/
RSS Feed
There are 33 days left in the Texas legislative session.
Texas House of Representatives:
- Convenes at 10 a.m.
- Will consider 81 total bills; 48 for the first time (CALENDAR)
- (POSTPONED BILL) HB 3376 – State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R–Dallas) – Closes the “disaster loophole” exploited by local governments in wake of the pandemic to raise the voter approval rate of property taxes but makes exceptions for some circumstances
- HB 859 – State Rep. Nicole Collier (D–Ft. Worth) – Expunges decriminalized offenses (Speaker Phelan priority)
- HB 1535 – State Rep. Stephanie Klick (R–Ft. Worth) – Medical use of low-THC cannabis reforms
- HB 1757 – State Rep. Matt Krause (R–Haslet) – Recordings of a peace officer’s performance of official duties and interactions with the public; creating a criminal offense
- HB 2499 – State Rep. Lynn Stucky (R–Sanger) – Requiring life jackets for the operator of a motorboat and an individual being pulled behind it; creates a criminal penalty
- House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee meeting to discuss HJR 100 – State Rep. Tan Parker (R–Flower Mound) – Constitutional amendment protecting Texans ability to own, hold, and use any mutually agreed-upon medium of exchange which includes cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or scrip; a similar bill in SJR 55 by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) was heard in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee in early April but was left pending
- House Public Health Committee meeting to discuss HB 3998 – State Rep. Matt Krause (R–Haslet) – Prohibition on local governments from adopting regulations that would prevent access by an individual’s family to see a dying family member during a declared emergency
Texas Senate:
- Convenes at 11 a.m.
- Several bills still on INTENT CALENDAR
- SB 27 – State Sen. Larry Taylor (R–Friendswood) – Expands virtual learning options (Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick priority)
- SB 513 – State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) – Amends current law regarding the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating firearms and ammo in Texas and creates a criminal offense; was passed to third and final reading yesterday by a vote of 18-13
- SB 1111 – State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) – Residence address of a voter for purposes of a response to a confirmation notice sent by voter registrar. Was passed to third and final reading yesterday by a vote of 18-13
- SB 1428 – State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) – Closes the “disaster loophole” exploited by local governments in wake of the pandemic to raise the voter approval rate for property taxes
- Senate Committee on Higher Education meeting to discuss SB 1091 – State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) – Reform to the “top 10 percent” rule in Texas college admissions
Legislative Priorities Update:
- Gov. Abbott’s & Speaker Phelan’s legislative priority on broadband expansion in HB 5 – State Rep. Trent Ashby (R–Lufkin) – passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday
- Gov. Abbott’s legislative priority relating to punishing local governments that defund the police is scheduled to be considered on House floor tomorrow (4/29) in HB 1900 – State Rep. Craig Goldman (R–Ft. Worth); a similar bill in the Senate has already passed and was referred to the House State Affairs Committee two weeks ago.
- Gov. Abbott’s & Speaker Phelan’s legislative priority on bail reform in HB 20 – State Rep. Andrew Murr (R–Junction) – was supposed to be heard yesterday on the House floor but got postponed until May 3; the Senate version passed two weeks ago but has been referred to House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
- The Republican Party of Texas legislative priority related to children and gender modification in SB 1646 – State Sen. Charles Perry (R–Lubbock) – was passed to third and final reading yesterday in the Senate by a vote of 18-13; it is expected to be brought up again today for final passage and then sent to the House of Representatives