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."