Today is the first day of the Texas Legislature's 89th Regular Session. If you’re looking for info on how to keep up with the new session, we’ve got you covered!

What is a regular session?

Every 2 years, the Texas Legislature meets to pass the state’s budget and new legislation. These sessions last for up to 140 days and are referred to as "regular" sessions.

This year’s session is the 89th Regular Session. It starts on January 14th and will run through June 2nd, 2025.

During this time, the 150 members of the House of Representatives and 31 members of the Senate will meet to consider new laws and take care of other matters.

What happens during the session?

The regular sessions consist of three stages, each with different tasks.

In the first 30 days, the Legislature:

• introduces bills & resolutions;
• addresses any emergency appropriations; and
• considers and confirms anyone appointed by the Governor during the recess.

The next 30 days, each house splits into various committees. The committees hold hearings on filed bills, resolutions, and any emergency matters submitted by the Governor.

In the remaining time, each house considers and acts on any pending bills, resolutions, and emergency matters.

How long does the Legislature have to file bills?

Members of the House and Senate began filing bills on November 12th, 2024, and can file new bills for consideration through the first 60 days of the session.

No new bills can be filed after the deadline passes, although emergency matters can still be submitted by the Governor.

Where can I find the filed bills?

Texas Legislature Online (TLO) is the official site for the Texas Legislature. You can check TLO’s General Reports section to view a list of bills filed in the House and Senate. These reports are updated daily.

To track specific legislation, you can create an account through MyTLO. Here you can save searches and bills and sign up for email alerts.

Where can I learn more about the legislative process?

The legislative process can be complicated, but luckily there are a few primers that help cover the basics.

• The Citizen Handbook: How the Texas Legislature Works from the Texas Senate.
• How to Follow a Bill Using TLO summarizes a bill’s progression from start to finish.
• Flowcharts illustrating how a bill becomes law are available for both House and Senate bills.
• The Texas Legislative Council’s guide The Legislative Process in Texas explains each step in detail.

How can I contact my representatives?

You can find a list of members and contact info on the websites of the House and Senate.

Search your address in the Who Represents Me? tool to find your representatives.

What deadlines should I know?

• January 14th is the first day of the Regular Session.
• March 14th is the deadline for filing new bills, with some exceptions for emergency matters.
• June 2nd is the final day of the session. This day is often called "Sine Dine" which is Latin for "without day."
• June 22nd is the final day the Governor can sign or veto any bills passed during the session.
• September 1st is when most new laws go into effect. Some emergency legislation may go into effect earlier.

Keep up with calendars, agendas, bill statuses, and live chamber proceedings on TxLegis.com.

Where can I find information on committees?

Once committee assignments are made, you’ll find them on TLO’s Committees page.

Where can I find information about the budget?

See the Legislative Budget Board’s website for bills, budget estimates, and summaries. The Legislative Reference Library (LRL) also has a page with resources for finding budget documents.

I have a question about the session. Who do I ask?

LRL’s bill status hotline is a great resource for the public during the session! Their librarians can help you learn the status of a bill and more. The toll-free number if you are in Texas is (877) 824-7038.

Additionally, our library can help you with your legislative research question! Send us an e-mail or call us through our Ask a Librarian service.