Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. 3123.
SR1055 has implications for various state entities governed by the Texas Sunset Act, which is a process that provides regular review of state agencies to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness. Specifically, the resolution highlighted provisions regarding the Texas Department of Transportation and the North Texas Tollway Authority, which is set to be reviewed in relation to their operational and funding processes. By allowing adjustments in the review scope, this resolution fosters accountability and oversight in how public transportation entities manage state resources.
Senate Resolution 1055 (SR1055) was introduced during the 84th Legislature of Texas in 2015 to suspend certain parliamentary rules to facilitate the resolution of differences in House Bill 3123, which concerns governmental entities subject to the sunset review process. The resolution aimed to allow the conference committee to consider and take action on specific sections of the House bill while excluding parts that were not contentious. This enables a streamlined legislative process where agreement can be reached more efficiently on specific items of the proposed legislation.
Notable points of contention surrounding SR1055 arise from the procedural changes it proposes. Opponents may argue that suspending standard rules compromises legislative transparency, as excluding certain text from the discussion could limit comprehensive scrutiny of state functions. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the scope of sunset reviews as they pertain to sensitive public entities. Such reviews should ideally capture a wide range of operational practices to ensure public funds are utilized effectively, leading to debates about the extent to which the legislature should allow adjustments to standard review practices as defined by existing legislative rules.