The proposed House rules for this session were filed late yesterday, HR 4 . A discussion and a vote on them is expected Monday afternoon.
The proposed rules including a provision that allows for the chair of the house conferees, at a meeting to adjust differences on the general appropriations bill, to request the assistance of any house member who serves on the appropriations committee.
Additionally, other items of note include changes in committees and creating some new committees.
Changes in number of members:
- The Calendars Committee and Redistricting Committee will each increase by two members for a total of fifteen members and seventeen members respectively.
- House State Affairs will decrease by two members for a total of thirteen members.
- Business and Industry will decrease by two members for a total of nine members.
- Criminal Jurisprudence will decrease by two members for a total of nine members.
- Urban Affairs will decrease by two members for a total of nine members.
Creates/Changes:
The committee on Economic and Small Business Development and Workforce is added. The committee will have seven members and jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
- Workforce training
- Economic and industrial development
- Development and support of small businesses
- Job creation and job-training programs
- Hours, wages, collective bargaining, and the relationship between employers and employees
- Unemployment compensation
- Labor unions and their organizations
- Weights and measures
- Texas Economic Development and Tourism, Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Investment Council
The Technology Committee shall have five members (which was formally a nine member Technology, Economic Development, and Workforce Committee) shall have jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
- Advances in science and technology, including in telecommunications, electronic technology, and automated data processing
- The promotion of scientific research
- Matters relating to cooperation of state and local governments with the scientific and technological community
- Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee
The Public Safety Committee will now be the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee with nine members which will now include jurisdiction over homeland security issues.
The Government Reform Committee has been re-instituted. The Government Efficiency and Reform Committee will have seven members and jurisdiction with matters pertaining to:
- The organization, operation, powers, regulations, advisory committees
- Elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of state services
- The Sunset Advisory Commission
