The following list is a compilation of the upcoming interim legislative hearings that might interest TEXPERS' System Members. Hearing dates and times are subject to change. Please note that additional hearings dates may also be added at any time. Items directly impacting pensions are highlighted in yellow.

The standing committee hearings, live and archived, can be listened to at the following links: House | Senate. 

House

House Ways & Means - 4/21/2022 at 10:00 AM

The committee will meet to hear public and invited testimony for the following interim charges:

• Oversee the associated rulemaking and agency actions for:
• HB 2080 and SB 902 relating to taxpayers suits
• SB 248 relating to the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and e-cigarettes
• Study other methods of providing additional property tax relief, including the use of $3 billion in available American Rescue Plan Act
• Evaluate the impact of shifting to destination sourcing for local sales and use tax purposes

House State Affairs - 4/26/2022 at 9:00 AM

The committee will meet to hear public and invited testimony for the following interim charges:

• Monitor and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation:
• HB 5 relating to the expansion of broadband services to rural areas
• HB 1505 relating to attachments for broadband service on utility poles owned by an electric cooperative and establishing and funding a pole replacement program for deployment of certain broadband facilities
• Study the status and adequacy of cyber security preparedness among state agencies and contractors
• Review the impact of state government procurement of goods and services from businesses and other commercial entities owned or controlled by the Russian government or Russian nationals, and determine the need for restrictions on state government procurement

House Business & Industry - 4/27/2022 at 1:00 PM

The committee will meet to hear public and invited testimony for the following interim charges:

• Review operational changes and strategies employed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
• Study the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment trends, hurdles to workforce reentry, and industry-specific disruptions

House Homeland Security & Public Safety - 5/3/2022 at 10:00 AM

The committee will meet to hear invited testimony for the following interim charges:

• Monitor and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation:
• HB 3712 relating to the training of and policies for peace officers
• SB 24 relating to the procedures required before a law enforcement agency hires a peace officer

House Higher Education - 5/5/2022 at 10:00 AM

The committee will meet to hear public and invited testimony for the following interim charges:

• Review progress toward the goals of the 60x30TX plan, including institutional strategies for responding to changing workforce needs and demands, including workforce education, industry certification, and degree programs to address health care shortages

Senate

Senate Finance - 5/4/2022 at 10:00 AM

The committee will meet to hear invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:

• Inflation: Review and report on the effect inflation is having on the business community and state government, including state salaries, retiree benefits, the state economy, and cost of state services
• Inflation: Review and report on the impact of inflation on units of local governments' revenue collections and property taxpayers' tax bills, including the homestead exemption
• Russia Divestiture: Examine and report on options for state asset owners to divest their positions in companies that invest in the Russian Federation
• State Pension Reforms: Monitor the implementation of recent statewide pension reforms to the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

The Texas Legislature's 87th Regular Session began on Jan. 12 and ended May 31, 2021. The 88th Legislative Session begins on Jan. 10, 2023. For a complete calendar, visit the Legislative Reference Library of Texas.