Quick Takes
- A record number of bills were filled at the deadline last week.
- House and Senate Committee hearings are in full swing.
- The NTC weighs in on key bills this week.
State Report
The bill filing deadline passed last Friday as the 88th Texas Legislature is nearing its midpoint. Members shattered the previous record of number of bills filed in a regular session by filing a combined total of 7,857. The House exceeded 5,000 bills filed for the first time by introducing 5,292 bills. Nearly 1,000 bills were filed between the two chambers Friday. Statistics dating back to 1991 on bills filed, passed and vetoed can be reviewed here.
The bills filed last week include the remainder of the House and Senate leadership bills and sunset bills for each of the entities reviewed during the interim by the Sunset Advisory Commission. House leadership bills, numbers 1 - 20, can be found on the right side of the Speaker's page. Meanwhile, press releases related to several of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s legislative priority bills can be reviewed here. Senate priorities include SB 8 by Senator Brandon Creighton, establishing a Texas Education Savings Account program. The bill was filed Friday along with an Attorney General Request for Opinion related to the legislation.
Members will now focus their attention on committee hearings for proposed legislation before voting to advance bills to the Floor. There are more than 245 bills scheduled for hearings in the House and Senate this week. Several House priorities are set to be heard in committee, including proposals related to property tax relief (HB 2), consumer data privacy (HB 4), and the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage (HB 12). The Senate State Affairs Committee will take up SB 15, Protecting Women’s College Sports, today. This is one of Lt. Gov. Patrick’s previously announced initiatives from his list of thirty legislative priorities.
Bills relating to the NTC's legislative priorities are scheduled for hearings this week. The NTC opposes SB 175 (Middleton), which would ban the ability for cities, counties, schools, and other publicly-funded entities to hire lobbyists to communicate with lawmakers and participate in the legislative process. You can watch the Senate State Affairs hearing today. On Wednesday, House State Affairs Committee will hear HB 2127 (Burrows). The NTC intends to testify against this legislation that would restrict local governments from making local ordinances without the state's permission, leaving local governments vulnerable to lawsuits.
NTC staff is working with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Co-Chair of the NTX Mayor's Council, in negotiating with Chairman Burrows. The NTC's concerns for SB 175 and HB 2127 are due to their restrictions on local leaders and the continued erosion of local control.
The Senate convened last Wednesday and passed its first two bills from the Floor by votes of 31-0: SB 372 and SB 728, both by Senator Joan Huffman. SB 372 was filed in response to the leaking of a draft of the United States Supreme Court majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. It amends current law related to the unauthorized disclosure of non-public judicial opinions and work product. SB 728 amends Texas law related to the reporting of mental health and intellectual disability information for certain juveniles in conjunction with federal firearms background checks. This bill is intended to close a loophole in reporting requirements under current Texas law. Additional bills are expected to move this week.
The Capitol City is extraordinarily busy this week with spring break underway for many Texas students and collegians, in addition to the annual SXSW Conference and Festival taking place at venues across Austin. Several legislators, members of Congress, and policymakers are scheduled to participate on various panels.
The House and Senate both convene today at 2 pm.
For questions regarding the legislative session, please reach out to Patrick Brophey.
