The Texas Report 3/17

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Happy Friday!

Written by: Jay Williamson

Statewide News Round-Up

Next Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Education will meet to hear various proposals for creating education savings account (ESA)s programs that, if passed, would essentially establish a public school voucher system in Texas. 

S.B. 8 by Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Beaumont) is one of the marquee bills and is a priority for the Lieutenant Governor. The legislation would, among other things, create ESAs of up to $8,000 that students could use toward private school tuition, books, and other materials. Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick have emphasized their support for vouchers this session. Abbott has also been touring the state and visiting private schools in rural towns to campaign for his education policy priorities.  

Thursday, Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden, denouncing the Administration's environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) standards for American investment funds. In his letter, Abbott says he has seen "firsthand the problems your policies have created for hardworking Americans looking for an opportunity to succeed. By pushing this radical ESG agenda." (Official Letter)

As we reported Wednesday, the state will take over the largest school district in Texas and replace the Houston ISD Superintendent and school board. In a letter to the elected board of trustees, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the board failed to improve student outcomes while conducting "chaotic board meetings marred by infighting" in addition to violating open meetings act and procurement laws. " Morath cited the seven-year record of poor academic performance at one of the district's roughly 50 high schools (Wheatley High), as well as the poor performance of several other campuses. 

Morath did acknowledge the progress that has been made under the current board. However, in his eyes, "systemic problems in Houston ISD continue to impact district students." Superintendent House and the board will remain until the new board is chosen sometime after June 1st. In a statement, Houe said the announcement "does not discount the gains we have made." His current focus is ensuring a smooth transition. Houston area politicians have expressed differing views on the issue, with Representative (and former Education Chair) Harold Dutton (D-Houston) saying, "We're hearing voices of opposition, people who say that HISD shouldn't have to face consequences for allowing a campus to fail for more than five consecutive years. Those critics' concern is misplaced." Dutton authored the 2015 bill allowing for the state takeover of a failing school district. (More here)

In a commissioners court meeting, Harris County Juge Lina Hidalgo said, "There's absolutely no reason why this should happen. This is part of a pattern of the State taking over the duties of the duly elected leadership in Harris County." (Official Video) (HISD has over 200,000 students and is the 8th largest school district in the U.S.)

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has officially been confirmed by the Texas Senate to serve as the 115th Texas Secretary of State. In a press release, she said, "I'm honored to have been confirmed today and grateful to my former colleagues in the Senate for their support. I will work to safeguard honest and accurate elections in all 254 counties across our great state." (Official Release) The Secretary also welcomed Portugal's Ambassador to the U.S. earlier in the week. Nelson said the Texas & Portugal trade relationship was worth over $1.4 billion in 2022. (Official Release)

In House Defense and Veteran's Affairs, various military organizations testified Thursday to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that would guarantee National Guard troops on state deployment $500,000 in death benefits for their survivors. This come's in the wake of Sergeant Bishop Evans, who died last April while rescuing migrants on the Rio Grande. State law guarantees law enforcement officers, like Department of Public Safety troopers, a $500,000 death benefit if they die on duty. However, National Guard troops don't have that same guarantee. Executive director for the National Guard Association of Texas said, "We just want parity. Military Department members and their family should have the benefits guaranteed to other public service employees. "

House Bill (H.B.) 90, by Representative Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), would provide those benefits for National Guard troops who die while on state active duty. The bill called "the Bishop Evans Act" is not retroactive, so it would not apply to the Evans family. 

In laying out the bills, Patterson said, "We owe a great deal to those who protect and serve our nation and state, exactly like Sgt. Bishop Evans did." (More here)After being open just twenty-four hours, the application portal for the Texas Rent Relief Program is closing due to requests for assistance far exceeding available funding. As we originally reported Wednesday, the application window was supposed to be open till March 28th. (More here)

Thursday, The Texas GOP sent a letter opposing House Resolution (H.R.) 85 by Representative Mihaela Plesa, intended to honor Victor L. Holmes and Mark A. Phariss of Plano for their civic engagement and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. These two Plano residents are known for suing to overturn Texas' ban on same-sex marriage. In the GOP letter, they say that "the House is set to hear another resolution not only celebrating the LGBT+ community but also celebrates a lawsuit against Governor Greg Abbott and Governor Rick perry. The letter continues by saying the lawsuit made false accusations and "desired for the abnormal sexual proclivities to be defined as marriage." (Full letter)

The conservative Texas Freedom Caucus chimed in and promised to oppose the resolution. Ultimately Plesa withdrew the resolution from the calendar, meaning there was no vote on it. Plesa added via Twitter that "H.R. 85 is about love and service, and we won't let hate and division tarnish that." (More here)

The Texas Senate has approved a winter storm bail-out bill that could save customers about $1 billion in interest payments that would have shown up in monthly gas bills. S.B. 30 by Senator Joan Huffman proposes $3.4 billion in bonds to pay off the debt from the exorbitant fuel costs, gas utilities accrued during the February 2021 winter storm. Huffman said the bonds could be paid back within months, creating significant savings for Texas consumers. 

Committee schedule for next week:

Monday - Senate Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Finance. House Public Health, Appropriations, Business & Industry, Higher Education, Ways & Means, Energy Resources, and the (select) Youth Health & Safety Committee. 

Tuesday - Senate Business & Commerce, Veterans Affairs. House Criminal Jurisprudence, Human Services, Insurance, International Relations & Economic Development, Natural Resources, Public Education, Corrections, Criminal Jurisprudence, Community Safety, Urban Affairs.

Wednesday - Senate Health & Human Services, Education, and the Finance Committee. House Transportation. 

Potential Articles of Interest

After a wave of teen fentanyl overdoes, a Texas community grapples with shock and anger at the epidemic's toll. (NBC NEWS)

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Legislative Report 

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

Business & Economic Development

H.B. 1755 by Representative Angie Chen Button would create the "Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund" to fund training and programs for addressing the skills gap in high-demand occupations in Texas. Eligible entities include public junior colleges, technical institutes, and nonprofit organizations. The legislation is set for hearing in House International Relations & Economic Development next Tuesday in House International Relations & Economic Development. 

Broadband

S.B. 1238 by Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) would reorganize the state Broadband Development Office to align more with federal standards. Additionally, the office would now need to prioritize fiber projects. This bill is set to be for a hearing next Tuesday in Senate Business & Commerce. 

Education

H.B. 900 by Representative Jared Patterson would require school districts to receive written consent from parents if their child attempts to check out or access something with "sexually relevant materials." This could include books, art, communications, and more. With approval from the State Board of Education, the state library and archives commission would develop standards for school libraries to follow. This bill is set to be heard in House Public Education next Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.

Veterans Affairs

S.B. 371 by Senator Sarah Eckhardt would expand eligibility for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program to include students who complete one year of ROTC training for each year the student is enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a public r private institution of higher education. This bill is set to be heard in Senate Veterans Affairs Public Education next Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

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