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September 3, 2023
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Did you know 774 new laws went into effect on Friday?
At the top of the list is House Bill 1 [[link removed]]—the state’s budget. The $321.1 billion biennial budget represents the largest increase in state spending in history.
But while some of the money is allocated towards property tax relief (around $18 billion), the state is also spending big on corporate welfare.
House Bill 5 [[link removed]], which author State Rep. Todd Hunter [[link removed]] (R–Corpus Christi) calls the “Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act,” creates a new statewide economic incentive program to replace the state’s controversial Chapter 313 program, which ended after lawmakers declined [[link removed]] to renew it during the 2021 legislative session.
Notably, both the Republican Party of Texas [[link removed]] and the Democrat Party of Texas [[link removed]] oppose corporate handouts in their platforms.
The new program, combined with several other handouts, is expected to cost taxpayers over $10 billion.
Most of the state’s new laws—ranging from making hairstyles [[link removed]] a protected class to decriminalizing [[link removed]] walking on the wrong side of the road—are unlikely to be challenged.
Still, other laws set to go into effect have been making their way through legal challenges.
House Bill 2127 [[link removed]], also known as the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, attempts to provide consistency by returning sovereign regulatory powers to the state in light of the patchwork of local regulations in place across Texas. It works by declaring local ordinances that are inconsistent with state law invalid.
That law was challenged by several major cities, including Houston and San Antonio. Last week, a district judge declared the law unconstitutional.
Because the judge did not enjoin enforcement of the law, and the Office of the Attorney General immediately appealed the decision, the law will still go into effect as it makes its way potentially to the Texas Supreme Court.
Senate Bill 14 [[link removed]], which bans child gender mutilation procedures, is also set to take effect after the Texas Supreme Court lifted a Travis County judge’s temporary injunction of the law.
Other Republican priorities have been held up and will not go into effect immediately.
On August 31, the eve of the new laws’ effective date, three laws were halted by lower courts:
– House Bill 900 [[link removed]], which aims to prohibit inappropriate material from being distributed to children in school libraries.
– Senate Bill 12 [[link removed]], which prohibits sexually explicit performances targeting children.
– House Bill 1181 [[link removed]], which requires age verification for pornographic websites.
All three are expected to be appealed by the Office of the Attorney General in the coming days.
View the list of laws going into effect here. [[link removed]]
Featured Austin & Houston to Eliminate Meat and Dairy Consumption by 2030? [[link removed]]
By Sydnie Henry
Both Austin and Houston are part of ‘C40 Cities,’ an alliance of mayors seeking to impact climate change and “cut their emissions in half by 2030.”
Read More [[link removed]]
State House Leadership Attacks Lawmaker After Exposing Obstruction in Austin [[link removed]]
State Rep. Brian Harrison has ramped up calls for a ban on COVID vaccine mandates in Texas, angering some in House leadership. Texas Passed Hundreds of New Laws—None Provide Significant Border Security [[link removed]]
Lawmakers ignored public outcry about securing the border. New Law Requires Texas Schools to Hire Security Guards [[link removed]]
A new law will require Texas school districts and charter schools to hire at least one armed security guard for every campus.
Read more in State news... [[link removed]]
Local Texas Lawmaker Faces Trial Over Allegedly ‘Stolen’ Donations to Dallas Police Charity [[link removed]]
State Rep. Frederick Frazier is also facing two felony counts of impersonating a public servant during the 2022 Republican primary. State Rep. Andrew Murr Admonished by Constituents—Again [[link removed]]
Murr of Junction is being criticized by a second county in House District 53 for violating the principles of the Republican Party of Texas. Katy ISD Adopts New Pro-Parent Gender Policy [[link removed]]
After 6 hours of public comment and heated debates, the board voted 4-3 in favor of the new policy.
Read more in Local news... [[link removed]]
Federal Biden’s Galveston Wind Farm Leases Receive No Bids at Auction [[link removed]]
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said, “The liberal fantasy around so-called ‘green’ energy is a lie.” Sen. Ted Cruz Opposes Proposed Plea Deal for 9/11 ‘Masterminds’ [[link removed]]
Cruz and another member of Congress have requested that 9/11 terrorists be denied a plea deal that would allow them to escape the death penalty. Rep. Chip Roy Hosts Panel on the Dangers of Fentanyl [[link removed]]
Roy was joined by several parents, law enforcement, Dripping Springs city council members and officials, and Dripping Springs ISD officials.
Read more in Federal news... [[link removed]]
Nominations are Open
The annual Texas Conservative Leader Awards highlight the men and women of the grassroots who work to make the Lone Star State shine brighter than ever.
If you know someone deserving of recognition, nominate them today [[link removed]].
Quoting...
“Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”
- John Adams
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