Sunday, March 19, 2023

An update on priority legislation in the Texas Legislature 3/19/23

The deadline for introducing legislation has passed. These are at the top of the heap in the House and Senate

 - DATES OF INTEREST | 88TH LEGISLATURE.

- Texas Legislature: Filed House Bills.

- Texas Legislature: Filed Senate Bills.

Priority Bills: 

Taxes

HB 2 Author: Meyer | Bonnen | Burrows | Thierry | Raymond
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to providing property tax relief through the public school finance system and property tax appraisal and administration.

HB 5 Author: Hunter | Meyer | Burrows | Shine | Longoria
Last Action: 03/01/2023 H Referred to Ways & Means: Mar 1 2023 11:49AM
Caption: Relating to agreements to create jobs and to generate state and local tax revenue for this state.

SB 3 Author: Bettencourt | Alvarado | Birdwell | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Vote taken in committee
Caption: Relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district, an adjustment in the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in the exemption amount, and the protection of school districts against the resulting loss in local revenue.

SB 4 Author: Bettencourt | Huffman | Parker
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Placed on intent calendar
Caption: Relating to the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district.

SB 5 Author: Parker | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income and a franchise tax credit for the payment of certain related ad valorem taxes.


Education

HB 3 Author: Burrows | King, Tracy O. | Moody | King, Ken | Bonnen
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Youth Health & Safety, Select: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to the development and implementation of, and funding for public school safety and security requirements.

HB 8 Author: VanDeaver | Kuempel | Buckley | Bonnen | Longoria
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the administration, coordination, and support of public higher education, including the public junior college state finance program and an Advanced Career and Education (ACE) scholarship program for students enrolled in dual credit courses.

HB 11 Author: Dutton
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators, including financial and other assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators and to certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.

HB 13 Author: King, Ken | Burrows | King, Tracy O. | González, Mary | Buckley
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Youth Health & Safety, Select: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to training, preparedness, and funding for school safety and school safety emergencies.

SB 8 Author: Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | King | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.

SB 9 Author: Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Hinojosa | Huffman | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators and assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators and to certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.

SB 10 Author: Huffman | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Birdwell | Blanco | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to benefits paid by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

SB 11 Author: Nichols
Last Action: 03/07/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including measures related to certain student records and truant conduct.

SB 13 Author: Paxton | Bettencourt | Creighton | Hughes | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the creation of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials and to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children.

SB 15 Author: Middleton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Creighton | Flores | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to requiring a student of a public institution of higher education who competes in intercollegiate athletic competitions to do so based on the student's biological sex.

SB 16 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to the purpose of public institutions of higher education and a prohibition on compelling students enrolled at those institutions to adopt certain beliefs.

SB 17 Author: Creighton | Campbell | King | Kolkhorst | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to public higher education reform; authorizing administrative penalties.

SB 18 Author: Creighton | Campbell | Flores | King | Kolkhorst | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to tenure and employment status at public institutions of higher education in this state.

SB 19 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to the administration and investment of, and distribution and use of money from, certain constitutional and statutory funds to support general academic teaching institutions in achieving national prominence as major research universities and driving the state economy; redesignating the national research fund as the Texas University Fund.

SB 25 Author: Kolkhorst | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to support for nursing-related postsecondary education, including scholarships to nursing students, loan repayment assistance to nurses and nursing faculty, and grants to nursing education programs.


Criminal Justice

HB 4 Author: Capriglione | Longoria
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the regulation of the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers' personal data by certain business entities; imposing a civil penalty.

HB 6 Author: Goldman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to the criminal penalties for certain controlled substance offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.

HB 16 Author: Moody | Thompson, Senfronia | Johnson, Ann | Leach | Cook
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the adjudication and disposition of cases involving delinquent conduct, certain juvenile court proceedings, and planning and funding for services for children in the juvenile justice system.

HB 17 Author: Cook | Moody | Leach | Metcalf | Burrows
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to the official misconduct and removal of district attorneys and county attorneys.

HB 19 Author: Murr
Last Action: 03/22/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees.

SB 2 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/15/2023 H Received from the Senate
Caption: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 20 Author: Huffman | Parker
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to the enforcement of criminal offenses by district attorneys, criminal district attorneys, and county attorneys.

SB 21 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to conduct of and complaints against current and former judges.

SB 22 Author: Springer | Blanco | Creighton | Eckhardt | Hall | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff's departments, district attorney's offices, and county attorney's offices in rural counties.

SB 23 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain felony offenses in which a firearm is used or exhibited.

SB 27 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Jurisprudence
Caption: Relating to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees.


Border Security

HB 7 Author: Guillen
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to public services and programs in the southern border region of this state to address the effects of ongoing criminal activity and public health threats, including methods of financing those services.

HB 20 Author: Schaefer
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to measures to ensure the safety and welfare of the southern border region of this state, including protection from ongoing criminal activity and public health threats; creating a criminal offense; creating a civil penalty.


Utilities

HB 9 Author: Ashby | Hunter | Hernandez | Longoria
Last Action: 03/07/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 7 2023 12:31PM
Caption: Relating to the development and funding of broadband and telecommunications services; making an appropriation.

HB 18 Author: Slawson | Patterson | González, Mary | Burrows | Darby
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services.

SB 6 Author: Schwertner | King
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Caption: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Insurance Program and other funding mechanisms to support the construction and operation of electric generating facilities.

SB 7 Author: Schwertner | King
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Caption: Relating to the reliability of the ERCOT power grid.


Water 

HB 10 Author: King, Tracy O.
Last Action: 03/07/2023 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 7 2023 12:31PM
Caption: Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.

SB 28 Author: Perry
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.


Health and Human Services

HB 12 Author: Rose | Thompson, Senfronia | Walle | Thierry | Howard
Last Action: 03/16/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the duration of services provided under Medicaid to women following a pregnancy.

HB 15 Author: Thompson, Senfronia | Craddick | Buckley
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas.

SB 24 Author: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Creighton | Hall | King | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Vote taken in committee
Caption: Relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SB 26 Author: Kolkhorst | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to local mental health authority and local behavioral health authority audits and mental and behavioral health reporting, services, and programs.

SB 29 Author: Birdwell
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to prohibited governmental entity implementation or enforcement of a vaccine mandate, mask requirement, or private business or school closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.


Business Development


HB 14 Author: Harris, Cody
Last Action: 03/22/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to certain approval procedures for property development review by a political subdivision.


Social Policy

SB 12 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to restricting certain sexually oriented performances on public property, on the premises of a commercial enterprise, or in the presence of a child; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

SB 14 Author: Campbell | Bettencourt | Hall | Hughes | Kolkhorst | et al.
Last Action: 03/16/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.