesnotbelongontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar,itmustforwardthelegislationtotheCalendarsCommittee(Rule6,sec.22).BillswithfiscalimplicationscannotbeplacedontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar(Rule6,sec.23(c)).

TheCalendarsCommitteemayplaceabillononeofthreedailycalendarsforfloorconsideration:Emergency,MajorState,orGeneralState.JointresolutionsproposingamendmentstotheTexasConstitutionorratificationofproposedamendmentstotheU.S.ConstitutionareplacedontheConstitutionalAmendmentsCalendar(Rule6,sec.7).

BillsplacedontheEmergencyCalendar(includingtaxbillsandthegeneralappropriationsbill)areconsideredfirst,intheorderthattheyappearonthedailycalendar.ConsiderednextaremeasuresplacedontheMajorStateCalendar,theConstitutionalAmendmentsCalendar,theGeneralStateCalendar,andtheResolutionsCalendar,intheorderthattheyappearwithinthosecalendars.TheCalendarsCommitteemaymakeexceptionstotheorderinwhichcalendarsareconsidered(Rule6,secs.7,15).Billsonthirdreadingtakeprecedenceoverbillsonsecondreadingregardlessofthecalendaronwhichtheyappear(Rule6,secs.15,25;Rule8,sec.17).

Daily calendars. TheHousemayconsideronlybillsandresolutionsthatappearonadailycalendarpostedelectronicallywithe-mailnoticetotheHousemembers.

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Ameasuremaynotbeconsideredunlessitappearsonadailycalendarthatwaspostedelectronicallyatleast36hoursinadvance–24hoursduringspecialsessions–ofthescheduledconsiderationofthatcalendar.ASunsetbillmaynotbeconsideredunlessithasappearedonadailycalendaratleast48hoursinadvance,ineitheraregularoraspecialsession(Rule6,sec.16).Acalendaronwhichthegeneralappropriationsbillappearsmusthavebeenpostedelectronicallyatleast144hoursbeforetheHousemayconsiderthatcalendar(Rule6,sec.16(a-1)).ALocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendarmustbepostedelectronicallyatleast48hoursinadvanceofconsideration(Rule6,sec.13).

Onceameasureappearsonaposteddailycalendar,itretainsitsplaceintheorderofmeasuressetforconsiderationandcannotbedisplacedbyanyothermeasure(Rule6,sec.17(a)).However,theCalendarsCommitteemaymoveupconsiderationofabillbyplacingitonadifferentcalendarwithahigherpriority,suchasbymovingabillontheGeneralStateCalendartotheMajorStateCalendar.Abillorresolutionthatisrecommittedorwithdrawnfromfurtherconsiderationrelinquishesitspositiononthecalendar(Rule6,sec.17(b)).

Supplementaldailycalendarsmaybepostedelectronicallyuptotwohoursbeforethatday’ssession.Supplementalcalendarsincludebillspassedtothirdreadingthepreviouslegislativeday,billsthatwereonapreviousdailycalendarbuthavenotbeenconsidered,billsthatwereonanearlierday’scalendarbutwerepostponed,andbillspreviouslylaidonthetablesubjecttocallforwhichnoticeofconsiderationwasfiled.Billsonthatday’scalendarthatareeligibleforconsiderationalsoareincorporatedintothesupplementalcalendar.Thetimethatthecalendarsarepostedmustbestampedontheoriginalcopies(Rule6,sec.16).

Forabilltobeconsideredonsecondreading,itmusthavebeenpostedelectronicallywithe-mailnoticetothemembersatleast36hoursinadvance,24hoursduringspecialsessions(Rule8,sec.14(a)).Aprintedcopyofthegeneralappropriationsbillmustbeplacedinthemembers’mailboxesatleast168hoursbeforesecond-readingconsiderationandatleast72hoursbeforeduringaspecialsession(Rule8,sec.14(a-1)).

Rules for floor consideration. TheCalendarsCommitteemayproposespecialrulesforfloorconsiderationofbillsonthedailycalendar.Onewaythatthisprovisionhasbeenusedinrecentsessionshasbeentolimitamendmentstothegeneralappropriationsbillbyrequiringthatanyamendmentaddingmoneytoanitemalsoproposeacorrespondingdecreaseinanotheritem.TheHousemayconsideraproposedrulenosoonerthansixhoursafterithasbeendistributedtothemembersandbeforeconsiderationoftheaffectedbill.Aproposedrulecannotbeamendedandmustbeapprovedbyatwo-thirdsmajorityvoteofthememberspresentandvotingtobeeffective.However,aruleapplyingtoataxbill,appropriationsbill,orredistrictingbillrequiresapprovalbyamajorityvoteofthememberspresentandvoting(Rule6,sec.16(f)).

Placing bills on a calendar by floor motion. Whenabillhasbeeninacalendarscommitteefor30calendardays,notcountingthedayitwasreferred,anymembermaymovetoplacethebillonadailycalendaroraLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar,whicheverisapplicable,withoutactionbytheapplicablecalendarscommittee.Themotionmustbesecondedbyatleastfivemembersandadoptedbymajorityvote.Themotionisdebatable,withoneproponentandoneopponenteachgiventhreeminutestodebateonlythemotion,notthemeritsofthebill(Rule6,sec.21;Rule7,sec.2).

Order of business

Constitutional order of business. TheTexasConstitutionrequirestheLegislaturetodevotethefirst30daysofeachregularsessionexclusivelytotheintroductionofbillsandresolutions,considerationofemergencyappropriationsandemergencymatterssubmittedbythegovernor,andSenateconfirmationofrecessappointees.Inthesecond30days,committeesmayholdhearingstoconsiderpendinglegislationandemergencymatters.Duringtheremainderofthesession,bothhousesmayactonpendinglegislation(Constitution,Art.3,sec.5).

TheConstitutionallowseachhousetosuspendtheorder-of-businessprovisionuponapprovalbyfour-fifthsofitsmembership(120votesintheHouse).Senaterulesalso

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requireafour-fifthsvoteofthemembers(25votes)forfloorconsiderationofanybutemergencyandlocalbillsduringthefirst60daysoftheregularsession(SenateRules7.08,7.13).

Daily order of business. TherulesspecifythefollowingorderfordailyconductofHousebusiness(Rule6,sec.1):

• calltoorderbythespeaker;• registrationofmembers(100neededfora

quorum);• invocation;• pledgeofallegiancetoU.S.flag;• pledgeofallegiancetoTexasflag;• excusesforabsentmembers(mustbemadeby

anothermember);• firstreadingsandreferrals;• routinemotions;• unfinishedbusiness;• considerationofthird-readingcalendarsintheir

orderofpriority;• billspostponeduntilthatspecificday;and• considerationofsecond-readingcalendarsintheir

orderofpriority.

ThisordermaybemodifiedbyaHousevotetosuspendtheruleforaparticularday.

Senatebilldays. WednesdayandThursdayareSenatebilldaysintheHouse.AllSenatebillsandresolutionsonthedailyHousecalendarforthosedaysmustbeconsideredbeforeanyHousebillsandresolutions,unlesstheSenategivesitsconsent.Senatebillsalsomaybeconsideredonotherdays,undersuspensionoftherules(Rule6,secs.8,9).

Specialorders. TheHousemayvotetoconsiderabillasaspecialorder,makingitaprioritymatter.Thissteptakesatwo-thirdsvoteofapproval.Onlyonespecialordermaybependingatatimeunlessthree-fourthsofthememberspresentvoteotherwise.ConsiderationofspecialordersdoesnottakeprecedenceoverconsiderationofSenatebillsonSenatebilldays(Rule6,secs.2-6,9).Considerationofaspecialordermaynotexceedonecalendarday(Rule6,sec.13(b)).

Afterthe115thdayofaregularsession,ifajointresolutionhasappearedonadailycalendarandbeen

adopted,theauthororsponsoroftheenablingbillforthejointresolution,oranothermember,mayimmediatelyberecognizedforamotiontosettheenablingbillasaspecialorder.Thismotionmaybemadeonlyiftheenablingbillhasbeenplaced,oriseligibletobeplaced,onacalendarandwasdesignatedinwritingfiledwiththechiefclerkastheenablingbillnolaterthanthedateofthefilingofthebill’scommitteereport(Rule6,sec.2(c)).

Floor consideration

Debate on the House floor. Theauthoroflegislationoramembermakingamotionhastherighttoopenandclosedebate.Eachspeechislimitedto20minutes(Rule5,sec.27).Allotherspeakersmaytakeupto10minutes.TheHousebymajorityvotemayextendthislimitforanadditional10minutes,butfurtherextensionsrequireunanimousconsent.Noextensionsarepermittedduringthelast10daysofaregularsessionorthelastfivedaysofaspecialsession,exceptingSundays(Rule5,sec.28).

Debateoncertainmotionsnotpertainingtothemeritsofabill(suchasamotiontosuspendtherules)islimitedtothreeminutes“pro”andthreeminutes“con.”(Rule7,sec.2containsacompletelistofthesemotions.)

Membersrecognizedashavingthefloormaynotlosethefloorbytheintroductionofanymotion,evenonetoadjourn(Rule5,sec.26).Membersdesiringtointerruptapersonwhohasthefloormustaddressthechair,berecognized,andaskifthepersonspeakingwillyield.Afterthechairtransmitstherequest,thepersonwhohasthefloordecideswhethertoyield.Thechairmustannouncethedecisiontoyieldbeforetheothermembermayspeak.Anytimeconsumedbyyieldingforaquestionischargedagainstthepersonwhohasthefloor.Ifamemberyieldstoallowanothermembertomakeamotionortoofferanamendment,thememberlosesthefloor(Rule5,secs.25,26,28).

Motions. DuringHousedebateonlycertainmotionsmaybeaccepted(Rule7,sec.3).Theorderofpreferenceforthesemotionsis:

• toadjourn;• torecess;

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• tolayonthetable.Suchmotionsarecommonlyusedtokillameasure.Motionstotablearenotdebatable.However,theauthorofthematterupfortablingmustbeallowedtoclosedebateonthematterbeforetheHousevotesonthemotion(Rule7,sec.12).Amotiontotablesometimesisusedasa“testvote”onabilloramendment.Ifthemotiontotableprevails,thebilloramendmentisdeadunlessthevotesubsequentlyisreconsidered.Ifthemotionfails,thebilloramendmentstillhasachanceofapproval;

• tolayonthetablesubjecttocall.SuchmotionsoftenareusedtodelayconsiderationofabillortodisposeofaHousebillwhenaSenatecompanionisconsideredinitsplace.Atabledmeasuremaybetakenfromthetableandconsideredonthesamelegislativedayatanytimeexceptwhenanothermatterispending.Torecallameasurefromthetableonalaterdayrequiresonelegislativeday’sadvancenotice.Recallingameasurefromthetablerequiresmajorityapproval(Rule7,sec.13);

• tocallforthe“previousquestion.”Successfulmotionsforthepreviousquestioncutoffdebateandbringthepreviousquestion(themainissuebeingdebated)toavote.Ifatleast25memberssecondsuchamotion,opponentsandproponentsthengetthreeminuteseachtospeak.Motionstocallthepreviousquestionarenotsubjecttomotionstotable.Amendmentsthathavenotbeenreadbutareonthespeaker’sdeskcannotbeincludedunderamotionforthepreviousquestion(Rule7,secs.21-36);

• topostponetoa“daycertain”orspecificdate.Suchmotionsmaybeamendedbutmaybedebatedonlywithinnarrowlimits(Rule7,sec.14);

• tocommit,recommit,referorre-refer,withincertainlimits(Rule7,secs.17-20);

• toamendbystrikingouttheenactingorresolvingclause.Ifapproved,suchmotionseffectivelykillthelegislation(Rule11,sec.7);

• toamend(seenextsection);and• topostponeindefinitely(Rule7,sec.14).

Amendments. Fivecopiesofallamendments,exceptcommitteeamendmentsoramendmentstodeletelanguage,mustbesubmittedinwritingatthespeaker’sdesk(Rule11,sec.6),withsomeexceptions.Anamendmentthatexceedsonepageandisacompletesubstituteforabill,or,inthespeaker’sopinion,isasubstantialsubstitute,maynot

beconsideredunless10copieshavebeenprovidedtothechiefclerkandareavailableintheclerk’sofficeatleast12hours(24hoursforSunsetbills)beforethebilliseligibleforconsiderationonthefloor.TheserequirementsalsoapplytooriginalamendmentstoSunsetbills.Fororiginalamendmentstothegeneralappropriationsbillonsecondreading,10copiesmustbeprovidedandbeavailableatleast72hoursbeforethecalendaronwhichthebillappearsiseligibletobeconsidered(Rule11,secs.6(e),(g),(h)).

Onsecondorthirdreading,afterthebillcaptionhasbeenreadandopeningremarksoffered,membersmayofferamendments.Thepriorityforamendmentsisasfollows:

• amendmentstodeleteabill’senactingorresolvingclause,thuskillingthebill.Theseamendmentsarenotsubjecttoamendmentorsubstitution;

• amendmentstootherwisealterthebill;• amendmentstotheoriginalamendment;• asubstitutefortheamendmenttotheamendment;• amendmentstostrikeallwordsaftertheenacting

clauseandsubstituteanewgermanebillfortheoriginal;

• amendmentstothesubstitute;• asubstitutefortheamendmenttothesubstitute;

and• anamendmenttothecaption(Rule11,sec.7).

Membersarerecognizedtooffersubstantiveamendmentsandcompletesubstitutesinthefollowingorder:

• themainauthorofthebill.• membersofferingcommitteeamendmentsor

substitutes.• othermembers(Rule11,sec.7).

Uptothreedifferentamendmentsmaybeconsideredatthesametime.Forexample,iftheauthoroffersafloorsubstitute(AmendmentNo.1)forabill,anothermembermayofferanamendment(No.2)tothefloorsubstitute.Whiletheamendmenttothefloorsubstituteisbeingdebated,anothermembermayofferasubstituteamendment(No.3)fortheamendmenttothefloorsubstitute.Thethreeamendmentswouldbevotedoninreverseorder:first,thesubstituteamendment(No.3)fortheamendmenttothefloorsubstitute;second,theamendment(No.2)tothefloorsubstitute;andthird,thefloorsubstitute(No.1)(Rule11,sec.12).

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Thenumberofamendmentstoabillmaybelimitedintwoways.Oneistomovethepreviousquestion(seetheprecedingsection).Theotheristomovetolimitamendments.Atleast25membersmustsecondsuchamotion.Proponentsandopponentsofthemotioneachgetthreeminutestospeak.Themotionisnotsubjecttotabling.SuchamotionmaylimitconsiderationtoeitherthoseamendmentsalreadypendingbeforetheHouseorthosealreadyonthespeaker’sdesk(Rule11,secs.10,11).

Amendmentsthataltertheoriginalpurposeofabillarenotpermitted.However,thisruledoesnotapplytojointresolutions(Constitution,Art.3,sec.30;Rule11,sec.3;Rule9,sec.1(b)).Indeterminingwhetherflooramendmentsare“germane,”i.e.,pertainingtothesamesubject,thechairconsiderswhetherthesubjectwasincludedintheoriginalversionofthebillorinthecommitteesubstitute(Rule11,sec.2).Shouldacommitteesubstituteberulednotgermanetotheoriginalversionofabill,thebillisreturnedtotheCalendarsCommittee,whichmayeitherplacetheoriginalversionofthebillonthedailycalendarorreturnthebilltocommittee(Rule4,sec.41).

Division of the question. Amotionto“dividethequestion”–forceseparatevotesonseparatepartsoflegislation–requiresmajorityapprovalandmustbemadebeforeanyothermotiontovoteonthequestion.Themotiontodividethequestionissubjecttodebatebyoneproponentandoneopponentfornomorethanthreeminuteseach.Ifthemotionprevails,thechairmaydividethequestionintogroupsofpropositionsthatarecloselyrelated(Rule5,sec.43;Rule7,sec.2(14)).TheHousebymajorityvotealsomayorderameasuretobeconsideredsectionbysection(Rule8,sec.16).

Voting. TheHousehasthreewaysofvoting:voice,division,andrecorded.Foravoicevote,thechairasksseparatelyforthe“ayes”and“nays”anddetermineswhichsideprevailed.

Ifthechairconsidersavoicevotetooimprecise,adivisionvotemaybeused.Foradivisionvote,the“ayes”and“nays”areregisteredonthevotingmachinebutareprintedintheHouseJournalonlyifarecordvoteisordered(Rule1,sec.7).

Onanyquestionwherearecordvotehasnotbeenordered,membersmayrecordtheirvotesandhavethemprintedintheHouseJournaliftheyinformthejournalclerk

beforetheHouseadjournsorrecessestoanotherday(Rule5,sec.52).

Ifrequestedbyanymemberpresent,arecordvotemustbetakenonanyquestion(Rule5,sec.51(a)).Arecordvoteautomaticallyistakenonfinalpassageofanybilloranyjointresolutionproposingaconstitutionalamendment.Finalpassagemeansthirdreading,secondreadingifthethree-readingrequirementhasbeensuspendedordispensedwith,concurringwithSenateamendments,oradoptingaconferencecommitteereport(Constitution,Art.3,sec.12(b);Rule5,sec.51(c)).RecordvotesmustbemadeavailabletothepublicontheInternetoranytelevisedbroadcastoftheHouseproceedingsinrealtimetotheextentpossible(Rule5,sec.51A).

Beforearecordvoteistaken,theclerkringsabelltoalertmembers.Membersvotebypressingoneofthebuttonsattheirdesks.Nomembermaycastavoteforanothermemberwithoutthatothermember’spermission(Rule5,sec.47).

Membersmustusethevotingmachinetovoteonallbutvoicevotes.However,thevotesofthemembermovingforthevoteandtheprincipalopponentofthequestionbeingvotedonmayberecognizedfromthefloor,asmaythevoteofamemberwhosevotingmachineisoutoforder(Rule5,sec.40).Thechairtraditionallyrecognizesthevotesofmostmemberswhoareinthechamberbutawayfromtheirdeskswhenthevotebellsounds(“ShowRep._______voting‘aye’”),unlessavoteappearscloseor“strictenforcementoftherules”hasbeendemandedandgranted.

Amembermaychangeavoteanytimebeforethechairannouncestheresult(Rule5,sec.53).MembersabsentforavotemayhaveastatementprintedintheHouseJournalsayinghowtheywouldhavevotedhadtheybeenpresent.Membersalsomayhavetheirreasonsforvotingacertainwaypublishedinthejournalbysubmittingastatementtothejournalclerk.Iftimelyreceived,thestatementorexplanationisprintedimmediatelyfollowingthevote;otherwise,itisprintedattheendofthejournalforthedaythatitwassubmittedtotheclerk(Rule5,sec.49).

Thespeakermayvoteonanybillorresolution,butcustomarilydoesnotvote(Rule1,sec.8).Thespeakermostoftenvotesincaseswhenthevotewouldaffecttheoutcome,suchastobreakorcreateatievote.Atie

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meansthatthemotionfails(Rule5,sec.54).Thespeakergenerallyvoteslast.

Thechair(thespeakerorhisdesignate)mayorderverificationofavoteatanymember’srequestoratthechair’sdiscretion.Amotioncallingforverificationmustbemadeimmediatelyafterthevoteisannounced.Avoteisverifiedbyaskingeachmemberonbothsidesofaquestionindividuallytoconfirmhisorhervote.Membersmaynotchangetheirvotesunlesstheywereincorrectlyrecorded.Amemberwhooriginallyfailedtovotemaynotvoteonverification.However,ifthecorrectionofanincorrectlyrecordedvotecreatesasituationinwhichthechair’svotewouldbedecisive,thechairthenmayelecttovote(Rule1,sec.8;Rule5,sec.55).

Reconsideration. Anymemberwhovotedontheprevailingsidemaymovetoreconsideravote,eitheronthelegislativedayoftheoriginalvoteoronthenextday.(Sometimesmemberswhofavorthesidethatappearstobelosingwillcastavoteforthewinningsideinordertobeabletomovetoreconsiderthevote.)Iftheoriginalvotewasavoicevote,anymemberwhovotedonthequestionmaymovetoreconsider(Rule7,sec.37(b)).Amotiontoreconsidermadeonthedayafteravotemustbemadebeforeanyotherbusinessistakenup(Rule7,sec.37(a)).

Motionstoreconsideraredecidedbymajorityvote,regardlessofthevoterequiredfortheoriginalquestion.Tablingamotiontoreconsiderdisposesofthematter(Rule7,secs.39,41).

IftheHousedoesnotvoteonamotiontoreconsiderimmediatelyafterthemotionismade,themotionisenteredintheHouseJournal.Itcanbecalledupandvotedononlyifonelegislativeday’sadvancenoticeisgiven.Allmotionsstillpending72hoursbeforethesessionendsareconsideredlost.Allmotionstoreconsidermadeinthelast72hoursofthesessionmustbevotedonimmediately(Rule7,sec.43).

Amemberwhowishestopreventreconsiderationofameasuremaymakeadoublemotiontoreconsiderandtable.Thismotionisnotdebatableandrequiresamajorityvoteforapproval.Ifapproved,themotionblocksanylatermotiontoreconsiderthevoteinquestion.Ifthemotiontoreconsiderandtablefails,themotiontoreconsideris“spreadonthejournal”andmaybecalleduplaterbyany

member,afteradvancenoticeofonelegislativeday(Rule7,sec.42).

Anymemberontheprevailingsideofaquestionmaymoveto“reconsiderandspreadonthejournal.”Suchmotionsdonotrequireavote.Oncemade,theyareenteredinthejournalandmaybecalledupforavoteattherequestofanymember.Anymemberwhowantsanimmediatevoteonreconsiderationmaymovetocallthemotiontoreconsiderfromthejournalandmayeitherdemandavoteonitormovetotableit.Ifthemotiontotablefails,themotiontoreconsiderremainsspreadonthejournalawaitingfurtheraction.Anymember,regardlessofwhetherontheprevailingside,maythencallthemotionfromthejournalforactionbytheHouse.Oncethemotionisvotedon,noothermotiontoreconsidercanbemade(Rule7,sec.44).

Onehour’snoticeisrequiredforamotiontoreconsideravotebywhichabill,ajointresolution,oraconcurrentresolutionwasdefeated.Thisincludesamotiontoreconsiderandtableandamotiontoreconsiderandspreadonthejournal.AmembergivesnoticebyaddressingtheHousewhileitisinsession,andthemembergivingnoticeneednothavebeenontheprevailingsidenorthememberwhoactuallywillmakethemotion.Oncethenoticeisgiven,anydeadlineformakingthemotiontoreconsiderautomaticallyisextendeduptoonehourwhiletheHouseisinsessioninordertosatisfytheone-hournotice(Rule7,sec.37(c)).

Second and third reading. TheConstitutionrequiresthatabillbereadbeforetheHouseonthreeseparatedaysinordertobepassed.Thisrulemaybesuspendedonlybyarecordvoteofatleastfour-fifthsofthememberspresent(Constitution,Art.3,sec.32;Rule8,sec.15).Firstreadingoccurswhenthebillcaptionisreadandthebillisreferredtocommittee.SecondreadinggivestheHouseitsfirstchancetodebateandvoteonthebill.Asimplemajoritycanamendabillonsecondreading.Onthirdreading,amendmentsrequireatwo-thirdsvote(Rule11,sec.5).

Billspassedonsecondreadingusuallyaresetforthirdreadingonthenextday’ssupplementalcalendar.Approvalonsecondreadingisreferredtoas“passagetoengrossment.”Abillis“engrossed”whenitfinallypassesonthirdreading.Abillthatisfinallyapprovedbybothhousesis“enrolled.”

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Abillmaybegivenasecondandathirdreadingonthesamecalendardayinthefollowingcases:

• Afour-fifthsrecordvoteofthememberspresentcansuspendtheconstitutionalrulerequiringreadingonthreeseparatedays(Constitution,Art.3,sec.32;Rule8,sec.15);or

• TheConstitution’srequirementforreadingon“threeseveraldays”hasbeeninterpretedtomeanthreelegislative days.AlegislativedayisconsideredfinishedwhenevertheHouseadjourns.Therefore,theHousemaypassabillonsecondreading,adjourn,reconvene,thentakeupthebillonthirdreading.However,theHousemaynotbegin twolegislativedaysonthesamecalendarday.Forexample,iftheHousewishestopassabillonbothsecondandthirdreadingsonaTuesday,itmustrecess insteadofadjournatthecloseofMonday’ssession.ThebillmaybepassedonsecondreadingonTuesday,andtheHousethenmayadjourn.BothMondayandTuesdayareconsideredpartsofthesamelegislativeday.LateronTuesday,theHousemayreconveneandstartanew legislativeday,duringwhichthebillmaybepassedonthirdreadingwithoutsuspendingthethree-dayrequirement.ThisprocedureisusedmostoftenwhenconsideringbillsontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar.

Senate bills. WhentheHousecomestoaHousebillonthedailycalendar,andaSenatebillonthesamesubjecthasbeenreportedfromaHousecommittee,theSenatebilltakesprecedence.Insuchcases,theSenatebillwillbeconsideredinlieuoftheHousebill,whichislaidonthetablesubjecttocall(Rule6,sec.10).

Joint resolutions and constitutional amendments. ProposedamendmentstotheTexasConstitutionarepresentedasjointresolutions.Theseresolutionsrequireapprovalbyatleasttwo-thirdsofthemembersofeachhouse(100votesintheHouse,21intheSenate)foradoption.Ifsucharesolutionreceivesonlyamajorityvoteonsecondreading,itispassedtoengrossment(thirdreading).Iftheresolutionthenfailstowinapprovalbyatleasttwo-thirdsoftheHousemembersonthirdreading,itfails.Ifajointresolutionreceivesafavorablevoteofatleasttwo-thirdsoftheHousemembersonsecondreading,nothird-readingvoteisrequired(Constitution,Art.17,sec.1;Rule9,sec.1).

Ajointresolutionisnotsubmittedtothegovernorforapproval.Ifproposingaconstitutionalamendment,jointresolutionsarepresentedtothevotersforapprovalonanelectiondatesetbytheresolution.

ProposedamendmentstotheU.S.Constitutionareratifiedbymajorityapprovalofajointresolution.ApplicationstoCongressforaconventiontoamendtheU.S.Constitutionareapprovedinthesamemanner.Ifjointresolutionsforthesepurposesareapprovedonsecondreadingbyamajorityofthememberspresent,theyareconsideredadopted,andnothirdreadingisrequired(Rule9,sec.2).

Simple and concurrent resolutions. Simpleresolutionsandconcurrentresolutionsareintroducedandreferredtocommitteeinthesamemannerasbillsandjointresolutions.SimpleresolutionsareusedformattersaffectingonlytheHouse,suchastheHouseRulesortheHousekeepingResolution,orfornonbindingexpressionsofHousesentimentorintentonparticularissues.ConcurrentresolutionsexpressthewillofbothhousesoftheLegislatureandcommonlyareusedtograntthepermissionoftheLegislaturetosuethestate,authorizejointcommittees,orrequestactionbytheU.S.Congress.TheseresolutionsarereportedfromcommitteeandsenttotheCalendarsCommitteeforplacementontheResolutionsCalendarortotheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteeforplacementontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar.

ResolutionsthatcongratulateormemorializearereferredtotheRulesandResolutionsCommittee,whichplacesthemonaCongratulatoryandMemorialCalendar.Majorityapprovalisrequiredforadoption.However,theHouseoftenvotesto“suspendallnecessaryrules”totakeupandconsiderindividualresolutionsofacongratulatoryormemorialnature.

Simpleresolutions,astheactofonlyonehouse,arenotsenttothegovernorforapproval.ConcurrentresolutionsareconsideredenactmentsoftheLegislatureandmustbesenttothegovernorforaction(Rule10,sec.5).Thegovernormayeithersignaconcurrentresolutionorvetoit.Unlikeabill,aconcurrentresolutiondiesifthegovernordoesnotsignit.

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Procedures for local and uncontested matters. Separatetimes(usuallyattheendoftheweek)aresetasideforconsiderationofLocal,Consent,andResolutionsandCongratulatoryandMemorialcalendars.Thebillsandresolutionsonthesecalendarsaresupposedtobenoncontroversial.CommitteesmustrecommendbyunanimousconsentthatbillsandresolutionsbesenttotheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteeforplacementontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendar(Rule6,sec.23).

TheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteedesignatesperiodsforconsiderationofLocal,Consent,andResolutionscalendars,andtheRulesandResolutionsCommitteedesignatesperiodsforconsiderationofCongratulatoryandMemorialcalendars.Designatingthetimetoconsiderthesecalendarsrequiresatwo-thirdsvoteofapproval.Thesecalendarsmustbepostedelectronicallyatleast48hoursinadvance(24hoursinadvanceforaCongratulatoryandMemorialCalendar)beforetheymaybeconsidered(Rule6,secs.11-13).

TheauthorofameasureontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendarhasthreeminutestospeak.ThetimemaybeextendedonlybyunanimousconsentoftheHouse.Ifdebateonabillorresolutionexceeds10minutes,thebillorresolutionautomaticallyisremovedfromthecalendar(Rule6,sec.14).

BillsandresolutionsontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendarmaybecontestedbyfivemembers,eitherbywrittennoticeorbyashowofhands(Rule6,sec.14).ContestedbillsandresolutionsarewithdrawnfromconsiderationandreturnedtotheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommittee,whichmayeithersetthemagainorsendthemtotheCalendarsCommittee.IfacontestedbillorresolutionremovedfromacalendarisnotplacedonthenextcalendarsetbytheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommittee,itisreferredautomaticallytotheCalendarsCommittee.

AbillorresolutionthatiscontestedandremovedfromthecalendartwicemaynotbeassignedtotheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendaragainduringasession(Rule6,sec.24).

AmendmentstobillsorresolutionsontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendarareconsideredoutof

orderunlessapprovedbytheLocalandConsentCalendarsCommittee(Rule11,sec.4).

BillsonaLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendarmustbeconsideredwithinonecalendarday.Thosebillsnotconsideredarecarriedovertothenextsuchcalendar.Thecarried-overbillsprecedeanynewmeasuresonthenextcalendarandretainthesamerelativeorderasontheoldercalendarwheretheyoriginallyhadappeared(Rule6,sec.13(b)andsec.14(5)).

VotesonmeasuresontheLocal,Consent,andResolutionsCalendartraditionallyarepostponeduntiltheendofthecalendar.AllofthebillsonthecalendararelaidbeforetheHouseandpassedonsecondreadingbynonrecordedvote.Membersmayrecordinthejournaltheirvotesonindividualbillsonthecalendar.Havingrecessedthepreviousday,theHousethenadjournsandconvenesinanewlegislativeday,whenthebillsareconsideredcollectivelyonthirdreading.Asinglerecordvoteistakenonallbillsonthecalendar.Asonsecondreading,membersmayrecordtheirvotesonindividualbills.

Suspending the rules. Twoconstitutionalprovisionsforlegislativeproceduremaybesuspended:

• theorderofbusinessforthesession.Suspensionrequiresapprovalbyfour-fifthsofthemembers(120votes)(Constitution,Art.3,sec.5).

• therequirementforreadingabillonthreedays.Suspensionrequiresapprovalbyfour-fifthsofthememberspresentandvoting(Constitution,Art.3,sec.32;Rule8,sec.15).

SuspensionofHouserulesrequiresapprovaloftwo-thirdsofthememberspresent,unlesstherulebeingsuspendedspecifiesadifferentsuspension-voterequirement(Rule14,sec.5).Sometimes,theHousewillvotegenerallyto“suspendallnecessaryrules”totakeupandconsiderameasure.

Amemberwhoplanstomoveforarulessuspensionorachangeinthedailyorderofbusinesstotakeupabilloutofordermustnotifythespeakerinadvance.ThespeakermustannouncethisintentiontotheHouseatleastonehourbeforerecognizingthemember.Thisrequirementmaybesuspendedonlybyunanimousconsent(Rule14,sec.4).

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Senate procedures

AftertheHouseapprovesaHousebill,itissenttotheSenate.TobeconsideredintheSenate,aHousebillmusthaveaSenatesponsor(viceversaforSenatelegislationintheHouse).ThechairoftheSenatecommitteefromwhichaHousebillisreporteddetermines,inconsultationwiththeHouseauthor,theSenatesponsor.TheHousehasasimilarprocedurefordeterminingHousesponsorsofSenatebills.Thechairmaydesignateaprimarysponsor,uptofourjointsponsors,andanunlimitednumberofcosponsors(Rule8,sec.5(d);SenateRule11.14).Identicalorcompanionbillsoftenareintroducedinbothhouses.

SenateproceduresgenerallyaresimilartothoseintheHouse,butwithsomesignificantdifferences.

Senate committee procedures. Public hearing. NobillmaybereportedfromaSenatecommitteewithoutapublichearing.Anysenator,regardlessofwhetherthesenatorisamemberofthecommittee,mayquestionawitness(SenateRule11.18).

Tagging. NoticeofSenatecommitteehearingsmustbepostedatleast24hoursinadvance.However,asenatormay“tag”abillbyfilingarequestwiththeSenatesecretaryorthecommitteechairthatthesenatorreceivewrittennoticeofthetimeandplaceforthebill’spublichearingatleast48hoursbeforethehearingisscheduled.Tagsareusedmostoftenneartheendofasessiontoslowdownconsiderationof,andtherebypotentiallykill,bills.Atagisnoteffectiveifnoticeofthehearinghasbeenpostedfor72hoursandtheSenatewasinsessionatanytimeduringthefirst24ofthe72hours(SenateRule11.19).

Impactstatements. TheSenaterequiresthatimpactstatementsbeattachedtoameasurebeforethefinalvoteincommittee(SenateRule7.09(n));theHousedoesnotrequirethis.Also,intheSenateonly,theLBBpreparesahigher education impact statement andanopen government impact statement forappropriatebills(SenateRules7.09(l),(m)).UnliketheHouse,theSenatedoesnotrequireawater development policy impact statementoradynamic economic impact statement.

Committee of the whole.TheSenatesometimeswillsitasacommitteeofthewholeSenate.Thelieutenantgovernor,aspresidentoftheSenate,isamemberoftheCommitteeoftheWholeandmaydebateandvotein

committee.WhentheSenateisnotmeetingincommitteeofthewhole,thelieutenantgovernormayvoteonlytobreakties.Asenator,ratherthanthelieutenantgovernor,chairstheCommitteeoftheWhole(Constitution,Art.4,sec.16;SenateRules,Art.13).(Therestrictionsonvotingapplyonlytoanelected lieutenantgovernor,nottoasenatorchosenbytheSenatetoactaslieutenantgovernorinthecaseofavacancy.)TheHousealsomaymeetasacommitteeofthewhole,butrarelydoes(Rule4,secs.51-55).

Senate order of business. BillsandresolutionsreportedfromSenatecommitteesarelistedonthedailySenatecalendarintheorderthattheSenatereceivestheircommitteereports.ThesecretaryoftheSenatenotesthedateandtimeeachreportwasfiled,andthejournalclerkrecordstheorderofreceiptinthenextday’sSenateJournal(SenateRules5.12,11.12).TheSenatehasnoCalendarsCommitteecomparabletothatHousecommittee.However,theSenateAdministrationCommitteedoesserveafunctionsimilartotheHouseLocalandConsentCalendarsCommitteeinthatitsetsaLocalandUncontestedCalendarofbillsandresolutionsforSenateconsideration.

TheSenatetraditionallylodgesa“blocker”billatthetopofthecalendar.(Thissession’s“blocker”measuresareSB445byEltife,establishingacountyparkbeautificationprogram,andSJR18byEltife,authorizingthestatetoacceptgiftsofhistoricalvalue.)Sincethesemeasuresatthetopofthecalendardeliberatelyareneverconsidered,anybilllistedonthecalendarafterthe“blocker”billmustbeconsidered“outoforder,”whichrequiresapprovaloftwo-thirdsofthememberspresent.Forabilltobeconsideredoutoforder,asenatormustfilenoticeofintenttosuspendtheregularorderbefore3p.m.onthelastprecedingdaywhentheSenatewasinsessionand,unlesstheprintingrulewassuspendedpreviously,thebillmusthavebeenprintedandfurnishedtoeachsenatorbeforesuchnotice.ThebillthenappearsontheIntentCalendar,whichmustbemadeavailabletoallsenatorsandthepressnolaterthan6:30p.m.onthedaythenoticeofintentwasfiled.Duringthefirst129daysoftheregularsession,theSenatemaynotsuspendtheregularordertoconsiderameasureuntiltheseconddayofitspostingontheIntentCalendar.

Noticeofintentmustbegivendaytoday.BeforeApril15,nosenatormaygivenoticeonmorethanthreebillsorresolutionsatatime.OnorafterApril15,nosenatormaygivenoticeonmorethanfivebillsorresolutionsatatime(SenateRule5.14).

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EachSenatedaybeginswiththe“morningcall,”whichincludespetitionsandmemorials,introductionofbillsandresolutionsandtheirreferraltocommittee,acceptanceofmessages,andconsiderationofmotions,suchastoconcurwithHouseamendmentstoSenatebills,toappointSenateconferees,ortoadoptconferencecommitteereports.Afterthemorningcall,thepresidentmayrecognizeasenatorforamotiontosuspendtheregularorderofbusinesstotakeupabillonsecondreading.Ifthemotionreceivesthenecessarytwo-thirdsvote,thebillisconsideredonsecondreading.Amendmentsandapprovalonsecondreadingrequireonlymajorityapproval.UnlikeconsiderationofbillsonthedailyHousecalendar,billsontheSenateIntentCalendarneednotbeconsideredinanyparticularordernorconsideredatallunlessthepresidentrecognizesasenatortomovetosuspendtheregularorder.

TheSenateRulesincludeaspecialexception,addedin2009,forlegislationconcerningvoteridentificationrequirements.IfsuchlegislationisreportedfavorablybytheCommitteeoftheWhole,itmaybesetasaspecialorderbyamajorityoftheSenatemembers.Thisspecialexceptionbypassesthetwo-thirdsofthememberspresentvoterequirementtoconsiderothertypesoflegislationortosetaspecialorder(SenateRule5.11(d)).

Afterabillonsecondreadingpassestoengrossment(tothirdreading),theSenateoftensuspendstheconstitutionalrequirementthatabillbereadonthreeseparatedays.Thismotionmustbeapprovedbyatleastafour-fifthsvoteofthememberspresent(SenateRule,sec.7.18).Ifthemotiontosuspendthethree-dayreadingrequirementfails,two-thirdsofthememberspresentmustsuspendtheregularorderofbusinessagainonasubsequentlegislativedayforthebilltobeconsideredonthirdreading.

Debate in the Senate. FloorrulesintheSenatearesimilartothoseintheHouse,exceptthattheSenatehasnotimelimitsondebate.Thusasenatormay“filibuster”byholdingthefloorforanunlimitedamountoftime,usuallyinanattempttokillabillortocallpublicattentiontoitsprovisions.However,asenatormayyieldforquestionswithoutlosingthefloorandmaybeinterruptedbypointsoforder(suchasthatthesenatorconfinehisorherremarkstothesubjectunderdebate)ormotionstomovethepreviousquestion(demandanimmediatevote)ortorecessoradjourn(SenateRule4.03).Anysenatormaycall

forthepreviousquestionifrecognizedandifatleastfivesenatorssecondthemotion.Ifadoptedbyamajorityofthesenatorspresentandvoting,themotioncutsoffallfurtheramendmentsanddebate(SenateRule6.09).

After passage by both houses

Senate amendments. SenateamendmentstoaHousebillmustbeprintedandprovidedtoHousemembersatleast24hoursbeforetheHousemayactonthem(Rule13,sec.5).Senateamendmentsareconsideredindividually–theHousemayvotetoconcurwithsomeandnotconcurwithothers,unlesstheamendmentisasinglesubstituteamendment(Rule13,sec.3).AfiscalnotemustaccompanySenateamendmentsinorderforthemtobeconsidered(Rule13,sec.5(b)).TheTexasLegislativeCouncilmustprepareananalysisofSenateamendmentsanddistributeittothememberselectronicallyorinprintedformatleast12hoursbeforetheHousetakesaction(Rule13,sec.5(c)).TheHousealsomaynotvoteonSenateamendmentsunlessataxequitynotepreparedbytheLegislativeBudgetBoard,ifrequired,hasbeendistributedtothemembers(Rule13,sec.5(d)).

Thespeaker,withtheprimaryauthor’spermission,mayreturntotheSenateanyamendmentstoaHousebillorresolutionthatthespeakerdeterminestobenotgermanetothemeasure,regardlessofwhetheritiseligibleforHouseconsideration.ThespeakermustattachastatementexplaininghowtheamendmentsreturnedtotheSenatearenotgermaneandenterthestatementintheHouseJournalassoonaspracticable(Rule13,sec.5A).

Conference committees. IftheSenatehasamendedaHousebill,theHousemayeitherconcurwiththeamendmentsorrequesttheappointmentofaconferencecommittee(Rule13,sec.3).IftheSenatefailstoapproveappointmentofaconferencecommittee,eitherbyvotingdownthemotionorbytakingnoaction,thebilldies.

ConferencecommitteeshavefiveHousemembersappointedbythespeakerandfivesenatorsappointedbythelieutenantgovernor.Approvalofaconferencecommitteereportrequiresthesignaturesofamajorityofthecommitteemembersfromeachhouse(Rule13,sec.6).

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Conferencecommitteesareprohibitedfrommakingtwotypesofchanges:

• changingoromittingpartsofabillthatarethesameinbothHouseandSenateversions;and

• addinglanguagenotfoundineitherversion(Rule13,sec.9(a)).

TheHousemayliftthelimitsonaconferencecommitteebyadoptingan“outsidethebounds”resolution

grantingspecialpermission.Theresolutionmustspecifyindetailtheexactlanguageproposed,whatruleswouldbesuspended,thereasonsforthesuspension,andtheconferencecommitteeactioncontemplated.Italsomustincludeafiscalnote.Suchresolutionsareprivilegedandmaybebroughtupthreehoursafteracopyhasbeendistributedtoeachmember.Theyrequireamajorityvoteforapproval(Rule13,sec.9(f)).

End-of-session deadlines

Friday, May 13(123rddayofthe2011session)

Friday, May 20(130thday)

Tuesday, May 24(134thday)

Wednesday, May 25(135thday)

Thursday and Friday, May 26-27(136thand137thdays)

Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29(138thand139thdays)

Monday, May 30(140thandfinalday)

FinaldayfortheHousetoconsidernonlocalHousebillsandjointresolutionsonthirdreading.FinaldayfortheHousetoconsiderlocalHousebills.

FinaldayfortheHousetoconsiderSenatebillsandjointresolutionsonsecondreading.

FinaldayfortheHouseandtheSenatetoconsideranybillsandjointresolutionsonthirdreading.

TheHousemayonlyactonSenateamentments,adoptconferencereports,reconsiderbillsorjointresolutionsforthepurposeofremovingHouseamendmentsormakingcorrections,votetooverridevetoes,oradoptsimpleorconcurrentresolutions.

TheHousemayonlyadoptconferencereports,dischargeconfereesandconcurinSenateamendments,reconsiderbillsorjointresolutionsforthepurposeofremovingHouseamendmentsormakingcorrections,votetooverridevetoes,oradoptsimpleorconcurrentresolutions.

TheHouseandtheSenatemayonlyreconsiderbillsorresolutionstomakecorrectionsoradoptcorrectiveresolutions.

Aseriesofend-of-sessiondeadlinesrestrictthelegislationthatmaybeconsideredduringthefinaldaysofaregularsession.Insummary,theHousemaynotconsidernonlocalHousebillsonsecondorthirdreadingduringthefinal17days,localHousebillsonsecondorthirdreadingduringthefinal10days,Senatebillsonsecondorthirdreadingduringthefinalfivedays,andconferencereports,Senateamendments,motionstoreconsidertoremoveHouseamendments,ormotionstooverridevetoesonthefinalday(Rule8,sec.13;SenateRules7.24,7.25).

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Conferencecommitteereportsmustbedistributedtomembersatleast24hoursbeforeconsiderationbytheHouse.Conferencecommitteereportsmaynotbeconsideredwithoutafiscalnote,whichmustbedistributedwiththeconferencereportonitsprinting(Rule13,sec.10(c)).Ifrequired,ataxequitynoteestimatingtheeffectoftheconferencereportmustbesubmittedtothechiefclerkandmadeavailabletoeachmemberbeforetheHousemayvoteontheconferencereport(Rule13,sec.10(d)).

Otherlimitationsandrequirementsapplyforappropriations,taxation,redistricting,andrecodificationbills(Rule13,sec.9).

TheHousemayacceptorreject,butnotamend,aconferencecommitteereport.IftheHouserejectsaconferencereportandtakesnofurtheraction,thebilldies.TheHousemayelect,however,torecommittheconferencereporttothesameconferencecommitteeforfurtherconsideration,requesttheappointmentofanewconferencecommittee,orgivespecificinstructionstotheHouseconferees(Rule13,secs.12,13).

Items eligible for consideration. ThespeakermayaskthechiefclerktoprepareandpostelectronicallyalistofItemsEligibleforConsideration.ThelistincludespendingSenateamendmentstoHousebills,Senaterequestsforappointmentofconferees,andconferencecommitteereports.ThelistmustbepostedatleastsixhoursbeforetheHousemayconsideranyitems.Thetimeofdistributionmustbestampedontheoriginalcopyofthelist(Rule6,sec.16).

The governor’s role

Afterbothhouseshaveapprovedabillorconcurrentresolutioninthesameform,itisprintedinfinalform(enrolled)andsignedbythespeakerandbythelieutenantgovernorinthepresenceofthemembersoftheirrespectivehouses(Constitution,Art.3,sec.38).ThechiefclerkoftheHouse(forSenatebills,theSenateenrollingclerk)preparesafinal,officialcopyofthebill,whichthengoestothegovernor.

Vetoes. Thegovernorhas10days(notcountingSundays)afterreceivingabilltosignitorvetoitandreturnittotheoriginatinghousewithreasonsfortheveto.If

neitheractionistakenwithin10days,thebillbecomeslawwithoutthegovernor’ssignature.Thegovernoralsomayvetospecificlineitemsinanappropriationsbill.

Forbillspresentedtothegovernorlessthan10days(notcountingSundays)beforefinal(sine die)adjournment,orafteradjournment,thegovernorhas20days(countingSundays)afterthefinaldayofthesessiontoact.

Veto overrides. Art.4,sec.14oftheConstitutionspecifiesthattheLegislaturemayoverrideavetoiftheoriginatinghouse,whichvotesfirst,approvestheoverridemotionbyatwo-thirdsrecordvoteofthememberspresent.Theotherhousemayoverridebyavoteof“two-thirdsofthemembers.”

SenateRule6.20requiresavoteoftwo-thirdsofallmemberspresenttooverridethevetoofaSenatebill(whentheSenatevotesfirst)andavoteoftwo-thirdsofthemembers (21votes)tooverridethevetoofaHousebill(whentheSenatevotessecond).

HouseRulesmakenospecificprovisionforthevoterequiredforvetooverrides.Themostrecentrulingistwo-thirdsofthemembers (100votes)arerequiredtooverrideavetowhentheHousevotessecond(onSenatebills).Theconstitutionalprovisionforoverridingvetoesoflineitemsofappropriationsbillsspecifiesavoteoftwo-thirdsofthememberspresent,forboth houses.Onthefinaldayofaregularsession,neithertheHousenortheSenatemayvotetooverrideaveto(Rule8,sec.13;SenateRule7.25).

Ifthegovernorvetoesabillaftersine die adjournmentofasession,thebillisdeadbecausetheLegislaturehasnoopportunitytooverridetheveto(Constitution,Art.4,sec.14).EveniftheLegislatureweremeetinginspecialsessionwhenthevetooccurred,itcouldnotoverrideavetooflegislationenactedduringaregularsessionbecausethelegislativeprocessbeginsaneweachsession.

Recalling bills after approval. Afterbillshavebeenpassedbybothhouses,signedbythepresidingofficersofeachhouse,andsenttothegovernor,errorsmaybefoundthatrequirecorrection.Nonsubstantiveerrorsmaybecorrectedbyrecallingabillfromthegovernorthroughpassageofaconcurrentresolution.Theconcurrentresolutiontypicallyrequeststhegovernortoreturnthebillandauthorizesthepresidingofficerstoremovetheirsignatures.

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Oncerecalled,thebillisinthesamepositioninthelegislativeprocessasitwasbeforebeingsignedbythepresidingofficers.IftheHousevotedlasttoapprovethebill,thentheHousemustvotetoreconsideritsvoteonthirdreadingandfinalpassageandamendthebill.However,forrelativelysimplecorrections,theconcurrentresolutionmaydirectthatthechiefclerkoftheHouseortheSenateenrollingclerk(dependingonwhetheritisaHouseorSenatebill)simplycorrectthefinal,enrolledversionofthebillandsenditbacktothegovernor.However,ifthegovernoralreadyhassignedthebill,anycorrectionsmustbemadebyaseparatebillamendingtheoriginalbill.

Effective date of bills. Billsthatarefinallyapprovedbecomelawonthe91stdayafterthefinaldayofthesessioninwhichtheywereenacted,whichwillbeMonday,August29,forbillsenactedduringthe2011regularsession.Therearethreeexceptions:

• abillmayspecifyalatereffectivedate;• thegeneralappropriationsacttakeseffect

immediately(Constitution,Art.3,sec.39;Rule8,sec.19);and

• abillmaytakeeffectbefore the91stdayafteradjournmentifitwaspassedbyatleastatwo-thirdsrecordvoteofthemembersineachhouse(100votesintheHouse,21intheSenate)(Rule8,sec.19).

Anothermethodforallowingbillstotakeimmediateeffectistouseaseparate billtoamendtheoriginalbillandprovideforitsimmediateeffect.Forcontroversialbillssuchastaxmeasures,membersmightprefernottovotefortheoriginalbillbutmaybewillingtovoteforaseparatebillsolelytogivetheoriginalbillimmediateeffect.

JointresolutionstoamendtheConstitutiontakeeffectwhenthegovernorissuesaproclamationthattheofficialvotecanvassconfirmedvoterapproval,unlessalaterdateisspecified(Constitution,Art.17,sec.1(c)).

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HOUSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION

Steering Committee:

BillCallegari,ActingChairman RafaelAnchia DrewDarby JoeDeshotel HaroldDutton SusanKing TryonLewis EddieLucioIII JoseMenendez GeanieMorrison ElliottNaishtat RobOrr JoePickett RalphSheffield ToddSmith

JohnH.ReaganBuildingRoom420P.O.Box2910Austin,Texas78768-2910

(512)463-0752

www.hro.house.state.tx.us

Staff:TomWhatley,Director;LauraHendrickson,Editor;ElizabethPaukstis,AssociateEditor;RitaBarr,OfficeManager/Analyst;CatherineDilger,KellieDworaczyk,TomHowe,AndreiLubomudrov,BlaireParker,ResearchAnalysts;JulieNieto,AdministrativeClerk