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House adopts calendar rules for SB1, HB500; sets April 10 as budget day
Summary
The Texas House on April 2 adopted calendar rules governing floor consideration of the budget (SB1) and a supplemental bill (HB500), including filing deadlines, put-and-take amendment requirements and limits on opening debate. Both rules were approved by recorded votes.
The Texas House adopted calendar rules on Wednesday that govern consideration of the fiscal 2026 budget and a related supplemental measure, setting April 10 as the date for full floor consideration.
The new rules — one for SB 1 (the budget) and a companion provision for HB 500 (a supplemental) — set deadlines and procedures for filing amendments, require so-called “put-and-take” balancing for any amendment that adds appropriations, and limit opening debate on SB 1 to 40 minutes, with defined extension procedures.
The calendar rules matter because they shape how members may offer changes to spending proposals during second and third reading. Representative Hunter, who explained the rule on the floor, said put-and-take “for new members is you have to do an amendment. If you're gonna put money in a program, you gotta show where you take it from.” He told members the deadline to file amendments is Monday at 9 a.m. and described the budget’s Article 11 (and a similar Article 9A for the supplemental) as places where many proposals that are not debated on the floor will be placed for later consideration.
The House adopted the SB 1 calendar rule by a recorded vote of 33 ayes and 14 nays. The House adopted the HB 500 calendar rule, which creates Article 9A in place of Article 11 for that bill, by a recorded vote of 31 ayes and 15 nays. Hunter also told members that the appropriations committee will present the budget on April 10.
The rules include standard procedural items — put-and-take requirements, a process for “perfecting” (technical) amendments, and an en-bloc mechanism to place multiple uncontroverted amendments in an Article 11/9A list. Hunter said the changes largely mirror prior sessions but noted the rules are intended to help newer members navigate the process.
With the rules adopted, House leaders said committee chairs and subcommittee chairs will have defined time to present and respond during opening debate, and members were reminded to file amendments by the stated deadlines.
The calendar rule votes and the scheduling mean the House will proceed to full consideration of SB 1 and the companion supplemental on April 10 on the House floor.
