Texas House Bill HR16

Texas 2021 - 87th 2nd C.S.

Caption

Amending the permanent rules of the House of Representatives to decrease the number of days that a bill or resolution must be in a calendars committee before action is required to be taken on the bill or resolution.

Impact

By amending the time limit for placing bills on calendars, HR16 aims to enhance the efficiency of legislative proceedings. This change is expected to allow for a quicker turnaround of legislative matters, ensuring that issues requiring attention are not stalled unnecessarily. Proponents of the bill believe that reducing the timeframe will lead to increased responsiveness to legislative needs and timely discussions on important matters.

Summary

HR16 proposes amendments to the permanent rules of the Texas House of Representatives, particularly focusing on the timeline for actions taken by the calendars committee concerning bills and resolutions. The bill specifically reduces the time limit from 30 calendar days to 7 calendar days for the committee to vote on whether to place a bill on one of the House calendars. This change is intended to expedite the legislative process and ensure that bills are addressed more promptly within the House's agenda.

Contention

While supporters advocate for faster processing of bills, there may be contention regarding whether the shortened timeframe will compromise thorough examination and debate of proposed legislation. Critics may express concerns that reducing the time limit for calendar placement could lead to rushed decision-making and hinder the ability of members to fully review and understand the implications of the bills being considered.