Texans are curious about how bills die

Readers of the Texas Lege [Simplified] newsletter were asked about what’s on their minds as the Legislature meets for its 88th biennial session, and the issues they see as most pressing.

Here are answers to some of the questions submitted. The session began Jan. 10 and runs through May 29.

1. What usually causes bills to die in committee?

There are a number of reasons, but perhaps the most common is lack of time. With just 140 days in the session, it’s just a statistical inevitability: Most bills will wither in committee.

Sometimes that’s accidental. Other times, it’s strategic. Lawmakers will use that time crunch to their advantage, and committee chairs can opt to conveniently let bills languish without putting them on the agenda or by avoiding a vote.

2. Are there any areas where Democrats have a prayer of making an impact?

Yes, but probably not on any of their highest-profile issues. It’s unlikely that Democrats will be able to sway their GOP colleagues on topics such as abortion, climate change or gun restrictions, but they will certainly try.

For those not familiar, Texas is one of a dozen states that have declined to expand Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Democrats argue that expansion would bring in billions of dollars that the state is leaving on the table. Public polling in Texas has shown broad support for the policy. Republicans have argued that broadening the program would incentivize people to rely on government assistance and worsen the program for current patients.

3. Will we see cost-ofliving adjustments for retired teachers?

It’s a good bet that the Legislature will seriously consider cost-of-living increases for retired teachers this session. No teacher who has retired since 2004 has ever received a cost-ofliving adjustment.

Lawmakers have been discussing the issue for years, but they opted instead for one-time payouts — a “13th check” — in 2019 and 2021. It’s a less expensive option that provides a boost to Texas teachers, though advocates say it’s not enough.

4. What is the “rainy day fund,” and how does it work?

Think of it as a gigantic savings fund for emergencies. It’s the largest in the country, according to the Texas comptroller.

The fund was created in 1988 after a drop in oil prices and a recession left lawmakers with no choice but to commit the cardinal sin for fiscal conservatives: raise taxes.

To guard against that in the future, they established this fund as a safety net. It’s set up to rake in tax revenue when oil and gas prices are in good shape so that if they dip, lawmakers will still have options.

The revenue for the fund mainly comes from crude oil and natural gas production tax revenues that exceed the amount the state collected in 1987. Half of that goes to the state highway fund — used for nontoll highway construction, maintenance and right of way acquisition — and the other goes to the rainy day fund.

Other revenue comes from half of any general revenue funds that haven’t been dedicated to any specific purpose at the end of each biennium and all interest earned on the balance and investments made with it.

The fund is capped at 10 percent of the amount deposited into the general revenue fund during the previous biennium.

This year, Comptroller Glenn Hegar reported that the fund is expected to total a record $27.1 billion at the end of the 2024-25 biennium.