On May 9, the 88th Legislative Session will have 21 days remaining, and just 3 days for the Texas House to pass House bills.
House Floor (3rd Readings Tues.)
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.
Support HB 2886 by Gonzalez. HB 2886 would create an office of food systems to promote food security.
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.
House Floor (2nd Readings Tues.)
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 82 by Spiller. HB 82 would authorize the creation of interstate compacts with other states to coordinate on immigration enforcement.
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.
House Floor (2nd Readings Wed.)
Support HB 1138 by Martinez. HB 1138 would expand the criminal prohibition against recklessly discharging a firearm into the air to include counties of 500,000 or more. What goes up must come down, and innocent people in urban areas are often hit on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.
Oppose HB 1443 by Slawson. HB 1443 would implement an arbitrary 65-mile setback for wind facilities from certain military installations. Currently, nearly 400 turbines already operate safely within that distance of Fort Hood. HB 1443 would severely restrict business and private property rights.
Support HB 1762 by Mary Gonzalez. HB 1762 would create equality in our so-called “Romeo and Juliet” laws. Current statute on indecency with a child provides a defense to prosecution if the individuals are within three years of each other’s ages and consensual, but it only applies to opposite sex couples. HB 1762 would make the sex of the participants irrelevant. For youth ministers that are mandatory reporters, this change in the law is of particular importance.
Support HB 2055 by Jones. HB 2055 would repeal the criminal offense of homosexual conduct from the Penal Code.
Support HB 3631 by Lalani. HB 3631 would require public universities to provide information about existing mental health services to entering students.
Support HB 4845 by Allison. HB 4845 would establish a bullying prevention program for public schools.
House Calendars Committee
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 3263 by Howard. HB 3263 would include firearm safety into the health curriculum in public schools.
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 8
Oppose SB 17 by Creighton. SB 17 would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in higher education. The sweeping prohibition includes admissions, employment, governance, and contracting. With the Supreme Court likely to rule on an admission case this summer, it’s worth five minutes listening to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson explain the original intent of the 14th Amendment, which was not “race-blind,” but included remedial measures to eliminate historic inequities. You can also sign up with the Texas Legislative Black Caucus to stay up to date on actions to oppose SB 17 and related legislation.
Oppose SB 18 by Creighton. SB 18 would eliminate tenure in Texas public higher education, suppress free inquiry, inhibit research, and make Texas uncompetitive in attracting and retaining both professors and students.
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
Senate Finance Committee
Monday, May 8
Support HB 300 by Howard. HB 300 would exempt diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, and maternity clothes from the sales tax, which makes the sales tax less regressive.
Call the Senate Finance Committee
Chair: Sen. Huffman – (866) 770-7365
Vice Chair: Sen. Hinojosa – (866) 770-7380
Sen. Nichols – (866) 730-1335
Sen. Hancock – (866) 730-1386
Sen. Hughes – (866) 730-0869
Sen. Perry – (866) 821-0521
Sen. Hall – (866) 730-1024
Sen. Zaffirini – (866) 770-7383
Sen. Kolkhorst – (866) 770-7366
Sen. Schwertner – (866) 730-1359
Sen. Whitmire – (866) 757-4822
Sen. Paxton – (866) 730-1371
Sen. Bettencourt – (866) 730-1365
Sen. Campbell – (866) 772-1951
Sen. West – (866) 770-7385
Sen. Flores – (866) 770-7401
Sen. Creighton – (866) 730-1355
Senate Health & Human Services Committee
Wednesday, May 10
Support HB 916 by Ordaz. HB 916 would help women — especially rural women that travel long distances — access contraception by requiring health insurance to provide a 12 month supply.
Call the Senate Health & Human Services Committee
Chair: Sen. Kolkhorst – (866) 770-7366
Vice Chair: Sen. Perry – (866) 821-0521
Sen. Sparks – (866) 821-0531
Sen. Blanco – (866) 821-0526
Sen. Miles – (866) 740-0825
Sen. LaMantia – (866) 821-0518
Sen. Hancock – (866) 730-1386
Sen. Hughes – (866) 730-0869
Sen. Hall – (866) 730-1024
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!
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