88th Texas Legislature

88th Texas Legislature
←87th 89th→
Seal of the State of Texas
The Seal of Texas
Overview
Legislative bodyTexas State Legislature
JurisdictionTexas
TermJanuary 10, 2023 –
May 29, 2023
Election2022 general election
Senate
Members31
President of the SenateDan Patrick (R)
President pro temporeKelly Hancock
(R–9)
(regular session)
* Charles Schwertner
(R–5)
(special session)
Party controlRepublican
House of Representatives
Members150
SpeakerDade Phelan (R–21)
Speaker Pro TemporeVacant
(January 10 - February 8)
Charlie Geren (R–99)
(February 8 - present)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stMay 29, 2023 – Jun 27, 2023
2ndJun 27, 2023 – Jul 13, 2023
3rdOctober 9, 2023 – November 7, 2023
4thNovember 7, 2023 – December 5, 2023

The 88th Texas Legislature was a meeting of the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Texas, composed of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. The Texas State Legislature met in its regular session in Austin, Texas, from January 10, 2023 to May 29, 2023,[1] followed by four consecutive special sessions.[2]

All seats in the state house and 16 seats in the state senate were up for election in November 2022, with seats apportioned among the 2020 United States census. The Republican Party preserved their majority in both chambers.

Major events

  • January 10, 2023 – Legislature convenes at noon (CST).[3]
  • March 6, 2023 – State representative Bryan Slaton introduces the Texas Independence Referendum Act which, if passed, would call for a state referendum on the secession of Texas from the United States.[4][5] The bill would later fail to get out of committee before the end of the regular session.
  • April 20, 2023 – The Texas Senate passes a bill that would require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom of every public school in Texas.[6][7][8] The bill would later fail to pass the Texas House of Representatives.[9][10][11]
  • May 9, 2023 – The Texas House of Representatives votes unanimously to expel Bryan Slaton from House District 2 following an investigation that determined he had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with an aide.[12]
  • May 27, 2023 – In a 121-23 vote, the Texas House of Representatives votes to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, the third impeachment in the state's history. (He would later be acquitted by the Texas Senate of all articles of impeachment following a trial in September 2023.)[13][14]
  • May 29, 2023
    • Legislature adjourns.[3]
    • 88th Legislature 1st Called Session convenes.[3]
  • June 27, 2023
    • Legislature adjourns 1st special session.[3]
    • 88th Legislature 2nd Called Session convenes.[3]
  • July 13, 2023 – Legislature adjourns 2nd special session.[3]
  • October 9, 2023 – 88th Legislature 3rd Called Session convenes.[3]
  • November 7, 2023
    • Legislature adjourns 3rd special session.[3]
    • 88th Legislature 4th Called Session convenes.[3]
  • December 5, 2023 – Legislature adjourns 4th special session.[3]

Major legislation

Enacted

  • House bills
    • HB 3: Requires all school campuses to have an armed security officer present, in addition to other security hardening measures.[15]
  • Senate bills

Proposed (but not enacted)

References

  1. ^ "Texas Legislature 2023". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Government of Texas. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Texas legislative sessions and years". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Government of Texas. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Ramirez, Nikki McCann (March 6, 2023). "Texas Republican Introduces Bill Calling for Vote on Secession". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Schnell, Mychael (March 6, 2023). "Texas lawmaker files 'TEXIT' bill to spur vote on exploring secession from US". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Public schools would have to display Ten Commandments under bill passed by Texas Senate". Texas Tribune. April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Ten Commandments would be required in public schools under Texas bill". www.nbcnews.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Texas lawmakers advance bill to force schools to display Ten Commandments | Texas | The Guardian". www.theguardian.com. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Republican bill requiring display of Ten Commandments in Texas schools fails | Texas | The Guardian". www.theguardian.com. May 24, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Goodman, J. David (May 24, 2023). "Bill to Force Texas Public Schools to Display Ten Commandments Fails". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "A bill that would have required Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments has failed | CNN". www.cnn.com. May 24, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Downen, Robert (May 9, 2023). "Texas House expels Bryan Slaton, first member ousted since 1927". Texas Tribune. Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Despart, Zach; Barragán, James (May 27, 2023). "Texas AG Ken Paxton impeached, suspended from duties pending outcome of Senate trial". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Vertuno, Jim; Bleiberg, Jake (May 27, 2023). "Why Texas' GOP-controlled House wants to impeach Republican attorney general". AP News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Henvey, Winston (September 15, 2023). "Learn how Allen ISD's new armed security aims to keep students safe". Allen American. Star Local Media. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Melhado, William; Jung, Asad (June 28, 2024). "Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on transition-related care for minors". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024.
  17. ^ McGee, Kate (April 19, 2023). "Texas Senate approves bill that would ban diversity programs in public universities". Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
  18. ^ Henvey, Winston (November 15, 2023). "Allen ISD considers policy around chaplains for mental health support". Allen American. Star Local Media. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023.