Week 17: 89th Texas Legislature

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This week in the Texas Legislature we saw a few good things, a few bad things, and a whole lot of ugly!  Pretty typical week!  Let’s review:

THE GOOD:

We had a great day of activism on Tuesday with about 35 or 40 people there for Gun Owners Lobby Day.  We distributed petitions to all 150 House members about banning Red Flag Laws (SB1362 – which had a hearing on Thursday).  This week was the last of our monthly bus trips this session with activists from the Harris County region.  We appreciate everyone who pitched in!  About 3/4ths of the people were first time Capitol activists, so that’s very exciting.

These are the folks that rode the bus from the Harris County area.

Good Bills Moving!

SB412 (Middleton) – The bill that closes the loophole that protects educators from prosecution for sexually explicit materials has passed BOTH chambers and is on it’s way to the Governor!  This issue has been a priority for several sessions, and it’s finally going to get done.

HB796 (Bell, C) – The Texas Sovereignty Act, passed to engrossment in the House.  Now goes to Senate. (Stop Government over-reach priority)

Several good, priority issue bills got a public hearing this week, including.

SB33 (18 Republican Senators) – Bans use of taxpayer money to fund abortion travel

SB11 (Middleton) – provides for a time of prayer at the start of the school day

SB13 (ALL 20 REPUBLICAN SENATORS) – gives strength to the READER Act from last session about removing dirty books from school libraries.  This one is an important priority in the “Stop Sexualizing Kids” category for both TTP and the RPT.  Read a summary of the hearing here.

THE BAD:

SB2119 (Sparks) and SB407 (Middleton) – These are the “Lizzy’s Bills” that we’ve been trying to get moved for Lizzy McCarty and many medical students like her.  It would prevent requiring vaccines for medical students who have a medical or religious reason to be exempted.  Both bills have passed the Senate, but have not been granted a hearing the House, even though Chairman Gary VanDeaver has personally promised Lizzy that they would be heard next week. Yesterday, Lizzy was told that they will NOT be scheduling a hearing because DHHS has rules that provide exemptions (which is not entirely correct).  Schools allow exemptions, but hospitals where clinical training happens do not.  See action items below on how you can help move these bills in the House before it’s too late.

The 2026-2027 Biennium Budget has been passed in both chambers to the tune of $337.4 BILLION.  The bill now goes to conference committee to work out the differences between the House & Senate versions.  Texans For Fiscal Responsibility believes it’s a bad deal.  Read why they think that here.  Bill Peacock believes that in spite of the $337.4 Billion total, three adjustments based on calculations using historical trends suggest that final state-controlled spending for the biennium will instead be closer to $608 billion. (These are the games people play in the TX legislature)  Mr. Peacock will be writing more about that on Monday.

SB22 (Huffman), the Hollywood subsidies bill has been reported out of the House Committee, and will likely go to the House floor for a vote.  It is not government’s job to fund private businesses.  Plus – the fund is set up outside the state treasury, so once the money goes in – it can never be brought back and it’s distribution is up to a committee.  See Action Items below on how you can help STOP this bill.

HB104 (Bonnen) – The Texas Futures Fund is a really bad idea according to Mitch Little.  (and we agree!)  Watch this short video of Rep. Little challenging the bill author on the House floor.  It passed the House anyway with 107 yes votes.  The bill takes $5 billion tax dollars out of the $28.5 billion rainy day fund, to be placed into a fund and invested in technology that could provide a return on the money. Essentially, it’s the State of Texas being allowed to invest $5 billion into the stock market.  See Action Items below on how you can help STOP this bill.

THE UGLY:

Speaker Burrows fires General Council and Policy Advisor.  While we’re used to seeing UGLY at the Capitol, this one is at the top of the list.  Texas Scorecard does a great job of summing up.

Legislation to get dirty books out of school and public libraries heard testimony about how these bills are offensive and hurtful to professional Librarians!  I know I’m really concerned about the feelings of librarians – aren’t you?  (Forget kids!  Let's protect librarians)

A Property Tax Relief Deal has been struck between Gov. Abbott, LG Patrick, and Speaker Burrows.  With over $50 Billion of “extra” money in the treasury this year, the Big Three have agreed to give YOU, the taxpayer, about $3 Billion of it in “tax relief”.   The deal includes increased homestead exemptions, increased School M&O rate compression, and increase the business property tax exemptions.  City of Ft Worth manager, already reporting that this might mean the City would have to raise their tax rate.  Hold on to your checkbooks!

SB19 (Middleton) – the bill that would ban taxpayer funded lobbying is STILL stuck in House State Affairs Committee with no hearing scheduled.

SB2646 (Middleton) and HB951 (Schofield) – Closed Primaries are both in respective committees with no hearing scheduled. Senate bill in Senate State Affairs, and House bill in House Elections.

Tons of other good bills stuck in Committees or stuck in House Calendars Committee.

Just the Facts, Ma’am!

There’s been a lot of chatter going on in social media circles and other places, about the “Muslim Invasion of Texas”.  Included in all that chatter is a whole lot of misinformation and conjecture.  Julie and I get questions daily about it.  We agree – it’s concerning.  But we need to address it armed with facts, and truth, not unfounded accusations, and conjecture.

There have been a lot of resolutions and bills filed in the Texas House regarding Muslim holidays and other related subjects, and I did some research on them this week.  Most of them can be attributed to one or both of the 2 Democrat, Muslim Representatives – Solmon Bhojani, District 92, and Suleman Lalani, District 76.  However, several of the measures have co-authors that are Republicans, and they should be called out about it.  For any Republican grassroots voters who care about these issues, these two districts should be a target for primary challenges in 2026.

I’ve researched the status of 17 bills, which you can view here.  This is just the facts.  It shows where each one stands in the process and who authored or co-authored the bills, so that we know what we’re dealing with.

If you are concerned about these bills, I would encourage you to contact your representatives and Senators to let them know your opinion.

NEXT WEEK AT THE CAPITOL

We will meet up at 10:00 AM in the Seal Court.  We will focus on priority bills that are stuck in committee, any hearings that are happening for priority legislation, and of course – calendars committee cards.  I won’t know exactly what we’ll do until Monday.  If you plan to come on Tuesday – please email me ([email protected]) to let me know you’re coming.  It helps with the planning and printing.

ACTION ITEMS (Choose 1 or 2, or all!)

**NOTE:  For the remainder of session, we’re highlighting one action item from this message each day Monday through Thursday, in a One & Done message.  One thing to do each day to make a difference!  Watch for those alerts on social media.  Look for this graphic:

1) Call Chairman Gary VanDeaver in House Public Health Committee, and tell him to set SB407 and HB4927 for a hearing as he promised Lizzy.  (SB2119 has not yet been referred, so 4927 is a place holder for it).  Lizzy’s bill to provide exemption to medical students from vaccine requirements. Phone calls only – it’s too late for emails. 

Chairman Gary VanDeaver, 512-463-0692

2) Call members of the Calendars Committee, asking them to NOT schedule SB22 for a floor vote.  This is the Hollywood Subsidies bill which already passed the Senate. Funding Hollywood is not government’s job!  Phone calls only – it’s too late for emails.

Calendars Committee:

3)  Call your OWN House Representative to tell them to vote NO on SB22 if it comes to a floor vote.

4)  Call members of the Senate Finance Committee to object to HB104 – The Texas Futures Fund.  This bill will take $5 billion out of the rainy-day fund to invest in stock market.  Not a good use of our money, plus, gives power to the government to affect stock prices with that much capital investment.  Phone calls only – it’s too late for emails.

Senate Finance Committee

5)  If you’re feeling extra energetic – we have a long list of bills stuck in calendars committee.  You could contact the committee about moving them.  If interested, email me ([email protected])

6) Keep us always in your prayers!

We are so close to the finish line!  Only 3 more Tuesdays til end of session.  I'm so grateful to everyone who contributes with visits to the Capitol, phone calls, emails, post cards & prayers.  We are absolutely having an impact!  Keep up the good work, and count down the days til we get our lives back (until next session!)

Be safe and stay engaged!

Fran Rhodes, President.

[email protected]

SAVE THE DATES!

Tuesday May 20 - TTP Tuesdays at the Capitol

Tuesday May 27 - TTP Tuesdays at the Capitol

Our weekly visits to the Capitol focus on legislation, but the primary work is training up people to continuously be engaged in government.  Every week, we have new people who have never done it before and are happy to learn.  We are training up an army of grassroots activists, but we need your help to do it.  Can you chip in?