The deadline to file legislation in the Texas House and Senate has passed, with Texas Lawmakers filing a staggering 5,301 bills in the Texas House–more than ever before–and 2,565 bills in the Texas Senate.

Proposed legislation has until May 29 to pass through both legislative chambers before heading to the governor’s desk for final approval.

Of the nearly 7,000 bills filed in the House and Senate during the 87th Legislative Session, less than 2,000 passed into law.

Now, of the combined 7,866 bills filed in the House and Senate, leadership from both chambers will prioritize around 100 pieces of legislation.

House Speaker Dade Phelan’s Priorities

  • House Bill 1 – State Budget
  • House Bill 2 – Property Tax Relief Through Appraisal Reform
  • House Bill 3 – Public School Safety Requirements
  • House Bill 4 – Online Data Privacy
  • House Bill 5 – New Corporate Welfare Program to Replace Chapter 313
  • House Bill 6 – Increasing Criminal Penalty for Fentanyl Offenses
  • House Bill 7 – Funding for Border Safety
  • House Bill 8 – Scholarship Fund for Dual Credit Courses
  • House Bill 9 – Broadband Appropriations
  • House Bill 10 – Addressing Texas’ Future Water Needs
  • House Bill 11 – Teacher Salary & Recruitment
  • House Bill 12 – Extending Medicaid Benefits
  • House Bill 13 – School Safety Funding
  • House Bill 14 – Streamline Property Development
  • House Bill 15 – Establish the Mental Health & Brain Institute of Texas
  • House Bill 16 – Juvenile Justice
  • House Bill 17 – Removing District Attorneys Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law
  • House Bill 18 – Online Data Privacy for Minors
  • House Bill 19 – Creating A New Business Specialty Court
  • House Bill 20 – Establishing a Border Protection Unit
  • House Bill 90 – Death Benefits for Texas Military Department
  • House Bill 100 – Enrollment-based Funding System for Public Schools
  • House Bill 200 – Reestablishing the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordination Council
  • House Bill 300 – Tax-free diapers, wipes, and feminine hygiene products
  • House Bill 400 – Increased Funding for Mental Health Workers
  • House Bill 600 – Teacher Retirement Funding
  • House Bill 800 – Increase Penalties for Human Smuggling
  • House Bill 900 – Restrict Explicit and Inappropriate Materials in Public Schools
  • House Bill 1600 – Increase Penalties for Trying to Enter the State other than at an Offical Port of Entry

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s Priorities

  • Senate Bill 1 – State Budget
  • Senate Bill 2 – Restoring Voter Fraud to a Felony
  • Senate Bill 3 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $70,000
  • Senate Bill 4 – Adding Additional Property Tax Relief
  • Senate Bill 5 – Increasing the Business Personal Property Tax Exemption
  • Senate Bill 6 – Adding New Natural Gas Plants
  • Senate Bill 7 – Continuing to Improve the Texas Grid
  • Senate Bill 8 – Empowering Parental Rights – Including School Choice
  • Senate Bill 9 – Empowering Teacher Rights ­­– Teacher Pay Raise
  • Senate Bill 10 – Adding 13th Checks for Retired Teachers
  • Senate Bill 11 – Keeping Our Schools Safe and Secure
  • Senate Bill 12 – Banning Children’s Exposure to Drag Shows
  • Senate Bill 13 – Protecting Children from Obscene Books in Libraries
  • Senate Bill 14 – Ending Child Gender Modification
  • Senate Bill 15 – Protecting Women’s College Sports
  • Senate Bill 16 – Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education
  • Senate Bill 17 – Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education
  • Senate Bill 18 – Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions
  • Senate Bill 19 – Creating A New Higher Education Endowment Fund
  • Senate Bill 20 – Removing District Attorneys Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law
  • Senate Bill 21 – Removing Judges Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law
  • Senate Bill 22 – Assisting Rural Law Enforcement Funding – Increasing Pay and Needed Equipment
  • Senate Bill 23 – Creating A Mandatory 10-Year Prison Sentence for Criminals Committing Gun Crime
  • Senate Bill 24 – Expanding Alternatives to Abortion
  • Senate Bill 25 – Creating New Scholarships for Registered Nurses
  • Senate Bill 26 – Expanding Mental Health Care Beds Across Texas – Focus on Rural Counties
  • Senate Bill 27 – Creating A New Business Specialty Court
  • Senate Bill 28 – Addressing Texas’ Future Water Needs
  • Senate Bill 29 – Banning Local COVID-19 Mandates
  • Senate Bill 30 – Supplemental Budget

GOP Priorities

The Republican Party of Texas has eight legislative priorities this session:

  • Protect our Elections
  • Secure the Border and Protect Texans
  • Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids
  • Ban Democrat Chairs
  • Abolish Abortion in Texas
  • Defend Our Gun Rights
  • Parental Rights and Educational Freedom

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priorities closely align with the GOP, but Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan’s priorities largely differ.

The 88th Legislative Session ends May 29, 2023.

Sydnie Henry

A born and bred Texan, Sydnie serves as the Managing Editor for Texas Scorecard. She graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in Government and is utilizing her research and writing skills to spread truth to Texans.

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