Neaten your pocket square and polish your shoes — it's law-making time.

Why it matters: Lawmakers from El Paso to Nacogdoches, Brownsville to Amarillo are convening in Austin to make laws that will shape our daily lives.

Driving the news: The 89th regular session of the Legislature begins Tuesday.

What we're watching: School vouchers, immigration and abortion are at the top of the agenda.

Conservative agenda

The big picture: As the makeup of the Legislature moves further right, expect socially conservative legislation, such as reclassifying abortion drugs as controlled substances, expanding restrictions on sex education, and further rules on gender in school sports.

• Gov. Greg Abbott appears to have the votes he needs to pass legislation that would provide vouchers for families to help pay for private school tuition or home school supplies, two years after the Legislature balked at the idea.

Budget surplus

Follow the money: The budget surplus that state Comptroller Glenn Hegar unveils tomorrow will shape virtually all policymaking at the Capitol.

• Gambling interests have tried to convince Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and resistant lawmakers that betting would be a boon to the state's bottom line. The size of the surplus could undercut that argument — as a record surplus did last legislative session.
• Lawmakers instead could devote a chunk of the surplus to property tax relief, as they did two years ago.

School funding

Between the lines: Abbott has previously tied school voucher legislation to increased funding for public schools. The big question this year is how much money.

• The Legislature last increased per-student funding in 2019, forcing school districts to slash budgets to make ends meet.

The border

The intrigue: Even with a determined ally on border security soon to inhabit the White House, Texas Republicans are likely to look for more ways to restrict immigration.

• Republicans have introduced bills that would create a state agency similar to the U.S. Border Patrol and direct state police to "detect, deter, repel and prosecute" people attempting to enter the state illegally.
• Another GOP bill would require Texas cities, towns and counties to enter into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that allow municipalities to enforce some immigration laws.

The Texas House speaker's race

As thousands of bills make their way through the Capitol, it can be tough to keep up — so we've rounded up the best ways to keep track of your government.

The big picture: Lawmakers meet at a minimum every other year for 140 days.

• The only bill they're required to pass, per the Texas Constitution, is a budget.

By the numbers: Republicans hold a firm grip on both chambers and all statewide offices.

• The House is made up of 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats, while Republicans in the Senate outnumber Democrats 20 to 11 — that's a net gain in November for the GOP of two House seats and one Senate seat.
• Last regular session, lawmakers filed nearly 12,000 bills, but only about 4,500 made it to the governor's desk.

Behind the scenes: Gov. Greg Abbott loves a veto. The governor vetoed 77 bills in 2023 — a jump from 21 vetoes in 2021 as he sought to express his displeasure with the inability of the two chambers to come to a resolution on property tax relief during the regular session.

How to watch: You can watch the House, Senate and committee hearings online at capitol.texas.gov.

• Plus, you can create an account on the same website to track specific bills or receive email alerts for committee hearings, floor calendars and more.

🧠 Pro tip: Find frequent updates on X at the #txlege hashtag.

We've wrangled up the best ways to stay informed and look the part under the pink dome this session.

📚 One book to read: "The Gay Place," the definitive Texas political novel.

• Honorable mention to Lawrence Wright's comic "Mr. Texas," about the political education of a rural freshman lawmaker.

🏛️ Two clashing memorials to visit: The Texas African American History Memorial and the Confederate Soldiers Monument.

👂 Podcast to listen to: The Houston Chronicle's "Texas Take," hosted by Scott Braddock and Jeremy Wallace.

📬 Classiest spot for sending a postcard to a friend: The USPS' Capitol branch.

☕️ The perfect Capitol Grill order: Texas pecan coffee — great for staying alert during long committee hearings.

🎁 Shiniest gift: This piece of jewelry for sale at the Capitol Gift Shop.

🚪 Best entrance: Try the west side of the Capitol for a shorter security line.

• Pro tip: Flash your handgun license and you can bypass the queue.

🅿️ Best parking: Capitol Visitors Parking Garage (Free for the first two hours and $1 for each half hour after, with a $12 max daily charge).

🍸 Best spots to bump into key staffers and lobbyists: Texas Chili Parlor, the Cloak Room and Higher Ground.

🤫 Best secret hideaway for a quiet moment: The Legislative Reference Library, located on the north wing's second floor. Natural light, spacious and a great place to work.

Back in 1836, lawmakers in the newly created Republic of Texas convened in Columbia (now West Columbia), southwest of Houston.

• Sam Houston was inaugurated as president there — but after about a month, complaining of pinched conditions, the lawmakers voted to move the capitol to Houston.

Austin has been the nonstop seat of Texas government since 1845 — and the present Capitol building was completed in 1888.