Texas House Bill HB145

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

• Filed: 11/10/14

Caption

Relating to certain legislative deadlines.

Impact

If enacted, HB 145 would amend Chapter 322 of the Government Code by adding Section 322.025 that imposes specific requirements on the legislature regarding the transmission of significant bills to the Governor. This change is intended to prioritize legislative processes and ensure that critical financial and regulatory matters are handled promptly. The legislation aims to reduce bottlenecks in the legislative workflow and ensure that urgent legislative responses, particularly in public school finance, are not neglected due to procedural delays.

Summary

House Bill 145, introduced in the Texas Legislature, pertains to legislative deadlines specifically aimed at improving the efficiency of the legislative process. This bill mandates that certain critical pieces of legislation must be sent to the Governor by the 100th legislative day, ensuring timely consideration of essential legislative actions. The specifics include the General Appropriations Act, reauthorizations of state agencies under review by the sunset advisory commission, and any legislation addressing public school finance as a response to court orders for invalidity or unconstitutionality. This bill is seen as a measure to streamline legislative operations and ensure that vital issues are addressed without delay.

Contention

While the bill appears to be a straightforward approach to enhancing legislative efficiency, potential points of contention may arise regarding the balance it seeks to create between timely legislation and thorough consideration of bills. Some lawmakers may express concerns that expedited deadlines could pressure legislators to compromise the deliberative process, potentially sacrificing the quality of the legislation for speed. The implications of defining which bills are deemed urgent may also lead to debates over priorities and the adequacy of the legislative process, especially concerning public school finance issues resulting from judicial decisions.