Join us on Thursday, June 26 from 7-8 PM for an essential virtual briefing on the election law changes enacted during the 89th legislative session. The TEN Team and guests will provide a comprehensive review of the new legislation, explain implementation timelines, and analyze how these changes will impact the upcoming 2026 primary and midterm elections. Whether you're a candidate, campaign worker, or engaged citizen, understanding these new laws is crucial for effective civic participation. Register today for this informative Zoom session to stay ahead of the changing electoral landscape!

TEN Talks will PAUSE for June and July!

Our next TEN Talk will be held on August 1st.

RUNOFF ELECTION DAY, JUNE 7, 2025

Runoff elections for races where no candidate received a majority of votes in the May 3rd elections are on Saturday, June 7th, 2025.

"Sine Die" (pronounced "SINE-eh DIE-eh") is a Latin term meaning "without day" - it's the formal adjournment of a legislative session with no set date to reconvene. In Texas, the Legislature meets in regular session every two years for about 140 days, typically from January to the end of May or beginning of June.

Once the legislative session ends with Sine Die, the focus shifts to the Executive Branch because:

• The Legislature is no longer in session to pass new laws
• The Governor and state agencies become responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws that were just passed
• Executive agencies handle the day-to-day operations of state government
• The Governor may call special sessions if needed, but otherwise executive power becomes more prominent

BOTTOM LINE: now that the lawmakers have finished their work and gone home, it's time to focus on how the Governor and state agencies will carry out governing. It's a common transition point in Texas politics where attention shifts from lawmaking to law implementation and administration.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Declares Senate Victories

as 89th Legislative Session Ends

06/02/2025 AUSTIN – Upon adjourning the Texas Senate Sine Die, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement:



“Today, I adjourned the Texas Senate Sine Die for the 89th Regular Legislative Session. This session, the Texas Senate achieved victory after victory for Texans, passing many key bills that died in the Texas House during the 88th legislature.

The Texas Senate passed all 40 of its priority bills to the House by April 29, setting a bold, conservative agenda to keep our state strong"

Some key Senate victories include:

• Eliminating school property taxes for the average senior homeowner with a $200,000 senior homestead exemption ($140,000 homestead exemption for homeowners under age 65) and dedicating nearly 1 out of every 4 state dollars in our budget toward property tax relief (Senate Bill 1, SB 4, SB 23, Senate Joint Resolution 2, SJR 85)
• Launching the largest school choice program in American history (SB 2)
• Reforming bail to keep dangerous criminals behind bars (SB 9, SB 40, SJR 5)
• Investing billions of dollars to ensure Texas meets its future water needs (SB 7)
• Providing the largest teacher pay raise in Texas history
• Investing $5 billion in strengthening Texas’ electric grid (SB 1)
• Placing the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms (SB 10)
• Protecting the freedom to pray in public schools (SB 11)
• Requiring county law enforcement to comply with the federal government’s deportation efforts, and establishing a homeland security division within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) (SB 8, SB 36)
• Stopping taxpayer-funded abortion travel (SB 33)
• Providing significant business personal property tax relief
• Banning poisonous unregulated drugs sold near our schools (SB 3)
• Stopping foreign enemies from buying land in Texas (SB 17)
• Stopping AI-generated child pornography (SB 20)
• Guarding our children against inappropriate books in public schools (SB 13)
• Reforming liberal faculty control over universities (SB 37)
• Creating the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) (SB 5, SJR 3)
• Establishing Texas as the #1 faith-based and family film producer in America (SB 22)
• Record-setting investments in children with disabilities (SB 568)
• Protecting Texas’ true treasure, the Alamo (SB 3059)
• Ending the corrupt Texas Lottery Commission and moving the lottery to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) (SB 3070)
• Renaming the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America’
• Renaming the New York Strip the ‘Texas Strip’ – don’t mess with Texas beef (New York only has dairy cattle)  

“This session was a team effort. I want to thank all 31 senators and staff for their hard work and perseverance. None of these major victories would be possible without their dedication over the interim and session. I also want to thank Gov. Abbott and Speaker Burrows for their partnership in delivering major victories for Texans all session. The Senate and I look forward to delivering for Texans during the 90th Legislative Session in 2027.”

GOVERNOR'S ACTION ON BILLS

On receiving an enrolled bill, the governor has the option to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The governor has 10 days in which to act unless the bill was sent to the governor within 10 days of final adjournment, in which case the governor has until 20 days after final adjournment to act. If the governor elects to veto the bill and the legislature is still in session, the bill is returned to the chamber in which it originated with an explanation of the governor’s objections. A two-thirds majority in each chamber is required to override the veto. If the governor neither vetoes nor signs the bill within the allotted time, the bill becomes law.

Once an enrolled bill is signed by the governor or the governor allows an enrolled bill to become law without a signature, the bill is forwarded to the secretary of state, where it is considered filed once the secretary of state signs it.

As of June 3, 2025:

All Bills Signed by the Governor (368): https://capitol.texas.gov/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=89R&ID=signedbygov

All Bills Filed without the Governor’s Signature (24)

https://capitol.texas.gov/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=89R&ID=filedwogovsign

All Bills Vetoed by the Governor (2):

https://capitol.texas.gov/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=89R&ID=vetoedbygov

Compare Historical Legislative Statistics for Regular Sessions 

To look up bill votes by date:

House: https://www.legis.texas.gov/Reports/generalvotesbydatehouse.aspx

Senate: https://www.legis.texas.gov/Reports/generalvotesbydatesenate.aspx

As of 6/03/25, Number of bills this session...

Left pending in House Committee or Subcommittee: 2,791

Passed to Engrossment by the House: 1188

Reported Enrolled: 2213

Left pending in Senate Committee or Subcommittee: 1321

Reported Engrossed by the Senate: 1006

Reported Enrolled: 1349

Bills signed by the Governor: 368

REGISTER TO ACCESS PREVIOUS TRAININGS

Texas Legislature Online (TLO) REGISTER

Effective Legislative Advocacy at the Texas Capitol REGISTER

ISSUE FORUM: Countywide vs. Precinct Polling Panel Discussion REGISTER

Bifurcation of the Texas Voter Roll REGISTER

Candidate Training REGISTER

Ranked Choice Voting: What it could mean for Texas Elections REGISTER

Texas Election Update: REGISTER

As we conclude the 89th Legislative Session with Sine Die and shift our focus from the Legislative to the Executive Branch, and with runoff elections approaching this weekend, your engagement in campaigns, legislative advocacy, and electoral participation becomes even more critical. You're not just following politics—you're actively shaping a more responsive Texas for everyone.

Your connection with TEN isn't just about staying informed—it's transforming Texas communities during this pivotal transition period. Thanks to advocates like you, grassroots action is flourishing across our state, empowering everyday Texans with the tools and confidence to create meaningful change as we move from lawmaking to implementation.

Your dedication to election integrity makes all the difference—especially as voters head to the polls for runoffs on June 7. It's passionate Texans like you—showing up consistently through legislative sessions and election cycles, staying informed on the issues, and taking decisive action—who truly bring our mission to life. Every action you take, from neighborhood conversations to statewide advocacy, moves us closer to the Texas we envision.

Mark your calendar for our legislative wrap-up event on June 26, where we'll analyze what was accomplished this session and chart our course for engaging the Executive Branch in the months ahead.

Thank you for your grassroots commitment and for championing our shared belief that lasting change begins with individual Texans taking a stand—whether at the ballot box, in the halls of the Capitol, or in our communities.

Melissa Conway

Texas Election Network

Managing Director

832-648-0770

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