On May 1, the 88th Legislative Session will have 29 days remaining, and just 11 days for the Texas House to pass House bills. The “potential” of March is long gone. The “set up” of April is over. In May, the “chess pieces” start to move as the “grand bargain” between the “Big 3” — the Speaker, Lt. Governor, and Governor — emerges.
This week, the House is scheduled to have a divisive fight over healthcare for children that experience gender dysphoria. SB 14 is scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday.
In the next couple of weeks, the pace will accelerate as bargains are made on the budget, property taxes, border security, property taxes, the grid, local control, vouchers, and a number of other items.
Asylum/Refugees
Late last week, the House State Affairs Committee passed out eight bills militarizing the border and using state police to enforce federal immigration laws. While the bills will go through the Calendars Committee like any other legislation, the most strategic move at this time is to call your House member.
Oppose HB 7 by Guillen. HB 7 would create a separate state court program for all border related crimes.
Oppose HB 20 by Schaefer. HB 20 would create a state border police unit with the power to deputize volunteer citizens dedicated to arresting and expelling migrants from Texas at the discretion of the governor
Oppose HB 65 by Spiller. HB 65 would create a presumption for human smuggling and penalty enhancements for bypassing state law enforcement checkpoints.
Oppose HB 82 by Spiller. HB 82 would authorize the creation of interstate compacts with other states to coordinate on immigration enforcement.
Oppose HB 1600 by Hefner. HB 1600 would label cartels as terrorist organizations and create a state offense for illegal entry into the US.
House Floor (Mon. & Tues.)
Support HB 504 by Wu. HB 504 would limit the use of “no-knock” warrants.
Support HB 1883 by Bhojani. HB 1883 would make sure that the STAAR test is not administered during any religion’s holy days.
Support HB 4375 by VanDeaver. HB 4375 would require training on automated external defibrillators for public school employees.
Oppose SB 14 by Campbell. SB 14 would prohibit gender affirming care for minors, including hormone therapies. The bill would also prohibit any public money from being used in the CHIP program, and contains a provision that would allow the Attorney General to bring a civil action against parents and providers.
Senate Floor
Support SB 258 by Eckhardt. SB 258 would increase the goals for energy efficiency in the state.
Support SB 758 by West. SB 758 would create a food system security and resiliency planning council that would create a food system security plan.
House Calendars Committee
Support HB 380 by Bucy. HB 380 would require the Secretary of State to post city and school board elections on its website.
Support HB 381 by Thompson. HB 381 would prohibit the death penalty in cases where the defendant has an intellectual disability.
Support HB 544 by Julie Johnson. HB 544 would clarify law enforcement reporting requirements so accurate information is in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is used for gun purchases.
Oppose HB 636 by Patterson. HB 636 would allow election judges to carry firearms at polling locations. The United States has a long and sad history of voter intimidation. Even Justice Thomas — the author of the N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen opinion — specifically named polling places as a location where government retains the ability to restrict gun possession. This is not a second amendment issue, but a voting rights issue.
Support HB 1105 by Price. HB 1105 would allow pharmacies to provide all childhood immunizations and not just flu shots.
Support HB 1208 by Guillen. HB 1208 would clarify that it is legal to take a child into the voting booth and let the child push the buttons at the direction of the parent.
Support HB 2055 by Jones. HB 2055 would repeal the criminal offense of homosexual conduct from the Penal Code.
Support HB 2090 by Manuel. HB 2090 would create an elective for high school seniors on community safety, firearm safety, and mental health.
Support HB 2242 by Howard. HB 2242 would provide for a public education effort by the Department of Public Safety for its safe storage program.
Support HB 2886 by Gonzalez. HB 2886 would create an office of food systems to promote food security.
Support HB 3263 by Howard. HB 3263 would include firearm safety into the health curriculum in public schools.
Oppose HB 3614 by Hefner. HB 3614 would authorize public school districts to use employed or volunteer chaplains as school counselors. Unlike military or hospital programs, “chaplains” under SB 763 would like any sort of requirements for qualifications, oversight, or other guardrails to protect children. The bill would allow for these chaplains to be paid for out of money intended to improve school safety. Read our one pager outlining the deficiencies in the legislation.
Support HB 4811 by Anchia. HB 4811 would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council, which would measure the effectiveness, make recommendations for improving, and leverage federal funding for energy efficiency programs in the state.
Ask House Calendars to set or not set the above bills for floor debate.
Chair: Rep. Dustin Burrows – (855) 767-5441
Vice Chair: Rep. Toni Rose – (855) 704-0851
Rep. David Cook – (866) 596-1702
Rep. Charlie Geren – (866) 629-4776
Rep. Charlie Hefner – (855) 706-0757
Rep. Ana Hernandez – (866) 721-0908
Rep. Ann Johnson – (866) 721-0892
Rep. Jared Patterson – (866) 631-6172
Rep. Shelby Slawson – (866) 516-3108
Rep. James Talarico – (866) 491-0258
Rep. Ed Thompson – (866) 256-4241
House Higher Education Committee
Monday, May 1
Oppose SB 15 by Middleton. SB 15 would expand the ban on transgender athletes to universities.
Call the House Higher Education Committee
Chair: Rep. John Kuempel – (866) 488-3704
Vice Chair: Rep. Dennis Paul – (866) 721-0618
Rep. John H. Bucy III – (855) 692-0019
Rep. DeWayne Burns – (866) 516-3104
Rep. Dustin Burrows – (855) 767-5441
Rep. Travis Clardy – (855) 921-1369
Rep. Sheryl Cole – (855) 921-1346
Rep. Mary E. González – (866) 536-9211
Rep. Donna Howard – (855) 685-2931
Rep. Suleman Lalani, M.D. – (866) 538-6613
Rep. John Raney – (855) 921-1372
House Public Education Committee
Tuesday, May 2
Oppose SB 1515 by King. SB 1515 would require public schools to post the “Ten Commandments” in each classroom. Different faiths number and translate the commandments differently. Government posting any version favors one religion over another.
Call the House Public Education Committee
Chair: Rep. Brad Buckley – (866) 515-0459
Vice Chair: Rep. Alma A. Allen – (866) 218-2506
Rep. Steve Allison – (866) 695-0633
Rep. Charles Cunningham – (866) 700-9145
Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. – (866) 721-0905
Rep. Cody Harris – (855) 921-1364
Rep. Brian Harrison – (855) 921-1368
Rep. Cole Hefner – (855) 706-0757
Rep. Gina Hinojosa – (855) 921-1351
Rep. Ken King – (866) 563-8736
Rep. Oscar Longoria – (855) 921-1344
Rep. Matt Schaefer – (855) 921-1361
Rep. James Talarico – (866) 491-0258
TAKE ACTION!
NOTE: We have set up toll-free numbers for all members of the Texas House and Senate. We ask that you use those numbers and save them in your phones. Dialing this number allows us to track the volume of calls to each office. If the number stops working, please let us know so we can set up a new number.
If you do not have time to make all of the calls on the weekly Action Alert, unless stated otherwise, please prioritize them based on:
- Your representative if they are on any of the committees listed
- The Chair and Vice-Chair of the committees listed
- Any issues you have particular interest or expertise
Find your elected officials via the “Who Represents Me” page at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
Please email scott@texasimpact.org if you learn anything from your calls.
Rapid Response Action Alert Sample Script
Sample Script
Hello, my name is _________________and I live in ___________. I am calling to thank Representative/Senator _____________________for his/her service this Legislative Session.
As a person of faith (or clergy) I want to be constructive in working with Representative/Senator _______________ and hope they will support/oppose Bill number.
Feel free to use any of the bullet points in the Action Alert above. If your congregation has a special connection to the issue area you are referencing, feel free to briefly reference that connection. Don’t forget to thank the staff member you are talking to at the end of the call, even if you disagree with their boss on the issue or bill—they are working hard and appreciate being appreciated!
In the past, legislative offices occasionally have blocked our toll free number because of high call volume from people of faith. If you call twice and receive busy signals, email engagement@texasimpact.org and we will update the number.
For updated information, visit www.texasimpact.org, follow us on Facebook or Twitter or contact engagement@texasimpact.org To join the Texas Impact Rapid Response Team and receive updated Texas Impact Action Alerts or a Legislative Engagement Group to be connected with other members in your district, visit: https://texasimpact.org/take-action-2/
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