Rep. Tinderholt Files Bill to get rid of '60 Day Rule'

"OUTATIME" was made famous for being on the license plate of Back to the Future's iconic DeLorean. However, in modern times, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R) believes it's an excuse the Legislature often uses when meaningful work is to be done. In an effort to ensure the '60 day rule' is no longer an excuse, state Rep. Tinderholt has filed a bill to get rid of the controversial measure.

The ’60 day rule’ restricts legislative action during the first two months of the regular session. State Rep. Tinderholt’s proposal, House Joint Resolution 158 (H.J.R. 158), would allow lawmakers to begin conducting business immediately rather than reserving the initial 60 days for organizing the Legislature and prioritizing the governor’s agenda.

State Rep. Tinderholt argues that the current system wastes valuable time and prevents lawmakers from addressing urgent concerns.

“For too long, the Legislature has ignored the people back home with pressing issues,” he said in a statement announcing the bill. “Instead of getting to work immediately, we take four and five-day weekends and kick the can down the road. At the end of the session, many of the bills that are the most important to our constituents die simply because the clock ran out of time.”

Under the existing rules, the Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every two years, with the first 60 days primarily focused on administrative tasks and gubernatorial priorities. State Rep. Tinderholt’s bill seeks to ensure that legislators can begin debating and passing bills from day one, increasing efficiency and potentially preventing crucial legislation from failing due to time constraints.

Supporters of the proposal argue that allowing immediate legislative action would benefit Texans by expediting solutions on key issues like property taxes, education, and border security. Critics however argue that the current system ensures a structured approach to governance and allows for thorough preparation before considering complex policy matters.

“I want the Texas Legislature to be committed to delivering all of the key priorities of the people of Texas, not just those we think we have time for,” he emphasized.