Good morning, 

Early this coming Sunday, everyone will adjust their clock forward as part of the "daylight saving" routine. This week's One Click Survey asks if we should stop rolling clocks forward and back each year.

Here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Senate Advances 'Fix' To Restore Felony Penalty For Illegal Voting

• Responding to pressure from grassroots activists, Republican members of the Texas Senate are advancing legislation to restore a felony penalty for illegal voting, fixing a problem created in the last legislative session. Erin Anderson has the details.

      
• In 2021, illegal voting was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor by the Republican leadership in the Texas House. 
     
• This session's Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) would restore the penalty to a second-degree felony. The measure passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee last week and is headed to the full Senate for a vote.
       
• Four similar House bills have been referred to the House Elections Committee, which has yet to meet this session.

Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Filed In House

• Legislation has – finally – been filed in the Texas House that would prohibit taxpayer-funded lobbying, reports Sydnie Henry. This is the practice by which cities, schools, and other local entities collect tax dollars to then lobby legislators against taxpayer protections and relief. 
        
• The House measure, filed by State Rep. Ellen Troxclair of Spicewood, is identical to legislation introduced last fall in the Texas Senate by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville).

Legislation Asks If Texans Want to 'TEXIT' The USA 

• Legislation was filed in the Texas House yesterday by State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) to set a statewide referendum on the question of staying in the American union or declaring independence. Emily Wilkerson has the details.
   

• If the “TEXIT Referendum Act” were to be passed by the Texas House and Senate, a referendum would go before voters during the November election. They would be asked to vote for or against the proposition, “Should the State of Texas reassert its status as an independent nation?” 

          
• In 2021, a similar bill was filed by former State Rep. Kyle Biedermann. It was referred to the State Affairs Committee but never received a hearing.
      
• “The Texas Constitution is clear that all political power resides in the people. After decades of continuous abuse of our rights and liberties by the federal government, it is time to let the people of Texas make their voices heard,” said Slaton.
      
• “This ridiculous bill is the very definition of hypocritical & seditious treason & it is already dead.” – State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano)

Gonzales Draws GOP Opponent

• After being censured by the Republican Party of Texas on Saturday, Congressman Tony Gonzales of San Antonio has already drawn an opponent for the 2024 GOP primary. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      

• Medina County Republican Party Chair Julie Clark announced her candidacy on Monday. She took specific aim at Gonzales for his record of supporting gun confiscation legislation and taxpayer-funded abortions, as well as voting against funding for building a border wall.
      

• State law requires the Republican and Democrat parties to allow on their ballots anyone who meets basic statutory standards. Some say that restriction, set in place as part of the primaries being run by the state, is unconstitutional.
       

• The nearly unanimous censure vote by the State Republicans Executive Committee means the party can now spend money against Gonzales in the primary election.

Today In History

On March 7, 1901, the bluebonnet was officially designated the state flower of Texas.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

This coming Sunday, daylight saving time will begin – which means "springing forward" clocks. The semiannual practice has come under criticism from a variety of perspectives. Should "spring forward" / "fall back" be ended in Texas?
    

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!