Less than 25 days remain in the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. Deadlines are swiftly approaching.
Many bills are crossing the rotunda for consideration in the opposite chamber; others are dying. Likewise, the Pro-Life priority bills are reaching a critical point in their journey through the Texas Legislature.
Below is a brief summary of where each priority bill stands and the remaining hurdles each has before reaching Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. For a description of each Pro-Life priority, visit https://texasrighttolife.com/priorities21/.
1. The Texas Abolition Strategy
SB 1647 by Senator Perry & HB 3760 by Representative Oliverson, M.D.
Last action: SB 1647 has passed the Senate. Both SB 1647 and HB 3760 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 15 and are in the House Committee on Calendars.
What’s next: The Calendars Committee must schedule either bill for debate and vote on the House floor. SB 1647 should be considered on the House floor since it has already passed the Senate.
2. Preborn NonDiscrimination Act (PreNDA)
SB 1173 by Senator Hancock & HB 3218 by Representative Schaefer
Last action: SB 1173 has passed the Senate. Both SB 1173 and HB 3218 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 15 and are in the House Committee on Calendars.
What’s next: The Calendars Committee must schedule either bill for debate and vote on the House floor. SB 1173 should be considered on the House floor as it has already passed the Senate.
3. Texas Heartbeat Act
SB 8 by Senator Hughes & HB 1515 by Representative Slawson
Last action: SB 8 has passed the Senate and the House after being amended.
What’s next: SB 8 was amended in the House and must receive one more procedural vote in the Senate to concur with House amendments. Then SB 8 will go to Governor Abbott’s desk for his approval.
4. Repeal anti-Life “10-Day Rule” in the Texas Advance Directives Act
SB 917 by Senator Hughes & HB 2609 by Representative Parker
Last action: HB 2609 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 28 and is on its way to the House Committee on Calendars. SB 917 had a public hearing and is still awaiting a vote by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
What’s next: The Calendars Committee must schedule HB 2609 for debate and vote on the House floor. HB 2609 must then pass the Senate. SB 917 must pass the committee and the Senate floor before going to the House, where the bill must again pass out of committee and receive a vote on the House floor.
5. Conscience protections for healthcare professionals
SB 1674 by Senator Hall & HB 1424 by Representative Oliverson, M.D.
Last action: HB 1424 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 26 and arrived in the House Committee on Calendars on May 5. SB 1674 has yet to receive a hearing by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
What’s next: The Calendars Committee must schedule HB 1424 for debate on the floor, where the bill must pass. HB 1424 must then pass the committee and the floor in the Senate. SB 1674 still has to navigate the entire process, first starting with a committee hearing.
Critical Dates for the end of Session:
- May 13: Last day for the full House to consider House Bills on second reading
- May 25: Last day for the full House to consider Senate Bills on second reading
- May 26: Last day for the full Senate to consider all bills on second or third reading
- May 30: Last day for the House and Senate to concur on changes to bills made in the opposite chamber
- May 31: Last day of the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (Sine Die)
