Legislative Services

House and Senate Committees Meet

The Legislature may not be predictable, but it is cyclical. In the beginning months of even years, each chamber's presiding officer issues interim charges that direct standing and special committees to study specified subjects. Committee chairs may schedule public hearings immediately, but typically wait until after the primary and runoff elections in May.

This interim, the Legislature adhered to that pattern. With the primary and runoff elections decided, House and Senate committee chairs scheduled committee meetings, set agendas and invited witnesses to testify on the interim charges. The House Committees on Human Services, State Affairs, Insurance and Elections all met in June. Videos of those hearings are available here.

The Senate also immediately delved into study of interim charges, with hearings by the Senate Committees on Criminal Justice, Border Security, Business and Commerce, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. Videos are available here.

Governor Issues Disaster Declaration

The season's first named storm, Tropical Storm Alberto, made landfall on June 20 in Mexico. Though Texas was spared its direct impact, the massive storm brought flooding rains to South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Alberto's storm surge brought coastal flooding as far away as Galveston. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a severe weather disaster declaration on June 19 as Alberto approached, granting affected counties with emergency management authority, as provided by Government Code Chapter 418.

The Texas Association of Counties has created a resources webpage to assist Texas counties recovering from recent severe weather. Information on federal, state and TAC resources is listed.

For more information about this article, please contact Pete Winckler.