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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment regarding certain |
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organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 3. The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified voters |
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for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall be chosen after |
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every apportionment, and the Senators elected after each |
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apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of |
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the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration |
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of the first two years, and those of the second class at the |
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expiration of four years, so that one half of the Senators shall be |
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chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office following |
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their election, on the day set [by law] for the convening of the |
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[Regular Session of the] Legislature for an organizational session |
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under Section 5a of this article, and shall serve thereafter for the |
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full term of years to which elected. |
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SECTION 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 4. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be |
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chosen by the qualified voters for the term of two years. |
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Representatives shall take office following their election, on the |
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day set [by law] for the convening of the [Regular Session of the] |
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Legislature for an organizational session under Section 5a of this |
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article, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to |
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which elected. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 5(b) and (c), Article III, Texas |
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Constitution, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) When convened in regular session [Session], the |
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legislature may [first thirty days thereof shall be devoted to the |
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introduction of bills and resolutions, acting upon emergency |
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appropriations, passing upon the confirmation of the recess |
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appointees of the Governor and such emergency matters as may be |
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submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature. |
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During the succeeding thirty days of the regular session of the |
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Legislature the various committees of each House shall] hold |
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hearings and act on [to consider all] bills and resolutions, |
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including appropriations, [and other matters then pending; and such |
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emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the |
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remainder of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills |
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and resolutions as may be then pending and upon such] emergency |
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matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to |
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the legislature, and any other matter not otherwise prohibited by |
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this constitution or the applicable rules of procedure adopted by |
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each house of the legislature [Legislature]. |
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(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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announce committee assignments not later than the second Tuesday in |
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January following the convening of the legislature in regular |
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session [Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may |
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determine its order of business by an affirmative vote of |
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four-fifths of its membership]. |
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SECTION 4. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 5a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 5a. (a) The legislature shall convene for an |
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organizational session at noon on the second Tuesday in December of |
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each even-numbered year. When convened for an organizational |
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session the legislature may take only the following actions: |
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(1) swearing in of members; |
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(2) election of officers under Section 9 of this |
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article; and |
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(3) adoption of rules of procedure under Section 11 of |
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this article. |
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(b) The number of days convened in an organizational session |
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under this section does not count toward the maximum duration of a |
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regular session under Section 24 of this article. |
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SECTION 5. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding certain |
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organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature." |