Fact Check: Texas Governor has until the end of the week to decide on protest law.

Fact Check: Texas Governor has until the end of the week to decide on protest law

What We Know

The claim that the Texas Governor has a deadline to decide on a protest law is tied to the legislative process in Texas. According to the Texas Legislative Session Deadlines Calendars, the governor has a specific timeframe to sign or veto bills after the legislative session concludes. For the 88th Legislature, which ended on May 29, 2023, the governor had until June 18, 2023, to act on bills presented to him. If he does not take action within that timeframe, the bills automatically become law without his signature.

The Texas Constitution stipulates that if the governor disapproves of a bill after the session has adjourned, he must issue a proclamation. However, if he vetoes a bill while the legislature is in session, the process is less formalized (Legislative Reference Library).

As of now, there is no specific protest law mentioned in the bills signed by the governor, which can be reviewed in the Bills Signed by Governor report. The last action on significant bills related to public safety or protests occurred before the June deadline.

Analysis

The claim suggests an urgency regarding a decision on a protest law, implying that the governor is under a time constraint. However, the legislative calendar indicates that the deadline for the governor to act on any bills from the 88th Legislature has already passed. The last day for the governor to sign or veto bills was June 18, 2023, which means any decisions regarding legislation would have needed to be made by that date.

The sources used to verify this claim are credible. The Texas Legislative Council provides official information about legislative deadlines, while the Texas Governor's office and Legislative Reference Library offer insights into the legislative process and the governor's actions. However, there is no current indication from these sources that a new protest law is pending or that the governor has a deadline approaching this week.

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that the Texas Governor has until the end of the week to decide on a protest law is misleading. The deadline for the governor to act on bills from the 88th Legislature has already passed. Further research is needed to clarify if there are any upcoming legislative sessions or new bills related to protest laws that would require the governor's attention.

Fact Check: Texas Governor has until the end of the week to decide on protest law.