In three weeks, it becomes just a tourist attraction again. Credit: Photo by Richard Whittaker

Tick … tick … tick. Welcome, oh Lege session watchers, to day 119. A pivotal day on the House calendar because, well, this is when a lot of bills really stop counting.

Today is the last day that a committee report, consent bill, or House joint resolution can be reported to the House. Technically, the nonlocal calendar is open until tomorrow, and the Local and Consent calendar until Wednesday. But, like all good bureaucracies, all paperwork has to be submitted a day or so in advance. So, basically, if a House committee is discussing a House bill after today, it’s DOA for this session.

The next pivotal date is Thursday, aka the 122nd day, which is the last possible date for a bill to get its second reading in the House. After that, if a House bill isn’t in the Senate, then all your local legislator’s hard work over the last interim will have gone to waste.

This article appears in May 4 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.