March 14, 2025, marks the 60th day of the 89th Legislative Session in Texas, which serves as the final deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions, except for local bills, emergency appropriations, or bills declared an emergency by the state's governor. As of the filing deadline, preliminary data from Texas Legislature Online (TLO) indicates that this session has seen a record-breaking number of bills filed compared to previous sessions:

• 5,584 House Bills (HBs)
• 3,023 Senate Bills (SBs)
• A total of 8,607 bills
• 823 bills were filed on the deadline alone

For comparison, during the 88th Regular Session:

• On the 60th day, preliminary numbers showed 5,292 HBs and 2,565 SBs, totaling 7,857 bills, with 980 bills filed on the last day.
• Final totals for the 88th Regular Session were 5,413 HBs and 2,633 SBs, totaling 8,046 bills.

Pension-Related Bills Filed in the 89th Legislative Session

While a comprehensive count of pension-related bills filed this session isn't readily available, several notable bills have been introduced that pertain to public pensions:

• SB 1737: Relates to service retirement benefits payable by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to certain law enforcement officers and custodial officers.
• SB 1527: Concerns the administration of, contributions to, and benefits under the public retirement systems for police and firefighters in certain municipalities.
• SJR 57: Proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the use of state funds to pay for the obligations of a local public retirement system.

For a detailed and up-to-date list of pension-related legislation, visit Texas Legislature Online and use the search functionality to filter bills by keywords such as "pension," "retirement," or specific public retirement systems.

Additionally, TEXPERS provides its members with a comprehensive list of bills it is tracking, which can be found on the Association's website. The list is available for download as TEXPERS' 89th TxLege Bill Tracker at TEXPERS Legislation.

Why It Matters

• This record-setting number of filings suggests a high level of legislative activity, with potentially significant implications for public pensions, investments, and state financial policies.
• With larger bills, tracking key proposals affecting pensions and retirement systems will be crucial as the session progresses.
• The total number of bills will likely increase as legislative staff finalize filings.

Looking Ahead

• Monitoring key legislation impacting public pensions will be essential as bills advance through committee hearings, debates, and amendments.
• Lawmakers will soon prioritize bills for hearings and votes, determining which will progress toward enactment.

Monitor our website and social media channels for additional updates throughout the Texas legislative session. 

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