By: Vasut H.J.R. No. 164
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment repealing the order of
business for regular legislative session.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 5, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended by amending Subsection 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 first thirty days
thereof] the Legislature shall [be devoted to the] introduce[tion
of] bills and resolutions, which the various committees of each
House shall hold hearings to consider prior to acting upon;
act[ing] upon emergency appropriations;[,] and pass[ing] upon the
confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor. [and such]At
any time during regular session the Legislature shall act upon
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) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may
determine its order of business by an affirmative vote of
four-fifths of its membership.
SECTION 2. 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 repealing the order of
business for regular legislative session to permit the various
legislative committees of each House to consider bills and
resolutions and the Legislature to act upon such bills and
resolutions at any time during regular session."