Focus Report, Volume 83, Number 2, February 20, 2013 Page: 2
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Page 2 House Research Organization
The House Rules also prohibit consideration of
population "bracket" bills, which use population ranges
to limit a bill's application to a particular city or county
without naming the locality. (For example, a bill might
apply to cities with populations of more than 2,999 but less
than 3,001.) However, bills may use a population minimum
or maximum that "bears a reasonable relation" to the bill's
purpose (Rule 8, sec. 10(b)).
A bill or resolution has one primary author, who may
designate, by written authorization filed with the chief
clerk, up to four joint authors. Also, members seeking to
become coauthors must file a form with the chief clerk
showing written authorization from the author and file
another form to be designated a coauthor. Coauthors may
withdraw their names by notifying the chief clerk (Rule 8,
sec. 5).
Filing dates. Beginning the first Monday after the
general election preceding the regular session, or 30 days
before any special session, members and members-elect
may prefile bills and resolutions (Rule 8, sec. 7). A member
may introduce any type of bill or joint resolution during
the first 60 days of the regular session. The 60th day of the
2013 regular session will be Friday, March 8. After the 60th
day, a four-fifths vote of the members present is required
to introduce bills or joint resolutions, other than certain
emergency matters submitted by the governor, emergency
appropriations, and local bills (Rule 8, sec. 8).
Copies required. Nine copies of each bill must be
filed with the chief clerk. Eleven copies must be filed if the
bill relates to water conservation and reclamation districts
governed by Art. 16, sec. 59 of the Constitution (Rule 8,
sec. 9).
Local bill requirements. A notice of a legislator's
intention to file a local bill must be published in a
newspaper in the affected locality at least 30 days before
the bill is introduced (Constitution, Art. 3, sec. 57;
Government Code, sec. 313.002; Rule 8, sec. 10). There
are six types of local bills:
* bills creating or affecting water districts;
* bills creating or affecting hospital districts;
* bills creating or affecting road utility districts;
* bills relating to hunting, fishing, or wildlife
conservation in a specified locality;* bills creating or affecting a county court or
statutory court or courts for one or more specified
counties or municipalities; and
* bills creating or affecting a juvenile board or
boards of a specified county or counties.
If bills of the last three types affect "a sufficient
number" of localities, counties, or municipalities so that, in
effect, they apply generally or have statewide importance,
they are not considered local bills (Rule 8, sec. 10(d)).
First reading and referral to committee. To
become law, a bill must be read in the House and in the
Senate on three separate days. This requirement may be
suspended by a four-fifths vote of the members present
(Constitution, Art. 3, sec. 32; Rule 8, sec. 15).
After a bill is filed and the chief clerk has assigned a
number to the bill, first reading occurs when the reading
clerk reads the bill caption while the House is in session
and announces the committee to which the speaker has
referred the bill. The speaker subsequently may correct
the referral and assign the bill to a different committee,
which usually occurs shortly after the initial referral. The
speaker's referral also may be changed by a majority
vote of the House. The speaker may not refer a bill
simultaneously to more than one committee (Rule 1, sec. 4;
Rule 8, sec. 6).
The bill in committee
No bill may become law unless it is referred to and
reported by a committee (Constitution, Art. 3, sec. 37;
Rule 8, sec. 11). Much of the Legislature's work occurs in
committee.
Rule 3 establishes the 38 House standing committees
and their jurisdictions. Thirty-two are substantive
committees, while six - Calendars, Local and Consent
Calendars, Rules and Resolutions, General Investigating
and Ethics, House Administration, and Redistricting - are
considered procedural committees. Although procedural
committees generally do not review and report legislation,
the speaker may refer bills to the General Investigating
and Ethics, House Administration, and Redistricting
committees.Page 2
House Research Organization
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Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Research Organization. Focus Report, Volume 83, Number 2, February 20, 2013, periodical, February 20, 2013; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth578377/m1/2/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.