Dear Friends,

Next week is week 15 of the Texas Legislature - So many things happening, I don't even know where to begin.  Let me first try to highlight what happened in week 14:

• SB147 (Kolkhorst - bars Chinese ownership of TX land) was reported favorably out of Committee and will now go to the Senate for a vote
• SB1070 (Hughes - withdraws from interstate voter registration crosscheck, known as ERIC) passed in the Senate and has been received in the House. (no committee assignment yet)
• SB14 (Campbell - bans gender transitioning of children) passed the Senate, received in the House and assigned to Public Health Committee, chaired by Stephanie Klick (who has not been our friend in the past on this issue)
• SB12 (Hughes - bans drag shows with children present) passed the Senate, received in House and assigned to State Affairs.
• SB1601 (Hughes - bans drag shows in public libraries) passed the Senate, received in House, no committee assignment yet.
• SB8 (Creighton - School Choice) the intro language was changed after request from RPT.  Original language said  “rights granted under the laws of this state.”  New language says “the fundamental rights granted to parents by their Creator and upheld by . . . the laws of this state.”  Big kudos to the RPT and Senator Creighton for making this fundamental change which recognizes the God given right of parents to raise their children. The bill has passed the Senate and has been received in the House.
• SB175 (Middleton-ban taxpayer funded lobbying) passed the Senate and has been received in the House and assigned to State Affairs.
• HB900 (Patterson - get the dirty books out of schools) has been sent to Calendars Committee to schedule for a floor vote. BUT IT'S BEEN IN CALENDARS FOR A WEEK!

As you can see, the Senate is getting it done.  Plenty of priority legislation getting moved.  Now we have to move things in the House and time is running out.  Don't forget the favorite excuse for not passing good legislation is "we ran out of time!"  Don't let them get away with that.  Time to put the pressure on the House members and Speaker Phelan.

ACTION FOR WEEK 15, APRIL 17 - 22

First - Contact Senator Creighton and thank him for being receptive to the language change in SB8.  [email protected].  Phone # 512-463-0104/

SB330 (Hall - protect the grid) is stuck in Business & Commerce Committee.  This is a really important bill that would protect our electric grid from storms, EMP attacks, and other calamities. Please contact members of the Committee and urge them to take a vote on it and move it out.

 Senate Business & Commerce Committee

Committee Clerk:  Annika Vandayar                                           512-463-0365

Contact members of the House Public Health Committee.  Ask them to hold a hearing on SB14 (Campbell - bans gender transitioning of children) immediately.  Also the House bill to ban gender modification (HB1686) had a hearing on 3/28, but is still pending in committee (that's 3 weeks!).  Ask them to vote & move that one too.  Banning gender modification of children is a TOP PRIORITY!

House Public Health Committee

Committee Clerk, Teri Avery     [email protected]     512-463-0806 

Contact members of the House Calendars Committee, and ask them to move  HB900 to the floor.  This bill is on the Speaker's priority list, so there should be no reason to delay.

House Calendars Committee:

I know this is a lot!  But there's even more.....

Thursday April 20th, the RPT is hosting an event for Banning Gender Modification of Children.  In the morning visit House members’ offices to advocate for this priority.  Then, in the afternoon, we hear from a wide coalition including legislators, grassroots groups and de-transitioners. We will meet from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Legislative Conference Center in the new Reagan Building on the Capitol Complex.  No. TX Conservatives is hosting busses (free).  Contact them for more information at their website.

Tuesday April 25th, two things happening.  TTP Citizen Advocates will meet at 10 in Ag Commissioner Sid Miller's office (Sam Houston Building, 11th Floor) for a small training on Testifying at Hearings.

Also on the 25th - The RPT is collaborating with grassroots leaders, organizations, religious groups, and churches across the state to come together on April 25 for the Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids Day of Action and Prayer at the Texas State Capitol.  It will be a full day of legislative action, briefings, press conference, and end with a prayer service in the evening. NTX Conservatives will also have busses for this day.  Use the link above to contact them.

For more action items, see Jill Glover's Leg Priority Report for 4/12/23.

If Education is your thing, see Education 911's action alerts for this week.

And lastly - Do you want gambling in Texas?  Neither do we!  Please view this video about legislative efforts to bring gambling into Texas.  Then sign the petition which we will be delivering to all House members and the Governor on Tuesday.  For more details on why we oppose, see the Texas Scorecard Investigative Report on the subject. The stats will surprise you.

That's all for this week!  (I know - you're thinking "that's enough")  But the truth is, I could give you so much more.  It's crunch time.  The session is over half finished, and any House bills that don't come out of Committees by next Thursday will probably die.  Please join us on Tuesday April 18 to do the work.  We'll deliver petition signatures, and work the committees mentioned above.  We meet up in the Rotunda at 10 to get assignments and paperwork. Then come back on the 20th and 25th for those special action days.  Texas needs YOU!

Thank you for your diligence and dedication.  I know I say this over and over, but it's true and worth repeating.  I get to work with the best Patriots and I thank God every day for each one of you, and the glory for any success we have belongs to Him.

For God & Texas!

Fran Rhodes, President

PS:  Are you a "Certified" True Texan?  Next opportunity for our Certified True Texan Workshops is April 22 in Farmers Branch (Dallas area).  Four of the five required classes will be offered.  It's free, but registration is required.  So sign up today!