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Sunset Commission Self-Evaluation Reports, 2020-2021 Cycle

Sep 30

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Sunset review, Legislative process

Self-evaluation reports for the 2020-2021 review cycle are now available on the Sunset Advisory Commission's website.

 

To better understand how the Sunset process works in Texas, see this diagram. The Sunset Commission’s last report of the 2018-2019 cycle, Final Results of Sunset Reviews, was published in June 2019. A comprehensive listing of all of the entities reviewed by the Sunset Commission is available here.

 

 

Cover image by Flickr user Nathan Eaton Jr.

 

This entry was posted on September 30, 2019 at 10:30 AM and has received 1485 views. Print this entry.

Legislative Wrap-ups, 86th Legislature

Sep 9

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, 86th 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 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

 

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)

 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

 

 

Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities

 

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)

 

Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)

 

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)

 

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

 

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
Summary of Higher Education Legislation - 86th Texas Legislature

 

Texas Judicial Council
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update

 

Associations and Organizations

American Planning Association

 

National Association of Social Workers (Texas Chapter)

 

State Bar of Texas

 

Texas Association of Business (TAB)

 

Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

 

Texas Homeowners Association Law

 

Texas Land Title Association (TLTA)

 

Texas Municipal League (TML)

 

Texas NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

 

Texas Nurse Practitioners (TNP)

 

Texas Water Conservation Association
86th Texas Legislature Wrap-Up

This entry was posted on September 9, 2019 at 8:30 AM and has received 1752 views. Print this entry.

Bills Effective, September 1, 2019

Aug 26

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

On September 1, 2019, 820 bills passed during the 86th Legislature will take effect. In addition, provisions of 25 bills passed during the 86th Legislature will become effective.

 

Sections of bills passed during the 85th Legislature, 84th Legislature, and 83rd Legislature also 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 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM and has received 8713 views. Print this entry.

Bill Effective Dates, 86th Legislature

Jul 17

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

The Library has created its bill effective dates page for the 86th Legislature. Legislators passed 474 bills that are now in effect. (473 bills and provisions within 15 bills took effect immediately; one bill took effect on June 4.)

 

The remainder of the 1,373 total bills signed by the governor or filed without the governor's signature will take effect over the next five years, between August 26, 2019, and January 1, 2024. Peruse our page to find detailed information about what takes effect when.

 

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

This entry was posted on July 17, 2019 at 9:35 AM and has received 1631 views. Print this entry.

Research Minute: Finding Past Bill Statistics

Jul 9

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Bill statistics, Legislative process

Interested to know how the numbers for the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, compare to past Legislatures? Our bill statistics page goes all the way back to the 16th Legislature (1879)!

 

 

This entry was posted on July 9, 2019 at 8:26 AM and has received 1150 views. Print this entry.

End-of-Session Comparison, 86th Legislature

Jul 2

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Bill statistics, Legislative process, 86th Session

Interested in how the final results of the 86th Legislature's regular session compares to the past few sessions? See the charts below to compare and contrast.

 

To see past bill statistics and other session information, see previous blog posts on the legislative process.

 

This entry was posted on July 2, 2019 at 12:43 PM and has received 1425 views. Print this entry.

Locating Bill Effective Dates on TLO

Jun 24

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

The library reviews the text of all bills that become law to determine their effective dates and enters the information into Texas Legislature Online (TLO). To find the effective date of a bill, look up the bill in TLO and check the "Last action" field in the history window. In some cases, different sections of a bill may have different effective dates, in which case additional remarks will be given to provide the information.

 

For House and Senate bills from the 86th Regular Session (2019), the two largest groupings are:

  • Effective immediately: 473
  • Effective on 9/1/19: 820

The library compiles a more detailed list of bills and their effective dates following each regular and called session. The list is made available on the library's website once it is complete.

This entry was posted on June 24, 2019 at 1:21 PM and has received 1605 views. Print this entry.

Bill Statistics after Signing/Veto Period, 86th Legislature

Jun 17

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Bill statistics, Legislative process, 86th Session

Sunday, June 16 was the last day the Governor could sign, veto, or allow to become law without his signature bills presented to him less than 10 days (not counting Sundays) prior to final adjournment of the 86th Regular Session.

 

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 17 at 1 p.m.

  • To see how these statistics have changed since last week, please view our blog post from June 12 and June 10.
  • To learn about session law chapter numbers and copies of signed bills, please view our blog post from June 5.

 

House and Senate Bills
Filed 7,324
Sent to the Governor 1,429
Signed by the Governor 1,229
Vetoed by the Governor 56
Filed without the Governor's signature 144
House and Senate Joint Resolutions
Filed 217
Filed with the Secretary of State 10
House and Senate Concurrent Resolutions
Filed 254
Filed with the Secretary of State 29
Sent to the Governor 96
Signed by the Governor 94
Vetoed by the Governor 2
Filed without the Governor's signature 0

 

This entry was posted on June 17, 2019 at 2:40 PM and has received 4171 views. Print this entry.

Updated Bill Statistics, June 12

Jun 12

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Bill statistics, Legislative process, 86th Session

June 16 is the last day the Governor can sign, veto, or allow to become law without his signature bills presented to him less than 10 days (not counting Sundays) prior to final adjournment of the 86th Regular Session.

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 12 at 1 p.m. The Governor continues to be hard at work reviewing bills, so the signing numbers are growing! To see how these statistics have changed and other post-session information, see previous blog posts on the legislative process.

 

86th Legislature Statistics

 

House and Senate Bills
Filed 7,324
Sent to the Governor 1,429
Signed by the Governor 862
Vetoed by the Governor 7
Filed without the Governor's signature 80
House and Senate Joint Resolutions
Filed 217
Filed with the Secretary of State 10
House and Senate Concurrent Resolutions
Filed 254
Filed with the Secretary of State 29
Sent to the Governor 96
Signed by the Governor 85
Vetoed by the Governor 0

 

This entry was posted on June 12, 2019 at 1:35 PM and has received 1728 views. Print this entry.

Bill Statistics, Two Weeks After Sine Die, June 10

Jun 10

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Bill statistics, Legislative process, 86th Session

June 16 is the last day the Governor can sign, veto, or allow to become law without his signature bills presented to him less than 10 days (not counting Sundays) prior to final adjournment of the 86th Regular Session.

 

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 10 at 1:45 p.m. To see how these statistics have changed and other post-session information, see previous blog posts on the legislative process.

 

 

86th Legislature Statistics

House and Senate Bills
Filed 7,324
Sent to the Governor 1,429
Signed by the Governor 484
Vetoed by the Governor 7
Filed without the Governor's signature 45
House and Senate Joint Resolutions
Filed 217
Filed with the Secretary of State 10
House and Senate Concurrent Resolutions
Filed 254
Filed with the Secretary of State 29
Sent to the Governor 96
Signed by the Governor 79
Vetoed by the Governor 0

 

This entry was posted on June 10, 2019 at 2:15 PM and has received 2028 views. Print this entry.

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