Texas legislators wrapped up the 89th session last week, passing more than 1,200 bills — 800 of which were sent to Gov. Greg Abbott in the last 10 days of the session, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Abbott has until June 22 to approve those that have not been signed, including the next twoyear state budget. While the governor does not have the power to veto the entire $338-billion budget, he does have line-item veto power over individual portions of it.
The Texas Constitution allows the governor to veto legislation, sign it, or allow it to go into law without his signature. All bills that passed with at least twothirds of both chambers’ approval cannot be vetoed.That means that all proposed constitutional amendments, which lawmakers passed by at least that margin, will go before voters in November. That includes proposed property tax relief for homeowners by raising the homestead exemption. Abbott has not indicated which, if any, bills he will veto. He is facing considerable pressure from several groups, including veterans’ organizations, to veto Senate Bill 3, which would ban all consumable hemp products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Abbott also faces pressure from Republican state leaders, especially Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who led the charge to ban THC products, and law enforcement to sign it.
