The Texas Insider

View this email in your browser

Happy Friday!

Written by: Jay Williamson

Statewide News Round-Up

A driver was arrested Thursday evening after crashing an SUV through a fence at the Texas Capitol. In a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the vehicle was driven up to the south steps before being stopped, and the sole occupant is in custody. The driver has yet to be identified. (More here) (More images)

Wednesday afternoon, Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced committee assignments for the 88th legislature.

House Democratic Caucus chair, Representative Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), said he wasn't surprised by the reduction and criticized the Speaker for the decrease in the diversity of committee leaders. 

As we have mentioned, school vouchers are one of the most significant topics for the 88th legislature. These issues will most likely be heard in the House Public Education Committee, where Phelan tapped Brad Buckley (R-Kileen) as the new chair. Buckley and eight of the thirteen committee members voted to ban private school vouchers in 2021.

The three committee members most likely to support vouchers are Cole Hefner (R-Mt. Pleasant), Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler), and Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian). On its face, it appears that vouchers will have a difficult path in the Public Education Committee, but Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi said that he sees a school choice majority and that Buckley could be the most school choice-friendly chair in a decade. (More on Rinaldi's comments) 

Some additional appointments highlights: 

• Appropriations, Greg Bonnen (R-Galveston) (Responsible for the state budget)

• Calendars, Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) (Responsible for setting the agenda for the House Floor.)

• Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) will chair the powerful State Affairs Committee

• Elections, Reggie Smith

There will be two select committees, one for Health Care Reform and the other for Youth Health and Safety. Youth Health and Safety will, among other things, be focused on addressing the use by Texas kids of social media, creating safer environments in schools, and expanding access to rehabilitative services in the juvenile justice system. 

The House Freedom Caucus hosted a press conference to outline their priorities for the 88th session. Some of the highlights:

• Representative Schaefer "Our mission is to amplify liberty-minded voices across the state."

• Continue building the wall.

• Increase thermal and natural gas generalization for the grid.

• Richard Hayes (R-Denton) Too many schools are failing students through critical race theory. Students are being indoctrinated instead of educated, so parents need to be empowered to make the right education decision.

The Governor's Committee to Support the Military released its 2022 report with recommendations for specific policy changes to improve the quality of life for the military community of Texas. Some suggestions included legislation encouraging high schools, community colleges, and universities to invest in programs to develop advanced manufacturing and technology skills and change the current Texas Code from ten days to ninety days to provide school districts proof of residence. (Full recommendations here)

Early this week, Governor Abbott's office sent a letter to state agencies instructing them that it is illegal to consider diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in hiring. This has happened as Texas Tech University officials have been criticized after documents were obtained showing the Tech biology department used a DEI rubric as part of their evaluations for hiring.

During Wednesday's Senate Finance presentation, the Senators questioned the Tech Chancellor, who said this policy wasn't university-wide. Texas Tech officials also said they'd review hiring policies across the university. Chancellor Mitchell specifically told the committee: "I don't believe in litmus tests of any kind," Mitchell told the committee. "It's no more appropriate to ask them if they're a Christian or Muslim. When we find out something like that has occurred, we stop it." Finance Chair Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) emphasized that the budget writers are paying attention to the universities, which will be a closely followed topic. (More here)

Thursday, Abbott presented Jenna Dean of Nederland Independent School District with the Milken Educator Award. Milken Educator Awards recognize early-to-mid-career education professionals for their impressive achievements and the promise of what they will accomplish in the future. These include a $25,000 unrestricted award. Since 1987 nearly 3,000 awards have been given out.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued a statement regarding Senator Schwertner's (R-Georgetown) arrest. "There is zero excuses for driving under the influence and putting lives in danger, in particular by a member of the legislature whose conduct should be held to a higher standard." (Full statement). Additionally, last Patrick joined the Kickapoo Tribe for the opening of the first school built on the reservation. (More here)

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin, Foreign Affairs Chair) introduced a measure on the House Floor condemning the Chinese spy balloon. The measure passed in a rare 419-0 vote. (More here) McCaul said this sends "a clear, bipartisan signal" to the Chinese Community Party that the incursion will not be tolerated. 

Legislative Report

Over 2,966 bills have been filed as of 2/10/23.

108 days till Sine Die (Last day of the legislative session)

28 days till bill filing deadline

State Budget 

Senate Finance met multiple times this week and evaluated the agencies in Article Three (education) and Five (public safety). During the hearing on Public Safety, the Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Director spoke on increases in contraband in state prisons. Compared to five years ago, there has been a 100% increase in confiscated contraband, primarily in drugs, including Meth and Fentanyl. The Director mentioned new practices used to smuggle drugs into prisons, including drones dropping contraband into facilities and envelopes being sent in soaked in drugs.

Finance is still in the early stages of the state budget process and will soon begin workgroups to get into more detail about specific budget articles.

Broadband

Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) has filed SB 377 and SJR 27, establishing a constitutionally dedicated fund to promote broadband infrastructure by using 50% of the sales tax receipts on telecommunications services. This would likely eliminate any surcharge currently on phone bills for funding Texas Universal Service.

Elections

HB 1484 by Representative Thresa "Terry" Meza (D-Dallas) would create an online voter registration system managed by the Secretary of State. Persons interested in registering could complete a digital application over the internet where they would provide some form of state-accepted identification. 

Representative Reggie Smith (R-Sherman) was appointed Chair of Elections. 

Education

HB 1814 by Representative Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) would require the state board of education to establish a certificate program for special education. This program would focused on ensuring there are teachers with special training to provide instruction to students with disabilities. 

HB 2108 by Representative Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) would expand the number of students under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, exempt from the payment of tuition and fees charged by higher education institutions for dual credit classes. 

SB 763 by Senator Middleton (R-Galveston) would allow school districts to employ a chaplain instead of a school counselor to perform the duties of a school counselor. Chaplains employed under this subsection would not be required to be certified by the State Board of Education. 

Representative Brad Buckley (R-Salado) was appointed Chair of Public Education.

Representative John Kuempel (R-Seguin) was appointed Chair of Higher Education. 

Energy

HB 1915 by Representative Cole Hefner (R-) Would define "Land Services" as the performance or supervision of negotiating the acquisition of divestiture of minerals rights, negotiating business agreements for the exploration of minerals, and more. 

Representative Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth) was appointed the Chair of Energy Resources. 

Economic Development

Representative Angie Chen Button (R- Richardson) was appointed Chair of International Relations & Economic Development. 

Thanks for reading!

Please let me know of anyone who may be interested in this newsletter!

Happy Friday!!