Good morning! 

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, October 12, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Phelan Defends Democrat Chairs

• During a television interview this week, House Speaker Dade Phelan doubled down on his support for placing Democrats in leadership positions. Soli Rice has the story.
         
• Despite Republican voters and the Texas GOP showing their disapproval of Democrat chairs in Texas, Phelan said he will continue to appoint them as long as he believes they are “the most qualified.” He added that the appointment of Democrats to committee chairs is “what Texans want.” 
          
• Because of the House's failure to pass conservative priority legislation, the Texas Legislature is now in its third special session of the 88th Legislature. 

Lawmaker Calls on Texas House to Apologize to AG Ken Paxton

• Members of the Texas House should apologize to Attorney General Ken Paxton for the rushed and secretive impeachment effort, according to State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington). As Emily Medeiros reports, the House impeachment process has been widely condemned. The Texas Senate voted last month to exonerate Paxton of all charges.
    
• Tinderholt has filed a resolution in the House extending a formal apology to Paxton for its “political weaponization of the impeachment process.”
      
• “We must never repeat such grievous errors. I look forward to this resolution being voted on during this special session,” wrote Tinderholt on social media.

Senate Border Security Committee Advances Strengthened Laws

• Entering Texas illegally from another country could soon be a violation of state law, under legislation considered by the Senate's Border Security Committee. Sydnie Henry reports that the measure, as well as one designed to increase penalties for human smuggling and operating stash houses, will be considered today by the full Senate.

    
• Senate Bill 11 by State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R–Granbury) will create a criminal penalty for improper entry from a foreign nation. 
      
• Bryan Collier, the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, told senators yesterday that “roughly 3,000 beds” are available for detainees. Currently, he said, only 632 beds are occupied, leaving around 2,300 empty. 
       
• Senate Bill 4 by State Sen. Pete Flores (R–Pleasanton) will increase penalties for human smuggling and operating a stash house.
       
• There has been no action on legislative priorities this week in the Texas House.

Challengers Step Up To Oppose Collin County GOP Delegation in Primary

• Republicans from the Texas House who voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton are drawing more challengers. Erin Anderson reports four conservatives announced their bids to oppose Collin County lawmakers in the 2024 primary.
   
• Collin County GOP chairman Abraham George confirmed that he was stepping down so that he could challenge three-term State Rep. Candy Noble of Lucas.
      
• Chuck Branch, a former McKinney City Councilman and member of the State Republican Executive Committee, is taking on freshman State Rep. Frederick Frazier of McKinney.
       
• Daren Meis, a current Allen City Council member, will challenge six-term  State Rep. Jeff Leach of Allen.
       
• Plano businessman Wayne Richard is challenging five-term State Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano.
      
• All four challengers were endorsed by Paxton at an event this week in Collin County.

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