Focus Area: Racial Justice—Police Reform & Voting Rights
Support Police Reform
HB 54 by Talarico
HB 54 would prohibit law enforcement from contracting with television crews to create reality TV shows after filming such a show led to the death of a man in Williamson County.
House Homeland Security & Public Safety hearing Thursday, March 25
Call the committee at (877) 258-9086
HB 88 by Thompson
Known as the George Floyd Act, HB 88 would be the most comprehensive set of police reforms being proposed this session and includes many of the provisions listed in Texas Impact’s Legislative Agenda.
House Homeland Security & Public Safety hearing Thursday, March 25
Call the committee at (877) 258-9086
HB 1396 by White
HB 1396 would create a database for peace officer misconduct and create a model policy for law enforcement agencies partnering with mental health professionals to jointly respond.
House Homeland Security & Public Safety hearing Thursday, March 25
Call the committee at (877) 258-9086
HB 2549 by Dutton
HB 2549 would allow a civil lawsuit against a government employee for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or any other intentional tort.
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence hearing Wednesday, March 24
Call the committee at (877) 371-0453
Oppose Voter Suppression
Omnibus Elections Bill: SB 7 by Hughes
This large bill has a number of objectionable provisions, of which Texas Impact will focus on five in its testimony. Texas Impact is particularly concerned that SB7 would require a voter to obtain a doctor’s certification of disability in order to vote by mail. The right to vote safely should not be contingent upon a voter’s access to and approval by a doctor, nor should a voter’s private medical history be accessible to state or local election administrators.
Call Senate State Affairs and ask them to oppose SB 7.
Call the committee at (877) 380-2036
Omnibus Elections Bill: HB 6 by Cain
This large bill has a number of provisions that voting rights advocates are still examining, but many are similar to SB 7.
Call House Elections and ask them to oppose HB 6.
Call the committee at (877) 311-3208
Other Bills with Hearings in Committee
Support Prohibiting Telemarketing Calls by Payday Lenders: HB 1916 by Turner
House Business & Industry Committee hearing Tuesday, March 23
Call the committee at (877) 495-8622
Support A Homeowner’s Right to Install Solar Energy: SB 398 by Menendez
Senate Business & Commerce Committee hearing Tuesday, March 23
Call the committee at (877) 431-0078
Support Twelve Months of Health Coverage After Pregnancy: HB 133 by Rose
House Human Services hearing Tuesday, March 23
Call the committee at (877) 477-0371
Support Health Coverage for the Wrongfully Convicted: HB 1045 by Anchia
House Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services hearing Wednesday, March 24
Call the committee at (877) 761-2983
Support Decreasing Adverse Disproportionalities Based on Race within the Child Protective Service System: HB 1237 by White
House Human Services hearing Tuesday, March 23
Call the committee at (877) 477-0371
Removing Racist and Unconstitutional Deed Restrictions: HB 2591 by Leach
This bill would provide a process for removing unconstitutional restrictive covenants from deeds for real property, such as prohibitions on selling property to a person on the basis of race.
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence hearing Wednesday, March 24.
Call the committee at (877) 371-0453
Support Requiring Better Medical Care for Pregnant Prisoners that Miscarry or are Raped: HB 1307 by Gonzalez
House Corrections hearing Wednesday, March 24.
Call the committee at (877) 309-0513
Support Transparency Regarding the Drugs Used in Lethal Injections: HB 2386 by Moody
House Corrections hearing Wednesday, March 24.
Call the committee at (877) 309-0513
Support Planning for Future Disasters in Texas Prisons: HB 2331 by Cortez
House Corrections hearing Wednesday, March 24.
Call the committee at (877) 309-0513
TAKE ACTION!
NOTE: We have set up toll-free numbers for all members of the Texas House and Senate, as well as for each committee. 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