![]() ![]() Two-thirds of the members have to show up to get anything done. Both chambers can vote to adjourn, or they can break quorum. The special session can end early though, without tackling every item on the governor's call. Bills still go through the same process as in the regular legislative session: They go through the various committees and need to pass in both chambers to become law. The Legislature has just 30 days to tackle everything on the governor's call. "So, he can balance those interests and use the call strategically." He may say, 'Look, you're not going to get another swing at this for a year and a half, unless I open up the call on this other issue that you want,'" Stewart says. "Let’s say needs a vote on a particular issue. Stewart says that gives the governor a lot of power. Lawmakers can file bills, too, but they're limited to items on the governor's call. Once lawmakers work through the sunset issue, they can move on to the 19 other issues, which includes bills on property tax reform, local ordinances and transgender public restroom use. His first priority for lawmakers is so-called sunset legislation, which would keep state agencies like the Texas Medical Board running. Greg Abbott only has 20 items on his call. He or she can pick the number of topics they want to tackle, and there's no limit. To call a special session, the governor has to issue an official proclamation with any items he wants the Legislature to address. If there's something important going on in the state or nationally and the Legislature needs to address it, then the governor has the power to call them in." "It can be called if there were items that didn't get passed, but it can also be called for emergencies. "It can really be called for any reason at any time," says Kevin Stewart, the author of the "Texas Legislative Law Handbook. After that, there are 19 other items on the agenda - review those here.Īs part of our Texas Decides series, a listener wanted to know more about special sessions and who pays for them. They're tasked with passing sunset legislation to keep state agencies open. Lawmakers head back to Austin Tuesday for a 30-day special session of the 85th Legislature. The special session is best described in two words: legislative overtime. During the regular legislative session, Texas lawmakers meet every two years for 140 days. ![]()
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