Hello Patriots!

It's finally here!  The third Special Session of the 88th Texas Legislature is scheduled to begin on Monday Oct 9 at 1:00 pm.  And guess what?  It's not just about school choice!

Special sessions are called by the Governor, lasting 30 days, and only issues on the Governor's proclamation may be considered.

The Governor's proclamation for this 3rd Session includes the following issues:

• Legislation providing education savings accounts for
  all Texas schoolchildren.
• Legislation to do more to reduce illegal immigration by creating a criminal
  offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation and authorizing
  all licensed peace officers to remove illegal immigrants from Texas.
• Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by increasing the penalties for
  certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation
  of a stash house.
• Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by providing more funding for
  the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure.
• Legislation concerning public safety, security, environmental quality, and
  property ownership in areas like the Colony Ridge development in Liberty
  County, Texas.
• Legislation prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.

Next week's legislative schedule currently includes 2 Senate Committee Hearings:

Senate Finance Committee (to consider teacher pay increases & school funding) Oct 9, 2:00 pm

Senate Education Committee (to consider ESA's) Oct 10, 9:30 am

If you would like to express your opinions to these 2 committees, you can call or write the members of the Committees.

Senate Finance Committee names and contact information

Senate Education Committee names and contact information

Typically, the Senate is getting to work right away, while the House drags teir feet.  Nothing is currently scheduled in the House.  Be prepared to see a possible motion to vacate the chair and replace Dade Phelan when the House begins this session.  Things might get interesting!

For folks in North Texas, Troy Jackson has arranged a bus for Citizen Advocates to go to the Capitol on Tuesday Oct. 10.  Bus will depart New Beginnings Church, 2000 Forum Parkway, Bedford, TX 76021 at 7:30 am, returning the same day.  If you would like to reserve a seat on that bus, please email Troy at [email protected].  Their plan is to advocate for school choice legislation.

I will be at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 17th if anyone would like to join me there.  Beyond that, we'll be keeping an eye on what's happening and where we need to focus efforts.  I'll be posting updates as they come in on the TTP Citizen Advocate Facebook page.  Be sure to watch there for new information.

For information on school choice issues and which legislators lean which way on that subject, please refer to our Friday Message from last week.

Thanks for all you do!  Remember - when you can't go to the Capitol to speak to law makers, you can always call or write.  Those contacts are important, and we're seeing the proof of that in this special session proclamation that includes additional issues that grassroots activists have been pushing for.  Well done!

Stay Engaged!

Fran Rhodes, President

PS:  Don't forget we have an election coming up in a few weeks.  Early voting starts on Oct 23.  Find our TTP recommendations for the candidates, bonds, and Constitutional Amendments on our Election 2023 web page.