Nov. 12, the first day members of the Texas House could pre-file legislation for the upcoming 89th Legislature, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan issued a statement regarding reserved low bill numbers and other proactive initiatives to ensure a collaborative and productive session.
“With today’s pre-filing window open and the priorities of the 89th Legislature beginning to take shape, I am eager to see the range of ideas Texas House members bring forward on behalf of the Texans they represent,” said Phelan. “Collaboration and a productive mindset will be key to transforming these initial proposals into strong, impactful laws that address the needs of our state, and in that spirit, I have taken several proactive steps to maximize the time we have in session and ensure members are prepared to hit the ground running on day one. There are far too many priorities ahead to let any time go to waste – the 89th Legislature is a chance to capitalize on the House’s historic accomplishments of the past two Legislatures and ensure another banner productive session on behalf of all Texans.”
In preparation for the upcoming session, Phelan has reserved 150 low-numbered bills – symbolic of the 150 members who compose the Texas House – for critical legislation that commands broad support of the majority of the Texas House and reflects the priorities uniting lawmakers within the Texas Capitol. These bill numbers will be reportedly primarily reserved for House priorities, including legislation deemed to be of high importance by members participating in the Speaker’s ongoing policy work groups, along with strong House companion bills that align with the priorities of the Lieutenant Governor and Texas Senate. Bill numbers have also been reserved for legislation Governor Greg Abbott may identify as an emergency item.
In addition to highlighting the objective for low bill numbers, Phelan also announced his intent to expedite House committee assignments come January, issuing them earlier than in previous sessions to enable members to maximize working time from the outset of the legislative session, positioning the House to address critical issues as swiftly and efficiently as possible.
After issuing committee assignments, Phelan aims for House committees to begin holding agency oversight hearings early in the session until bills begin to be referred. Longstanding House Rules afford each non-procedural committee the ability to conduct oversight over state agencies falling within the committee’s jurisdiction. These hearings will allow House committees to conduct comprehensive reviews of state agencies with the goal of reducing bureaucracy and improving government functions.
The scope of the agency oversight hearings announced include, but is not limited to, reviewing agency rulemaking to uphold legislative intent and prevent agency overreach, monitoring agency litigation to identify necessary statutory changes and reviewing agency change orders after original bid acceptance to protect taxpayers from financial waste and misuse.
“Expedited committee assignments and these agency oversight hearings are essential steps in a session where we aim to keep government accountable, prioritize spending and protect Texas taxpayers from unnecessary bureaucracy,” Phelan added. “As Speaker, I will ensure the House continues to work tirelessly to ensure that every bill, every priority, and every dollar spent aligns with the best interests of Texans.”