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This week, the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature adjourned “Sine Die” (pronounced sigh-knee dye), which means “without a day.” That means this legislative session is over—but the work continues.
The processes of democracy are cyclical. Now that the legislating phase is completed pending the veto period, we are in the part of the cycle that is often referred to as “accountability.”
Legislators came to Austin to represent the interests of their districts. Now it’s time for them to report back to their constituents on what they accomplished and why they took the actions they did: why they filed the bills they did; why they voted for or against bills; why they spoke or didn’t speak in committee meetings or on the floor; and what the legislative outcomes mean for their communities.
The next 3-4 months are an ideal time to get to know your legislators, while they are home in the district and outside the election cycle. House members must run for re-election every two years, so they will move into campaign mode in the fall. Now is your opportunity to get their take on the session that just ended, thank them for their work, and engage in honest conversation about things you wish had gone differently.
Your senator and representative likely have issues they wish had gone differently. Legislators introduced more than 8,700 bills, with about 1,200 passing. As of June 5, only 2 had been vetoed, but the veto period lasts until June 22 and there are almost certainly more vetoes coming.
Texas Impact tracked almost 1,700 bills throughout the session. Of these, we included 168 in our weekly action alerts, and Texas Impact members made more than 16,000 calls to legislative offices. Our lobby team has posted wrap-ups on each of our issue areas with information about which bills passed and which did not.
Climate and Energy Wrap-Up
Reproductive and Health Wrap-Up
LGBTQ+ Wrap-Up
Immigration Wrap-Up
Public Education Wrap-Up
Gun Violence Prevention Wrap-Up
LegeTV posted nearly 1,000 legislative clips to YouTube during the 89th session! The top five most popular clips of the session were:
- Rep. Talarico asks questions of Rep. Noble on the House floor layout of SB 10, point of order (39,780 views)
- Rep. Ann Johnson asks questions of Rep. Alders on HB 3225 (19,630 views)
- Rep. Harrison asks questions of the Texas Water Development Board on their hiring practices (15,564 views)
- Sen. Cook asks questions of Sen. Middleton on HB 229, defining sex in government documents (14,320 views)
- Rep. Talarico asks questions of Rep. Noble on the committee layout of SB 10, Ten Commandments in classrooms (13,206 views)
In addition to our Rapid Response team, Texas Impact convened six issue teams this session: Reproductive Policy; Public Education; Immigration; Gun Violence Protection; LGBTQ+; and Climate Action. More than 1,500 individuals are signed up for at least one team. Throughout the session, team members provided leadership in their local communities on issues on Texas Impact’s agenda, by sharing information from Texas Impact and organizing group advocacy activities. Team members came to the Capitol, in some cases many times over the course of the session, to register and testify in committee hearings; meet with legislative offices; attend public events; and distribute information.
...and the party never ends.
One proposal Texas Impact members worked to defeat was SB 1798, which would have ended in-state tuition for undocumented students. While that bill died along with several similar bills, the US Department of Justice sued Texas on June 4, demanding that the state desist from implementing the Texas DREAM Act. Passed in 2001, the Texas DREAM Act extended qualification for in-state tuition to noncitizen residents who lived in Texas for three years before graduating from high school, lived in Texas the year before enrolling at a university in the state, and signed an affidavit declaring their intention to apply for permanent residency. The Texas attorney general, who has in other instances made a regular practice of suing the federal government, acquiesced immediately, effectively ending the Texas DREAM Act for now.
And in Washington, Congress continues to pursue deep cuts to health and food programs in tandem with deficit increases and tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans.
Check out this week's Action Alert to take action on in-state tuition and the federal budget
We know: you thought there wouldn't be an Action Alert because the legislature adjourned Sine Die. But here we are: the legislative session is over, and yet the advocacy work continues. Thanks for your work…in the Capitol and beyond! |
