June 19 was the last day the governor could sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature bills passed during the 82nd Regular Session. When the deadline had passed, the governor had vetoed 24 bills (not including the line-item vetoes on H.B. 1, the General Appropriations Act), signed 1,458 bills and filed 27 bills without his signature.

Texas Constitution, Article IV, Section 14 states that if the governor disapproves (vetoes) a bill after the session has adjourned, he or she is required to give notice in the form of a proclamation. We've collected the veto proclamations issued by Governor Perry for the 82nd Regular Session and made them available on our website.

In addition, our Vetoed Bills, 1846-2011 page provides access to vetoes and veto proclamations from earlier sessions, back to the 1st Regular Session (1846).

This entry was posted on June 21, 2011 at 2:21 PM and has received 1895 views. Print this entry.

The Texas Constitution authorizes the Governor to veto bills sent to him by the Legislature.  As the 82nd Regular Session draws to a close and bills that have passed out of both chambers of the Legislature are being sent to the Governor, it is common for the Governor to veto some of these bills.  Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the veto process and where to find veto information.

How long does the Governor have to veto legislation?
The Governor has twenty days after final adjournment to consider bills received in the final ten days (not counting Sundays) of the session.

Sunday, June 19th is the last day the Governor can sign or veto bills that he receives in the final ten days (not counting Sundays) of the legislative session.

Does the Governor have to sign a bill for it to become law?
No. A bill that the Legislature passed during its regular legislative session and that was not vetoed by the Governor becomes law even if the Governor does not sign it.  A more in-depth explanation is available in this FAQ about how long the Governor has to sign a bill.

Has the Governor vetoed any bills this session?
The General Reports section of the Texas Legislature Online provides a list of vetoed bills from the current session.  You will also find a list of bills from this session that have been signed by the Governor and a list of bills filed without the Governor's signature.  For your convenience, these links are duplicated below.

82nd Legislature:
Bills vetoed by the Governor
Bills signed by the Governor
Bills filed without the Governor's signature

What bills were vetoed in previous sessions?
A list of vetoed bills going back to the 1st Regular Session is available on the Library's website.  See: Vetoed Bills, 1846-2009.

Can the legislature override a veto from a previous session?
There is some debate over this matter, however the 1875 Constitutional Convention removed the ability for the legislature to consider veto items from a previous session. 
References:
Postadjournment Veto (In Texas Legislative Council, Gubernatorial Veto: Powers, Procedures, and Override History (May 22, 1990), pp. 11-12).
George D. Braden, et al., The Constitution of the State of Texas: An Annotated Comparative Analysis (1977), pp. 333-334.
Texplainer: Can a Veto Be Overturned After Sine Die?, Texas Tribune, retrieved 6/8/2011.

Where can I find additional information on the veto process?
Additional information about the veto process is available on our FAQs page. You can also find information about the veto process, as well as the entire legislative process, in How a Bill Becomes Law, 82nd Legislature (House Research Organization).

This entry was posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:45 AM and has received 7705 views. Print this entry.