Changes

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).

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).

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.

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 on its own initiative.

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.

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.