2027 session calendar

Session milestone

Legislators and legislators-elect can start filing bills. Nothing can be heard or voted on until the session begins.

Official date. House Rule 8, Sec. 7; Senate Rule 7.04(a)

Session milestone, day 1 of 140

The 140-day clock starts. After the House elects a Speaker and both chambers adopt rules, bills start being referred to committees. Committee members are named by the Speaker and Lieutenant Governor, usually within the first few weeks; there is no fixed date.

Official date. Texas Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 5(a); Government Code Sec. 301.001

Chance to act, day 60 of 140

After the first 60 days, a new bill needs a four-fifths vote to be introduced, unless it's a local bill, an emergency appropriation, or an emergency item the governor names. If an idea isn't filed by now, it's very unlikely to move this session.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 8 (89th Legislature); Texas Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 5(b)

Deadline for bills, day 122 of 140

A House bill that hasn't been debated and given preliminary approval on the House floor by today is effectively dead for the session. Most House bills that fail, fail here.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(b) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 123 of 140

Final House passage for House bills. After today, a House bill can only move if it already passed and needs a vote on Senate changes.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(b) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 130 of 140

The last day the House can take up its uncontested local bills from the local and consent calendar.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(a) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 134 of 140

A Senate bill must get preliminary approval on the House floor by today. Senate bills still sitting in House committees are effectively out of time.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(c) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 135 of 140

Final House passage for Senate bills. From here on, the chambers mostly reconcile differences.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(c) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 137 of 140

On days 136 and 137 the House can only vote on Senate amendments to House bills and on conference committee reports.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(d) (89th Legislature)

Deadline for bills, day 139 of 140

On days 138 and 139 the House votes only on compromise versions worked out by conference committees, plus corrections.

Projected from the 2025 House rules. House Rule 8, Sec. 13(e) (89th Legislature)

Session milestone, day 140 of 140

The regular session must end. Only the governor can call lawmakers back for a 30-day special session, and only on topics the governor chooses.

Set by the Texas Constitution. Texas Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 24(b)

Chance to act

For bills sent in the last 10 days of session, the governor has 20 days after the session ends to sign or veto. A bill the governor neither signs nor vetoes becomes law.

Set by the Texas Constitution. Texas Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 14

Session milestone

Laws without their own effective date take effect on the 91st day after the session ends. Many bills instead name September 1, and some take effect immediately.

Set by the Texas Constitution. Texas Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 39