The Texas 85th Legislature is well underway with multiple hearings taking place at the State Capitol each day. The Chamber has been monitoring all bills that align with our State Legislative Agenda as well as the Metro 8 State Legislative Agenda. We have also been holding weekly calls with our Metro 8 colleagues to discuss possible action for each of the bills being heard in committee, and we stand ready to write testimony, register a position, or testify at hearings if necessary. In addition, we have been in constant communication with our lobbyist to stay abreast of all activity at the State Capitol.
The budget remains top priority this session. Money is tight because of reduction in oil prices along with tax cuts passed in previous legislatures. Both the House and the Senate have developed budgets, but they are very far apart, making it harder for compromise. Child Protective Services is another big priority, as both the House and Senate feel the agency is failing and in need for restructuring. As expected, education also ranks high on the priority list, and the House has looked to addresses school finance by increasing public education funding by $1.6 billion, while the Senate looks to create a school voucher system.
Representative John Zerwas (TX28), the House’s chief budget writer has laid out a bill that would withdraw about $2.4 billion from the Texas Economic Stabilization Fund, better known as the state’s “Rainy Day Fund,” to cover expenses for Child Protective Services, public education, Medicaid, and other “deferred maintenance” costs at state hospitals. HB2 would tap into a budget that is expected to have $12 billion by the end of the biennium.
Other bills we will continue to follow closely will be SB2 relating to ad valorem taxation and SB6, better known as the state’s bathroom bill. On February 23, the Chamber Board of Directors amended our state legislative agenda to include a non-discrimination statement. That prompted the Chamber to “drop a card” in opposition of SB 6. The Metro 8 also registered a position opposing the bill. However, the bill passed the Senate 21:10 on March 15 and was received in the House on March 16. No word yet on when a hearing will take place.
Last week, the Chamber registered the following positions:
SB 2 (Bettencourt) – Relating to ad valorem taxation
Position: Oppose
SB 6 (Kolkhorst) – Relating to the regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility.
Position: Oppose
SB 99 (Hall) – Relating to the abolishment of the music, film, television and multimedia office of the governor and other incentive for media.
Position: Oppose
SB 105 (Hall) – Relating to abolishing the Major Events reimbursement program fund, Motor Sports Racing trust fund, and Events trust fund.
Position: Oppose
SB 570 (Rodriguez) – Relates to the regulation of the retention, storage, transportation and disposal of used or scrap tires; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Position: Support
SB 794 (Miles) – Relating to the biennial report to the legislature on grants made to entities under Texas Enterprise Fund.
Position: Support
SB 802 (Seliger) – Relating to a study and report regarding best practices in provision of dual credit courses by public institutions of higher education and the transfer of course credit.
Position: Support
HB 404 (Anchia) - Relating to higher education curriculum review teams to review public school curriculum standards for college readiness purposes.
Position: Support
HB 620 (Leach) – Relating to the first day of instruction for public schools.
Position: Oppose
HB 639 (Anderson) - Relating to authorizing the purchase of certain insurance coverage by public school districts for the benefit of businesses and students participating in career or technology training programs and providing for immunity from liability of certain public school students participating in career or technology programs.
Position: Support
HB 655 (Clardy) – Relating to the filing of a degree plan by students at a public junior college.
Position: Support
HB 710 (Wu) - Relating to providing free full-day prekindergarten for certain children.
Position: Support
HB 728 (Guerra) - Relating to the establishment by the commissioner of education of an advanced computer science program for high school students.
Position: Support
HB 1198 (Rodriguez) – Relating to the filing of a degree plan by students at public junior colleges.
Position: Support
