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The Texas Report 4/3
Happy Monday!
Representative Donna Howard
Written by: Jay Williamson
Statewide News Round-Up
The Texas Legislature is in full swing, and both chambers have begun passing priority legislation. Last week the House approved House Bill (H.B.) 300 by Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin), which would tax-exempt feminine hygiene products like tampons or maternity clothing. Additionally, during the bill layout, Representative Byran Slaton (R-Royse City) offered an amendment to add sales tax exemptions for baby wipes, bottles, diapers, and more which the author accepted. The bill passed out of the House 145 - 2, with the two nays being freshman Representatives Carrie Isaac (R-New Braunfels) and Terri Leo-Wilson (R- Galveston). The bill now moves over to the Senate for consideration.
The House State Budget proposal will be considered on the floor of the House this Thursday for an all-day affair starting at 9 a.m. and likely lasting late into the night. The process takes so long because the state budget is a nearly 1,000-page document, and dozens of House members will propose various amendments and potential additions over the next several days in a last-ditch effort to get their priorities potentially funded. Last session, over 250 amendments were proposed, and many required discussion and debate resulting in an entire day focused on just the budget.
A similar process is expected this Thursday, and there will likely be fireworks as legislators often try to use the budget to enact other outside policy changes. Texas Judge Robert Pittman has told officials in Llano County that they must return to the library books they've removed and allow them to be accessed. Additionally, Pittman is prohibiting the removal of any more books while the lawsuit remains pending. This lawsuit comes from seven library patrons who sued the library board members, system, county judge, and commissioners' court after four advocates pushed for removing several children's books they deemed appropriate.
The library system director told the commissioner's court about the complaints, and multiple commissioners didn't see an issue with the books. Still, the director was later told by the County Judge and a Commissioner to remove the books. Advocates continued complaining about other books. Eventually, the court closed the library to review the catalog and created a new library board consisting of many advocates complaining about the books. (More here)
This is part of a growing trend among advocates and parents across the country taking issue with specific themes and books in schools and public libraries. The House Public Education Committee recently voted out H.B. 900 by Representative Jared Patterson, which would create a new rating system for books considered sexually explicit, requiring parents to consent before allowing their student to access a "sexually explicit book," and more.
On Friday, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) said it would move to appoint conservators to oversee the Austin Independent School District (AISD), citing failures in serving students receiving special education. In a statement from AISD, they said that "Under a conservatorship, a team selected by the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency would work closely with our Special Education team to ensure we're meeting the needs of our students who are referred to be evaluated for disabilities or who receive special education services." (Statement)
This would not be a full takeover like what is currently happening with Houston Independent School District. AISD trustees and the interim superintendent are still in place, and the district has the ability to appeal the conservatorship. In the statement by TEA, they said, "The Agency has developed a rigorous plan for AISD to implement so it can return to state and federal compliance and begin appropriately serving students in need of special education services as quickly as possible." Austin area officials expressed frustration with the way TEA is handling the situation while recognizing legitimate concerns with the way AISD has been handling special education. (Learn More)
Austin State Senator Sarah Eckhardt said, "the target and timing are suspicious, coming on the heels of the HISD takeover and administer debate over vouchers/education savings accounts. Nevertheless, I commit, along with AISD officials, to maximizing any real value TEA could provide to it and other public school districts across the state in overcoming student learning loss and challenges. "(AISD recently posted an update on some of their steps taken over the last several months to address special education.) (Press Release)
AISD school trustees are set to hold a public meeting to address the conservatorship Monday evening.
Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of the severe weather expected to impact Texas through Tuesday. Severe weather threats include the potential for large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and heavy rain resulting in flash flooding. Additionally, elevated-to-critical fire weather is forecast in West and Northwest Texas through mid-week.
At the Governor's direction, TDEM has activated the following state resources to support severe weather response operations:
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas Task Force 2): Urban search and rescue teams, swiftwater boat squads
Texas Department of State Health Services — Texas Emergency Medical Task Force: Severe Weather Packages, including ambulances, ambulance buses, and emergency medical service personnel
Tuesday, the House Elections Committee will consider H.B. 246 by Representative Valoree Swanson (R-Houston), which would require the Secretary of State to create a pilot program requiring counties to use video recording devices to record ballot counting activity in not less than 20% of precincts in the county.
Both the House and Senate will not hold as many or as long of committee hearings in preparation for the Thursday budget night. Some recent legislative updates on major legislation:
The Senate passed S.B. 15 by Senator Mayes Middleton, requiring collegiate athletes to compete in athletics competitions based on their biological sex at birth.
The Senate Education Committee voted out S.B. 8, creating a voucher program. Education savings account by a 10-2 vote.
On Tuesday, the full House will consider H.B. 4 by Representative Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake). H.B. 4 is a large data privacy bill to, in part, create new methods for individuals to control how their data is used online.
House State Affairs heard testimony last week for H.B. 9, which would establish a $5 billion fund to increase broadband deployment across the state.
The Senate Business & Commerce committee voted out the Chamber's major grid reform proposals this morning. The legislation now moves to the full Senate, and various Democratic members have expressed concern with how the legislation treats renewable energy.
Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit to shut down two massage parlors in Montgomery County, alleging violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. In a statement, the Attorney General said thousands of illicit massage businesses across America take advantage of women and serve as fronts for organized criminal activity, including money laundering, immigration fraud, smuggling, tax evasion, and wage violations. (An estimated 700 illicit massage businesses are in Texas.) (Press Release)
The Governor recently reacted to news that OPEC cut production for 1 million barrels of oil by saying "Texas might just counter that with a 1 million barrel production INCREASE. " Abbot is further emphasizing his support for Texas Oil and Gas and this news will serve to further encourage members of the legislature who are proposing incentives to increase state oil production. (Official Tweet)
Committee schedule for this week:
Monday - Senate Nominations, Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Business & Commerce, State Affairs, Finance, and Local Government. House Business & Industry, Public Health, Higher Education. Ways & Means, Defense & Veterans' Affairs, Resolutions Calendars, Energy Resources, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, and Youth Health & Safety.
Tuesday - Senate Business & Commerce, Criminal Justice, and Veteran Affairs. House Human Services, Insurance, International Relations & Economic Development, Natural Resources, Public Education, Elections, Criminal Jurisprudence, Community Safety, and Urban Affairs.
Wednesday - Senate Transportation, Health & Human Services, Natural Resources & Economic Development, and Education. House Transportation. House Agriculture & Livestock, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, Land & Resource Management, Licensing & Administrative Procedures, Pensions, Investments & Financial Services, County Affairs, Juvenile Justice & Family Issues, State Affairs, and Transportation.
Thursday - House Health Care Reform and Culture. Recreation & Tourism.
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Happy Monday!
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