By: Raney H.J.R. No. 152

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment regarding certain organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3. The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall be chosen after every apportionment, and the Senators elected after each apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that one half of the Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office following their election, on the day set [by law] for the convening of the [Regular Session of the] Legislature for an organizational session under Section 5a of this article, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.

SECTION 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of two years. Representatives shall take office following their election, on the day set [by law] for the convening of the [Regular Session of the] Legislature for an organizational session under Section 5a of this article, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.

SECTION 3. Section 5, Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5. MEETINGS[; ORDER OF BUSINESS]. (a) The Legislature shall meet every two years at such time as may be provided by law and at other times when convened by the Governor.

(b) When convened in regular Session, the Legislature may hold hearings and act upon legislation, appropriations, resolutions, emergency matters submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature, and any other matters not otherwise prohibited by law or relevant rules adopted by each House [first thirty days thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills and resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty days of the regular session of the Legislature the various committees of each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills and resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the remainder of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature].

(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall announce committee assignments not later than the second Tuesday in January following the convening of the legislature in regular session [Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may determine its order of business by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of its membership].

SECTION 4. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 5a to read as follows:

Sec. 5a. (a) The legislature shall convene for an organizational session at noon on the second Tuesday in December of each even-numbered year. When convened for an organizational session the legislature may take only the following actions:

(1) swearing in of members;

(2) election of officers under Section 9 of this article; and

(3) adoption of rules of procedure under Section 11 of this article.

(b) The number of days convened in an organizational session under this section does not count toward the maximum duration of a regular session under Section 24 of this article.

SECTION 5. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding certain organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature."