Legislative Updates

Presumptive House Speaker announces additional staff

By TEXPERS Staff

UPDATED Dec. 2, 2020 - Presumptive Texas House Speaker, Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, has announced additional members of his administrative staff. According to a post published by Scott Braddock on the Quorum Report, Phalen's staff includes Mark Bell, who will serve as the House Speaker's his chief of staff.  Other picks include: Kelly Mitchell, Executive Director of Speaker Operations Jay Dyer, Director of Policy Zach Johnson, Special Advisor and Chief Director of District Operations Enrique Marquez, Director of Communications Cait Meisenheimer, Senior Advisor for Communications Andrew Blifford, Director of Budget Sydney Watts, Director of Administration Margo Cardwell, General Counsel Texas' 87th Legislative Session begins Jan. 12 UPDATED Nov. 12, 2020 - Texas' 87th Legislative Session begins at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. The Texas Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. It limits its regular session to 140 calendar days.  Public pension fund trustees and administrators tracking this year's session activity should familiarize themselves with additional dates of importance:  Friday, March 12, 2021, is the deadline legislators have to file bills and resolutions. Monday, May 31, 2021, is the final day of the regular legislative session. It is officially known as sine die, meaning adjourned with no future action. Sunday, June 20, 2021, is the post-session 20-day deadline for the state's governor to sign or veto legislation. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 (the 91st day after adjournment), is the effective date of legislation passed during the regular session. Even though the 87th Legislative Session hasn't officially begun, it doesn't mean lawmakers aren't busy. Several legislators were re-elected or newly elected to the Texas House and Senate on Nov. 3, 2020, and bill prefiling began on Nov. 9.  Online Resource A useful site to track legislation is Texas Legislature Online. Among the government website's features, tools allow visitors to search bills, create legislative tracking lists, and receive bill and meeting alerts. The site also provides access to video broadcasts of House and Senate meetings, which may come in handy during the pandemic. Visitors also have access to daily legislative calendars and conduct searches to find your local legislators.  TEXPERS monitors any state and national legislation that impact public employee pensions. As Texas readies for its 87th Legislative Session, association staff will continue to provide updates as legislators prepare for the start of the regular session on Jan. 12. During the session, the association's administration, along with TEXPERS' Legislative Committee and lobbying firm, will track bills and resolutions pertinent to the work of public pension funds. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or visit our website for the latest on public pension legislation.