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The TEXAS Insider

Happy Monday!

Statewide News Round-Up

The Governor's office recently released updated statistics for Operation Lone Star (the state's border security mission). At this stage, Texas is spending nearly $4 billion, and current budget proposals for 2024-25 would raise that to $4.6 billion.  (Press release)

Since the start of OLS:

• 345,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions

• 24,000 criminal arrests

• 21,000 felony charges reported

• 356 million lethal doses of fentanyl seized

• 1.6 miles of border wall built with another 30 miles currently planned.

Busing numbers:

• 9,100 migrants to Washington DC

• 5,200 migrants to New York City

• 1,500 migrants to Chicago

• 890 migrants to Philadelphia

Last week Governor Abbott signed the largest Statewide Intergovernmental Support Agreement (S-IGSA) between the State of Texas and the US Military. This will allow TxDOT to complete roadway maintenance and repair projects saving the US Navy up to $36 million in road maintenance. Overall the S-IGSA is expected to result in 25% cost savings among all participating military installations in Texas. (Press release)

Saturday, Governor Abbott attended the 2023 Texas Rally for Life. Abbott's comments at the event highlighted legislative changes made last session, like the Texas Heart Beat Bill (banning all abortions after six weeks, telehealth consultations for abortions, and more. ) After the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, abortions in Texas were prohibited due to a trigger bill passed in 2021 making the act of performing an abortion a state jail felony punishable by life in prison. The Lt. Governor and other officials have signaled that there may be more legislation this session related to abortion. (More here)

State Representative Gene Wu (D-Houston) spoke to WFAA regarding proposed legislation that would ban governments, businesses, and citizens from four countries from buying land in Texas. Representative Wu called SB 147 racist and counterintuitive to what America and Texas stand for. Senator Kolkhorst (R-Brennan), the author of SB 147, recently announced she would be adding language to ensure legal permanent residents (green card holders) wouldn't be blocked from buying land. (Rep. Wu interview)

Let's evaluate the provisions in the proposed state budgets for public school finance:

• $5.8 billion (increase of $753 million) for payroll growth and reforms for the Teacher Retirement System

• Increased teacher compensation, but the details are still being lined out.

• $600 million in assisting school districts implement school safety initiatives.

• $28 billion for 2024 and $29 billion in 2025 for the Foundation School Program. This is an increase of over $3 billion compared to the 2022-2023 biennium. The Foundation School Program (FSP) is basically the funding model determined by the legislature that dictates how much local and state funding each school district receives. (More on the FSP here)

  • Some additional changes to the FSP include increasing the enrichment tier state aid guaranteed yield from $98.56 to $126-$129 and increasing the $70 million New Instructional Facilities Allotment to $100 million.

• $1 billion in the technology and instructional materials fund compared to $400 million from 2022-23.

Legislative Report

Over 2,454 bills have been filed as of 1/30/23.

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

40 days till bill filing deadline

State Budget 

Senate Finance hearings on the state budget are scheduled to begin this week. 

Agriculture

HB 1772 by Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) would, among other things, establish a documentation process for timber purchases. 1772 requires timber purchases to provide documentation of the product's delivery, and if they fail to do so, they could face misdemeanor charges and a $500 fine. 

Elections

HB 259 by Representative Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) would establish preferential voting for school elections. Voters would rank their candidates from most to least favorite, and the system would eliminate the lowest vote-getter until a majority is reached.

HB 1567 by Representative Steve Allison (R-San Antonio) would allow voters to bring market sample ballots and other written communications to their voting stations.  

Education

HB 1548 by Representative James Talarico (D-Austin) would increase the salaries of public school teachers by about $15,000 a year, and include a 25% raise for school staff like nurses or cafeteria workers. 

Energy

HB 1777 by Representative Drew Darby (R- San Angelo) would, among other things, establish a permitting process regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission for closed-loop geothermal injection wells. 

HB 1782 by Representative Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) would, among other things, mandate that to be eligible for a drilling oil permit, applicants must submit a gas capture plan to minimize flaring from the well. 

Your Legislators

Representative Gary Van Deaver has filed twelve pieces of legislation as of 1/30/23. If you'd like to reach out to his office, they can be contacted at (512) 463-0692.

Senator Bryan Hughes has filed forty-three pieces of legislation as of 01/30/23. If you'd like to reach out to his office, they can be contacted at (512) 463-0101

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Happy Monday!!