Legal Resources and Research

Texas Legislative History: Steps in Passing a Bill

1. Bill Introduced: Bill introduced House of Representatives or Senate
Documents: Introduced version of Bill; Bill Analysis

2. Remarks: If sponsor of bill makes remarks, these are recorded in House or Senate Journal
Documents: House Journal or Senate Journal

3.  Bill assigned to Congressional Committee: Hearings held to collect information.
Document: Hearings are taped 1973-present; no written transcripts.
Source: Senate Video Archives / House Video Archives

4.  Committee consideration of reports and analysis and votes on bill.  Committee may amend or substitute bill with another bill.
Documents: Committee reports, Amendments, Bill Analysis, Witness List

5.  If bill recommended, Committee sends back to full House/Senate for debate and vote.  Bill may be amended on the floor.
Documents: Floor Debate, Bill Analysis, Amendments

6.  House/Senate votes on bill.  Votes recorded in the House/Senate Journal.  Bill sent to other chamber. 
Documents: Votes recorded in the House/Senate Journal.  Engrossed bill (official copy of bill as passed by one chamber)

7.  If other legislative chamber passes identical bill, it  is sent to Texas governor to be signed into law.
Documents: Enrolled bill 

8.  If other legislative chamber passes bill but with changes to text, members from both chambers form a conference committee to reconcile differences between two versions.  Conference Committee produces a unified version of bill and a report explaining committee's actions.  Unified version of bill is sent to Governor for signature.
Documents: Conference Report; Unified bill

9.  If Texas Governor signs bill, the bill becomes law.
Documents: Session Laws published in the General and Special Laws of Texas.
Source: General and Special Laws of Texas (Session Law)

10. If Texas Governor vetoes the bill, it is returned to the legislature where it must receive 2/3 majority vote of both house to override the veto.  If Governor refuses to sign, it becomes law in 10 days. 
Documents: Session Laws published in the General and Special Laws of Texas.
Source: General and Special Laws of Texas (Session Law)

11. After bill becomes law, law is incorporated into Texas Codes and Revised Civil Statutes.
Document: Texas Codes and Revised Civil Statutes 
Source: Vernon's Texas Codes and Revised Civil Statutes Annotated.  Commonly known as "Vernon's."  See "Texas Statutes & Codes" tab.

.... For more information see How to Follow a Bill Using TLO (Texas Legislature Online)