May 10-11, 2021

With less than 21 days to go, deadlines drive the action. Tuesday is the last day to set House bills on the House calendar. We anticipate a second action alert to be sent out on Wednesday.

Call Your House Member

Oppose HB 3920 by Rep. Dean

HB 3920 would make a confusing definition of “disability” even more confusing. Right now, the Supreme Court of Texas has clarified that it is up to the voter to decide if he or she is disabled. HB 3920 would further restrict the definition of disabled with vague language requiring a voter to be unable to leave their residence to qualify.

Support HB 140 by Rep. Rose

HB 140 would prohibit the death penalty for defendants with serious mental illness.

Call the House Calendars Committee

Chair	Rep. Burrows, Dustin	(877) 203-6192
Vice Chair	Rep. Moody, Joe	(877) 503-5072
	Rep. Craddick, Tom	(877) 533-4215
	Rep. Harris, Cody	(877) 455-6147
	Rep. Hefner, Cole	(877) 495-5085
	Rep. Hernandez, Ana	(877) 512-2166
	Rep. Leman, Ben	(877) 827-1951
	Rep. Patterson, Jared	(877) 293-4957
	Rep. Rose, Toni	(877) 831-7122
	Rep. Slawson, Shelby	(877) 237-5792
	Rep. Talarico, James	(877) 511-3814

Oppose Bullying Children that Identify as Transgender

Oppose HB 1399 by Rep. Krause

HB 1399 would prohibit the doctors from performing gender transitioning or gender reassignment medical procedures and treatments, and those taking medications would immediately lose access.

Oppose SB 29 by Sen. Perry

SB 29 would force children that identify as transgender to play on the gendered team that corresponds to their birth certificate. SB 29 would legislate what is better left to science and doctors.

No Anti-Renewable Amendments on HB 1556

Oppose Anti-Renewable Amendments to HB 1556 by Rep Murphy

Texas Impact is neutral on HB 1556, which extends a tax credit program. However, in the past, opponents of renewable energy have attempted to use similar legislation to attack renewable power by proposing amendments that single out renewable power for discrimination in the program. Keep these amendments off HB 1556.

Call Your House Member to oppose anti-renewable amendments to HB 1556.

Pass Two Good Healthcare Bills for Moms & Children

Support HB 133 by Rep. Rose

HB 133 would provide twelve months of health coverage after pregnancy.

HB 133 passed the House on 4/15. It was referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on 4/19. Call the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and ask them to set a hearing for HB 133.

Chair	Sen. Kolkhorst, Lois	(877) 801-0551
Vice Chair	Sen. Perry, Charles	(877) 649-1015
	Sen. Blanco, Cesar	(877) 751-9042
	Sen. Buckingham, Dawn	(877) 612-2212
	Sen. Campbell, Donna	(877) 649-0965
	Sen. Hall, Bob	(877) 209-4797
	Sen. Miles, Borris	(877) 399-9590
	Sen. Powell, Beverly	(877) 314-4951
	Sen. Seliger, Kel	(877) 857-0758

Support HB 290 by Rep. Cortez

HB 290 would provide twelve months of continuous health coverage for children as opposed to making parents reapply every six months.

HB 290 passed the House on 4/15, but has not been referred to a committee. Call the Lieutenant Governor and ask him to refer the bill to a committee so that it can have a hearing.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

(877) 251-9546

Refer Three Good George Floyd Related Bills

Support HB 829 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson

HB 829 would establish a progressive disciplinary matrix for police officer misconduct in certain municipalities.

Support HB 830 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson

HB 830 would not permit an arrest for a fine only, class C misdemeanor.

Support HB 834 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson

HB 834 would require the corroboration of eyewitness testimony in drug cases.

All three bills passed the House on 4/15, but have not been referred to a committee. Call the Lieutenant Governor and ask him to refer the bill to a committee so that it can have a hearing.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

(877) 251-9546

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.

Find toll free numbers at https://texasimpact.org/texas-legislative-contact-information-2021/

Find your elected officials via the “Who Represents Me” page at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

Weekly Witness Action Alert Sample Script

See the list of toll free numbers (https://texasimpact.org/texas-legislative-contact-information-2021/) for each member of the Texas Legislature and save the number. Using the toll free number allows Texas Impact staff to track how many calls are going in to each office.

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/action-center/

Texas Impact is a membership organization. Join Texas Impact and be part of Texas’ oldest and largest interfaith action network! For more information, visit: https://texasimpact.org/join

Action Alert: Week of May 10