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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 |
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of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the |
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expiration of the first two years, and those of the second class at |
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the expiration of four years, so that one half of the Senators shall |
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be chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office |
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following their election, on the day set [by law] for the convening |
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of the [Regular Session of the] Legislature for an organizational |
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session under Section 5a of this article, and shall serve |
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thereafter for the 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. Section 5, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 5. MEETINGS[; ORDER OF BUSINESS]. (a) The Legislature |
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shall meet every two years at such time as may be provided by law and |
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at other times when convened by the Governor. |
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(b) When convened in regular Session, the Legislature may |
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hold hearings and act upon legislation, appropriations, |
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resolutions, emergency matters submitted by the Governor in special |
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messages to the Legislature, and any other matters not otherwise |
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prohibited by law or relevant rules adopted by each House [first |
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thirty days thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills |
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and resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing |
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upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and |
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such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in |
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special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty |
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days of the regular session of the Legislature the various |
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committees of each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills |
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and resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency |
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matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the remainder |
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of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and |
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resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters |
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as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the |
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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." |