Dear Friends,

Welcome to Week 11 of the Texas Legislature!

Remember last week the House passed a group of Resolutions that included one designating Feb 14, 2023 as LGBQT Chamber of Commerce day at the Capitol?  Because it was a "package" deal, it was approved unanimously, but several people altered their votes afterwards.  While we appreciate those representatives trying to do the right thing after the fact, it doesn't change the outcome of the vote which was unanimous support for the Resolutions.

Did you even know that they could change the votes after the fact?  They can, and do!  Here's what SREC SD12 Jill Glover said about it:

"A little lesson in state government. When our representatives take a vote on the House floor, but go back and "change" it later, that vote is meaningless. Only the one in real time counts. The changing of the vote is only to appease those who might object. Rarely, an elected official makes a mistake and votes the opposite of how they intended. But that is very rare.

Most of the time, they "change" their vote for record purposes to help them in the primary. This is why is it important to get screenshots when votes happen. The same goes for authoring bills. They can add their name to a bill even after session ends up until October!! Then they can say they were a co-author. Again, this is why screen shots are important. This type of game should be called out."

"Let your yes be yes and your no be no" Matt 5:37"

This week the Resolutions Committee put forth another LGBQT Resolution for the Thursday calendar, honoring a gay couple from Collin County for their activism for the cause. HR85 was again bundled with a group of other resolutions.  Several members publicly stated they would vote against the entire packet if that one was included, and many of you made phone calls objecting.  And it worked!  Rep. Plesa, who submitted the resolution, withdrew it, saying she "won't allow a radical agenda of hatred and division to tarnish the resolution."  See her full statement here.

This was a win for us.  Grassroots people spoke up, and House members stood up and said NO. Let's leave the politics out of House Resolutions!

Other Legislative News This Week:

On Monday, the Senate State Affairs Committee met to hear testimony on several bills of interest - including SB175 (stop taxpayer funded lobbyists), SB921 (prohibit ranked choice voting), and  SB15 (protect women's sports).  We had lots of friends testifying in support of these bills.  All three were passed out of Committee 7-3.  On to the Senate floor vote!

On Tuesday, the Senate passed SB2, the bill to restore penalties for election fraud back to a felony status. (last session a last minute amendment changed it from felony to misdemeanor).  Now we just need to convince the House (and specifically Speaker Phelan) to pass it as well.  Last session during one of the specials, Speaker Phelan stated that he had no interest in "re-litigating" the subject.  Let's make sure he is interested in doing it this time!  (SB2 was received in the House on 3/15/23)

On Thursday the Senate State Affairs Committee took testimony on Senator Campbell's SB14 to protect children by stopping gender modification of minors.  Thanks to everyone who attended and testified in support of the bill.  The Committee has not yet voted on it.

What's Happening This Coming Week?

I'll be at the Capitol with anyone who wants to join us on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday.  On Tuesday, I'll be in the Rotunda at 10:00.  On Wednesday, please let me know you are coming and we'll make arrangements to meet up.  I'll be in the Senate Education Committee hearing starting at 9:00.  There is one important bill in the House Education Committee on Monday.  I cannot be there on Monday, but perhaps some of you can, details below.

Monday:

HB98 will be heard in the Youth Health & Safety Committee on Monday.  This is a BAD BILL!  We need people to testify against it and/or make on line comments.  We've already seen the school districts conducting "mental health" assessments on kids, tracking them, collecting data and sometimes selling the data to outside groups.  This bill wants to allow the school district to be a Medicaid provider for mental health services, which would allow them to monetize the mental health services they are providing.  The left keep pushing schools to completely take over every aspect of children's lives.  We must not let them!  Here is an excerpt from the bill

Sec.A38.038.REIMBURSEMENT UNDER MEDICAID. The Health and
Human Services Commission shall allow a school district to enroll
as a provider under the medical assistance program under Chapter
32, Human Resources Code, to provide and receive reimbursement for
the provision of mental health services to district students who
are medical assistance recipients.

The job of school districts is to educate children, not be their healthcare provider!

Tuesday: 

Rep. Schatzline is asking for help getting a Committee Hearing on his HB 3570, requiring ID to access porn sites.  I will have a position paper to deliver to the members of the Committee on Youth Health & Safety.  We're also looking for co-authors on this bill, so you can talk to your own Representatives about that.

Lots of Committee Hearings happening on Tuesday.  Of note are HB69 and HB928 regarding asset forfeiture in House Criminal Jurisprudence, and HB900 regarding dirty books in schools in House Public Education.  There's also HB636 in the House Committee on Community Safety, which allows election judges to carry guns to polling places.

House Committees Tuesday 3/21

Senate Committees Tuesday 3/21

After clicking the link, click on the calendar day to see the list of committees meeting that day.

Wednesday:

Again - multiple Committees meeting in both Chambers.  Of note are the Senate Ed Committee considering multiple bills regarding the school choice issue, parental empowerment, and parents rights.  Both House & Senate Transportation Committees meet on Wednesday, and our friend Terri Hall, with TURF will provide us a list of bills to support or oppose along with talking points.

House Committees Wednesday 3/22

Senate Committees Wednesday 3/22  (*There are a lot of Education bills in the Education Committee.  On Wednesday, I'll have a list of recommendations for most of them.)

ACTION FOR EVERYONE:

Attend and testify at the Committee on Youth Health & Safety if possible, on Monday 3/20, 2:00 pm, room E2.026.  If you cannot attend, submit an on-line comment on the bill.  Click on this link to comment.  The link is open now and will probably remain open until the hearing is underway on Monday.

Contact members of the House Youth Health & Safety Committee to urge them to schedule a hearing for HB3570 (ID required to access porn sites)

Contact your own House Representatives and ask them to sign on to HB3570.  Also ask them to support SB2 in the House, and demand that it be assigned to Committee and a hearing held quickly.

Contact Speaker Phelan's office ((512) 463-1000) and tell him he needs to pass SB2 in the House to restore the penalties for election fraud.  He may not be interested in doing it - but the people of Texas are.

Review the bills being heard in Committee this week, (links above) find bills that interest you or fit your priorities, then oppose or support at the kiosks or contact committee members. Remember, for House Bills in Committee, you can make on line comments about the bills being heard. Links are at the bottom of each Committee schedule.

For guidance on bills, go to the RPT website, click on TXLEGE, download the list of approved bills that fit the RPT Leg Priorities.  Also find there the weekly report from the Leg Priorities Committee, and talking points for the priority issues.

REMINDER! (It's NEXT week!)

TRUE TEXAN DAY AT THE CAPITOL, MARCH 28, 2023

Get ready to show your True Texan-ness at the Capitol on March 28.  

Join True Texas Project Citizen Advocates for TRUE TEXAN DAY at the Capitol!  We'll have a full day of activities for you, including a tour of the Capitol Building, a meeting with a State-Wide elected officer, tour of the Supreme Court Building, legislative update from legislators, visits to your own House Representatives and Senators, and some fun games along the way.  Students are welcome and this is a great opportunity to introduce them to state government, and basic civics.  Registration is required so we can make plans to accommodate everyone, but there is no fee involved.  Please enter the name of each person attending, and the age if under 16.  (example:  Jason Smith, age 12)

Thank you to everyone who has been showing up at the Capitol on a regular basis.  We've developed a nice little group who are mostly coming every week.  But we need more! I realize most people cannot come every week, but maybe you can arrange to come one or two times during the session.  Or maybe you are helping by making contacts from home.  If you are - thank you!  Our strength is showing, and we are making a difference!

Personal story - I visit a lot of offices when I'm there, and it just makes my heart sing when I go into an office, introduce myself, and have the people respond "Oh, your people were just in here last week."  or "Oh, I know True Texas Project!"  Please know that it's working, the TTP message is spreading and we are having an impact.

God Bless Texas and Texas Patriots!

Fran Rhodes, President, True Texas Project