The Texas Report

March 03, 2023

Happy Friday!

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

Written by: Jay Williamson

Formerly the Texas Insider, we've decided to rebrand as the "Texas Report."

Statewide News Round-Up

Earlier this week, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that Texas will soon take over Houston ISD. In a City Council meeting, he said, "the state intends to take over the district, replacing the entire board, replacing the superintendent," and he added, "I find that totally alarming." During a House Public Education hearing, TEA Commissioner was asked about the takeover and said, "We have not made any final decision and not announced any final action." (More here) Today, the Superintendent of Houston ISD is scheduled to speak at the State of Schools event celebrating 100 years of the district, and a few hours later Turner, state lawmakers, and the NAACP will be hosting a press conference. (More here)

Houston ISD is the largest school district in the state with 276 schools and 196,943 students.

Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas won Site Selection Magazine's Governor's Cup for a record eleventh consecutive year and nineteenth win overall-records unmatched by any other state. Awarded annually by Site Selection since 1978, the Governor's Cup recognizes the nation's top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions. The Governor was joined for the announcement by Site Selection Magazine Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend, Texarkana Mayor Bob Bruggeman, Plano Mayor John Muns, and members of the Texas Legislature. (More here)

Abbott also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the readiness level of the State Operations Center (SOC) to Level II as severe weather moves through large portions of Texas this evening. Texans can visit texasready.gov for severe weather and wildfire safety information.

Abbott spoke in Amarillo for the third stop on his Parent Empowerment tour. (Full video here)

Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) has filed the Senate's supplemental budget for the 2022-23 biennium. The supplemental is used to address unanticipated costs and fund critical legislative priorities. The bill appropriates $11.8 billion in All Funds and $5 billion in General Revenue. Highlights of the bill include: (Official Press Release)

$2.3 billion to continue the expansion of the state's inpatient mental health care
$600 million in grants to school districts for safety and security upgrades
$1 billion to provide supplemental benefit enhancements to retired educators
$2.9 billion to address the Medicaid shortfall

The House and the Senate filed major priority bills this week, with each chamber officially unveiling some of their property tax relief proposals. House bill (HB) 2, filed by Representative Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas), and Senate Bill (SB) 3, by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), are major priorities for the leadership in each chamber. In a press release for HB 2, Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) said the legislation would lower school district property taxes by 28%, affect the Appraisal Cap, and save homeowners $460 on their 2024 property tax bill, increasing to $590 in 2025. (Speaker Phelan's Press Release)

The Speaker also recently hinted at a major border security proposal on the horizon. Phelan said the bill could make national headlines and it'll "change the conversation, potentially go to the Supreme Court. And allow Texas to protect its own border. He went on and said, "I think we can probably do this with less dollars than the [$]4.6 [billion]. I think we can bring our troopers home, bring home our game wardens, bring our National Guard home and take the fight to the border ourselves." This is legislation to watch for, as it sounds like the House is planning something big.

SB 3 already has widespread support in the Senate, with all thirty-one senators signed on in support of the bill. SB 3 would raise the homestead exemption to $70,000, and the author said it would end up saving every homesteader $341 every year on top of their existing homestead exemption. (Senator Bettencourt Press Release)

At a Texas Public Policy Foundation meeting (conservative think Tank), Lt. Governor Patrick responded to Phelan's property-tax plan and said, "Appraisal caps, lowering them now will destroy everything we just accomplished. ... I think the intentions of the House are good, but that would be a disaster & undo everything we've done." As pointed out by reporter Scott Braddock Patrick's top priority as a state senator was lowering the appraisal cap. (Official Scott Braddock Post)

On school choice, the Lt. Governor said, "I don't care how many special sessions it takes. I don't have any plans this summer." Indicating that Patrick is willing to do whatever is necessary to pass school choice legislation.

Per Harrison Keller, Commissioner of the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Texas is responsible for adding nearly a quarter of all the new jobs in the United States over the last decade.

The Senate State Affairs Committee met for over six hours Thursday, primarily on legislation that would restrict certain countries, citizens, and companies headquartered there from purchasing Texas land. Almost 5.5 hours of public testimony, and the majority were people testifying against, but quite a few testified in favor of the proposals. SB 147 by Kolkhorst and SB 711 by Perry were left pending in committee. Senator Kolkhorst introduced a new version of the bill through a committee substitute that she believes will alleviate many of the concerns for some of the opponents.

The State GOP is considering censuring Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) due to various actions taken defecting from most of his Republican peers. The party is taking issue with his vote for the Bipartisan Safe Communities Ac and his support of legislation to protect same-sex marriage. Another point of contention is his lack of support for the Border Safety and Security Act by Representative Chip Roy. Which would expand the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to turn away non-US nationals without valid entry documents (including immigrants seeking asylum.)

Effectively a censure does little other than illustrate that Gonzales is discouraged from running for re-election and likely won't receive any support from the State Republican Party. (Learn More Here)

Committee Schedule for the next week: (More to be announced)

Monday - House Committees on Business & Industry, Higher Education, Public Health, Ways & Means.

Tuesday - Senate Committees on Business & Commerce and Criminal Justice. House Committees on Human Services, Insurance, International Relations & Economic Development, Public Education, Criminal Jurisprudence, Homeland Security & Public Safety.

Wednesday - House Committee on Land & Resources Management.

Thursday - House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism.

Potential Articles of Interest

Plan promises "largest property tax cut ever" (KXAN)

Messy storms roll eastward after slamming Texas, Louisiana. (AP NEWS)

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Legislative Report Full Bill Report Friday

Over 4,895 bills have been filed as of 3/3/23.

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

7 days till bill filing deadline

Bills voted on in Committee so far:

SB 2 by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) increases the criminal offense of illegal voting.

SB 599 by Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Waco) allowing district clerks to carry handguns in the courthouse.

SCR 17 by Senator Hughes (R-Mineola) Urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to "keep nine" justice on the Supreme Court.

Criminal Justice

SB 578 by Senator Zaffirini (D-Laredo) Would add certain information to be redacted from persons' protected by a protective order.

HB 611 by Representative Giovanni Capriglione (R-South Lake) would create a class B misdemeanor for someone posting on a publicly accessible website the address or phone number of an individual with the intent to cause harm.

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