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Local representative sixth in House for bills passed
BASTROP COUNTY — With the clock ticking on Gov. Greg Abbott’s deadline to sign or veto bills, state Rep. Stan Gerdes, R-Smithville, is awaiting the fate of a slate of legislation he says will directly benefit Bastrop County.
Gerdes ranked sixth among the 150 members of the Texas House for the number of bills passed during the 89th Texas Legislature, which adjourned June 2. He said his efforts focused on local priorities, including water conservation, food assistance reform and public safety.
“Roughly one-third of the 31 bills we sent to the governor’s desk have a direct
impact in the fight to protect our water—holding big city utilities accountable for wasting the water they have pumped out from under our feet,” he said.
Gerdes—recently reappointed to the Energy Council by House leadership—stated that he plans to tour Bastrop County this summer to discuss the session’s outcomes and gather input from constituents. “Every drop of blood, sweat and tears shed in muscling each piece of legislation across the finish line was done proudly for the greatest district in Texas,” he added. “We fought hard for countless victories, and we are just getting started.”
The governor has until June 22 to act on bills passed during the final 10 days of the session. Any bill not signed or vetoed by that date becomes law without his signature. Because the Legislature has adjourned, lawmakers cannot override any vetoes issued during this period.
A proposed constitut ional amendment— Senate Joint Resolution 39—would change that. If approved by voters in November, it would allow lawmakers to reconvene 22 days after adjournment for up to five days to consider overriding vetoes.
