Focus Report, Volume 76, Number 3, January 1999 Page: 1
16 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
(L~ ,4%QQ
L}. L. 0 U ;1
L I L t _a r Jl;
RESEARCH
ORGANIZATION
Texas House of Representatives/
EPOSITORY LIBRARY W ,0
session focus
January 29, 1999How a Bill Becomes Law: 76th Legislature
The Texas Constitution and the rules of the House
and the Senate govern the movement of bills through
the Legislature. This report summarizes the key
constitutional provisions and rules governing bills in
the Legislature, with emphasis on the House Rules.
The House Rules for the 76th Legislature are found in
HR 5 by Wilson et al., adopted by the House on
January 14, 1999. References to bills also apply to
joint resolutions, unless otherwise noted.
Form and Content of Bills
Each bill filed in the Legislature must have three
parts:
+ a descriptive caption, beginning: "A Bill to be
Entitled an Act," along with a brief statement giving
the Legislature and the public reasonable notice of the
subject of the bill;
+ an enacting or resolving clause, "Be it Enacted by
the Legislature of the State of Texas"; and
+ the body of the bill (Rule 8, sec. 1).
Each bill must pertain to only one subject, except
for the general appropriations bill, recodification bills,
and joint resolutions (Constitution Art. 3, sec. 35; Rule
8, sec. 3; Rule 9, sec. 1(b)).
All revenue-raising bills must originate in the House
(Constitution Art. 3, sec. 33).
Certain local or special bills are specifically banned
by the Constitution in Art. 3, sec. 56. Examples
include bills that would grant individual divorces,
change venue in criminal cases, change the names of
persons, or legalize invalid wills or deeds.The House Rules also prohibit consideration of
"bracket" bills, which affect only a particular city or
county but fail to name the locality. (For example, a
bill might apply to cities with populations of more than
2,999 but less than 3,001.) However, bills may use a
population minimum or maximum that "bears a
reasonable relation" to the bill's purpose (Rule 8, sec.
10).
A bill or resolution has one primary author, who
may designate, by written authorization filed with the
chief clerk, up to four joint authors. Members seeking
to become coauthors must file a form with the chief
clerk showing written authorization from the author,
then file another form to be designated a coauthor.
Coauthors may withdraw their names by notifying the
chief clerk (Rule 8, sec. 5).
Contents
The Bill in Committee 2
The Calendars System 5
Order of Business 7
Floor Consideration 7
Senate Procedures 12
After Passage by Both Houses 14
End-of-Session Deadlines 15
The Governor's Role 15No. 76-3
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Research Organization. Focus Report, Volume 76, Number 3, January 1999, periodical, January 29, 1999; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth641010/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.