Texas Legislature Bills this Week to keep an Eye on
Here are bills being heard this week related to the Texas GOP Legislative Priorities with a few that relate to Texas Constitutional Enforcement.
Note that my rule of thumb is that if a House bill is not voted out of a House committee and there is no Senate companion, by end of day, Thursday, May 1, it has a very slim possibility or passage. Senate bills that have come over to the House and native Senate bills in the Senate have a longer window.
So, although I am very happy to see several priority bills being heard in the House this week, especially on Wednesday in House State Affairs, if those bills are not either voted on immediately or by end of day, Thursday, they will likely “run out of time.”
Monday, April 28
Secure the Texas Grid Capitol Event – 10:00 am – 1:30 pm - Capitol Auditorium, E1.004.
To help with planning RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
See flyer on event: files.constantcontact.com/acde654c901/41…
House Public Health -- Starts at 8:00 am in E2.030.
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
HB 1586 – Lacey Hull – Exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment. RPT Legislative Priority (End Federal Overreach – Medical Freedom segment).
HB 4535 – John McQueeney – requires informed consent for COVID-19 vax administration. RPT Legislative Priority (End Federal Overreach – Medical Freedom segment). Focusing solely on COVID-19 seems to me to fight the last war. We need a comprehensive bill for all vaccines or medical treatment. I include because the RPT committee has endorsed.
House State Affairs – Starts at 8:00 am in JHR 120
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
HB 256 – Terri Leo Wilson -- Requires Texas DPS to establish rapid DNA testing for those caught attempting to illegally enter Texas and to provide results to U.S. Homeland Security.
HB 1554 – Giovanni Capriglione – Stops Texas and subdivisions from funding legal services for illegals. I don’t like language implicitly deferring to the federal judiciary in this bill, but in my opinion, it implements part of RPT Border Enforcement priority to stop taxpayer services to illegals. The RPT committee has not taken a position either way, however.
House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding – Starts at 10:00 am in
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
OPPOSE HB 483 – John Bucy – Orders TXDOT to enter into “comprehensive development agreement” to construct a high-speed rail connecting Dallas to Austin to San Antonio along the IH-35 corridor. Self-driving automobiles will arrive long before any high-speed rail project ever materializes. That will be far more cost effective than the expensive, loud, high-speed rail solution.
Senate State Affairs – Starts at 9:00 am in Senate Chamber
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
SB 2101 – Bryan Hughes – Prohibition of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections. RPT Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids priority.
SB 2713 – Mayes Middleton – Preventing discrimination re speech in professional and trade associations.
Wednesday, April 30
House Elections – Starts upon adjournment in E2.012.
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
SB 1470 – Bryan Hughes – Requires the DPS to share changes in driver’s licenses or personal ID cards with the Secretary of State for purpose of voter role management. RPT Secure Texas Elections Legislative Priority.
House State Affairs – Starts at 8:00 am in JHR 140
Online comments: comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c450
Hearing notice: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/sc…
HB 1281 – Mike Olcott – The World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum has no jurisdiction in this state. Texas Constitutional Enforcement endorsed.More comprehensive but similar to other bills endorsed by the RPT End Federal Overreach Legislative Priority committee. This bill just slipped through that committee’s radar screen.
HB 1378 – Wes Virdell – Allows cities and counties to install 500 yard limits on placement of battery energy storage systems next to neighboring property. RPT Secure the Electric Grid priority.
HB 1617 – Valoree Swanson – Makes firearms manufactured in Texas and sold in intrastate commerce in Texas exempt from federal regulation. RPT End Federal Overreach priority.
HB 2881 – Carrie Isaac – Expands list of types of federal firearms laws pertaining to ammunition purchase and manufacture for which state and subdivision law enforcement may not assist federal agents. Texas Constitutional Enforcement endorsed.
HB 4914 – Andy Hopper – Comprehensive bill to legally separate the Texas State Guard from the Texas Army and Air National Guards, creating a separate director of the State Guard, and defining the mission for the Texas State Guard. Assists with state sovereignty because the State Guard can never be federalized.