| From | Fran's Friday Message <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Friday Message on WEDNESDAY! |
| Date | July 23, 2025 3:27 PM |
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Good Morning True Texans!
Special Session 1 of the 89th Legislature is underway. The House and Senat=
e both gaveled in on Monday at noon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24. Y=
ou should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjournment. Before =
either chamber can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings =
need to be held, and bills have to be moved through the process. It doesn=
=E2=80=99t mean the Representatives and Senators are not working. =20
As we=E2=80=99ve said before, special sessions move very fast, and things a=
re already happening that you need to be aware of, thus this =E2=80=9CFrida=
y=E2=80=9D message on Wednesday. Several things going on this week that I =
thought you should be aware of.
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the special session. In additio=
n to the required redistricting every 10 years when the census is done, sta=
tes and counties are allowed to redistrict any time. Galveston county did =
this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long co=
urt battle resulted in a ruling that determined that =E2=80=9Ccoalition=E2=
=80=9D districts are unconstitutional. These coalition districts have been=
used for decades to ensure Democrats win certain districts. The redistric=
ting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions were used to elect D=
emocrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to Republican in 2026.
Both the House and Senate have appointed special Redistricting Committees t=
o address the mid-census redistricting proposal. In the House, Speaker Bur=
rows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Committee, chai=
red by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (don't know why)=
, and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's running in one =
of the contested districts. He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - =
very suspicious! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a pr=
ess conference threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting fro=
m happening. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican Hou=
se in Texas is once again validated. The whole committee is loaded with som=
e of the most liberal leaning Republicans in the chamber. It will be inter=
esting to see if any meaningful changes come out of this committee. Not ho=
lding my breath.
The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, but the spec=
ial committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats, and is c=
haired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R)
The House Congressional Redistricting Committee has set hearings for tomorr=
ow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of the state to consider the red=
istricting proposal. The committee will receive specific public testimony =
on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regardin=
g county in Texas. =20
The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 hearings, each w=
ith a regional focus, for July 25, 26, 28, and 29. The Senate hearings are=
all done via teleconference. Witnesses must sign up in advance and sign =
ups close the day before the hearing. Information on how to sign up and th=
en sign into the zoom meeting is contained in the Committee Notices, linked=
below.
If you wish to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked =
below for hearing details. If it=E2=80=99s a House hearing, remember you c=
an provide comments with an on-line form which is included in each committe=
e notice. The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on zoom, so y=
ou can testify from home on those hearings as well.
House Hearing in Austin on July 24, click here.
House Hearing in Houston on July 26, click here.
House Hearing in Arlington on July 28, click here.
Senate Hearing on July 25, click here (focus is South Central Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 26, click here (focus on North Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 28, click here (focus on East Texas)
Senate Hearing on July 29, click here. (focus on West Texas & Panhandle)
You can also watch all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived=
afterwards at the Texas Legislature On-Line website. Under =E2=80=9CLegi=
slative Activity=E2=80=9D select House or Senate, and then select live or a=
rchive, and find the committee and date.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Both chambers held hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without add=
ressing any specific legislation. The testimony was invited only. I assum=
e that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with public =
input. These early hearings are mostly for the purpose of assessing the si=
tuation. About 11 bills have been filed so far regarding flooding.
SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE
The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday to hear testimony on SB5 (Ba=
n on THC), SB11 (AG=E2=80=99s authority to prosecute election crimes), and =
SB12 (ban taxpayer funded lobbying). The Committee took public testimony o=
n each bill, and moved all three of them favorably out of Committee. The n=
ext step will be 2nd and 3rd reading on the Senate floor.
NOTE: the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer funded lobbying a=
re top priorities for TTP in this special session.
WHAT=E2=80=99S NEXT?
Well, the answer is I don=E2=80=99t know, and your guess is as good as mine=
. The only committee hearings currently on the schedule are the ones I hav=
e mentioned here. Of course, that can (and will) change any moment. Becau=
se of the time constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as =
happened with the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bil=
ls being considered passed during regular session and received adequate tes=
timony input at that time.
If other important things come up in the next few days, I likely will not s=
end another email. I don=E2=80=99t want to overburden the entire group wit=
h too many emails. But I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see someth=
ing I think people should take action on. Keep an eye on the social media =
for action alerts.
Please take whatever action you can for these committee hearings, either in=
person or on line. And feel free to reach out if you have questions. The=
next few weeks are going to be interesting!
NOTE: our August TTP@Home podcast, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interv=
iew with Dr. Robin Armstrong and Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee repres=
entatives from Texas. Part of the discussion was on the Congressional redi=
stricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for some great informatio=
n and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue. Many people don=E2=
=80=99t understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georga=
tos provided some interesting comments.
Also remember a continuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected rep=
resentatives, our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors=
.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
=20
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement. =20
TrueTexasProject.com
=20
=20
To update your profile with a new email address, satellite location, or oth=
er details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please click here.
BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before=
you forward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!
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</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row content-row-blockpadding" style=3D"border-sp=
acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px;">=
<p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helve=
tica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-a=
lign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-=
bottom: 10px;">Good Morning True Texans!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" styl=
e=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: =
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; l=
ine-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Special Session=
1 of the 89<sup>th</sup> Legislature is underway.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>The House and Senate both gaveled in on Monday at n=
oon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">=
</span>You should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjour=
nment.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before either chambe=
r can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings need to be he=
ld, and bills have to be moved through the process.<span style=3D"mso-space=
run: yes;"> </span>It doesn=E2=80=99t mean the Representatives and Se=
nators are not working. <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;">As we=E2=80=99ve said before, special sessions move very f=
ast, and things are already happening that you need to be aware of, thus th=
is =E2=80=9CFriday=E2=80=9D message on Wednesday.<span style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes;"> </span>Several things going on this week that I thought you=
should be aware of.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144;=
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; mar=
gin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING=
</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Mar=
gin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom:=
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the=
special session.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In additi=
on to the <span style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">required</span> redis=
tricting every 10 years when the census is done, states and counties are <s=
pan style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">allowed</span> to redistrict any =
time.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galveston county did =
this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long co=
urt battle resulted in a ruling that determined that =E2=80=9Ccoalition=E2=
=80=9D districts are unconstitutional.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&n=
bsp; </span>These coalition districts have been used for decades to ensure =
Democrats win certain districts.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> <=
/span>The redistricting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions w=
ere used to elect Democrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to R=
epublican in 2026.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; f=
ont-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margi=
n: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margi=
n-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Both the House and Senate have appoin=
ted special Redistricting Committees to address the mid-census redistrictin=
g proposal.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the House, S=
peaker Burrows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Commi=
ttee, chaired by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (=
don't know why), and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's =
running in one of the contested districts.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;=
"> </span>He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - very suspicio=
us! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a press conf=
erence threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting from happen=
ing. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican House =
in Texas is once again validated.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> The wh=
ole committee is loaded with some of the most liberal leaning Republicans i=
n the chamber. It will be interesting to see if any meaningful change=
s come out of this committee. Not holding my breath.</span></p> <p cl=
ass=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, bu=
t the special committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats=
, and is chaired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Cre=
ighton (R)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fami=
ly: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom=
: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The House Congressional Redistricting Committ=
ee has set hearings for tomorrow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of=
the state to consider the redistricting proposal.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>The committee will receive specific public testimon=
y on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regard=
ing county in Texas.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <=
p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvet=
ica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-al=
ign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-b=
ottom: 10px;">The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 he=
arings, each with a regional focus, for<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&=
nbsp;</span>July 25, 26, 28, and 29.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbs=
p; </span>The Senate hearings are all done <strong><u>via teleconference</u=
></strong>.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witnesses=
must sign up in advance and sign ups close the day before the hearing.&nbs=
p; Information on how to sign up and then sign into the zoom meeting is con=
tained in the Committee Notices, linked below.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing=
" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-we=
ight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 1=
2pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">If you wi=
sh to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked below for=
hearing details.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it=E2=
=80=99s a House hearing, remember you can provide comments with an on-line =
form which is included in each committee notice.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes;"> </span>The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on=
zoom, so you can testify from home on those hearings as well.</p> <p class=
=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">House Hearing in Austin on <a href=3D"[link removed]
ils/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ew=
Lq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHoYrK4CiQynhgyW0etTucck=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-d=
ecoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-h=
eight: 1.5;">July 24, click here</a>.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">House Hearing in=
Houston on <a href=3D"[link removed]
k/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHugbdf=
yvkbPN5BZPYBz2JWU=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-=
weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 26, =
click here</a>.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font=
-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: =
0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-b=
ottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">House Hearing in Arlington on <a href=3D=
"[link removed]
5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHkNAhs9zMizR9oecWUOrE8k=3D" =
style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; paddi=
ng: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 28, click here</a>.</p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a href=3D"[link removed]
/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1=
y6YqP4TkSBNlOHpdKI0BgfXzfvBf24Xa9Mkc=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-deco=
ration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heig=
ht: 1.5;">July 25, click here</a> (focus is South Central Texas).</p> <p cl=
ass=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a href=3D"[link removed]
acking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6Y=
qP4TkSBNlOHj1XVTeftUYlIr17qLCeBuk=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decorat=
ion: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height:=
1.5;">July 26, click here</a> (focus on North Texas).</p> <p class=3D"MsoN=
oSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;=
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font=
-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">S=
enate Hearing on <a title=3D"July 28, click here" href=3D"[link removed]
mails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5K=
AGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHiTy6AOKJPKrBpZJyxcF4SQ=3D" target=3D"_blank" =
rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weigh=
t: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 28, click=
here</a> (focus on East Texas)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"colo=
r: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padd=
ing: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-heigh=
t: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a hre=
f=3D"[link removed]
9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHjLtA_TAbZabU_KJi1MfPVM=
=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; =
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 29, click here</a>. (=
focus on West Texas & Panhandle)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D=
"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400;=
padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-=
height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">You can also watch =
all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived afterwards at the =
<a href=3D"[link removed]
sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHjd78t4pLi-Q0FKZBc=
OGwgk=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inhe=
rit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Texas Legislature On-=
Line</a> website.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Und=
er =E2=80=9CLegislative Activity=E2=80=9D select House or Senate, and then =
select live or archive, and find the committee and date.</p> <p class=3D"Ms=
oNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-seri=
f; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; fo=
nt-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"=
><strong>DISASTER PREPAREDNESS</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Both chambers he=
ld hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without addressing any spec=
ific legislation.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The testi=
mony was invited only.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I as=
sume that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with publ=
ic input.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These early heari=
ngs are mostly for the purpose of assessing the situation.<span style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 11 bills have been filed so far regar=
ding flooding.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0=
; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bo=
ttom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE=
</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Mar=
gin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom:=
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday=
to hear testimony on <a title=3D"SB5" href=3D"[link removed]
mails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3=
ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHgV7H8ycgNL5Ms_Mm9lzB1Y=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noop=
ener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit;=
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">SB5</a> (Ban on THC), <a =
title=3D"SB11" href=3D"[link removed]
k/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHgVB1e=
BHhnWv7fCJ1lyg5eE=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0=
074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 1.5;">SB11</a> (AG=E2=80=99s authority to prosecute ele=
ction crimes), and <a title=3D"SB12" href=3D"[link removed]
ils/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ew=
Lq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHsmD7LyIJmAsmHCAmDO7d5E=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopen=
er" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; p=
adding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">SB12</a> (ban taxpayer fund=
ed lobbying).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Committee=
took public testimony on each bill, and moved all three of them favorably =
out of Committee.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next =
step will be 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> reading on the Senate floor.=
</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,=
helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; t=
ext-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px;"><em><strong>NOTE</strong>:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes;"> </span>the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer fund=
ed lobbying are top priorities for TTP in this special session.</em></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><strong>WHAT=E2=80=99S NEXT?</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Well,=
the answer is I don=E2=80=99t know, and your guess is as good as mine.<spa=
n style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only committee hearings cu=
rrently on the schedule are the ones I have mentioned here.<span style=3D"m=
so-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, that can (and will) change any =
moment.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the time=
constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as happened with =
the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bills being consi=
dered passed during regular session and received adequate testimony input a=
t that time.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fa=
mily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; =
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bott=
om: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">If other important things come up in the ne=
xt few days, I likely will not send another email.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>I don=E2=80=99t want to overburden the entire group=
with too many emails.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But =
I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see something I think people shoul=
d take action on.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep an e=
ye on the social media for action alerts.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Please take wh=
atever action you can for these committee hearings, either in person or on =
line.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And feel free to reac=
h out if you have questions.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </spa=
n>The next few weeks are going to be interesting!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpac=
ing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font=
-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size=
: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><em><s=
trong>NOTE</strong>:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our Au=
gust <a href=3D"[link removed]
k_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHmR_e2Y14_zcQ=
ZHTlWi96nc=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">TTP@Home podcast=
</a>, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interview with Dr. Robin Armstrong a=
nd Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee representatives from Texas.<span sty=
le=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the discussion was on the C=
ongressional redistricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for=
some great information and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue.=
<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people don=E2=80=99t =
understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georgatos prov=
ided some interesting comments.</em></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D=
"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400;=
padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-=
height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Also remember a con=
tinuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected representatives, =
our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors.</p> <p class=
=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">Stay Engaged!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144;=
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; mar=
gin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Fran Rhodes, President</p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; b=
ackground-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
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verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;">=
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 14px;"> </span></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style=3D"color: #cc000=
0;">True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.<br>Can you=
help?<br>We are 100% donation-based.</span><br><span style=3D"color: #0000=
55;">Click </span><a href=3D"[link removed]
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------=_Part_38768208_213804041.1753284426554--
------=_Part_38768203_37163348.1753284426536--
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, [link removed].
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Good Morning True Texans!
Special Session 1 of the 89th Legislature is underway. The House and Senate both gaveled in on Monday at noon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24. You should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjournment. Before either chamber can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings need to be held, and bills have to be moved through the process. It doesn’t mean the Representatives and Senators are not working.
As we’ve said before, special sessions move very fast, and things are already happening that you need to be aware of, thus this “Friday” message on Wednesday. Several things going on this week that I thought you should be aware of.
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the special session. In addition to the required redistricting every 10 years when the census is done, states and counties are allowed to redistrict any time. Galveston county did this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long court battle resulted in a ruling that determined that “coalition” districts are unconstitutional. These coalition districts have been used for decades to ensure Democrats win certain districts. The redistricting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions were used to elect Democrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to Republican in 2026.
Both the House and Senate have appointed special Redistricting Committees to address the mid-census redistricting proposal. In the House, Speaker Burrows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Committee, chaired by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (don't know why), and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's running in one of the contested districts. He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - very suspicious! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a press conference threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting from happening. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican House in Texas is once again validated. The whole committee is loaded with some of the most liberal leaning Republicans in the chamber. It will be interesting to see if any meaningful changes come out of this committee. Not holding my breath.
The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, but the special committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats, and is chaired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R)
The House Congressional Redistricting Committee has set hearings for tomorrow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of the state to consider the redistricting proposal. The committee will receive specific public testimony on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regarding county in Texas.
The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 hearings, each with a regional focus, for July 25, 26, 28, and 29. The Senate hearings are all done via teleconference. Witnesses must sign up in advance and sign ups close the day before the hearing. Information on how to sign up and then sign into the zoom meeting is contained in the Committee Notices, linked below.
If you wish to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked below for hearing details. If it’s a House hearing, remember you can provide comments with an on-line form which is included in each committee notice. The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on zoom, so you can testify from home on those hearings as well.
House Hearing in Austin on July 24, click here.
House Hearing in Houston on July 26, click here.
House Hearing in Arlington on July 28, click here.
Senate Hearing on July 25, click here (focus is South Central Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 26, click here (focus on North Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 28, click here (focus on East Texas)
Senate Hearing on July 29, click here. (focus on West Texas & Panhandle)
You can also watch all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived afterwards at the Texas Legislature On-Line website. Under “Legislative Activity” select House or Senate, and then select live or archive, and find the committee and date.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Both chambers held hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without addressing any specific legislation. The testimony was invited only. I assume that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with public input. These early hearings are mostly for the purpose of assessing the situation. About 11 bills have been filed so far regarding flooding.
SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE
The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday to hear testimony on SB5 (Ban on THC), SB11 (AG’s authority to prosecute election crimes), and SB12 (ban taxpayer funded lobbying). The Committee took public testimony on each bill, and moved all three of them favorably out of Committee. The next step will be 2nd and 3rd reading on the Senate floor.
NOTE: the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer funded lobbying are top priorities for TTP in this special session.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Well, the answer is I don’t know, and your guess is as good as mine. The only committee hearings currently on the schedule are the ones I have mentioned here. Of course, that can (and will) change any moment. Because of the time constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as happened with the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bills being considered passed during regular session and received adequate testimony input at that time.
If other important things come up in the next few days, I likely will not send another email. I don’t want to overburden the entire group with too many emails. But I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see something I think people should take action on. Keep an eye on the social media for action alerts.
Please take whatever action you can for these committee hearings, either in person or on line. And feel free to reach out if you have questions. The next few weeks are going to be interesting!
NOTE: our August TTP@Home podcast, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interview with Dr. Robin Armstrong and Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee representatives from Texas. Part of the discussion was on the Congressional redistricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for some great information and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue. Many people don’t understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georgatos provided some interesting comments.
Also remember a continuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected representatives, our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement.
TrueTexasProject.com
To update your profile with a new email address, satellite location, or other details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please click here.
BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before you forward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!
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Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="----=_Part_38768208_213804041.1753284426554"
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, https:/=
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vow=3D.
[Are these emails too small? Is half of it clipped? At the very top of this=
email, click the link that says "see it online". It will open in normal si=
ze and with full content!]
Good Morning True Texans!
Special Session 1 of the 89th Legislature is underway. The House and Senat=
e both gaveled in on Monday at noon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24. Y=
ou should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjournment. Before =
either chamber can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings =
need to be held, and bills have to be moved through the process. It doesn=
=E2=80=99t mean the Representatives and Senators are not working. =20
As we=E2=80=99ve said before, special sessions move very fast, and things a=
re already happening that you need to be aware of, thus this =E2=80=9CFrida=
y=E2=80=9D message on Wednesday. Several things going on this week that I =
thought you should be aware of.
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the special session. In additio=
n to the required redistricting every 10 years when the census is done, sta=
tes and counties are allowed to redistrict any time. Galveston county did =
this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long co=
urt battle resulted in a ruling that determined that =E2=80=9Ccoalition=E2=
=80=9D districts are unconstitutional. These coalition districts have been=
used for decades to ensure Democrats win certain districts. The redistric=
ting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions were used to elect D=
emocrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to Republican in 2026.
Both the House and Senate have appointed special Redistricting Committees t=
o address the mid-census redistricting proposal. In the House, Speaker Bur=
rows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Committee, chai=
red by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (don't know why)=
, and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's running in one =
of the contested districts. He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - =
very suspicious! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a pr=
ess conference threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting fro=
m happening. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican Hou=
se in Texas is once again validated. The whole committee is loaded with som=
e of the most liberal leaning Republicans in the chamber. It will be inter=
esting to see if any meaningful changes come out of this committee. Not ho=
lding my breath.
The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, but the spec=
ial committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats, and is c=
haired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R)
The House Congressional Redistricting Committee has set hearings for tomorr=
ow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of the state to consider the red=
istricting proposal. The committee will receive specific public testimony =
on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regardin=
g county in Texas. =20
The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 hearings, each w=
ith a regional focus, for July 25, 26, 28, and 29. The Senate hearings are=
all done via teleconference. Witnesses must sign up in advance and sign =
ups close the day before the hearing. Information on how to sign up and th=
en sign into the zoom meeting is contained in the Committee Notices, linked=
below.
If you wish to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked =
below for hearing details. If it=E2=80=99s a House hearing, remember you c=
an provide comments with an on-line form which is included in each committe=
e notice. The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on zoom, so y=
ou can testify from home on those hearings as well.
House Hearing in Austin on July 24, click here.
House Hearing in Houston on July 26, click here.
House Hearing in Arlington on July 28, click here.
Senate Hearing on July 25, click here (focus is South Central Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 26, click here (focus on North Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 28, click here (focus on East Texas)
Senate Hearing on July 29, click here. (focus on West Texas & Panhandle)
You can also watch all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived=
afterwards at the Texas Legislature On-Line website. Under =E2=80=9CLegi=
slative Activity=E2=80=9D select House or Senate, and then select live or a=
rchive, and find the committee and date.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Both chambers held hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without add=
ressing any specific legislation. The testimony was invited only. I assum=
e that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with public =
input. These early hearings are mostly for the purpose of assessing the si=
tuation. About 11 bills have been filed so far regarding flooding.
SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE
The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday to hear testimony on SB5 (Ba=
n on THC), SB11 (AG=E2=80=99s authority to prosecute election crimes), and =
SB12 (ban taxpayer funded lobbying). The Committee took public testimony o=
n each bill, and moved all three of them favorably out of Committee. The n=
ext step will be 2nd and 3rd reading on the Senate floor.
NOTE: the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer funded lobbying a=
re top priorities for TTP in this special session.
WHAT=E2=80=99S NEXT?
Well, the answer is I don=E2=80=99t know, and your guess is as good as mine=
. The only committee hearings currently on the schedule are the ones I hav=
e mentioned here. Of course, that can (and will) change any moment. Becau=
se of the time constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as =
happened with the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bil=
ls being considered passed during regular session and received adequate tes=
timony input at that time.
If other important things come up in the next few days, I likely will not s=
end another email. I don=E2=80=99t want to overburden the entire group wit=
h too many emails. But I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see someth=
ing I think people should take action on. Keep an eye on the social media =
for action alerts.
Please take whatever action you can for these committee hearings, either in=
person or on line. And feel free to reach out if you have questions. The=
next few weeks are going to be interesting!
NOTE: our August TTP@Home podcast, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interv=
iew with Dr. Robin Armstrong and Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee repres=
entatives from Texas. Part of the discussion was on the Congressional redi=
stricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for some great informatio=
n and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue. Many people don=E2=
=80=99t understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georga=
tos provided some interesting comments.
Also remember a continuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected rep=
resentatives, our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors=
.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
=20
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9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHjWkptyL9snfZfiVG=
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acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
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<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px;">=
<p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helve=
tica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-a=
lign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-=
bottom: 10px;">Good Morning True Texans!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" styl=
e=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: =
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; l=
ine-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Special Session=
1 of the 89<sup>th</sup> Legislature is underway.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>The House and Senate both gaveled in on Monday at n=
oon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">=
</span>You should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjour=
nment.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before either chambe=
r can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings need to be he=
ld, and bills have to be moved through the process.<span style=3D"mso-space=
run: yes;"> </span>It doesn=E2=80=99t mean the Representatives and Se=
nators are not working. <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;">As we=E2=80=99ve said before, special sessions move very f=
ast, and things are already happening that you need to be aware of, thus th=
is =E2=80=9CFriday=E2=80=9D message on Wednesday.<span style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes;"> </span>Several things going on this week that I thought you=
should be aware of.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144;=
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; mar=
gin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING=
</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Mar=
gin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom:=
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the=
special session.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In additi=
on to the <span style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">required</span> redis=
tricting every 10 years when the census is done, states and counties are <s=
pan style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">allowed</span> to redistrict any =
time.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galveston county did =
this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long co=
urt battle resulted in a ruling that determined that =E2=80=9Ccoalition=E2=
=80=9D districts are unconstitutional.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&n=
bsp; </span>These coalition districts have been used for decades to ensure =
Democrats win certain districts.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> <=
/span>The redistricting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions w=
ere used to elect Democrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to R=
epublican in 2026.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; f=
ont-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margi=
n: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margi=
n-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Both the House and Senate have appoin=
ted special Redistricting Committees to address the mid-census redistrictin=
g proposal.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the House, S=
peaker Burrows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Commi=
ttee, chaired by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (=
don't know why), and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's =
running in one of the contested districts.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;=
"> </span>He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - very suspicio=
us! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a press conf=
erence threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting from happen=
ing. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican House =
in Texas is once again validated.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> The wh=
ole committee is loaded with some of the most liberal leaning Republicans i=
n the chamber. It will be interesting to see if any meaningful change=
s come out of this committee. Not holding my breath.</span></p> <p cl=
ass=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, bu=
t the special committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats=
, and is chaired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Cre=
ighton (R)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fami=
ly: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom=
: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The House Congressional Redistricting Committ=
ee has set hearings for tomorrow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of=
the state to consider the redistricting proposal.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>The committee will receive specific public testimon=
y on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regard=
ing county in Texas.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <=
p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvet=
ica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-al=
ign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-b=
ottom: 10px;">The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 he=
arings, each with a regional focus, for<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&=
nbsp;</span>July 25, 26, 28, and 29.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbs=
p; </span>The Senate hearings are all done <strong><u>via teleconference</u=
></strong>.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Witnesses=
must sign up in advance and sign ups close the day before the hearing.&nbs=
p; Information on how to sign up and then sign into the zoom meeting is con=
tained in the Committee Notices, linked below.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing=
" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-we=
ight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 1=
2pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">If you wi=
sh to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked below for=
hearing details.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it=E2=
=80=99s a House hearing, remember you can provide comments with an on-line =
form which is included in each committee notice.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes;"> </span>The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on=
zoom, so you can testify from home on those hearings as well.</p> <p class=
=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">House Hearing in Austin on <a href=3D"[link removed]
ils/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ew=
Lq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHoYrK4CiQynhgyW0etTucck=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-d=
ecoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-h=
eight: 1.5;">July 24, click here</a>.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">House Hearing in=
Houston on <a href=3D"[link removed]
k/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHugbdf=
yvkbPN5BZPYBz2JWU=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-=
weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 26, =
click here</a>.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font=
-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: =
0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-b=
ottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">House Hearing in Arlington on <a href=3D=
"[link removed]
5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHkNAhs9zMizR9oecWUOrE8k=3D" =
style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; paddi=
ng: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 28, click here</a>.</p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a href=3D"[link removed]
/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1=
y6YqP4TkSBNlOHpdKI0BgfXzfvBf24Xa9Mkc=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-deco=
ration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heig=
ht: 1.5;">July 25, click here</a> (focus is South Central Texas).</p> <p cl=
ass=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a href=3D"[link removed]
acking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6Y=
qP4TkSBNlOHj1XVTeftUYlIr17qLCeBuk=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decorat=
ion: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height:=
1.5;">July 26, click here</a> (focus on North Texas).</p> <p class=3D"MsoN=
oSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;=
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font=
-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">S=
enate Hearing on <a title=3D"July 28, click here" href=3D"[link removed]
mails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5K=
AGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHiTy6AOKJPKrBpZJyxcF4SQ=3D" target=3D"_blank" =
rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weigh=
t: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 28, click=
here</a> (focus on East Texas)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"colo=
r: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padd=
ing: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-heigh=
t: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Senate Hearing on <a hre=
f=3D"[link removed]
9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHjLtA_TAbZabU_KJi1MfPVM=
=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; =
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">July 29, click here</a>. (=
focus on West Texas & Panhandle)</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D=
"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400;=
padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-=
height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">You can also watch =
all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived afterwards at the =
<a href=3D"[link removed]
sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHjd78t4pLi-Q0FKZBc=
OGwgk=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inhe=
rit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Texas Legislature On-=
Line</a> website.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Und=
er =E2=80=9CLegislative Activity=E2=80=9D select House or Senate, and then =
select live or archive, and find the committee and date.</p> <p class=3D"Ms=
oNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-seri=
f; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; fo=
nt-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"=
><strong>DISASTER PREPAREDNESS</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Both chambers he=
ld hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without addressing any spec=
ific legislation.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The testi=
mony was invited only.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I as=
sume that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with publ=
ic input.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These early heari=
ngs are mostly for the purpose of assessing the situation.<span style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 11 bills have been filed so far regar=
ding flooding.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0=
; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bo=
ttom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE=
</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-famil=
y: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Mar=
gin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom:=
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday=
to hear testimony on <a title=3D"SB5" href=3D"[link removed]
mails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3=
ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHgV7H8ycgNL5Ms_Mm9lzB1Y=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noop=
ener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit;=
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">SB5</a> (Ban on THC), <a =
title=3D"SB11" href=3D"[link removed]
k/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHgVB1e=
BHhnWv7fCJ1lyg5eE=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0=
074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 1.5;">SB11</a> (AG=E2=80=99s authority to prosecute ele=
ction crimes), and <a title=3D"SB12" href=3D"[link removed]
ils/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ew=
Lq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHsmD7LyIJmAsmHCAmDO7d5E=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopen=
er" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; p=
adding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">SB12</a> (ban taxpayer fund=
ed lobbying).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Committee=
took public testimony on each bill, and moved all three of them favorably =
out of Committee.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next =
step will be 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> reading on the Senate floor.=
</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,=
helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; t=
ext-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px;"><em><strong>NOTE</strong>:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes;"> </span>the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer fund=
ed lobbying are top priorities for TTP in this special session.</em></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><strong>WHAT=E2=80=99S NEXT?</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Well,=
the answer is I don=E2=80=99t know, and your guess is as good as mine.<spa=
n style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only committee hearings cu=
rrently on the schedule are the ones I have mentioned here.<span style=3D"m=
so-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, that can (and will) change any =
moment.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the time=
constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as happened with =
the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bills being consi=
dered passed during regular session and received adequate testimony input a=
t that time.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fa=
mily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; =
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bott=
om: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">If other important things come up in the ne=
xt few days, I likely will not send another email.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>I don=E2=80=99t want to overburden the entire group=
with too many emails.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But =
I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see something I think people shoul=
d take action on.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep an e=
ye on the social media for action alerts.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Please take wh=
atever action you can for these committee hearings, either in person or on =
line.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And feel free to reac=
h out if you have questions.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </spa=
n>The next few weeks are going to be interesting!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpac=
ing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font=
-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size=
: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><em><s=
trong>NOTE</strong>:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our Au=
gust <a href=3D"[link removed]
k_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHmR_e2Y14_zcQ=
ZHTlWi96nc=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">TTP@Home podcast=
</a>, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interview with Dr. Robin Armstrong a=
nd Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee representatives from Texas.<span sty=
le=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the discussion was on the C=
ongressional redistricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for=
some great information and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue.=
<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people don=E2=80=99t =
understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georgatos prov=
ided some interesting comments.</em></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D=
"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400;=
padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-=
height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Also remember a con=
tinuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected representatives, =
our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors.</p> <p class=
=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">Stay Engaged!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144;=
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; mar=
gin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Fran Rhodes, President</p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; b=
ackground-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;">=
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 14px;"> </span></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style=3D"color: #cc000=
0;">True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.<br>Can you=
help?<br>We are 100% donation-based.</span><br><span style=3D"color: #0000=
55;">Click </span><a href=3D"[link removed]
ck-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlO=
HuYmhdlPsQcmtzlABU9Fsy8=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none;=
font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><sp=
an style=3D"color: #cc0000;">here</span></a><span style=3D"color: #000055;"=
> to donate to our movement. <br><a href=3D"h=
ttps://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_=
umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHtwC2wj3UqfT6g0Q2VtkpPM=3D" st=
yle=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding=
: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">TrueTexasProject.com</a></span></=
strong></p>=20
<table width=3D"1179" data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"border-spacin=
g: 0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-alig=
n: left; max-width: 100%; width: 100%;">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: t=
op; text-align: left;">=20
<th data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"word-break: normal; overflow=
-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,=
helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; t=
ext-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; border-collapse: collap=
se;">
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px; text-ali=
gn: center;" data-v-45dfea3e>
<a title=3D"Facebook" href=3D"[link removed]
m/emails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D=
/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHpkssXwL4NwffQq1Vi60tKQ=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"n=
oopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><img style=3D"outline:=
none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 1=
00%; clear: both; float: none; text-align: center; border: none; display: b=
lock; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 30px; height: auto;" s=
rc=3D"[link removed]" alt=
=3D"Facebook" width=3D"30"></a> <a title=3D"Instagram" href=3D"h=
ttps://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/E0hTok_0d9sg99IH9_aO5_=
umyoDavjJbvmro5KAGvow=3D/Y3ewLq1y6YqP4TkSBNlOHp4OKS8GWtBYUEXDRnspMeA=3D" ta=
rget=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: =
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;=
"><img src=3D"[link removed]
.png" alt=3D"Instagram" width=3D"30" border=3D"0" style=3D"outline: none; t=
ext-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; cle=
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Good Morning True Texans!
Special Session 1 of the 89th Legislature is underway. The House and Senate both gaveled in on Monday at noon, then adjourned until Thursday 7/24. You should not be alarmed or concerned about the 2-day adjournment. Before either chamber can take action on bills, committees have to meet, hearings need to be held, and bills have to be moved through the process. It doesn’t mean the Representatives and Senators are not working.
As we’ve said before, special sessions move very fast, and things are already happening that you need to be aware of, thus this “Friday” message on Wednesday. Several things going on this week that I thought you should be aware of.
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
Redistricting is one of the hot topics for the special session. In addition to the required redistricting every 10 years when the census is done, states and counties are allowed to redistrict any time. Galveston county did this several years ago, and the Biden Administration sued them. The long court battle resulted in a ruling that determined that “coalition” districts are unconstitutional. These coalition districts have been used for decades to ensure Democrats win certain districts. The redistricting effort targets 5 Texas districts where coalitions were used to elect Democrats, with the hope of flipping those districts to Republican in 2026.
Both the House and Senate have appointed special Redistricting Committees to address the mid-census redistricting proposal. In the House, Speaker Burrows kept most of the members of the standing Redistricting Committee, chaired by Rep. Cody Vasut. But Rep Tom Oliverson was removed (don't know why), and Rep Jolanda Jones was removed, probably because she's running in one of the contested districts. He also added Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu - very suspicious! Rep Wu's appointment came just moments after he held a press conference threatening to break quorum to prevent any redistricting from happening. Apparently the idea that Democrats control the Republican House in Texas is once again validated. The whole committee is loaded with some of the most liberal leaning Republicans in the chamber. It will be interesting to see if any meaningful changes come out of this committee. Not holding my breath.
The Senate did not have a standing committee on redistricting, but the special committee this session includes 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats, and is chaired by Sen. Phil King (R) and Vice Chaired by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R)
The House Congressional Redistricting Committee has set hearings for tomorrow, Saturday and Monday in different parts of the state to consider the redistricting proposal. The committee will receive specific public testimony on counties in 14 congressional districts, but will hear testimony regarding county in Texas.
The Senate Congressional Redistricting Committee has set 4 hearings, each with a regional focus, for July 25, 26, 28, and 29. The Senate hearings are all done via teleconference. Witnesses must sign up in advance and sign ups close the day before the hearing. Information on how to sign up and then sign into the zoom meeting is contained in the Committee Notices, linked below.
If you wish to testify on re-districting, see the committee notices linked below for hearing details. If it’s a House hearing, remember you can provide comments with an on-line form which is included in each committee notice. The Senate hearings for redistricting are all done on zoom, so you can testify from home on those hearings as well.
House Hearing in Austin on July 24, click here.
House Hearing in Houston on July 26, click here.
House Hearing in Arlington on July 28, click here.
Senate Hearing on July 25, click here (focus is South Central Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 26, click here (focus on North Texas).
Senate Hearing on July 28, click here (focus on East Texas)
Senate Hearing on July 29, click here. (focus on West Texas & Panhandle)
You can also watch all of the committee hearings live streamed, or archived afterwards at the Texas Legislature On-Line website. Under “Legislative Activity” select House or Senate, and then select live or archive, and find the committee and date.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Both chambers held hearings on disaster preparedness this week, without addressing any specific legislation. The testimony was invited only. I assume that as bills move through the system, hearings will be held with public input. These early hearings are mostly for the purpose of assessing the situation. About 11 bills have been filed so far regarding flooding.
SPECIFIC BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE
The Senate State Affairs Committee met Tuesday to hear testimony on SB5 (Ban on THC), SB11 (AG’s authority to prosecute election crimes), and SB12 (ban taxpayer funded lobbying). The Committee took public testimony on each bill, and moved all three of them favorably out of Committee. The next step will be 2nd and 3rd reading on the Senate floor.
NOTE: the AG authority to prosecute and banning taxpayer funded lobbying are top priorities for TTP in this special session.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Well, the answer is I don’t know, and your guess is as good as mine. The only committee hearings currently on the schedule are the ones I have mentioned here. Of course, that can (and will) change any moment. Because of the time constraints, committee notice times are often shortened (as happened with the State Affairs Committee yesterday), especially if the bills being considered passed during regular session and received adequate testimony input at that time.
If other important things come up in the next few days, I likely will not send another email. I don’t want to overburden the entire group with too many emails. But I will post on Facebook and X whenever I see something I think people should take action on. Keep an eye on the social media for action alerts.
Please take whatever action you can for these committee hearings, either in person or on line. And feel free to reach out if you have questions. The next few weeks are going to be interesting!
NOTE: our August TTP@Home podcast, which airs on Friday Aug 1 is an interview with Dr. Robin Armstrong and Debbie Georgatos, our RNC Committee representatives from Texas. Part of the discussion was on the Congressional redistricting topic, so I would urge you to listen in for some great information and insights on the mid-census redistricting issue. Many people don’t understand the reasons or process, and Dr. Armstrong and Ms. Georgatos provided some interesting comments.
Also remember a continuous action item is prayer. Pray for our elected representatives, our TTP team members and all of our citizen advocate warriors.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement.
TrueTexasProject.com
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