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The '''[[Texas]] Legislature''' is a bi-cameral legislature consisting of a 150-seat House of Representatives and a 31-seat Senate.  Many of the legislators are in for decades (Texas does not have [[term limits]] for the Legislature), and [[dark-money globalists]] tend to control the agenda there as there are no limits on campaign contributions.  In addition, the Legislature historically has allowed members of the minority party to chair committees.  Their top priority in several legislative sessions has been to enact the "horrible idea" (Justice [[Antonin Scalia]]'s observation) of the [[Convention of States]].

The '''[[Texas]] Legislature''' is the legislative branch of the State of Texas.

The Legislature meets in January of odd-numbered years only for a total of 140 days, and must adjourn no later than May 31 of that year, unless called into special session.  Uniquely, the Legislature cannot call itself into such a session (unlike most other states), only the Governor can do so (as many times as desired) for a 30-day session, and the only legislation that can be considered in a special session is that which the Governor announces in his proclamation calling for one (or in an amended proclamation); the Legislature cannot consider any on its own.

As with all other states except [[Nebraska]], it is a bi-cameral legislature, consisting of a 150-member House of Representatives (led by the Speaker of the House, elected from among the membership of the House, who by custom rarely votes on legislation) and a 31-member Senate (led by the Lieutenant Governor, popularly elected statewide but who votes only in case of a tie).  Representatives serve for two-year terms.  Senators serve for four-year terms, but due to a provision in the [[Texas Constitution|state constitution]] requiring the entire Senate to stand for re-election after the Federal Census is complete (this takes place in years ending in "2") and another provision which randomly determines which Senate seats will stand for re-election two years or four years thereafter, the seats stand for re-election three times in a ten-year period with roughly 1/2 of the Senate subject to re-election every two years.  Texas does not have [[term limits]] on members of the Legislature (or any office which, by either the state constitution or state law, is an elected office).

Bills passed and signed take effect at the beginning of the state fiscal year (September 1) or a later date specified in the bill, or if passed by 2/3 vote to give the bill upon passage/signature immediate effect or on an earlier date specified.

It is one of only a few state legislatures, and by far the largest, that does not meet annually or full time; it meets in regular session only in odd-numbered years and only for a total of 140 days (the session begins in January and must adjourn no later than May 31 of that year).  Furthermore, the Legislature cannot call itself into a special session (unlike most other states), only the Governor can do so (as many times as desired) for a 30-day session, and the only legislation that can be considered in such a session is that which the Governor announces in his proclamation calling for one (or in an amended proclamation); the Legislature cannot consider any legislation its own.

Although the Democrats controlled the Legislature for the majority of its existence, it has generally been conservative in the legislation passed.  This is due in large part to the [[Texas Constitution|state constitution]], one of the longest and most restrictive in the world, which greatly limits what the legislature can pass.<ref>One of the more restrictive, if not unique, provisions is that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts -- the equivalent of a state treasurer in most states -- has the duty to determine the state's estimate of expected revenue over a two-year period, and must reject any appropriation which exceeds this estimate unless the Legislature passed it by at least a 4/5 majority in both chambers.</ref>

Bills passed and signed take effect at the beginning of the state fiscal year (September 1) or a later date specified in the bill, or if passed by 2/3 vote to give the bill upon passage/signature immediate effect or on an earlier date specified. By tradition, the first bills introduced in either chamber (House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1) are the General Appropriations Act, and the chambers alternate between sessions on which one will ultimately be the final Act.

As of the 2022 elections, the breakdown is as follows:

 

As of the 88th Legislature, the breakdown by party is as follows:

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The [[Texas Constitution]] mandates a quorum in order for business to be conducted.  Democrats (both when they have held control and when they have not) have used this provision to ignore their duty to represent their constituents, by physically leaving the state in order to keep legislation from passing, notably twice in 2021 (during both the regular session and the first special session called) when they were in opposition.  The latter move in July 2021 has kept needed legislation to reform Child Protective Services and to provide retired teachers a bonus check from passing.

The [[Texas Constitution]] mandates a quorum in order for business to be conducted.  Democrats (both when they have held control and when they have not) have used this provision to ignore their duty to represent their constituents, by physically leaving the state in order to keep legislation from passing, notably twice in 2021 (during both the regular session and the first special session called) when they were in opposition.  The latter move in July 2021 initially kept needed legislation to reform Child Protective Services and to provide retired teachers a bonus check from passing.

 

 

One notable criticism is the repeated passage of legislation that would enact the "horrible idea" (Justice [[Antonin Scalia]]'s observation) of the [[Convention of States]].

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