Thursday, February 23 marked the 45th day of the 88th Regular Session. That means we're 3/4 of the way to the 60-day bill filing deadline, which is Friday, March 10, 2023.

For those who are curious, here is a look at bill statistics* in comparison to a similar period last session.

*Statistics generated from Texas Legislature Online's Bill Search.

This entry was posted on February 27, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 742 views. Print this entry.

In Texas, the House Rules (Rule 8, Section 7) and the Senate Rules (Rule 7.04(a)) allow legislators to prefile bills "beginning the first Monday after the general election preceding the next regular legislative session."

Prefiling for the 88th Texas Legislature began on Monday, November 14, 2022, the first Monday after the general election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. A total of 920 bills and resolutions were filed in the House and Senate on November 14, a record number for the first day of the prefiling period.

Below are statistics comparing all bills and resolutions filed during the prefiling period for the 71st Legislature (1989) to the 88th Legislature (2023).

For a general overview of bill prefiling, see our previous blog post, Bill Prefiling FAQs.

This entry was posted on November 17, 2022 at 4:30 PM and has received 2473 views. Print this entry.

On January 1, 2022, 23 bills passed during the 87th Legislature will take effect. On January 18, 2022, 6 bills passed during the 87th Legislature will take effect.

A few bills passed during the 85th Legislature and 86th Legislature have sections which will also be effective on January 1, 2022.

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

This entry was posted on December 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM and has received 7476 views. Print this entry.

Recognition months, weeks, and days call attention to special events, health issues, industries, people, and more. Some are codified in Texas Government Code, Chapter 662, and highlighted on our website Texas Holidays and Recognition Days, with options to sort by holiday name, type, month, bill, and session.

Texas legislators also pass resolutions and bills in each session to commemorate certain dates. Below are the recognition months, weeks, and days observed with resolutions and bills by the 87th Legislature, Regular Session and 1st–3rd Called Sessions for the year 2022. Click here to see a list of all the recognition dates from this past session. This list includes all enrolled bills and resolutions with Texas Legislature Online (TLO) subjects:

• Holidays (I0395)
• Resolutions--Official Designations--10-Year Significant Dates (I0016)
• Resolutions--Official Designations--Special Dates (I0721)

2022:
Session is 87th Legislature, Regular Session, unless Called Session noted.

January
National Glaucoma Awareness Month (HR 1511)
January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day (HB 2728)

February
American Heart Month (HR 1743)
Black History Month (HR 1334)
February 1: Lunar New Year (HR 1183)
February 15 (Third Tuesday in February): Texas Game Warden Day (SCR 26)

March
March 2: Texas Independence Day (HR 1612)
March 10: Histotechnology Professionals Day (SCR 21)

April
Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness Month (HCR 46)
National Donate Life Month (HR 1610)
Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Texas (HR 1685)
April 1: Hindu New Year (HR 1228)
April 6: Tejano Day (HCR 67)
April 17: Easter (HR 1609)
April 22: Earth Day (HR 536)

May
National Mental Health Month (HR 1611)
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month (HR 920)
May 5: National Day of Prayer in Texas (HR 918)
May 8: Mother's Day (HR 947)
May 21: Armed Forces Day (HR 951)
May 30: Memorial Day (HR 954)

June
National Dairy Month in Texas (HR 2002)
June 14: Flag Day (HR 1952)
June 19: Father's Day (HR 1687)

July
Uterine Fibroids Awareness Month (HB 1966)
July 4: Fourth of July (HR 1510)

August (none)

September
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month (HR 1500)
September 10: Official State Bison Herd of Texas Day (SR 336)
September 11: Patriot Day (HR 1675)
September 16: National POW/MIA Recognition Day (HR 1504)
September 17: Constitution Day (HR 1502)
September 25: Gold Star Mother's Day (HR 1506)

October
Mental Health Condition and Substance Use Disorder Parity Awareness Month (HB 2595)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (HR 13, 87th 2nd C.S.)
Second Week in October: Indigenous Peoples' Week (HCR 62)
October 17 (Third Monday in October): Domestic Violence Survivors' Day (HCR 8, 87th 3rd C.S.)
Last Week in October: Festival of Diwali (HR 1186)

November
American Diabetes Month (HR 1604)
November 5: Type 1.5 Diabetes Awareness Day (HCR 29)
November 7: Victims of Communism Day (HB 1057)
November 11: Veterans Day (HR 923)
November 17: National Rural Health Day in Texas (HR 1606)
November 25: Thanksgiving (HR 1767)

December
December 1: Rosa Parks Day (HB 3481)
December 25: Christmas (HR 1608)

Note: Buddy Check Day, 11th Day of Each Month:
"The 11th day of each month is Buddy Check Day to encourage veterans to contact other veterans, including those with whom they served, who may need assistance." (SB 460)

To see recognized months, weeks, and days from the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, for September — December 2021, please view our blog post from July 9, 2021.

To see recognized months, weeks, and days from the 86th Legislature, please view our blog post from December 30, 2019.

This entry was posted on December 29, 2021 at 10:25 AM and has received 1454 views. Print this entry.

87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session Statistics

November 8 was the last day for the Governor to sign or veto enrolled bills from the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session.

The following bill statistics were calculated on November 9, 2021, at 8:05 a.m. 

This entry was posted on November 9, 2021 at 10:25 AM and has received 1274 views. Print this entry.

87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session Statistics

The 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, adjourned Sine Die on October 19, 2021. The last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills is Monday, November 8.

The following bill statistics were calculated on October 21, 2021, at 8:15 a.m.

This entry was posted on October 21, 2021 at 10:00 AM and has received 1017 views. Print this entry.

The Texas Constitution is changed through amendments, which are proposed by the Texas Legislature and accepted or rejected by the voters. A constitutional amendment is initially considered by the legislature in the form of a joint resolution.

On November 2, 2021, Texas voters will have a chance to consider eight constitutional amendments proposed during the 87th Legislature, Regular Session. This year's proposed amendments cover a wide range of topics, including taxation, candidates for judicial office, and more.

For background and analysis of the proposed amendments that will appear on the election ballot, see the House Research Organization's Constitutional Amendments Proposed for November 2021 Ballot, and the Texas Legislative Council's Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments.

Since the current Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876, voters have approved 507 amendments. For information on how to search for proposed and adopted amendments from other sessions, see our Constitutional Amendments webpage.

Amendments Proposed for the November 2, 2021, ballot by the 87th Legislature

This entry was posted on October 19, 2021 at 4:55 PM and has received 12603 views. Print this entry.

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 education to real estate to water conservation. 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. 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 (ERS)
87th Texas Legislature Sets Retirement Plan on Path to Solvency

Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC)
June 24 Open Meeting; Summary of the 87th Legislative Session

State Bar of Texas
The 87th Session: Overview

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)

• Summary of 2021 TRS-Related Legislation
• Governor Authorizes One-Time Supplemental Payment for Eligible TRS Retirees
• One-time Supplemental Payment FAQs

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
Summaries of Selected Legislation Passed by the 87th Legislature, Regular Session

Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)

• Technology Legislation
• 87th Legislative Session Overview

Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)

• Senate Bill 22, 87th Legislature, Regular Session (2021)
• Commissioner's Bulletin #B-0023-21: Legislation Enacted - 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021
• Commissioner's Bulletin #B-0022021: SB 1367 Changes the Requirements for Certain Lines of Insurance
• Commissioner's Bulletin #B-0021-21: House Bill 1777 Annuity Transaction Changes

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
87th Texas Legislature TDLR-Related Bills

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
87th Legislative Session: 2021

• Summary of New Laws Impacting Handgun Licensing
• Summary of New Laws Impacting the Compassionate Use Program
• Summary of New Laws Impacting Private Security
• Summary of New Laws Impacting Texas Metals Program
• Summary of New Laws Impacting Vehicle Inspection

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Keeping Texas Connected: Summary of Enacted Transportation and General Government Legislation (87th Legislature, 2021)

Texas Education Agency (TEA)
The Texas Education Agency Briefing Book on Public Education Legislation

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
Summary of Higher Education Legislation: 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
Employment and Housing Laws Enacted During the 87th Legislature

Associations and Organizations

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas
Texas 2021 Legislative Session: What changed for Texans?

Children at Risk
87th Texas Legislative Session Report: Wins and Missed Opportunities for Texas Children

Equality Texas (EQTX)

• Legislative Bill Tracker
• Legislative Session Wrap-Up: Our Community Mobilized with Strength and Heart

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
87th Texas Legislature Regular Sesssion Wrap Up

Nonprofit Law and Policy Blog
87th Texas Legislature, 2021 Regular Session: Summary of Issues Affecting Nonprofit Organizations

Texas Association of Business (TAB)
87th Legislative Session Recap

Texas Association of Counties (TAC)
2021 Legislative Analysis Report: 87th Legislature, Regular Session

Texas CASA
87th Legislative Overview: CASA Funding & Passed Legislation

Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB)
The 87th Legislature and Maternal and Infant Health

Texas District & County Attorneys Association (TDCAA)

• TDCAA Legislative Update: Week 20.1 (Sine Die)
• TDCAA Legislative Update: Week 21 (Vetoes)
• TDCCA Legislative Update: Called Session 2 - Sine Die

Texas Homeowners Association Law
Texas HOA Law - 2021 Legislative Update

Texas Hospital Association (THA)
Health Care and the 87th Texas Legislature: Outcomes for Hospitals

Texas Library Association (TLA)
Wrap up: Texas Legislative Session

Texas Medical Association (TMA)

• Physician-Led Results: 87th Legislative Session
• Physician-Led Results: Grassroots Advocacy Paid Off in Tangible Wins at the Capitol

Texas Municipal League (TML)

• Legislative Update No. 22 — Eighty-Seventh Legislature Adjorns: Cities Retain Their Voice
• Legislative Update No. 35 — Second Special Session Ends and Third Announced

Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA)
2021 Texas Legislative Wrap-Up: 87th Texas Legislative Session

Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA)
Summary of 87th Legislative Session Bills that Impact the Texas Water Business

Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA)

• Wrap-Up for the 87th Legislature: Tax and Fiscal Policy
• Wrap-Up for the 87th Legislature: School Finance & Public Education

This entry was posted on September 24, 2021 at 4:45 PM and has received 2310 views. Print this entry.

87th Legislature, 2nd Called Session Statistics

The following bill statistics were calculated on September 23, 2021.

This entry was posted on September 23, 2021 at 10:45 AM and has received 720 views. Print this entry.

The General and Special Laws of Texas, often referred to as the "session laws," constitute a complete set of all bills passed into law by each session of the Texas legislature. The Secretary of State assigns each passed Act a chapter number. Following each legislative session, the Acts are arranged in chapter-number order and published as a bound set.

Session law chapter numbers are included in session law citations, which are listed after each section of code in the Texas statutes as a means to track the legislative history of a statute.

For example, Texas Government Code, Sec. 405.014. Acts of the Legislature, includes the following session law citations:

 

Note: For a thorough legislative history of a Texas statute, see the bound volumes of Vernon's Texas Codes and Statutes Annotated, which are available in the LRL's collection.

 

For a discussion and examples of various session law citations, see Chapter 7, Subchapter C, Section 7.64. Session Laws and Bills from the Texas Legislative Council Drafting Manual.


87th Legislative Session

The Secretary of State's Bills and Resolutions webpage lists the session law chapter assigned to each bill that is enacted into law.

For example, when looking at the list of House Bills from the 87th Regular Session, the first column with the heading "Bill," lists the bill numbers. The second column with the heading "Chapter," contains the corresponding chapter number.




For questions about bill/chapter numbers for bills from the 87th Regular Session, please contact the Secretary of State's office at (512) 463-5561.


1st — 87th Legislative Sessions

Session law chapter numbers for previous sessions are available online through the Legislative Archive System on the LRL's website.

To view the complete bill/session law chapter cross reference table for a session, use the "Search by session law chapter" option.
Select a legislative session in the drop-down menu and leave the chapter box blank, then click on "Search by chapter."

 

For example, the bill/chapter cross reference table for the 87th Regular Session lists the session law chapters, the corresponding bills, and the bill captions or bill subjects.

 

This entry was posted on September 20, 2021 at 10:10 AM and has received 1313 views. Print this entry.