In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Read about Americans accessing news online. (Pew Research Center, June 24, 2025)
• Search wildfire mitigation plans by state. (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, accessed June 25, 2025)
• Review U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention standards and statistics. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accessed June 25, 2025)
• Consider how large language models like ChatGPT affect critical thinking skills. (MIT Media Lab, June 10,2025)
• Identify and share plants and wildlife via a smartphone. (Gizmodo, June 21, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on June 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 125 views. Print this entry.

Sunday, June 22, 2025, was the last day the governor could sign or veto an enrolled bill from the 89th Regular Session. If neither action was taken, the bill became law without his signature.

89th Legislature, R.S., Statistics

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 24, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

To see how these statistics have changed, please view our previous bill statistics blog posts:

• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 5, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 12, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 19, 2025
• Bill Statistics, May 21, 2025
• Bill Statistics, 133rd Day, 89th R.S.
• What's Next? Post-Session FAQ and Bill Statistics, 89th R.S.
• Updated Bill Statistics, June 9, 2025
• Bill Statistics, Two Weeks After Sine Die, June 16, 2025

You can also view lists of bills by the governor's action on Texas Legislature Online (TLO).

1. On TLO's homepage, click on the "Reports" link under Additional Searches.

 

2. Then click on the "General Reports" tab to see the lists of bills by the governor's action.

 

This entry was posted on June 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM and has received 343 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Find parking anywhere. (Parkopedia, accessed June 17, 2025)
• Read about immigration enforcement in the U.S. interior. (Congressional Research Service, June 13, 2025)
• Examine hate crime data by incident and bias. (FBI Crime Data Explorer, last updated January 15, 2025)
• See which public water systems have water use restrictions in place to avoid shortages. (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, report generated June 13, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on June 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 196 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our June 2025 New & Noteworthy list.

New & Noteworthy titles are available to Legislative offices and agencies. To borrow an item, please submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website or contact the library at 512-463-1252.

1. They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals
By Mariah Blake
Investigates the history, use, and lawsuits related to the large class of chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, commonly referred to as forever chemicals. Details the lives impacted by these toxic chemicals and the actions of their manufacturers. Discusses the global, national, and state response to testing, treating, and regulating PFAS.
Crown, 2025, 296 pages
615.9 B636T 2025

 

 

2. Think Like a Lawyer About … Artificial Intelligence
By Theodore F. Claypoole
Examines artificial intelligence (AI) from broad practical, legal, and policy perspectives. Explores the impact of AI on society and how to use the technology appropriately as well as identify policies to regulate it and manage risk. Discusses several functional categories of AI, including generative; decision-making; personal identification; military; physician action; and whether AI should have legal rights.
American Bar Association, Business Law Section, 2025, 185 pages
343.73 C622T 2025

 

 

3. Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service
By Michael Lewis, editor
Discusses the contributions of the public service workforce to the essential business of the federal government in a collection of essays. Highlights the behind-the-scenes work of federal employees, such as an Internal Revenue Service cybercrime specialist "straight out of a crime thriller" along with exemplary employees at the Bureau of Labor Statistics; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Archives; National Cemetery Administration; Department of Justice; Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Food and Drug Administration.
Riverhead Books, 2025, 243 pages
351 L673W 2025

 

 

4. Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back
By Mark J. Dunkelman
Asserts that modern day America resembles a vetocracy, a gridlocked system of government where anyone can stifle effective change. Argues conservatives are partially to blame but 20th century progressive policies intended to rein in government activity have also impeded action on such current crises as housing shortages, climate emergencies, failing infrastructure and social programs, and more. Discusses what progressives must do to reestablish government efficiency and productivity and in turn restore Americans’ confidence in democracy and how their country is governed.
PublicAffairs, 2025, 402 pages
324.27327 D919W 2025

 

 

5. Chain Reactions: The Hopeful History of Uranium
By Lucy Jane Santos
Explores the history of the radioactive element uranium, including its use in art; medicine; and as an essential component of nuclear energy. Presents scientific narratives along with often-forgotten stories to highlight uranium’s negative and positive effects as well as its broad impact on society. Argues nuclear energy and its emerging innovations could contribute significantly to electricity demand, grid stability, and the global energy transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Pegasus Books, 2024, 278 pages
546.431 SA237C 2024

 

 

6. Nowhere to Live: The Hidden Story of America's Housing Crisis
By James S. Burling
Traces the history of America’s housing crisis, from the rise of exclusionary zoning in the early 20th century and the ill-fated "urban renewal" movement of the 1950s to the post-COVID uptick in remote work and the advent of artificial intelligence. Posits that the disparate causes of the housing shortage are all rooted in the degradation of private property rights. Suggests solutions such as environmental regulation reform, changes to zoning policies, streamlined permitting, and the elimination of rent control.
Skyhorse Publishing, 2024, 367 pages
363.50973 B961N 2024

 

 

This entry was posted on June 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 173 views. Print this entry.

Sunday, June 22, 2025, is the last day the governor can sign or veto an enrolled bill. If neither action is taken, the bill becomes law without his signature.

89th Legislature, R.S., Statistics

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Previous bill statistics posts:

• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 5, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 12, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 19, 2025
• Bill Statistics, May 21, 2025
• Bill Statistics, 133rd Day, 89th R.S.
• What's Next? Post-Session FAQ and Bill Statistics, 89th R.S.
• Updated Bill Statistics, June 9, 2025

This entry was posted on June 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM and has received 289 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Read about Social Security’s projected shortfall. (Congressional Research Service, June 5, 2025)
• Review new metal license plate policies and procedures. (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, accessed June 11, 2025)
• Explore the 2025 Kids Count Data Book. (Annie E. Casey Foundation, June 11, 2025)
• Track the Consumer Price Index (CPI). (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed June 11, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on June 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 233 views. Print this entry.

Sunday, June 22, 2025, is the last day the governor can sign or veto an enrolled bill. If neither action is taken, the bill becomes law without his signature.

89th Legislature, R.S., Statistics

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 9, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.

Previous bill statistics posts:

• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 5, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 12, 2025
• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 19, 2025
• Bill Statistics, May 21, 2025
• Bill Statistics, 133rd Day, 89th R.S.
• What's Next? Post-Session FAQ and Bill Statistics, 89th R.S.

This entry was posted on June 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM and has received 598 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Search historical newspapers via the National Digital Newspaper Program. (The Library of Congress, accessed June 4, 2025)
• Consider Americans’ views on extreme weather. (Pew Research Center, May 29, 2025)
• Check water quality at Texas beaches. (General Land Office, accessed June 4, 2025)
• Explore oil and gas data visualizations. (Railroad Commission of Texas, accessed June 4, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on June 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 290 views. Print this entry.

Bill Statistics:

*Statistics as of June 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. See our bill statistics page to compare these numbers with historical statistics.

Post-Session FAQ:

What happens now?

The 89th Regular Session ended Monday, June 2, 2025. Bills that pass both the House and the Senate are sent to the governor to sign, veto, or allow to become law without his signature.

When the Legislature passes a bill, does it become a law right away?

No. Under Article 4, Section 14 of the Texas Constitution, bills passed by the Legislature must be submitted to the governor for approval. The governor can sign a bill, veto it, line-item veto an appropriation, or allow a bill to become law without his signature.

How much time does the governor have to act on a bill?

The deadline for the governor to act on a bill is contingent upon the point in time in which the bill is presented to the governor.


If a bill is sent to the governor during the legislative session, the governor has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign the bill or return the bill to the Legislature with objection. If after 10 days the bill is not returned to the Legislature by the governor with objections or he has not yet signed it, the bill becomes law as if the governor had signed it.


If the Legislature has adjourned sine die, or if the bill is presented to the governor less than 10 days (excluding Sundays) prior to final adjournment, the governor has 20 days (including Sundays) after the final day of the session to sign or veto the bill. If neither action is taken, the bill becomes law without the governor's signature (Texas Const. art. IV, § 14).


Sunday, June 22, is the 20th day following the final adjournment of the 89th Regular Session. It is the last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the 89th Regular Session. The LRL's vetoes database will be updated for the 89th Regular Session as we receive those documents.

If the governor approves a bill, when will it take effect?

The text of a bill may include effective date provisions requiring the bill to take effect immediately, to take effect on a specified day, or there may be no mention of an effective date. Different sections of a bill may have different effective dates.


According to Article III, Section 39 of the Texas Constitution, a bill cannot become effective until at least 90 days after the session ends unless the bill passes both chambers with a favorable vote by two-thirds of the members.


Monday, September 1, 2025, is the 91st day following final adjournment; bills that do not specify an effective date and those that did not have the two-thirds vote necessary to take effect earlier will take effect on Monday, September 1, 2025.


If a bill received the votes necessary to become effective immediately, it will take effect on the date of the last action necessary for it to become law. This could be when the governor signs it, when the governor files it with the Secretary of State without approving or vetoing it, or when the time for the governor to act expires, if the bill has not been approved or vetoed during that time.

What happens to bills that do not pass?

Bills that do not make it completely through the legislative process die with the end of the session and are not automatically refiled during the next session.

What about other types of legislation?

Joint resolutions that pass both chambers of the Legislature are filed with the Secretary of State, and will be on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment for the November 4, 2025, election.


Concurrent resolutions generally require action by the governor. Concurrent resolutions used for administrative matters in the House and Senate do not require approval from the governor.


Simple resolutions are passed by only one chamber of the Legislature, and do not require the governor's approval.

Sources:

• The Legislative Process in Texas, Texas Legislative Council, November 2024
• Dates of Interest | 89th Legislature, Texas Legislative Council

This entry was posted on June 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM and has received 1213 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Review tools available to avoid social media abuse. (Consumer Reports, May 21, 2025)
• Read a recent global threat assessment. (Defense Intelligence Agency, May 11, 2025)
• Track Texas Department of Transportation planning statewide. (Texas Department of Transportation, updated monthly)
• See active disaster recovery grants. (General Land Office, accessed May 28, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on May 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 335 views. Print this entry.