Texas Tribune 5/22/2019
Lawmakers filed thousands of bills during the 2019 legislative session, ranging from a major overhaul of the school finance system to legislation declaring Space Day at the Texas Capitol. Most of the bills will fail. But lawmakers will spend the final days of the session trying to push through their priorities — and if their bills have failed they still might try to revive them as amendments to other legislation. Here are the steps of the legislative process that we’re tracking.
In the works
Bills are proposed by the House and Senate and must be approved by both chambers. A conference committee reconciles any differences.------
Sent to Abbott
Next, the bills go to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has until June 16 to decide whether to sign or veto.
Sent to Abbott
Raising the smoking age
SB 21: Sent to Abbott on May 21
This measure would raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21, except for military personnel. Read more
Red-light cameras
HB 1631: Sent to Abbott on May 17
The days of red-light cameras monitoring Texas drivers may be numbered if this bill becomes law, but the devices could still linger in some communities for a few more years, as it would only prevent cities from renewing their contracts with vendors. Read more
Signed into law
If Abbott doesn’t sign or veto a bill, it goes into effect automatically. Most new laws take effect Sept. 1.
Signed into law
None of the bills we are watching have reached this point.
Vetoed or failed
Some measures fail before they get out of the Legislature, and Abbott could veto others.------
More:
https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2019/texas-legislature-bills-to-watch/
