This entry was posted on May 13, 2019 at 12:15 PM and has received 1214 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on May 6, 2019 at 1:00 PM and has received 1568 views. Print this entry.

As the 86th Legislature draws to a close, a series of end-of-session deadlines begin to take effect. Below is a list of deadlines that occur next week:

• Monday, May 6: Last day for house committees to report house bills and house joint resolutions.
• Tuesday, May 7: Deadline for house to distribute last House Daily Calendar with house bills and house joint resolutions.
• Wednesday, May 8: Deadline for house to distribute last House Local and Consent Calendar with consent house bills.
• Thursday, May 9: Last day for house to consider house bills and house joint resolutions on second reading on House Daily or Supplemental Calendar.
• Friday, May 10: Last day for house to consider consent house bills on second and third reading and all third reading house bills or house joint resolutions on House Supplemental Calendar.

Bill statistics for the period of Nov. 12, 2018 - April 26, 2019 are below.

This entry was posted on April 29, 2019 at 4:40 PM and has received 1122 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on April 24, 2019 at 10:20 AM and has received 1512 views. Print this entry.

The Texas Senate will be celebrating Former Members Day on Thursday, April 4. This event is an opportunity to recognize those who have served in the Texas Senate.

This time-honored tradition will include a dinner on April 3, and a reception the following morning. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and current members of the Texas Senate will recognize former members on the Senate floor on April 4.

The Texas House of Representatives will be celebrating Speaker's Reunion Day on Friday, April 5. This time-honored tradition — which dates back to 1876 — was originally known as Speaker's Day.

In 1995, HB 1527, 74th Legislature, became law, officially designating a day to honor all former members of the Texas House of Representatives; it also changed the name to Speaker's Reunion Day. Now, this biennial event continues to be an opportunity for all current and former members to congregate and celebrate their service to the State of Texas.

This entry was posted on April 3, 2019 at 8:45 AM and has received 2432 views. Print this entry.

 

Pharmacies and pharmacists play a significant role in the lives of many Texans, from administering vaccinations to catching potential drug interactions. If a bill relates to pharmacies, pharmacists, and related licensing, it can be found under PHARMACIES & PHARMACISTS.

 

The definition of "pharmacy benefit manager" appears in Insurance Code § 4151.151. These managers fill the role of administrator of pharmacy benefits and are referenced throughout the statutes in relation to health and prescription drug benefits. Bills that relate to pharmacy benefit managers can be found via the subject PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.

 

A broad range of more than 100 bills filed this legislative session relate to the subject MEDICINE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Proposed legislation regarding compassionate use, prescriptive authority, prescription drug prices, restrictions on over-the-counter medications, and prescription opioids all falls within this subject.

 

To see a complete list of subject headings for the 86th Legislature, select "Reports" under the "Legislation" tab. Then select "S - Subject Headings" from the "Bills by Subject" drop-down menu.

This entry was posted on March 26, 2019 at 9:33 AM and has received 2192 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on March 11, 2019 at 1:00 PM and has received 2246 views. Print this entry.

In this occasional post, we feature topics receiving widespread media coverage, tips for finding bills filed during the 86th legislative session, and related resources.

 

Proposed legislation that would make changes to the Teacher Retirement System can be found under "Retirement Systems--Teachers (I0726)."

 

The Texas Classroom Teachers Association and the Texas Retired Teachers Association have resources available online about how pending legislation would affect the Teacher Retirement System. Both organizations have toll-free numbers:

Texas Classroom Teachers Association: 888-879-8282

Texas Retired Teachers Association: 800-880-1650

 

The Legislative Reference Library is unable to interpret, give legal advice, or calculate how legislation may affect individual retirement accounts.

 

Legislation related to teacher salaries can be found using a search of a combination of subjects:

 

Education--Primary & Secondary--Teachers (I0242)

 

Salaries & Expenses (I0745)

 

To search these two subjects together, use the Texas Legislature Online Bill Search and click on "Select subject criteria."

 

When you type in the "Search" box, the alphabetical list will automatically scroll. Select the two subjects from the list and click on the right arrow button to move them into the "Selected:" pane.

 

After clicking "OK," you will return to the search screen. Make sure the "And" radio button is selected. Click the "Search" box located at the far top right of the screen to generate a list of bills related to teacher pay.

 

The list generated will have links to the bills and an option to export the results to PDF format.

This entry was posted on February 27, 2019 at 9:00 AM and has received 1714 views. Print this entry.

Thursday, February 21 marked the 45th day of the 86th Regular Session. That means we're 3/4 of the way to the 60-day bill filing deadline, which is Friday, March 8, 2019. For those who are curious, here is a look at bill statistics in comparison to a similar period last session.

This entry was posted on February 22, 2019 at 10:10 AM and has received 2244 views. Print this entry.

This post includes a list of guides published by Texas legislative agencies to assist you in following the legislative process. These guides will help you track and read a bill, understand the terminology used in the Texas Legislature, learn about issues facing the Legislature, and much more.

 

The Legislative Process in Texas, prepared by the Texas Legislative Council (2018).
Summarizes how legislation moves from introduced bill to signed law.

How a Bill Becomes Law: 86th Legislature, prepared by the House Research Organization (2019).
Details the legislative process, with an emphasis on the Texas House Rules (HR 4, 86R) and their influence on procedures.

Reading Statutes and Bills, prepared by the Texas Legislative Council.
Presents a basic overview of Texas statutes and bills, as well as tips for reading and understanding them. (Now an online source; previously was available as a PDF.)

Texas Legislative Glossary, prepared by the Texas Legislative Council.
Defines terms related to the legislative process in Texas. (Now an online source; previously was available as a PDF.)

Research Spotlight: Legislative Lexicon, prepared by the Senate Research Center (2019).
Provides definitions of words, terms, and phrases used in the Legislature.

Writing the State Budget: 86th Legislature, prepared by the House Research Organization (2019).

Outlines the budget writing process in Texas and defines key terms.

Budget 101: A Guide to the Budget Process in Texas, prepared by the Senate Research Center (2019).
Explains how the budget is developed in Texas; designed for new staff or those unfamiliar with the budget process.

Topics for the 86th Legislature, prepared by the House Research Organization (2018).
Highlights many of the issues the 86th Legislature may consider during its 2019 regular session.

 

 

 

This entry was posted on February 19, 2019 at 9:00 AM and has received 1902 views. Print this entry.