TBJ APRIL 2022
2022-2023 State Bar of Texas Legislative Timetable
Approved by the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, January 2022
Pursuant to State Bar board policy governing legislative actions
(Section 8.01), the following timetable was submitted for approval by
the board of directors. This timetable is offered to sections that plan
to propose legislation in the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature.
2022
January 27: Board of directors vote on the legislative
timetable.
February 7: Copies of the legislative timetable and legislative
policy are sent to all section chairs. (State Bar of Texas Legislative
Policy § 8.01.08(C).)
March 10: Notice is sent to all section chairs of the
July 1 deadline for submission of proposed legislation
to the board of directors for the 2023 State Bar Legislative Program.
Proposals must be in final bill form and must include the
information as set out in Section 8.01.06(C)(1-7) of the State Bar of
Texas Legislative Policy as follows:
(1) A brief narrative explanation of the legislation.
(2) Identification of, reference to, or copies of similar
legislation, if any, proposed to or being considered by the same
legislative or administrative body.
(3) A verification that all sections and committees of the State Bar
have been sent the legislation for comment and the comments received
(copy of form letter and copy of return receipt from each committee and
section).
(4) A statement indicating whether the proposed legislation had been
introduced in either the House or Senate during prior legislative
sessions, as well as a statement of any amendments proposed to the
proposed legislation during the prior legislative sessions and the
status of the proposed legislation.
(5) A statement of the known position on the legislative proposal
taken by any section or committee of the State Bar that has considered
the same proposal, including the principal reasons for support of or
opposition to the proposal.
(6) A detailed statement explaining how the proposed legislation
addresses the State Bar, the regulation of lawyers, the functioning of
state or federal courts, or the functioning of the legal system, such
that the State Bar’s taking of a position regarding the proposed
legislation will comply with Keller v. State Bar of California,
496 U.S. 1 (1990), and McDonald v. Longley, 4 F.4th 229 (5th
Cir. 2021).
(7) Such other information as the executive director may reasonably
request from time to time.
April: Legislative Timetable is published in the Texas Bar
Journal. (State Bar of Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.08(D).)
July 1: Deadline for submission of proposed legislation for inclusion in
the bar’s legislative program. All proposals must be in
final bill form and must contain the information outlined in
8.01.06(C)(1-7) of the Legislative Policy or the proposal will not
be considered for inclusion in the State Bar’s legislative program.
Proposals may only be submitted by sections and not
committees of the State Bar. Committees wishing to submit
proposals must do so through a section of the State Bar having
cognizance of the subject matter of the proposed legislation. Sections
may submit proposals for inclusion in the State Bar’s legislative
program or to be sponsored in the section’s name. Proposals must
have been distributed to all other sections and committees of
the State Bar for comment. Proposals should also be mailed to
other parties and entities that have a direct interest in the subject
matter of the proposal along with an invitation to comment. Comments
received should be forwarded with proposals at this time. (State Bar of
Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.06(A)(1)—at least 45 days before the
Legislative Policy Subcommittee meeting.)
July: Notice of the Legislative Policy Subcommittee Meeting
published in the Texas Bar Journal. (State Bar of Texas
Legislative Policy § 8.01.08(B).)
August 8: Executive director prepares and forwards to each
member of the Legislative Policy Subcommittee a copy of each item of
proposed legislation together with the explanatory material required.
(State Bar of Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.08(G)—not less than 14
days before Legislative Policy Subcommittee meeting.)
August 12: Deadline for filing written objections to any
legislative proposals to be considered by the Legislative Policy
Subcommittee. Objections must be filed in order to appear in opposition
before the committee. If no objection is timely filed, the Legislative
Policy Subcommittee will enter a position of “no objection” on the
proposals being considered. (State Bar of Texas Legislative Policy §
8.01.06(D)—not less than 10 days before Legislative Policy Subcommittee
meeting.)
August 22-26 (Tentative): Meeting of the Legislative Policy
Subcommittee to consider proposed legislation that has been
properly submitted.
September 6 (Tentative): Appeal deadline for any proponent
whose legislative proposal is not recommended by the Legislative Policy
Subcommittee for inclusion in the State Bar's legislative program and
who wishes to appeal to the board of directors by giving written notice
to the executive director. (State Bar of Texas Legislative Policy §
8.01.06(I)—within 10 days after the date of action.)
September 6 (Tentative): Second meeting of Legislative Policy
Subcommittee.
September 16 (Tentative): Deadline for appeal from decision (if
any) made at second Legislative Policy Subcommittee meeting. (State Bar
of Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.06(I)—within 10 days after the date
of action.)
September 16: Report of the Legislative Policy Subcommittee and
copies of legislative proposals sent to the board of directors. (State
Bar of Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.08(H)—not less than 14 days
before board meeting.)
September 30: Board of directors meeting—consider
recommendations of the Legislative Policy Subcommittee and
adopt the 2023 State Bar Legislative Program.
November 11: Deadline for sections supporting legislative
proposals to submit to the executive director or designee a suggested
list of legislative sponsors for each proposal. (State
Bar of Texas Legislative Policy § 8.01.09(E)—not less than 60 days
before the Texas Legislature convenes in regular session.)
November 14: Pre-filing of bills for the 88th legislative
session begins.
2023
January 10: 88th legislative session begins.
May 29: 88th legislative session
ends.TBJ