Texas lawmakers target property taxes, election fraud and transgender people in new legislation ahead of 2023 session

Texas lawmakers will begin their 2023 legislative session in Austin in January. Monday was the first day they could file bills to be considered next year. (Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune)

Texas lawmakers won’t gavel in for the new legislative session until January, but they got their first chance to file bills Monday.

By 1 p.m., Texas legislators filed more than 800 bills pertaining to an array of matters. Thousands of pieces of legislation are filed each session, but most never make it into law. The first day of bill filing, though, can shed light on legislators’ priorities and what battles could be shaping up in Austin next year. Republicans continue to hold both chambers — and narrowly expanded their control of the Legislature.