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First readWhat to know+
Topic: Texas Legislature bill search and law archiveSource: Texas Legislature official archive toolWhat it does: Search bills by bill number or session law chapter numberWhat you find: Bill files, bill analyses, and bill actions for each sessionHeads up: Archive is still being built — not all bills or sessions are complete yet
This free tool from the Texas Legislative Reference Library (LRL) lets you search for any Texas Legislature bill by its bill number or session law chapter number. You can dig into bill files, analyses, and actions — all in one place.
The Texas Legislature meets in regular sessions and passes bills that become state law. The Secretary of State assigns each new law a chapter number, and those numbered laws together make up what are called 'session laws' — the official record of everything the Legislature has passed. This search tool lets you look up bills and session laws, then review documents like bill analyses (plain summaries of what a bill does) and bill actions (a timeline of steps the bill went through).
Start with a bill number if you already know it — for example, from a news story or a lawmaker's website. If you only know the topic or want to browse everything passed in a session, search by session law chapter number or leave the chapter field blank to pull up a full cross-reference table. Keep in mind the archive is still being built, so some older sessions may have gaps. If you hit a dead end, the Legislative Reference Library staff can help.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
This tool works well alongside your Texas state representative's or senator's official website, where you can often find bills they authored or co-sponsored. Local Houston-area civic groups and neighborhood associations sometimes track specific bills that affect housing, transportation, or public safety — cross-referencing their updates with this archive can give you the full picture.
Knowing what your lawmakers proposed — and what actually became law — helps you stay informed and hold elected officials accountable. Whether a bill affects your neighborhood, your job, or your family, this archive puts the details within reach.
