The Texas House will take up the budget bill — HB 1 — on Maundy Thursday. With 150 members, the House often takes well past midnight to pass the budget. With an all-nighter looming, and hundreds of pre-filed amendments being vetted, House committees have set more modest and less controversial agendas designed to avoid late nights.
The Senate, by contrast, is likely to hear a divisive anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bill — SB 17 — on Thursday in the Senate Committee on Education’s Subcommittee on Higher Education. Additionally, Senate Committees have several other culture war bills scheduled for hearings.
House Public Health
Get these bills moving! The following bills have not been scheduled for committee hearings yet. There are only two more weeks left in the prime window for bills to be heard in their originating chamber. Urge Chair Klick to hear these bills before April 15.
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HB 647 by Hinojosa would allow individuals who sign advance directives and do-not-resuscitate orders to specify modifications to their orders that would apply if they are pregnant.
HB 979 by Howard would create an exception to Texas’ prohibition on abortion in cases of rape or incest.
HB 2215 by Howard would provide vital clarification that doctors may perform abortions if in the doctor’s best medical judgment, abortion is necessary to preserve the pregnant patient’s life, future fertility, or physical or mental health, or is requested because of a lethal fetal anomaly.
HB 326 by Goodwin would require a medical facility to remove all medical equipment from a deceased person’s body before the body is transferred to a funeral director.
HB 2895 by Ann Johnson would authorize water cremation, also known as aquamation and alkaline hydrolysis, as a method of disposition when a person dies. Funeral practices have always been closely connected to religious belief, and many people of faith desire a funeral that better cares for God’s Creation. Read the 1-pager.
Call the House Public Health Committee
Chair: Rep. Stephanie Klick – (855) 701-2295
Vice Chair: Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Campos – (866) 695-0632
Rep. Nicole Collier – (866) 573-1657
Rep. Jacey Jetton – (855) 942-3074
Rep. Ann Johnson – (866) 721-0892
Rep. Jolanda “Jo” Jones – (866) 730-0849
Rep. Venton Jones – (866) 631-6167
Rep. Tom Oliverson – (855) 702-6654
Rep. Four Price – (855) 704-0109
Rep. Reggie Smith – (855) 918-1295
Rep. Tony Tinderholt – (866) 573-1656
Senate Higher Education
Likely Thursday, April 6
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.
Call the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education
Chair: Sen. Creighton – (866) 730-1355
Vice Chair: Sen. Middleton – (866) 730-1396
Sen. West – (866) 770-7385
Sen. Springer – (866) 821-0530
Sen. King – (866) 730-1395
House Urban Affairs
Tuesday, April 4
Support HB 1677 by Jetton. HB 1677 would comprehensively improve how birth certificates are provided — including waiving the fee — to persons experiencing homelessness.
Call the House Urban Affairs Committee
Chair: Rep. J.M. Lozano – (866) 486-7133
Vice Chair: Rep. Gary Gates – (866) 218-2480
Rep. Diego M. Bernal – (866) 695-0634
Rep. Philip Cortez – (866) 695-0546
Rep. Charles Cunningham – (866) 700-9145
Rep. Jessica González – (855) 921-1349
Rep. Richard Hayes – (866) 516-3103
Rep. Ramon Romero, Jr. – (866) 573-1648
Rep. Carl Tepper – (866) 547-9148
House State Affairs
Wednesday, April 5
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.
Call the House State Affairs Committee
Chair: Rep. Todd Hunter – (866) 419-0102
Vice Chair: Rep. Ana Hernandez – (866) 721-0908
Rep. Rafael Anchía – (866) 631-6169
Rep. Jay Dean – (855) 921-1362
Rep. Charlie Geren – (866) 629-4776
Rep. Ryan Guillen – (855) 737-9013
Rep. Will Metcalf – (855) 921-1374
Rep. Richard Peña Raymond – (855) 729-6257
Rep. Shelby Slawson – (866) 516-3108
Rep. John T. Smithee – (866) 554-6284
Rep. David Spiller – (866) 535-0914
Rep. Senfronia Thompson – (866) 721-0903
Rep. Chris Turner – (855) 736-6906
House Ag & Livestock
Wednesday, April 5
Support HB 2509 by Bernal. HB 2509 would create the Grocery Access Investment Fund to provide financing for grocery stores in underserved low-income “food desserts” in the state.
Call the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee
Chair: Rep. Briscoe Cain – (866) 721-0617
Vice Chair: Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson – (866) 515-0772
Rep. Diego M. Bernal – (866) 695-0634
Rep. Vikki Goodwin – (855) 772-2323
Rep. Cody Harris – (855) 921-1364
Rep. Stan Kitzman – (866) 554-5253
Rep. Jon E. Rosenthal – (866) 721-0893
Rep. Kronda Thimesch – (866) 523-0494
Rep. Terry M. Wilson – (855) 921-1379
Senate Education
Wednesday, April 5
Oppose SB 1515 by King. SB 1515 would require public schools to post the “Ten Commandments” in each classroom. Protestants, Jews, and Catholics number the commandments differently. Government posting any version favors one denomination over another, which is the essence of what the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit.
Oppose SB 1721 by Paxton. SB 1721 authorizes public schools to post the “Ten Commandments.” SB 1721 would suffer the same conundrum of SB 1515. Protestants, Jews, and Catholics number the commandments differently. Government posting any version favors one denomination over another.
Call the Senate Education Committee
Chair: Sen. Creighton – (866) 730-1355
Vice Chair: Sen. Campbell – (866) 772-1951
Sen. Paxton – (866) 730-1371
Sen. LaMantia – (866) 821-0518
Sen. West – (866) 770-7385
Sen. Parker – (866) 730-1397
Sen. Springer – (866) 821-0530
Sen. Bettencourt – (866) 730-1365
Sen. Menendez – (866) 772-1954
Sen. Middleton – (866) 730-1396
Sen. Birdwell – (866) 770-7384
Sen. Flores – (866) 770-7401
Sen. King – (866) 730-1395
House Calendars
Support HB 12 by Rose. HB 12 would extend postpartum medicaid coverage to 12 months.
Ask House Calendars to set HB 12 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 Floor
Tuesday, March 28
Support HB 617 by Darby. HB 617 would create a pilot program on providing emergency telemedicine in rural areas.
Support HB 1599 by Bucy. HB 1599 would create “an express lane” by eliminating bureaucratic red tape in determining eligibility and enrolling individuals in the Medicaid or child health plan program.
Call your state representative.
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