This week, interim hearings started in the Texas Senate. On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Higher Education met to hear testimony on three interim charges: “Monitor the Ban on Discriminatory DEI Policies;” “Combating Antisemitism on Texas College Campuses;” and “Campus Free Speech.” In one exchange, Sen. Royce West and NAACP President Gary Bledsoe discussed the changing political environment in Texas and its impact on the legislative process. Bledsoe defended the value of stakeholder input and public testimony in the past, saying “At least our voices were heard,” with West replying, “That was then, this is now.”
Also on Tuesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several interim charges, including the charge to “Make recommendations that help individuals obtain healthcare coverage.” Texans Care for Children’s Alec Mendoza testified on the impact Texas’ slow Medicaid eligibility determination process is having on children.
Many more Senate interim hearings are scheduled:
May 29—Senate State Affairs
Maintaining Election Security: Identify threats to Texas’s election integrity, including those from “Big Tech” and foreign entities. Recommend ways to neutralize such threats.
Protecting Texas Land and Assets: Evaluate strategic land and asset acquisitions in Texas by foreign entities that threaten the safety and security of the United States.
June 5-6—Senate Criminal Justice Committee
Bail Reform: Examine “charitable bail organizations” that pay bail for defendants, thereby relieving them of any financial incentive to appear in court. Study the operations and funding sources of these organizations.
June 11—Senate Border Security Committee
Securing the Texas-Mexico Border: Review state and local agencies’ participation in border security.
June 12—Senate Business and Commerce Committee
Electricity Market Design: Assess state efforts to provide incentives for new thermal generation. Examine and report on the direct and indirect impacts that variable resources, such as wind and solar, have on grid resiliency, consumer prices, and market uncertainty.
Transmitting Texas Power: Identify the future electric transmission and distribution system needs of the state and recommend ways to reduce barriers to constructing the necessary electric infrastructure to support the growing demand and changes in technology
June 13—Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development Committee
Overcoming Federal Incompetence: Consider the impact to the Texas economy from federal interference including, but not limited to, restricting liquified natural gas exports, supply chain limitations, a net-zero carbon agenda, and other air emission provisions. Report on what impact these federal interferences will have on the Texas economy and workforce, and make recommendations to minimize the damage to Texas.
The full list of Senate interim charges is here
The House is off to a slower start on interim charges. The only scheduled House interim hearing to date is House Human Services, set to meet June 4 to discuss Medicaid managed care. The full list of House interim charges is here
Although it’s not a legislative hearing, the Texas Medical Board is holding a stakeholder meeting on Monday, May 20, 9AM to 2PM, regarding the proposed abortion ban exception rule. The meeting is virtual only. Here’s how to attend:
- Online: https://bit.ly/4dgIEJ4
- Dial-in by phone: 1 512-596-3865; conference ID: 240 247 015#