Clock runs out in Texas House as lawmakers race, stall, and strategize before major deadline

As the clock struck midnight Thursday, the Texas House floor became a battleground of political maneuvering, missed chances, and a final sprint to pass legislation ahead of a key session deadline. With time running out for non-local and uncontested House bills to pass their initial floor vote, lawmakers raced—and in some cases, deliberately stalled—to push through or derail controversial measures.

One of the final casualties before the deadline was a bill by Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville), House Bill 5561, aimed at reforming juvenile diversion programs. Despite its bipartisan potential, Democrats and even one Republican—Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), a committee chairman—effectively “chubbed” the bill, using stalling tactics like extended debate and procedural maneuvers to burn through the dwindling clock. Their efforts succeeded, and freshman lawmaker Money, one of the session’s loudest critics of House leadership, will end his first term without a single bill passed.

Loophole Bill Dies Quietly; Bigger Fights Follow

Before the battle over HB 5561, the House had quietly let Rep. Terry Wilson’s (R-Marble Falls) bill expire. The measure aimed to close a loophole allowing candidates to simultaneously seek both a primary ballot spot and a third-party convention nomination—a technical fix more notable for what came after than its own legislative heft.

The midnight deadline marks the end of first-round voting on most House-originated bills. While Friday allows for final passage votes (third readings), the window for introducing new major House bills has effectively closed. From this point, attention shifts to Senate bills and the legislative horse-trading that comes with final negotiations.

Democrats Use Delay Tactics to Halt Anti-Squatting Bill

Democrats began their delaying strategy much earlier in the day, targeting House Bill 32 by Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson). The legislation, which aimed to crack down on squatting, never even reached debate. Democrats had a slate of amendments and points of order ready, all part of a coordinated attempt to run out the clock. Their preparation ultimately proved unnecessary: House leadership never called the bill up for discussion, likely recognizing the impending stall.

Major Bail Reform Bill Crosses the Finish Line

Despite the procedural chaos, a few significant bills did clear the hurdle. Chief among them was House Bill 75, authored by Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo), part of a broader bail reform package. The bill mandates that magistrates explicitly justify decisions to release criminal defendants pre-trial, bringing more transparency to bail practices. After lengthy debate, the measure passed with bipartisan support, 94–34.

The House is set to take up the rest of the bail reform package early next week, and HB 75's passage positions the chamber to move swiftly on the issue.

Corporate Incentives Bill Falters Amid Unlikely Coalition

Another notable measure, House Bill 105 by Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City), failed to garner enough support before the deadline. The bill would have modified the JETI tax abatement program—a successor to the defunct Chapter 313—to allow existing power generators to qualify and reduce wage thresholds for rural areas. But opposition from both ends of the political spectrum doomed it.

Conservatives resisted any expansion of corporate subsidies, while Democrats demanded stronger labor protections. Guillen postponed the bill several times, ultimately pushing it past the deadline and effectively killing it—unless the Senate revives it via procedural maneuvering.

Vaccine Liability Bill Slips Through Early

One bill that beat the deadline was House Bill 3441 by Rep. Shelley Luther (R-Tom Bean), which would create legal liability for vaccine manufacturers if their products cause injury. Critics warn the bill could deter public health innovation, but it cleared the floor after being brought up early enough to avoid being stalled.

Looking Ahead: Senate Bills Take Center Stage

While some high-profile House proposals have died, others live on in Senate versions. For example, the Senate’s anti-squatting bill has already passed out of committee in the House, meaning the issue could still make it to the governor’s desk through a different path.

In sum, Thursday night’s legislative deadline marked a dramatic turning point in the 2025 session. While some lawmakers saw their efforts crumble under pressure, others managed to squeeze through key priorities. Now, all eyes turn to the Senate—and the final weeks of backroom deals, legislative brinkmanship, and last-ditch salvaging that define every session’s home stretch.