Good morning!

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, October 26, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

House Approves Ban on Employer COVID Vaccine Mandates

• On a mostly party-line vote, the Texas House adopted the Senate's legislation banning COVID-19 vaccination mandates by employers. Brandon Waltens has the details.
   
• The measure was placed on the agenda of the third special session by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month. The Senate approved the measure within days.
        
• A notable change came in the form of an amendment offered by State Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands). His amendment increased the fine for violations to $50,000. The measure's House sponsor, State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), called Toth's proposal "reckless and silly" before claiming it would be opposed by the Senate's author, Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston).
          
• Leach was visibly shaken moments later when State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) said he had spoken with Middleton about the exact amendment and that the senator had expressed support for it.
         
• That amendment was added to the legislation by a vote of 87-57.
          
• The full measure now goes back to the Senate. The special session ends on Nov. 7.

Dade Phelan Removes Ken Paxton From House Chamber

• As the House debated legislation to tamp down on illegal border crossings yesterday, House Speaker Dade Phelan ordered that Attorney General Ken Paxton be kicked out of the chamber.
       
• The event was first reported by State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) in a video posted to X, and confirmed to Texas Scorecard by Paxton’s office and other lawmakers who were present.
       
• While access to the floor of the House is limited when business is being conducted, statewide officials and former members of the Texas House—of which Paxton is both—are regularly granted access.
       
• “Dade Phelan is doubling down on stupid,” said Toth. “We had Ken Paxton over in the House today to say hello and to look at legislation that we’re moving through the House and Dade Phelan actually sent the sergeant at arms to kick the attorney general out of the Texas House.”
       
• The petty action comes as tensions continue to escalate between Paxton and Phelan over the past several months. In May, Paxton called for Phelan to resign following video footage of Phelan apparently presiding over the House while intoxicated. Days later, Phelan led the House’s impeachment of Paxton.
        
• Paxton was acquitted by the Senate last month.

Biden Officials Pause 'Remain In Texas' Policy

• After it was revealed that the Biden administration planned to force illegal aliens to remain in Texas while awaiting asylum screening, U.S. officials have now said the plan is being shelved. Emily Medeiros reports the initiative was set to take effect in mid-September.
       
• But according to U.S. officials and documents obtained by CBS News, it was local opposition from the Democrat-led City of El Paso that collapsed the plan.
      
• Officials in El Paso initially agreed to provide 400 hotel rooms to house illegal aliens who were enrolled in the 'Remain In Texas' plan. However, once parts of the plan became public knowledge, local officials backtracked on providing housing for the illegal aliens. 
       
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to sue the administration over the policy. He has also asserted that if Biden's plan goes into effect, he will send more buses of illegal aliens to Washington, D.C. 

Kyle Biedermann Announces Challenge to Ellen Troxclair

• Former State Rep. Kyle Biedermann announced yesterday his plans to return to the Texas House, which includes challenging incumbent Republican Ellen Troxclair of Lakeway in the March primary.
   
• First elected in 2016, Biedermann was generally regarded as one of the chamber's most conservative members by various grassroots groups. He served for three sessions before announcing he would not seek re-election following redistricting in 2021.
           
• Biedermann said recent events in the Texas Capitol have forced him to return. He described Troxclair as placing "the interests of the Austin Swamp ahead of the constituents."

McKinney Mayor Fined for Ethics Violations

• The Texas Ethics Commission sanctioned McKinney Mayor George Fuller for violating state electioneering laws prohibiting elected officials from using public resources for political advertising. Erin Anderson has the story.
      
• Fuller was found to have violated the law during a joint meeting of the McKinney City Council and the McKinney Independent School District Board of Trustees on February 27, 2023. The mayor spoke in support of three McKinney ISD board members who were running for re-election.
       
• Fuller’s comments were video recorded using public funds, and the video was posted on the city and school district websites. His term as mayor ends in May 2025.
       
• In his defense, an attorney working for Fuller said the mayor was motivated to electioneer for the trustees because he thought they were being “unfairly criticized.”

Houston-area Teacher Arrested on Child-Porn Charges

• A teacher at Brazoswood High School in Clute has been arrested on charges involving child pornography and destruction of evidence. Soli Rice has the details. 
      
• Michael Chase Watson, who taught agriculture and welding, has been dismissed from his position following the arrest. According to district officials, there was "no indication that the arrest is in connection to any incidents that are school-related."
      
• Federal investigators were initially alerted to Watson’s alleged activities revolving around child porn by authorities in Utah.

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