86th Texas Legislature Dates of Interest

The 86th Texas Legislature will formally begin its biennial regular session on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. These dates demonstrate the political process that occurs before, during, and after the legislative session, and provide the structure upon which legislation will be introduced, considered, and amended by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The ultimate goal of this legislative process is the passage of laws that have the support of the majority of Texas legislators and the constituents they represent.

https://lrl.texas.gov/whatsNew/client/index.cfm/Interim-hearings

85th Texas Legislature: Interim 

• May-June, 2018: The Texas Legislative Budget Board (LBB) sent legislative appropriations request (LAR) instructions to all of the state agencies.
• July-August, 2018: The various state agencies developed strategic plans and associated LARs.
• September-December, 2018: The LBB and the Governor’s Office of Budget, Planning, and Policy will hold hearings on each state agency’s strategic plan and LAR and prepare separate budget recommendations to be presented to the 86th Texas Legislature.
• Tuesday, November 6, 2018: General election for federal, state, and county officers.
• Monday, November 12, 2018: First day legislators and legislators-elect may file bills for the 86th Texas Legislature.

86th Texas Legislature: Regular Session

• Tuesday, January 8, 2019 (1st day): The 86th Texas Legislature will convene and the regular session will begin. Upon this convening of the legislature, the comptroller of public accounts will deliver the Biennial Revenue Estimate to the governor and the 86th Texas Legislature.
• Monday, January 14, 2019: The LBB budget estimates will be delivered to the governor and the 86th Texas Legislature.
• Tuesday, January 15, 2019: The LBB general appropriations bill will be delivered to the governor and the 86th Texas Legislature. Following this, the governor will deliver the governor’s budget to the 86th Texas Legislature prior to the governor’s State of the State Address to the 86th Texas Legislature.
• Friday, March 8, 2019 (60th day): Deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency matters submitted by the governor.
• Monday, May 27, 2019 (140th day): Last day of the 86th Texas Legislature.

86th Texas Legislature: Interim

• Sunday, June 16, 2019: This is the 20th day following the adjournment of the regular session of the 86th Texas Legislature. This will be the final day the governor may sign or veto bills passed during the regular session.
• Monday, August 26, 2019: This is the 91st day following the adjournment of the regular session of the 86th Texas Legislature. This is the date upon which bills without specific effective dates, other than bills with immediate effect, become law throughout the state of Texas.

This information was obtained from tlc.texas.gov.