Sunset During the 87th Legislature
The Sunset Commission reviewed 19 entities for the 87th Legislative Session, resulting in 261 recommendations to streamline state government while enhancing services to our citizens. Generally, the recommendations eliminate unnecessary regulations, align agencies’ procedures with best practices, and strengthen accountability and effective delivery of services to the citizens of Texas. Notable recommendations include abolishing the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas and transferring its functions to the Texas Funeral Service Commission, and fully consolidating the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission within the Texas Historical Commission. The commission also recommends establishing a blue ribbon panel to comprehensively review and recommend needed changes to repair the state’s fundamentally broken law enforcement regulatory system. Finally, transferring the Texas Racing Commission to the Comptroller of Public Accounts would better ensure the safety, integrity, and fairness of pari-mutuel racing and wagering in Texas.
A complete summary of Sunset’s work is contained in the Report to the 87th Legislature. This information is a guide to the introduced version of the Sunset bills of each agency under review, listed in the chart below. Generally, these bills go through normal processes in the House and Senate, and must be enacted by the Legislature for the agencies to continue.
The public can participate in the legislative process on Sunset bills in the same way as any other legislation, through hearings in the Senate and House and contacting legislators who vote on the bills. You may follow the progress of Sunset legislation by clicking the bill numbers below, which link to up-to-date information posted on Texas Legislature Online, a service of the Texas Legislative Council.
Note: Chart will be updated as bills are filed.