The Texas Legislature passed 26 of 28 sunset related bills during the 86thlegislative session, including a sunset scheduling bill.
SB 619 (Birdwell/Paddie) the Sunset scheduling bill was sent to the Governor on 5/28. The adopted conference committee report removed the requirement to review TEA special education services in 2021 since HB 3 language establishes creates the Special Education Allotment Advisory Committee. The CCR instead requires a review of special education services in 2027 when TEA is reviewed as well. Rep. Gina Hinojosa spoke on this change during adoption of the conference committee report noting her desire to still address this issue over the interim.
Entities given the 2021 Sunset Date:
- Teacher Retirement System
- Anatomical Board of the State of Texas
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (and a limited review of any program that was transferred to TDLR on or after Sep. 2016)
- Texas Racing Commission
Entities given the 2023 Sunset Date:
- Limited Review of Department of Family and Protective Services
- Special Purpose Review of the Office of Inspector General at Health and Human Services
- Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee
- Texas Juvenile Justice Board and Texas Juvenile Justice Department
- Division of Workers’ Compensation, Texas Department of Insurance
- Office of Injured Employee Counsel
- Upper Guadalupe River Authority
HB 1550 (Paddie/Birdwell) the Sunset safety net bill as it passed the Senate on May 22 had an adopted amendment that removed agencies that already had Sunset bills passed at that time (9 entities) and left the other agencies in it. However, this bill was left in conference committee and never materialized a conference committee report.
HB 1545 (Paddie/Birdwell) Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Sunset bill was sent to the Governor on 5/29. The bill would extend the existence of TABC, under the Texas Sunset Act, to September 1, 2031 and among other changes would increase the size of the Commission from three to five members, to be appointed by December 1, 2019. During House discussions, Rep. Springer mentioned his amendment that was no longer in the bill as substituted from the Senate that would permit sale from 10 a.m. until noon. Springer stated he would like the body to look at this issue going forward. The substituted language that passed out of the Senate and agreed to in the House addressed package store ownership and Beer-to-Go.
SB 621 (Nichols/Lambert) – relating to the Sunset on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners did NOT PASS. Lawmakers tried on the final day of passing bills to make a motion to reconsider the vote by which it failed but the motion failed.
List of agency bills sent to the Governor:
- SB 601 – Texas Veterans Commission
- SB 604 – TxDMV
- SB 606 – Lower Colorado River Authority
- SB 607 – Veterans’ Land Board
- SB 608 – School Land Board
- SB 612 – State office of Risk Management
- SB 614 – Finance Commission of Texas; Texas Department of Banking; Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
- SB 615 – TWIA
- SB 616 – DPS
- SB 624 – Texas Real Estate Commission; Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board
- SB 625 – Nueces River Authority
- SB 626 – Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
- SB 627 – Red River Authority of Texas
- HB 1311 – Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists
- HB 1326 – Texas Military Department
- HB 1422 – Texas Historical Commission
- HB 1442 – Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
- HB 1501 – Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
- HB 1504 – Texas Medical Board
- HB 1520 – Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
- HB 1523 – Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying
- HB 1535 – State Securities Board
- HB 1540 – Texas Funeral Service Commission
- HB 1545 – TABC
- HB 1962 – Texas State Library and Archives Commission