Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the determination of a quorum of the senate or house of representatives.
HJR 10 proposes a constitutional amendment to change the quorum requirement for each chamber of the Texas Legislature. Under current language in Section 10, Article III of the Texas Constitution, two-thirds of the members of each house must be present to conduct business. The resolution would replace that threshold with a simple majority, while preserving the existing authority of a smaller number of members to adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members under rules set by each chamber.
The measure would be submitted to Texas voters at a May 2, 2026 election. If approved, the ballot proposition would amend the state constitution so that a majority of the members of the Senate or House of Representatives constitutes a quorum for that house to do business. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it would affect legislative procedure rather than ordinary statutory law, and it would directly alter the rules governing when either chamber can lawfully act.
If adopted, HJR 10 would amend Article III of the Texas Constitution and lower the quorum threshold for both the House and Senate from two-thirds to a majority. This would make it easier for either chamber to conduct legislative business, reducing the ability of absent members to block proceedings by denying a quorum. The change would affect legislative operations, internal chamber rules, and the balance of procedural leverage among lawmakers, but it would not directly change substantive state statutes outside the constitutionally defined quorum rule.
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded floor debate, so there is no documented public discussion in the provided materials about support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the resolution appears to be a procedural reform aimed at making the Legislature more functional by lowering the quorum requirement. The absence of recorded votes or testimony means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the supplied context, though the proposal itself suggests a pro-governance, anti-stalemate rationale.
The central point of contention is the quorum threshold itself. Supporters would likely view a majority quorum as a way to prevent legislative paralysis and ensure elected members can conduct business without being blocked by absences. Opponents would likely argue that the current two-thirds requirement protects minority rights and prevents a bare majority from acting without broader participation. Because no committee discussion or vote history is provided, the specific positions of individual legislators, parties, or interest groups are not documented in the supplied record.