By: Raney H.J.R. No. 152
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment regarding certain
organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified voters
for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall be chosen after
every apportionment, and the Senators elected after each
apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats
of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the
expiration of the first two years, and those of the second class at
the expiration of four years, so that one half of the Senators shall
be chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office
following their election, on the day set [by law] for the convening
of the [Regular Session of the] Legislature for an organizational
session under Section 5a of this article, and shall serve
thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.
SECTION 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be
chosen by the qualified voters for the term of two years.
Representatives shall take office following their election, on the
day set [by law] for the convening of the [Regular Session of the]
Legislature for an organizational session under Section 5a of this
article, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to
which elected.
SECTION 3. Section 5, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5. MEETINGS[; ORDER OF BUSINESS]. (a) The Legislature
shall meet every two years at such time as may be provided by law and
at other times when convened by the Governor.
(b) When convened in regular Session, the Legislature may
hold hearings and act upon legislation, appropriations,
resolutions, emergency matters submitted by the Governor in special
messages to the Legislature, and any other matters not otherwise
prohibited by law or relevant rules adopted by each House [first
thirty days thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills
and resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing
upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and
such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in
special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty
days of the regular session of the Legislature the various
committees of each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills
and resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency
matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the remainder
of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and
resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters
as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the
Legislature].
(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
announce committee assignments not later than the second Tuesday in
January following the convening of the legislature in regular
session [Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may
determine its order of business by an affirmative vote of
four-fifths of its membership].
SECTION 4. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 5a to read as follows:
Sec. 5a. (a) The legislature shall convene for an
organizational session at noon on the second Tuesday in December of
each even-numbered year. When convened for an organizational
session the legislature may take only the following actions:
(1) swearing in of members;
(2) election of officers under Section 9 of this
article; and
(3) adoption of rules of procedure under Section 11 of
this article.
(b) The number of days convened in an organizational session
under this section does not count toward the maximum duration of a
regular session under Section 24 of this article.
SECTION 5. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding certain
organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature."