State Government: Interim Charges
What are Interim Charges?
To understand Interim Charges it’s important to understand that the Texas Legislature (House and Senate) convenes (meets) every two years for 140 days. Before the next legislative session convenes the presiding officer of each chamber, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate (who is also the Lieutenant Governor), decide which committees receive charges as well as the topic of those charges. The topics and their scope can vary widely. It often signals what the focus of the upcoming session will be.
Once Interim Charges are Given:
The committees hold public hearings and may request reports or studies related to the charges put before them. Hearings may include testimony from state agencies, local governments, advocacy groups, industry representatives, and members of the public. These interim hearings resemble session hearings, but no votes on legislation occur. The purpose is to explore and question issues.
Why does this matter:
What these lawmakers explore gives us insight into what issues they are going to focus on in the upcoming session. The hearings, reports and studies they have listened to and explored are already shaping upcoming laws and gives insight into what lawmakers consider important, pressing matters to tackle.
It could be argued that this is an even more impactful and influential time for citizens to shape policy and laws than during the session. We can potentially shape or direct the upcoming debates before they reach the house floor for debate.
Summed Up:
Between legislative sessions, leaders of both houses give their chamber a list of issues to be explored before the regular session convenes. Those lawmakers will do their homework and take input from people and organizations about these issues. If we citizens look at the list of Interim Charges and keep an eye on what lawmakers are exploring, we have a good idea of what the focus of the upcoming session will be. We can participate during that interim and potentially shape what it looks like when the debates begin during the session.