Legislative Literacy: What Does a Conference Committee Do?

Each bill’s journey truly is unique. Over 1,200 public education-related bills were filed in the 89th Legislative Session, and public education continues to grab headlines throughout Texas news media – including HB 2, the school funding bill that the House voted out, and SB 26, the teacher pay bill that was voted out by the Senate. 

With only a few weeks remaining in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, the final decisions for major public education policy changes are still uncertain. Right now, public education advocates might hear terms such as Committee Substitute, Committee Hearing, Conference Committee, and more being discussed. For example, Senate Bill 260 (SB 260), the school safety bill, is currently in Conference Committee.

Conference Committees Explained

When the Texas House and Senate cannot agree on the exact language in a bill they have both passed, a conference committee is established. A conference committee is made up of five members from each chamber and is formed to work out the differences.

A conference committee’s role is tightly limited. Members can only address parts of the bill with which they disagree. They cannot change other sections or add new content unless both chambers approve an “out of bounds” resolution.

Once an agreement is reached, the committee submits a conference committee report. This includes the new language, a side-by-side comparison with the original House and Senate versions, and signatures from at least three members from each chamber. The full House or Senate cannot amend this version of the bill. 

Then, each chamber must vote to accept or reject the new bill as-is. If no agreement is reached, the bill dies. If both chambers approve the compromise, then the bill is sent to the Governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature.

Earlier this session, SB 2, the voucher bill, did not go to a conference committee. The Senate concurred with the House version of Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), the Education Savings Account (ESA) program, on Thursday, April 24. The legislation did not need to be negotiated in a conference committee and was sent to Governor Abbott for his signature; Governor Abbott signed SB 2 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. 

As of today, May 9, we are still waiting to hear what will happen to HB 2, the major school funding bill. The last day to vote conference committee reports up or down on the House floor is June 1, 2025. 

FAQs – Legislative Terms

What happens behind closed doors, and what happens publicly during Committee Meetings? 

Legislators cannot create a quorum and meet behind closed doors to discuss or decide bill language. All full committee meetings must take place publicly, but some meetings might only involve voting on bills, while others also involve hearing testimony. 

What is a Committee Substitute? 

A committee will report a committee substitute rather than a large number of individual amendments when the committee wishes to make a substantial number of changes to the original measure. The committee substitute must contain the same subject matter as the original measure. 

What is a Conference Committee? 

A Conference Committee is a temporary committee convened to discuss and reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of legislation that has passed both chambers. The Conference Committee will include 10 people, five who are appointed by the Speaker of the House and five who are appointed by the Lt. Gov. The original bill author is typically included as one of the 10 members. After the committee has reached an agreement, then a report is prepared and submitted to the House and Senate. 

What are the differences between a conference committee and a hearing? 

A Conference Committee is a temporary committee comprised of 10 people appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor. They can meet behind closed doors, and they are not required to meet in public when deciding what next action to take with a bill.