Texas Sunset Report to the 88th Legislature

The Sunset Commission’s Report to the 88th Legislature is now available. The Texas Sunset Act directs commission members and staff to evaluate the performance of agencies scheduled for review each biennium and recommend abolishing or continuing these agencies, propose statutory or management changes needed to better serve Texans, and prepare legislation to implement the commission’s proposed statutory changes. The Sunset Commission reviewed 21 entities for the 88th Legislative Session, resulting in 235 recommendations to streamline state government and enhance services to the citizens of Texas.

Generally, the recommendations eliminate unnecessary regulations, improve accountability, align agencies’ procedures with best practices, and strengthen effective delivery of services to Texans. Notably, the commission is making several appropriative recommendations, which is atypical for Sunset, to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees to consider funding increases for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to increase capacity of juvenile justice facilities and address chronic staff retention issues, and for the Public Utility Commission of Texas to improve oversight of the electric and water utility industries. Other recommendations include transferring the functions of the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas to the Texas Funeral Service Commission to improve regulation of whole body donation in Texas, and temporarily attaching the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to provide the board with oversight, guidance, and support.

Download the Report here.