Fewer than 17 days remain in the Regular Session of the 87th Texas Legislature, with deadlines swiftly approaching. Any House bills that have not yet reached the House floor are now dead, and the remaining bills need to move quickly and with intention to successfully reach the governor’s desk before the Legislature adjourns on May 31.
Below is a brief summary of where each of Texas Right to Life’s priority bills stand and the final actions needed for each bill to successfully reach the governor’s desk. You can find a description of each Pro-Life priority here.
1. The Texas Abolition Strategy
Senate Bill 1647 by Senator Perry & House Bill 3760 by Representative Oliverson, M.D.
Movement so far: SB 1647 has passed the Senate. Both SB 1647 and HB 3760 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 15 and reached the House Committee on Calendars. But since HB 3760 was not scheduled for a vote by the May 13 deadline, only SB 1647 can move forward.
What’s next: SB 1647 is still moving and needs to receive a vote on the House floor and sent to the governor before the clock expires. This is possible but needs to be accomplished speedily in order to escape the deadline on May 25. However, if any amendments or changes happen in the House, the bill will need to return to the Senate for approval before reaching Governor Abbott.
2. Preborn NonDiscrimination Act (PreNDA)
Senate Bill 1173 by Senator Hancock & House Bill 3218 by Representative Schaefer
Movement so far: SB 1173 has passed the Senate. Both SB 1173 and HB 3218 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 15, and HB 3218 was placed on the House calendar for a vote. But since HB 3218 did not receive a vote by the May 13 deadline, only SB 1173 can move forward.
What’s next: SB 1173 is still moving as the only freestanding vehicle for PreNDA. The bill needs to receive a vote on the House floor and be sent to the governor before the clock runs out on the May 25 deadline. However, if any amendments or changes happen in the House, the bill will need to return to the Senate for approval before reaching Governor Abbott.
3. Texas Heartbeat Act
Senate Bill 8 by Senator Hughes & House Bill 1515 by Representative Slawson
Movement so far: SB 8 has passed the full House and Senate. While both HB 1515 and SB 8 passed the House Committee on Public Health and were sent to the House Committee on Calendars, HB 1515 was swapped out for SB 8 on the House floor. SB 8 passed the House with a few amendments. The Senate concurred with the House amendments on May 13.
What’s next: SB 8 is now on the way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
4. Repeal anti-Life “10-Day Rule” in the Texas Advance Directives Act
Senate Bill 917 by Senator Hughes & House Bill 2609 by Representative Parker
Movement so far: HB 2609 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 28. Regrettably, HB 2609 was not placed on the House calendar in time to receive a vote before the May 13 deadline. However, SB 917 passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on May 11 and was placed on the Senate’s Intent Calendar.
What’s next: SB 917 must pass the Senate floor before going to the House, where the bill must again pass out of committee, through Calendars, and receive a vote on the House floor to then be sent to the governor before the May 25 deadline.
5. Conscience protections for healthcare professionals
Senate Bill 1674 by Senator Hall & House Bill 1424 by Representative Oliverson, M.D.
Movement so far: HB 1424 passed the House Committee on Public Health on April 26 and was placed on the House calendar for a vote. But since HB 1424 did not receive a vote by the Thursday, May 13 deadline, HB 1424 is dead. SB 1674 never received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
What’s next: HB 1424 is dead, but SB 1674 must be heard in Senate Committee, pass the Senate floor before going to the House, where the bill must again pass out of committee, go through Calendars, and receive a vote on the House floor to then be sent to the governor before the May 25 deadline.
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 Regular Session of the 87th Texas Legislature (Sine Die)