Texas House Bill HJR22

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/12/24

Caption

Rescinding the automatic rescission of certain applications made by the Texas Legislature to the United States Congress to call a national convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for proposing any amendment to that constitution.

Impact

The passage of HJR22 would significantly alter the procedural landscape for how the Texas Legislature approaches the calling of a national convention. By removing the time limitation on applications to Congress for a convention, the bill could foster renewed discussions and efforts within the legislature to propose new amendments to the Constitution. This move may be seen as a means to empower the state legislature, potentially opening the door to considerations of amendments that address contemporary political, social, or economic issues.

Summary

HJR22 is a joint resolution that seeks to rescind the automatic rescission provisions established by the Texas Legislature in 2017 regarding certain applications to the U.S. Congress for a national convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The initial legislation, S.J.R. No. 38, stipulated that applications submitted for this purpose would automatically expire if a convention was not called within eight years following the last legislative vote on the application. HJR22 aims to reverse this provision, allowing for continued consideration of previously submitted applications without an automatic expiration.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HJR22 likely revolve around the implications of allowing indefinite timeframes for applications to convene. Proponents argue that this flexibility could enable Texas to take a more proactive role in the national conversation on constitutional amendments. However, critics might raise concerns about the risks associated with unbounded applications, suggesting that it could lead to divisive movements that threaten the stability of constitutional governance. Additionally, the context of past applications and their alignment with political objectives should be evaluated to assess any underlying motives in advancing this resolution.