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Bill Effective Dates, 86th Legislature

Jul 17

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process, Legislation

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 22 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, July 11

Jul 11

posted by TexasLRL in Research Resources, Current Articles

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

  • Follow updates and implementation of HB3, 86th Legislature. (Texas Education Agency, updated July 3, 2019)
  • Consider whether facial recognition technology needs federal regulation. (The Atlantic, June 28, 2019)
  • Protect your car from theft. (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, ©2019)
  • Keep your pets safe during an emergency or disaster. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, June 28, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Bad medicine." By Liz Hayes. Church & State, July/August 2019, pp. 9-11.
    Comments on the denial of care rule, proposed by the United States Department of Health & Human Services [HHS], to protect individuals and health care entities from discrimination on the basis of their exercise of conscience in HHS-funded programs.
  • "Just business: Few fireworks during session as lawmakers make deals on top priorities." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Spring 2019, pp. 10-17.
    Summarizes key public education issues and bills in the 86th Legislature, including school finance reform, teacher salaries and retirement, school discipline, school safety and mental health, and other bills affecting public schools.
  • "Virtually defenseless: The national security establishment is woefully unprepared for the new era of cyber-warfare." By John M. Donnelly and Gopal Ratnam. CQ Researcher, June 24, 2019, pp. 15-21.
    Examines the new "information warfare," increasing cybersecurity concerns, and military preparation for cyberattacks.
  • "We love foreign workers." By Shawn Zeller. CQ Weekly, June 17, 2019, pp. 18-23.
    Discusses why businesses lean toward hiring seasonal foreign workers over Americans. Addresses problems with labor regulations relating to recruiting and wage fraud.
  • "Texafornia dreaming; California & Texas: A tale of two states." Economist, June 22nd - June 28th, 2019, pp. 7, 3-14.
    Presents a special report on California and Texas. Claims America' future will be written in the two mega-states.
  • "Transport: Flying start." Economist, June 15th-21st, 2019, pp. 55-56.
    Reports drone deliveries are advancing in health care, which could save hospitals millions in lab and pharmacy costs.
  • "State legislators revamp funding in Texas, Nevada." By Daarel Burnette II. Education Week, June 19, 2019, p. 16.
    Summarizes school finance reforms in Texas and Nevada in this year's legislative sessions. Mentions the increase in the Texas education budget to $11.6 billion, an increase in teacher salaries, and full day pre-Kindergarten for eligible 4-year-olds.
  • "Motor fuels taxes in a changing Texas transportation scene: Should Texas rethink the way it funds roads?" By Shannon Halbrook and Jess Donald. Fiscal Notes, June/July 2019, pp. 1, 3-6.
    Describes future trends of motor fuels tax revenue in Texas, providing for the construction and maintenance of state highways, roads, and bridges since 1923. Considers the role of alternative-fuel vehicles, rising highway costs, and the tax structures in other states with variable-rate gas taxes.
  • "Texas distillers thrive, but hoped for more from state." By Marice Richter. Fort Worth Business Press, June 24-30, 2019, pp. 6, 21.
    Looks at the 86th Legislature from the perspective of craft distillers, and discusses legislation passed to allow "sampling of product" for distillers and "beer-to-go" for craft breweries.
  • "Newspaper-man." By Jay Nordlinger. National Review, June 24, 2019, pp. 18-19.
    Considers the value of small-town newspapers and their editors in a profile of Mike Brown, editor of the Rockdale Reporter serving Rockdale, Texas.
  • "Bad economic justifications for minimum wage hikes." By Ryan Bourne. Policy Brief (CATO Institute), June 20, 2019, pp. 1-8.
    Explains why the metrics used to advocate minimum wage hikes are not sensible benchmarks by which to set minimum wage rates, and could instead produce damaging labor market outcomes.
  • "The confession." By Douglas Starr. Science, June 14, 2019, pp. 1022-1026.
    Looks at how and why police interrogations can result in false confessions.
  • "When was the Republic of Texas no more? Revisiting the annexation of Texas." By Keith J. Volanto and Gene B. Preuss. Southwestern Historical Quarterly, July 2019, pp. 30-59 (Note Length).
    Examines the timeline of annexation of the Republic of Texas to the United States through a review of the contemporary congressional and legal proceedings. Argues the "annexation ceremony" on February 19, 1846, at a two-room dogtrot cabin in Austin, is a "historical myth," demonstrating that the actual transfer of sovereignty was on December 29, 1845, when the United States government formally annexed Texas.
  • "Oregon walkout reflects a growing trend. Here's why lawmakers leave." By Matt Vasilogambros. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), June 27, 2019, pp. 1-5.
    Considers the history of legislative walkouts. Points out possible political fallout and financial repercussions for lawmakers who use this tactic.
  • "Mobilizing against measles." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, July 2019, pp. 22-29.
    Explores the current measles surge, legislative action to address the problem, and advocacy against such action. Identifies a range of pro- and anti-vaccine bills that were considered in the 86th Legislature.
  • "Who cares." By Grace Gedye. Washington Monthly, July/August 2019, pp. 15-18.
    Suggests long-term care is a political issue. Explains how individual caregivers make daily sacrifices to care for their older and ailing family members.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on July 11, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 444 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Weeks of July 8 and 15

Jul 9

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

July 12

Topic: Issues related to the increase in asylum-seeking migrant families at the Texas-Mexico border

 

July 18

House Committee on General Investigating

Topic: Committee business

The committee may enter into an executive session to consider any matter authorized to be considered in an executive session under Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Housekeeping Resolution, and the committee’s rules.

 

This entry was posted on July 9, 2019 at 9:30 AM and has received 167 views. Print this entry.

Research Minute: Finding Past Bill Statistics

Jul 9

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process, Legislation, Bill statistics

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 146 views. Print this entry.

End-of-Session Comparison, 86th Legislature

Jul 2

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process, Legislation, Bill statistics

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 295 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, June 27

Jun 27

posted by TexasLRL in Research Resources, Current Articles

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

  • Find out how to avoid phone calls from fake phone numbers. (Federal Trade Commission, June 25, 2019)
  • Track language usage in American case law over time, from the colonial period to today. (ABA Journal, June 20, 2019)
  • Read about Disaster City of Texas A&M University, where first responders train. (Stateline, June 25, 2019)
  • Explore an FAQ related to the upcoming November 5, 2019 uniform election. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed June 26, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Do states adjust Medicaid enrollment in response to capitation rates? Evidence from the Medicare Part D clawback." By Laura Quinby and Gal Wettstein. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, June 2019, pp. 1-32.
    Examines to what extent more generous capitated federal subsidies would likely cause states to increase Medicaid enrollment. Includes state table of Modified FMAP [Federal Medical Assistance Percentage] Accounting for State and Federal Spending on Prescription Drugs for Dual-Eligibles, 2012.
  • "Rethinking mental health for cops: When 'good intentions' aren't enough." By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, June 17, 2019, pp. 12-13.
    Highlights programs such as the critical incident stress management program [CISM] of the Fort Worth Police Department that assist officers who have been involved in traumatic incidents. Suggests an array of options for psychological first aid should be available to first responders.
  • "Teacher appreciation days." CQ Weekly, June 3, 2019, pp. 35-37.
    Examines other states' legislative efforts to raise teacher pay or create a minimum salary. Highlights legislation in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
  • "Religion and freedom: I can do no other." Economist, June 15th-21st, 2019, pp. 21-22.
    Reports on the case of Scott Warren, who is facing felony charges for conspiring to harbor and transport illegal immigrants. Examines whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 can protect Mr. Warren from prosecution, as he claims a spiritual motive lay behind the actions he took to reduce the number of migrants who perish in the Arizona desert.
  • "The financial benefits and burdens of performance funding in higher education." By Lori Prince Hagood. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, June 2019, pp. 189-213.
    Investigates the effects of performance funding policies on state appropriations for four-year, public universities. Establishes state funding patterns associated with performance funding and determines to what extent performance funding favors some institutions over others.
  • "Home health care providers struggle with state laws and Medicare rules as demand rises." By Susan Jaffe. Health Affairs, June 2019, pp. 981-986.
    Considers how Medicare rules and state laws restricting nurse practitioners' scope-of-practice have raised obstacles to patients' access to home health care.
  • "The rural hospital problem." By Austin B. Frakt. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), June 18, 2019, pp. 2271-2272.
    Examines reasons for increased numbers of rural hospital closures, and considers the consequences for cost, quality, and access.
  • "Free speech, if we can keep it." By Charles C.W. Cooke. National Review, June 24, 2019, pp. 34-36.
    Contrasts strong support for free speech doctrines in the courts with a shrinking "meaningful culture of free speech" due to concerns about hate speech and intolerant speech.
  • "Injunction dysfunction." By David French. National Review, June 24, 2019, pp. 33-34.
    Examines the increasing use of nationwide injunctions by activists across the political spectrum. Argues that the proper legal mechanism for action affecting all similarly situated individuals would be a class-action lawsuit.
  • "Economic benefits of the Texas energy sector." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 1-3, 6.
    Quantifies the stimulus the energy sector provides across the economy. Points out the varied industries required to meet the needs of the growing Texas oil and gas industry.
  • "Lessons from California on carbon risk: First climate-change bankruptcy." By Priti Patel, et al. Public Utilities Fortnightly, June 1, 2019, pp. 80-83, 87.
    Examines how the takings clause of California's state constitution is applied to hold public utilities liable for any damages caused by their systems.
  • "What constitutes 'discrimination' in college admissions?" By Dennis L. Weisman. Regulation (CATO Institute), Summer 2019, pp. 24-27.
    Contends that defining discrimination exclusively in terms of a departure from merit-based admissions may be too narrow. Points out this definition fails to account for the value conferred on the university by other types of admissions, such as those based on legacy and athletic preferences.
  • "Teens of 'anti-vaxxers' can get their own vaccines, some states say." By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), June 24, 2019, pp. 1-5.
    Examines the rights of adolescents to make certain health care decisions. Points out recent state legislative efforts to narrow school vaccination exemptions and to give minors the right to get vaccinated without their parents' permission.
  • "The vaccine battlegrounds." By Jefferey Kluger. Time, June 24, 2019, pp. 38-43.
    Discusses vaccine-related legislation recently addressed in state legislatures. Considers oppositional efforts against state legislation requiring vaccinations, despite a record number of measles cases in the United States.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

 

This entry was posted on June 27, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 308 views. Print this entry.

New & Noteworthy: June 2019

Jun 26

posted by TexasLRL in New to our collection

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the five titles from our June 2019 New & Noteworthy list. 

Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website, contact the library at 512-463-1252, or use our PDF request form.

 

1. Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration
By Emily Bazelon
Argues that prosecutors have unchecked power that is a major contributing factor to mass incarceration in the United States. Presents the issue in a compelling manner through the experiences of two young people who were caught up in the criminal justice system. Describes how reform within district attorneys' offices and changes to state laws could address the overuse of incarceration.
Random House, 2019. 409 pages.
345.73 B347C 2019


 

 

2. Economics of Higher Education in the United States
By Thomas Adam and A. Burcu Bayram, editors
Analyzes the changing economic environment of higher education and reviews the historical roots of the student debt crisis. Claims today's focus on college tuition and student loans derived from a fundamental shift in the historically-defined purpose for a college education – what was once perceived as a public good, normally free to the user, developed into an environment in which higher education became a privilege, determined by financial wealth and market forces. Suggests prohibitive higher education costs could hamper states' efforts to create the skilled workforce key to states' economic growth and necessary to meet employers' needs.
Texas A&M University Press, 2019. 209 pages.
378.3 AD14E 2019


 

 

3. The Meanest Man in Congress: Jack Brooks and the Making of an American Century
By Timothy McNulty and Brendan McNulty
Profiles former Congressman and Texas Representative Jack Brooks, a Democrat who served in the 50th and 51st Texas legislatures and the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 through 1995. Describes his life, from his upbringing in Beaumont and enlistment in World War II to his political career under ten U.S. presidents. Highlights Brooks' influence as a member of the Texas congressional delegation, his leadership roles on congressional committees and subcommittees, his insistence on government oversight, and his successes in passing bipartisan legislation. Describes his candid manner and demanding methods which earned him the (mostly complimentary) reputation of being the "Meanest Man in Congress." Details his roles in advancing LBJ's Great Society, the impeachment of Nixon, and investigating the Iran-Contra Affair.
NewSouth Books, 2019. 509 pages.
328.73092 M235M 2019


 

 

4. The River and the Wall
By Ben Masters
Chronicles the ambitious trip of three Texans along the U.S.-Mexico border from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico. Illustrates border issues through photography, firsthand experiences, environmental features of the Big Bend and the Rio Grande, and interviews with landowners, immigrants, and U.S. Representatives Will Hurd and Beto O'Rourke.
Texas A&M University Press, 2019. 188 pages.
917.64 M393R 2019


 

 

5. Summary of Conference Committee Report for House Bill 1: Appropriations for the 2020-21 Biennium
By Legislative Budget Board
Presents an overview of the conference committee report for HB 1, 86th Legislature. Details the total appropriations for the 2020–21 biennium by each method of finance for each article in the bill. Provides a comparison point between the different versions of the bill as it progressed through budget deliberations, enabling readers to identify the differences between chamber bills, or a specific chamber’s changes.
Legislative Budget Board, 2019. 77 pages.
Online at: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Documents/Appropriations_Bills/86/Conference_Bills/5872_S12_Bill_Summary.pdf
L1300.8 B859 202021SC

This entry was posted on June 26, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 453 views. Print this entry.

Locating Bill Effective Dates on TLO

Jun 24

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process, Legislation

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 392 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, June 20

Jun 20

posted by TexasLRL in Research Resources, Current Articles

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

  • Examine ways to address prescription drug pricing policy. (The Heritage Foundation, June 7, 2019)
  • Consider whether your tax information is secure. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, June 11, 2019)
  • See how Americans are accessing the internet. (Pew Research Center, June 13, 2019)
  • Explore how telehealth can reach patients in rural and underserved areas. (National Conference of State Legislatures, May 30, 2019)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "New psychiatric hospital seen as key to boosting care, saving money." By Will Anderson. Austin Business Journal, June 7, 2019, pp. 12-13.
    Highlights SB2111, 86th Legislature, relating to the redevelopment of the Austin State Hospital campus, a key step to improving mental health treatment. Includes comment by Senator Kirk Watson.
  • "SNAP caseload and spending declines have accelerated in recent years." By Dorothy Rosenbaum and Brynne Keith-Jennings. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, June 6, 2019, pp. 1-20.
    Examines the decline in participation and spending in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], formerly food stamps, and possible contributing reasons factors of the improving economy and the three-month time limit on SNAP participation by childless adults without disabilities. Includes table of SNAP caseload changes by state, showing Texas with a 9.3 percent decrease in average monthly SNAP participants from 2013-2018.
  • "Supporting older youth beyond age 18: Examining data and trends in extended foster care." By Rachel Rosenberg and Samuel Abbott. Child Trends, June 2019, pp. 1-16.
    Analyzes the effect of extended foster care, when youth stay in care past age 18 with additional services and supports, on important young adult outcomes, including high school graduation/GED, employment, school enrollment, homelessness, and young parenthood. Finds permanency rates are largely stable in states that have implemented extended foster care.
  • "As abortion battles intensify in states, misperceptions abound." By Samantha Laine Perfas and Jessica Mendoza. Christian Science Monitor, June 3, 2019, pp. 14-15.
    Considers the abortion issue in terms of facts, context, and political rhetoric.
  • "Alternative energy — castles in the sky?" Economist, June 8th-14th, 2019, pp. 71-72.
    Points out a new approach to generating electricity from the wind without the use of wind turbines.
  • "America First trade policy." Economist, June 8th-14th, 2019, pp. 65-66.
    Points out how the Trump administration's trade policies are challenging the multilateral trade system. Discusses the consequences of weaponizing tariffs to effect change in other countries' trade policies.
  • "Charting the continued friction between K-12 spending, equity." By Alex Harwin and Sterling C. Lloyd. Education Week, June 5, 2019, pp. 10-12.
    Analyzes federal data to grade how well states are doing with K-12 spending and the equitable distribution of school funds. Reports Texas received a grade of D+ on this year's Quality Counts school finance report card.
  • "Maximizing job creation bang-for-buck by reducing import leakages." By Josh Bivens. EPI Policy Memorandum, June 13, 2019, pp. 1-11.
    Finds that ambitious investment in infrastructure and reducing the United States trade deficit that allows jobs to "leak" outside the economy will create thousands of additional manufacturing jobs in the United States, putting American manufacturing production on a more level playing field with global competitors.
  • "How accurate are net price calculators?" By Laura Perna and Jeremy Wright-Kim. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, May/June 2019, pp. 8-9.
    Finds that some net price calculators on college and university websites are difficult to locate, work inconsistently, and present information in ways that may mislead students and families on the expected cost of attendance.
  • "School counselors express concerns about college and career advising in Texas." By Hector Bojorquez. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), May 2019, pp. 1-2, 4.
    Reports on preliminary findings from a study of how counselors view their roles, including the effects of the endorsement system of college or career pathways set up by 2013 legislation in Texas.
  • "The Permian's demographics." By Paula Dittrick. Oil and Gas Journal, June 3, 2019, p. 14.
    Summarizes the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association's [TIPRO] 2019 Permian Basin Report, which looks at trends in the labor force, education, and population in a 61-county area known as the Permian Basin region.
  • "Oh deer." By Tate Watkins. Reason, July 2019, pp. 33-35.
    Reviews the history of wildlife management in the United States. Considers how developing a legal market for venison could control the deer population, similar to the Texas program that allows harvesting of wild hogs.
  • "Education: Unlocking access." By Bennett G. Boggs and Lesley Kennedy. State Legislatures, May/June 2019, pp. 6-11.
    Examines whether free college policies — known as promise programs — are making the grade. Points out six criteria successful promise programs should pursue.
  • "A disappointing end to eminent domain reform efforts." By Russell Boening. Texas Agriculture, June 7, 2019, p. 2.
    Discusses SB421, 86th Legislature, relating to eminent domain reform in Texas, which stalled during the Texas Farm Bureau's attempts at compromising with the state's oil and gas industry. Mentions HB991, 86th Legislature.
  • "Who counts?" By Eric Benson. Texas Monthly, June 2019, pp. 54-60.
    Discusses the 2020 census and efforts to ensure a complete count, especially in Hidalgo County. Examines the effect a citizenship question could have on participation and the repercussions of an undercount for Texas. Mentions Representative Cesar Blanco.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on June 20, 2019 at 3:15 PM and has received 363 views. Print this entry.

Bill Statistics after Signing/Veto Period, 86th Legislature

Jun 17

posted by TexasLRL in Legislative process, Legislation, Bill statistics

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 587 views. Print this entry.

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