Legislative library home page
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research
Skip to main content

Sunset Commission Report, 2016-2017

Sep 12

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Sunset review, Legislative process

The Sunset Commission’s last report of the 2016-2017 cycle, Final Results of Sunset Reviews, is now available on the Sunset Advisory Commission's website. 

 

A diagram of how the Sunset process works is available via the Sunset Advisory Commission's website. Click here to see a list of the agencies under review for the 2018-2019 cycle. 

 

 

Cover image by Flickr user Nathan Eaton Jr.

This entry was posted on September 12, 2017 at 8:32 AM and has received 2010 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, September 7

Sep 7

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Find resources on emergency tax help. (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, accessed September 5, 2017)
  • Explore how states are planning to address election security. (Politico, September 3, 2017)
  • Consider commentary on providing police with surplus military equipment. (CATO Institute, August 31, 2017)
  • Examine household spending as compared to pre-recession levels. (The Hill, September 5, 2017)

This entry was posted on September 7, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 687 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of September 4, 2017

Sep 7

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

September 7

House Committee on Urban Affairs

Topic: State's response to short- and long-term housing needs of people displaced by Hurricane Harvey and related flooding

 

This entry was posted on September 7, 2017 at 11:41 AM and has received 821 views. Print this entry.

Legislative Wrap-ups, 85th Legislature

Sep 7

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, 85th Session

Following each legislative session in Texas, organizations, state agencies, and other entities publish "wrap-ups" summarizing new laws and key legislative developments in areas ranging from agriculture to criminal justice to health care. Wrap-ups can range from a simple list of bills to a detailed report that includes background information and expert analysis.

 

The LRL tracks legislative wrap-ups as we find them to be an excellent research tool and summary of the topics covered during a particular session. Wrap-ups are a work in progress. Listed below is a short selection. To find one on a topic that interests you, check the websites of organizations or state agencies that focus on the issue, or contact the library for assistance.

 

State Agencies

Employees Retirement System of Texas

 

Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families

 

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

 

 

Texas Department of Information Resources
Technology Legislation

 

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Results of the 85th Texas Legislature for TDLR

 

Texas Department of Transportation

 

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

Texas Real Estate Commission

 

Associations and Organizations

National Alliance on Mental Illness
85th Texas Legislature Wrap-up

 

 

Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Legislative Wrap Up

 

Texas Association of Community Colleges
85th Legislative Session

 

Texas Association of Counties
Legislative Highlights - 85th Regular Session

 

Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations (TCVO)

 

Texas District & County Attorneys Association
Legislative Updates

 

Texas Farm Bureau
Regular Session Wrap­-up

 

Texas Humane Legislation Network
2017 Legislative Session

 

 

Texas Public Employees Association
TPEA's Wrap-up of the Legislative Session

 

This entry was posted on September 7, 2017 at 8:10 AM and has received 1491 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 31

Aug 31

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Map updates on road closures related to widespread flooding in southeast Texas. (Texas Department of Transportation, accessed August 31, 2017)
  • Find resources about filing insurance claims resulting from Harvey. (Texas Department of Insurance, August 30, 2017)
  • Explore the papers of Alexander Hamilton. (Library of Congress, accessed August 31, 2017)
  • Read about how the private sector contributes to the National Park Service to reduce costs and save on energy consumption. (Pew Charitable Trusts, August 24, 2017)

 

This entry was posted on August 31, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 860 views. Print this entry.

Bill Effective Dates, 85th Legislature

Aug 28

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

The Library has updated its effective dates for bills page for the 85th Legislature to include the 12 bills passed in the 85th 1st C.S. A few of those bills went into effect immediately; others will take effect throughout the remainder of 2017 and into later years.

 

On September 1, 2017, provisions of 673 bills passed during the regular session of the 85th Legislature will take effect.

 

Additionally, sections of bills passed during the 84th Legislature, 83rd Legislature, and 82nd 1st C.S. will take effect on September 1.

 

To keep up with new laws throughout the year, check the Library's list of bill effective dates.

 

This entry was posted on August 28, 2017 at 11:55 AM and has received 2119 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 24

Aug 24

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Consider civil commitment as a strategy to address opioid addiction. (USA Today, August 23, 2017)
  • Review the international role of the United States. (Congressional Research Service, August 17, 2017)
  • Read about public comments related to the preservation of public lands. (The Wilderness Society, August 2017)
  • Assess the cost of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017. (Congressional Budget Office, August 17, 2017)
  • Explore essays related to current challenges in education. (Brookings, August 3, 2017)

 

This entry was posted on August 24, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 614 views. Print this entry.

Final Bill Statistics, 85th 1st C.S.

Aug 21

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, 85th Session, Bill statistics, Legislative process

The Governor signed all of the bills that were sent to his desk. See how the numbers shaped up for this special session.

 

  House Bills (HB) & Joint Resolutions (HJR) Senate Bills (SB) & Joint Resolutions (SJR)
Filed  428 132
Reported out of committee 83 22
Passed by chamber of origin 33 21
Referred to committee in opposite chamber 11 12
Reported out of committee in opposite chamber 7 11
Passed opposite chamber 6 7
Sent to the Governor (bills only) 6 6
Signed by the Governor (bills only) 6 6

 

  • View recent blog posts to see how these statistics have changed over the past few weeks and for more information about the legislative process.
  • These bills have not yet been assigned session law chapters. To learn more about session law chapter numbers and copies of signed bills, please read our blog post from June 5.

 

Cover image by Flickr user nateClicks.

This entry was posted on August 21, 2017 at 1:30 PM and has received 1181 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of August 21, 2017

Aug 21

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

August 22

House Committee on County Affairs

Topic: Implementation of SB 1849, 85th R.S., the Sandra Bland Act

This entry was posted on August 21, 2017 at 9:53 AM and has received 646 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 17

Aug 17

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Examine crime and violence in public schools. (National Center on Education Statistics, July 2017)
  • See how long it takes to leave major American cities during rush hour. (The Washington Post, August 11, 2017)
  • Consider the Fifth Circuit's decision on the recent defamation case Block v. New York Times. (Texas Lawyer, August 16, 2017)
  • Read about the ACA's cost-sharing reductions. (Congressional Budget Office, August 2017)

This entry was posted on August 17, 2017 at 4:21 PM and has received 610 views. Print this entry.

Previous Entries / More Entries