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Here’s how some of the Texas Legislature’s most important bills are faring in the 2019 session

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Elderberry:
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/

RetBobbyMI:
So far no relief from runaway school district taxes.

thackney:
My daughter, a first year teacher, has been watching:

School funds and teacher pay

HOUSE   
$6.3 billion   
To increase base funding for each student by $890 and pay for a roughly $1,300 minimum raise for all school employees   

SENATE
$6.3 billion
To increase base funding for each student by $740 and pay for a $5,000 raise for teachers and librarians

I suspect they will pass something because both agree with the total cost to be spent.

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