89th Texas Legislative Session
January 14, 2025 - June 2, 2025 | Texas Capitol - Austin, TX

As the 89th Texas Legislative Session occurs January 14 - June 2, 2025. Below are some key takeaways and deadlines for the 89th Leg. Session. The 90th Regular Legislative Session will take place January 12, 2027 - May 31, 2027.

The Basics of the Texas Legislative Session & Deadlines

• Timing Matters: The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every two years, with key deadlines shaping the process:
  • January 14, 2025: The Session Begins
    • First day of regular session marks the formal start of the legislative process. Lawmakers continue filing bills, discussing priorities, and organizing committees.
  • February 13, 2025: Committees Begin Passing Legislation
    • On the 30th day of session, committees can start voting on non-emergency legislation.
  • March 14, 2025: Bill Filing Deadline
    • This is the last day for lawmakers to file new bills (except for certain emergency or local measures).
  • March 15, 2025: Voting Begins
    • Both the House and Senate can begin voting on all non-emergency legislation.
  • May 12, 2025: House Committees Report House Bills Deadline
    • Deadline to report House bills out of House committees. Any House bill not reported out of committee by this deadline is effectively dead.
  • May 15, 2025: House Bills Deadline
    • The House must complete second readings of House bills and join resolutions listed on the daily or supplemental calendar. Any House originated legislation that hasn’t advanced to this state is effectively dead.
  • May 16, 2025: Final House Readings
    • This is the last day for the House to consider:
      • Consent House bills on the local and consent calendar (both second and third readings).
      • All third reading House bills and joint resolutions.
  • May 23, 2025: Senate Bill Reporting Deadline
    • House committees must report all Senate bills and joint resolutions by this date. This ensures that Senate-originated legislation has time to move through the remaining states in the House.
  • May 27, 2025: Senate Bills’ Second Readings in the House
    • The House must complete second readings of Senate bills and join resolutions on its calendar. Delays beyond this point spell the end for most remaining Senate-originated legislation.
  • May 28, 2025: Final Votes on Senate Bills
    • The House concludes its consideration of Senate bills on this day (Day 135), focusing on:
      • Local and consent Senate bills (both second and third readings).
      • All third reading Senate bills and joint resolutions.
  • June 2, 2025: Adjournment (Sine Die)
    • The final day of the session, known as “Sine Die,” marks the conclusion of the legislative process.
  • June 22, 2025: Governor’s Signature/Veto Deadline
    • Governor’s deadline to sign or veto bills passed during the session. Any bills not signed or vetoed by this date automatically become law.
  • September 1, 2025: Effective Date for Most New Laws
    • Most legislation passed during the session takes effect on this date unless otherwise specified. For Texans, this is when many of the changes made during the session begin to impact their daily lives.
• The House & Senate Make Their Own Rules: Under the Texas Constitution, each chamber sets its own rules for procedure, committee operations and floor debates. Understanding these rules is crucial for navigating the process effectively.

How a Bill Becomes Law (or Doesn’t)

• The Funnel Effect: The legislative process is designed to kill more bills than it passes. In the last session, over 8,345 bills were filed, but only 15% became law.
• Key Stages of the Process: A bill must go through multiple hurdles:
  • House Committee → House Calendars → House Floor
  • Senate Committee → Senate Floor → Conference Committee
  • Governor’s Desk for approval or veto
• Alternative Strategies: Instead of passing a standalone bill, amendments can be added to existing legislation to navigate roadblocks and deadlines.

Take Action

Bill Tracking