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The TEXAS Insider

Happy Wednesday!

Statewide News Round-Up

Governor Abbott announced former Border Patrol Agent Mike Banks as the new Texas Border Czar to oversee the state's border security efforts. Banks spent twenty-three years in border operations and was the former U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Weslaco Station Agent in charge. Here are some of the Governor's remarks from the announcement:

"To continue doing what no other state in the history of our country has done to secure the border, I hired Mike Banks as the State of Texas, first-ever Border Czar. As an award-winning Border Patrol Agent with decades of federal law enforcement and border security experience." (Official press release here) Banks will report directly to the Governor and serve as chief advisor on security strategies.

According to the National Weather Service, "tens of millions in Texas and mid-South states are expected to experience an extensive ice storm over the next few days. " Most of North and Central Texas has been under a severe weather warning expected to last until Thursday. The state has mobilized the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and recommends everyone use DriveTexas.org before traveling. (More here)

Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller has demanded a 30-day extension on Texans filing property taxes due to the winter weather. Commissioner Miller also said he'd be asking the Governor to add this as an emergency item to the legislative call if taxing entities refuse to waive penalties and fees for failure to meet the January 31st timeline. (More here)

Due to the ongoing weather situation, the legislature is effectively on hold, with House and Senate offices closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Senate Finance committee rescheduled Tuesday's hearing on the Governor's office budget until Friday, so we will keep monitoring that.

Per the Dallas Morning News. Attorney General Ken Paxton is in settlement negotiations with whistleblowers after alleged retaliation against them when they accused him of serious crimes. The lawsuit is over two years old and was filed by four former top aides fired after going to law enforcement that their boss committed bribery and abuse of office. This isn't the first case against Paxton, as he was indicted on securities fraud in 2015.

The Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of professional sports teams and betting platforms focused on legalizing mobile sports betting, has hired former Governor Rick Perry as a spokesperson. Perry is part of a long list of former officials and high-powered lobbyists charged with expanding gambling in Texas. Outside the Sports Betting Alliance, another major force in gambling legalization is the Sands Organization based in Las Vegas. The Sands PAC donated over $2 million to politicians across the state in 2022 and hired over seventy-five lobbyists for 2023. Gambling expansion is a significant topic for this session. Still, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has continued to express hesitancy about the idea creating a lot of uncertainty on the issue's future.

For our educators, TEA has extended Silent Panic Alert Technology Grant Opportunities due to the inclement weather till Monday, February 13th.

For grant details please visit TEA's grant opportunities webpage, and search for this grant by using the keywords “SPAT” or “2022-2024 Silent Panic Alert Technology (SPAT) Grant”.

Legislative Report

Over 2,454 bills have been filed as of 2/1/23. We are officially through the first month of the 88th session!

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

38 days till bill filing deadline

State Budget

Senate Finance hearings began Monday but were cut short due to the incoming inclement weather. The committee will likely work through Friday and Saturday to catch up.

Elections

HB 317 by Representative John Bucy (D-Georgetown) would allow the authority ordering an election to extend early voting from the fourth day before election day to any number of consecutive days leading up to and including the day before election day.

SB 477 by Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) would, among other things, require election officers to prioritize accepting voters with a mobility problem before other voters at a polling place. Signs would also need to be posted at each entrance to a polling place, and two parking spots designated for persons with disabilities.

Education

HB 1678 by Representative Jacey Jetton (R-Fort Bend) would allow school districts or charter schools to operate local remote learning programs for eligible students at risk of dropping out. The virtual course offered must be provided through asynchronous instructions and provide the same number of instructional hours to meet state requirements.

HB 1707 by Representative Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth) would require political subdivisions to consider charter schools as school districts for zoning, posting bonds, project permitting, and more. Charter schools would be given many of the same rights as public schools for annexation, land development, review periods, and more.

Energy

HB 1721 by Representative Richard Raymond would, among things, create a $200 fee for permits for drilling activities in which the applicant proposes to use a reserve pit at the well site for waste disposal.

Economic Development

HB 1755 by Representative Angie Chen Button (R-Lufkin) would, among other things, establish a "Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund" intended to address and close the current skills gap for Texas workers. This fund would serve as a grant program for junior colleges, technical institutes, and nonprofit organizations to promote training in high-growth fields like cybersecurity or manufacturing.

SB 635 by Senator Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) would create a credential program for state information technology led by the Department of Information Resources (DIR) and the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The program would include one-year apprenticeships with DIR, other relevant state agencies, or organizations working on major information resources projects.

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Happy Wednesday!!