Legislative Session

Sunset During the 88th Legislature

The Sunset Commission reviewed 21 entities for the 88th Legislative Session, resulting in 235 recommendations to streamline state government while enhancing services to our citizens. Generally, the recommendations eliminate unnecessary regulations, improve accountability, align agencies’ procedures with best practices, and strengthen effective delivery of services to Texans. Notably, the commission is making several appropriative recommendations, which is atypical for Sunset, to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees to consider funding increases for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to increase capacity of juvenile justice facilities and address chronic staff retention issues, and for the Public Utility Commission of Texas to improve oversight of the electric and water utility industries. Other recommendations include transferring the functions of the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas to the Texas Funeral Service Commission to improve regulation of whole body donation in Texas, and temporarily attaching the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to provide the board with oversight, guidance, and support.

A complete summary of Sunset’s work is contained in the Report to the 88th Legislature. This information is a guide to the introduced version of the Sunset bills of each agency under review, listed in the chart below. Generally, these bills go through normal processes in the House and Senate, and must be enacted by the Legislature for the agencies to continue. 

The public can participate in the legislative process on Sunset bills in the same way as any other legislation, through hearings in the Senate and House and contacting legislators who vote on the bills. You may follow the progress of Sunset legislation by clicking the bill numbers below, which link to up-to-date information posted on Texas Legislature Online, a service of the Texas Legislative Council.

Note:  Chart will be updated as bills are filed. 

Sunset Bills — 88th Legislature

No legislation is required for the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District or Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.