Good morning, 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Brandon Waltens 

Monday, May 17, 2021
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• There are only two weeks left in the regular legislative session in Austin. Last Thursday marked an important deadline, as it was the last day the House could pass House bills, according to its self-imposed rule.
   
• As the clock struck midnight, hundreds of bills died. Here are where the Texas GOP priorities stand right now.

Election Integrity

• Election integrity is a hot topic in the Texas Legislature this session—yet, as of May 15, not one priority election reform bill has been sent to the governor’s desk.
   
• The Senate passed five of its six RPT-priority election integrity bills in April. The House passed one of its 16 RPT-priority bills in April and two more this month; one more is still active, and the rest are dead.
   
• Erin Anderson explains where grassroots’ top-priority election integrity bills stand.

Religious Freedom

• A broad subject, numerous bills were filed this session designed to protect religious freedom.
   
• Most notably, Senate Joint Resolution 27—which has now passed both chambers—proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations. 
   
• Like all constitutional amendments, it must also receive approval from Texas voters in the November election.

Children and Gender Modification

• While the Senate took action early to pass legislation to protect minors from chemical and surgical castration, the Texas House has so far refused to do so. 
   
• The last chance for such legislation to pass is either Senate Bill 1646 or Senate Bill 1311. The Senate is set to vote on SB 1311 tSo far, State Rep. Stephanie Klick has declined to set a hearing for the bill in the Public Health Committee.

Abolition of Abortion

• Neither chamber has taken action to completely abolish abortion. Legislation to prohibit abortions once a heartbeat has been detected, however, has passed the House and the Senate and was sent to the governor. 

Constitutional Carry

• House Bill 1927, which would eliminate the requirement of citizens to obtain a permit from the state to carry handguns, has now passed both the House and the Senate. 
   
• The bill has not reached the governor yet, however. Because the House refused to concur with amendments made in the Senate, a conference committee consisting of representatives from both chambers will now attempt to reconcile the two versions of the bill before receiving final approval.

Monument Protection

• Comprehensive legislation to protect historical monuments in Texas has received no traction in either chamber this session. 

School Choice

• While the Senate could approve Senate Bill 1968  in the coming days, which would create Educational Savings Accounts for low-income students, the legislation is a non-starter in the House. Last month while debating the budget, the House voted overwhelmingly to prevent state funds from being used on school choice programs.

Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

• Bills to completely ban taxpayer-funded lobbying across the board have failed to receive votes in either chamber of the legislature this session.
   
• Senate Bill 10, which bans taxpayer-funded lobbying by cities and counties, passed the Senate last month and passed the House State Affairs committee on Friday. It has not yet been scheduled for debate on the House floor.

Executive Overreach

• The Senate has passed numerous bills to curb the governor's use of unilateral emergency authority. The House has passed its own version, in House bill 3, which has been criticized as codifying many of the actions taken over the last year and half. There will be a lot of discussion in the coming days between the two chambers over which version will ultimately be sent to the governor's desk.

Upcoming Deadlines

• May 22: Last day for House to vote Senate bills out of committee.
• May 25: Last day for House to consider Senate bills on second reading.
• May 29: Last day House and Senate can distribute conference committee reports.
• May 30: Last day House or Senate can adopt conference committee reports and finally pass bills.
• May 31: Last day of 87th Legislative Session.

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