Good morning –

Here is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Calls Lawmakers Into Second Special Session

• With the first special session having failed to deliver any results, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered lawmakers into a second. This time, reports Brandon Waltens, Abbott is keeping the focus squarely on property taxes.
      
• The first session, which ended yesterday, had been called to address property taxes and an element of border security. The House passed legislation designed to lower the school maintenance and operations property tax rate for all property types, but the Senate wanted more of the relief to benefit homeowners. The House, though, adjourned after just one day – blocking the regular back-and-forth that is the hallmark of the legislative process. 
       
• For this second special session, the governor wants lawmakers to reduce property taxes through rate compression and to pass legislation "working toward eliminating the school property tax in Texas."
       
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said yesterday his chamber will "insist upon a homestead exemption" as part of any plan. He said an increase in the homestead exemption would equate to "a $1,250 to $1,450 annual tax cut as opposed to receiving only $740 without a homestead exemption."
       
• Both chambers are slated to convene at 11 a.m. today.

House Members To Be Paid, Even Though They Didn't Work

• Despite the fact that House members worked less than one day of the special session in Austin, they will collect their per diem payout for a full month’s work at the Capitol. That works out to $6,630 in additional pay for each House member, without actually working for it.

       
• As noted in the previous section, House members worked less than one day in the first special session, adjourned themselves "sine die," and headed home for the remaining 29 days. But they are getting paid as if they were hard at work at the Capitol.
       
• When asked by Texas Scorecard about the payments, State Reps. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) and John Smithee (R-Amarillo) said they would reimburse the House Business Office for the extra payment. State Rep. Gary Gates (R-Richmond) said he would use the additional funds to pay for support staff.
       
• As for the rest? Silence.

Taxpayer-Funded Institutions Offer Certification In 'LGBTQ+ Studies'

• The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, the University of North Texas, and the University of Houston each offer minor degrees in LGTBQ studies. As Ryan Hughes reports, each of the programs includes training in political and cultural activism.

        
• Chaitanya Lakkimsetti, one of the lead creators for the program at Texas A&M, has said “the minor equips students to understand gender, sex and sexuality not as fixed and rigid but as dynamic social concepts that are subject to resistance and change.”
       
• Each of Texas’ public university systems is overseen by a board of regents, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

Biology Professor Allegedly Fired for Teaching Sex is Determined by Chromosomes

• A taxpayer-funded community college in San Antonio could face legal action after firing a biology professor for saying that biological sex is determined genetically. Emily Medeiros has the story.
       

• Dr. Johnson Varkey has taught human anatomy and physiology at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio – part of the Alamo Colleges District – to more than 1,500 students since 2003. In his 20 years of teaching, he never received any complaints. That changed in 2022, when four students walked out of his lecture after he stated that sex was determined by X and Y chromosomes. 

       
• Two months later, he was notified of a complaint lodged against him – followed by his termination two weeks later.
      
• First Liberty Institute, a law firm dedicated to defending religious liberty, is intervening on the scientist's behalf. They want the taxpayer-funded district to reinstate Varkey or face redress in federal court.

Abortion Organization Opens Pop-up Shop in Bastrop

• A year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a group called Mayday Health is trying to circumvent state laws restricting abortion. The organization has opened a “pop-up” store in Bastrop as part of its efforts to undermine the state's pro-life victories.
        

• Despite abortion being generally illegal in Texas, organizations like Mayday Health are promoting chemical abortion in the state. On their website, Mayday gives women resources to obtain abortion drugs, including telehealth services and online sites, and even encourages women to travel to Mexico to receive chemical abortions.

Houston Mayor Praises Groups Opposing Registries For Sex Offenders

• Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner praised the work of the National Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws as part of their national conference in Texas' largest city. Valerie Muñoz has the details.
       
• The group sympathizes with sex offenders and calls pedophiles “minor-attracted persons.” A writer for the organization has explained that pedophilia is like a “sexual orientation.”
      
• NARSOL wants to abolish registries of sex offenders and to “discourage discrimination towards those accused or convicted of a criminal offense." Mayor Turner applauded the work, calling sex offenders "marginalized citizens."

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