Today the House reconvened at 10:00 am to take up a very full calendar. Last night the House adjourned after a point of order has been called on after HB 400 an education bill aimed at relieving school mandates. The point of order was sustained this morning when the House came back into session.
Democratic members have been calling several points of orders on several high profiles bills such as HB 400, HB 274 relating to lawsuit reform, and HB 12 relating to “sanctuary cities.”
This morning after the point of order on HB 400 was sustained, tensions continued to flare as there were discussions of Democrats possibly walking out to break a quorum. As motions were made to possibly avert that scenario, further motions were made which only seemed to continue to heighten anxieties and, what some are calling, partisan chaos, then ensued.
Then, a motion was made to suspend all necessary rules for consideration on HB 274. The motion prevailed and HB 274, with no further debate, was passed to third reading with 89 ayes and 12 nays.
The House then proceeded to lay out HB 272 relating to the operation of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and to the resolution of certain disputes concerning claims made to that association. There was a point of order called on the bill and, after a few moments, House Speaker Joe Straus came back to announce the House would stand adjourned until Monday morning at 10:00 am.