2021 Legislative Update

1. City of College Station
87th Texas Legislature
January 14, 2021

2. 87th Texas Legislature Dates of Interest
– January 12th
Legislature Convened
– March 12th
Last Day to File Bills
– May 31st
Last Day of Regular Session
– June 20th
Last Day Governor Abbott Can Sign or Veto Bills

3. Legislative Snapshot
‣82 Republicans, 67 Democrats in the Texas House
‣18 Republicans, 13 Democrats in the Texas Senate
‣38 Women and 111 Men in the Texas House
‣10 Women and 21 Men in the Texas Senate
‣16 Freshman Representatives; 4 Freshman Senators
‣Avg Age of House Member: 53.8
‣Avg Age of Senate Member: 61.5

4. Legislative Leadership
SENATE
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick returns to preside over the Senate
having first been elected to that position in 2014. He previously
served two four-year terms in the State Senate representing part of
Harris County.
HOUSE
State Representative Dade Phelan of Beaumont was elected Speaker of
the House of Representatives Tuesday. He replaces Speaker Dennis
Bonnen who did not seek re-election in 2020. Speaker Phelan was first
elected to the legislature in 2014 and served as Chairman of State
Affairs in 2019.

5. Bills Filed
Prefiling of legislation began Monday, November
9th, 2020.
Through January 13th:
House Bills Filed: 1,078
Senate Bills Filed: 310

6. Capitol & Legislative Operations
-The Capitol reopened to the public January 4th and is open between the
hours of 9am - 6pm; it is closed to the public on weekends.
-Free COVID-19 testing is set up in a tent on the north side of the Capitol.
-Masks are required to be worn in the common areas of the Capitol building.
-Both bodies are requiring their members to wear masks in their chambers.
-Availability of seating in the House and Senate gallery is reduced.
-Individual offices can establish their own policies and procedures for that
space.

7. Senate Rules
-Senate Rules were adopted Wednesday afternoon.
-The number of votes needed to bring a bill up for consideration on the
Senate Floor was reduced from 19 to 18 which equals the current
number of Republican members.
-Members of the public wishing to sit in the Senate gallery will be
required to be tested for COVID-19 before entry.
-Senators and staff must be tested each day before accessing the Senate
Chamber or a committee hearing.
-Senators are allowed one staff member on the Senate Floor when they
are in session.

8. House Rules
-The House is scheduled to debate and approve Rules today.

9. Issues for the 87th Legislature
– State Budget for the 2022-2023 Biennium
– Redistricting
– COVID-19
– Everything Else
– Chapter 313 Extension
– Clean Up Bills for SB 2 and HB 3 from 2019
– Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
– RMA Funding
– Reauthorization of the Plumbing License Law
– MOU

10. QUESTIONS
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