HJR109 - Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding certain organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature.

      By: Leo Wilson H.J.R. No. 109       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.  Sections 5(b) and (c), Article III, Texas   Constitution, are amended to read as follows:          (b)  When convened in regular session [ Session ], the   legislature may [ 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 and act on [ to consider all ] bills and resolutions ,   including appropriations, [ 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, and any other matter not otherwise prohibited by   this constitution or the applicable rules of procedure adopted by   each house of the legislature [ 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 4, 2025.     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."