- HB 2127 is now officially headed to the Governor's desk.
- Cruel anti-immigrant bill, HB 7, advances in legislative process.
- Texas Climate Jobs Project releases report that shows cutting methane emissions will create 35,000 jobs for Texas workers.
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Brothers, sisters and siblings,
There is one week left of session. As lawmakers scramble to get their priorities pushed through, often at the cost of working people, we must be diligent and prepared for anything.
Here’s what you may have missed, and what to look out for next week.
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With HB 2127 nearly signed into law, our ability to organize, mobilize and build worker power in our state has never been more important.
HB 2127 has shown us what our legislators are willing to do to take our power away, now it’s time we show them workers who are united can never be defeated.
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BILLS WE'RE WATCHING - THE GOOD
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In a win for unions, the House voted unanimously to advance a bill that requires binding arbitration when collective bargaining reaches an impasse for Houston Firefighters, who have been working without a contract for five years
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BILLS WE'RE WATCHING - THE (VERY) BAD
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SB 14, which bans life saving healthcare for trans kids, was sent to the Governor to be signed this week. It will forever be a stain on the history of the Texas legislature that one of the first bills to make it to Abbott’s desk this session is one that hatefully attacks the rights, and jeopardizes the lives of our trans community. The people who have launched these attacks against our trans siblings are the same ones who seek to disempower working people in our state, and it is more important than ever we stand in solidarity with each other against this abuse of power.
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SB 17, which would severely limit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public universities, is currently being debated on the House floor. Read more here and look out for updates.
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Three bills that aim to further hinder the freedom to vote in our state, SB 1933, SB 1750, and SB 1070 will ALL be on the House floor tomorrow.
SB 1070 would get rid of ERIC, an interstate voter registration database that ensures fairness, in exchange for a privately run, partisan voter registration that leaves voters vulnerable.
SB 1750 would get rid of the Harris County Election Administrator, targeting the largest county in the state.
SB 1933 allows the Secretary of State to implement administrative oversight or begin the process of removing local election officials based on “good cause” that a “recurring pattern of problems with election administration” exists in the county -- but does not define either “good cause” or what constitutes a “recurring pattern.” You can take action against SB 1933 HERE.
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HB 7 has morphed into an even more dangerous, even less accountable version of its past self. Now, this cruel anti-immigrant bill has further loosely defined who exactly is eligible to be deputized as a border patrol official, with no immunity, and has no age restrictions on Texans who can be racially profiled -- asked for proof of citizenship, detained and arrested. The hearing for HB 7 went late into the night yesterday, our Citizenship Coordinator, Jesus Perales, shared this during his testimony:
“HB 7 has been framed as the solution to immigration issues but we know that it is nothing more than a xenophobic attack on communities of color.
The militarization of communities along the border has already led to the violations of civil and constitutional rights of border residents and the addition of the Border Patrol Unit will only exacerbate these issues.”
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Next week is the last full week for bills to be considered by either chamber. We are preparing for a host of harmful bills to be passed and amendments to be added at the last minute, as legislators scramble to push their agendas through. The state budget, HB 1, will be finalized. We will be closely watching it all. Stay tuned for updates and actions.
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SB 18 would abolish tenure for professors in public universities. Without tenure, thousands of professors will suddenly find themselves without any job security, and their entire livelihood at stake.
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SB 936 would kill good jobs for construction workers by banning companies from using Project Labor Agreements, which ensure all around good standards on building projects- including fair wages and safe working conditions.
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"We make the dough, we have the power!"
Restaurant Workers United picketed outside of the new VIA 313 opening in Bee Cave. The majority of VIA 313 workers cannot afford to live in Austin without a second job.
If VIA 313 can afford to open up new locations across Texas, it can afford to pay its workers a living wage.
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Our legislators are not just ignoring the needs of working people, they are actively trying to strip us of our hard-fought rights.
It's time for us to make our voices as working people heard. We'll see you this Saturday.
RVSP here: https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/561554/
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