SD 11 SREC: Merry Christmas from State Representative Dennis Paul

State Updates

Texas Capitol To Reopen January 4th

At a time when many state capitols, including the U.S. Capitol, are closed, Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced that the Texas Capitol will re-open on January 4th.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety protocols have been put in place to allow for the Capitol’s reopening while maintaining a safe environment for all visitors, lawmakers, and staff. Preparations to safely conduct business in the Texas House and Senate are ongoing, and each chamber will vote upon their respective rules and protocols at the start of the legislative session.

DPS Announces Temporary Waiver for DL/ID Expirations Ending in April 2021

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today announced that the waiver on expiration dates for driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs) ends on April 14, 2021. Customers who need to renew are urged to make an appointment today.

The waiver, granted by Governor Greg Abbott in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, applied to DLs, commercial DLs, commercial learner permits, ID cards and election identification certificates that expired on or after March 13, 2020.

For more information please click here.

Texas to Receive 620,000 Doses in Second Week of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

News Release

Dec. 18, 2020

The Texas Department of State Health Services is instructing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ship COVID-19 vaccine to more than 1,100 providers in 185 Texas counties over the next week. The CDC will deliver 460,500 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna and 159,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to continue to vaccinate front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

“Our state will be receiving allocations of a second vaccine able to protect Texans from COVID-19,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “Adding the Moderna vaccine will dramatically increase the amount of vaccine that can go to rural areas and smaller providers because it ships in smaller quantities and can be stored longer at regular refrigerator temperatures. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe and effective – both can confer protection against COVID-19, regardless of which vaccine you receive.”

If the Moderna vaccine is authorized as expected, it will begin shipping over the weekend and start arriving in Texas on Monday at providers like hospitals, freestanding ERs, EMS providers, pharmacies, local health departments, health centers and other clinics. DSHS encourages providers that have received vaccine to partner with other health care facilities and workers in the area to maximize vaccination.

Most of the Pfizer vaccine, 124,800 doses, will go to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Vaccination under the program is expected to begin Dec. 28 in Texas. The remaining doses will be distributed to 29 hospitals that received Pfizer doses this week to continue vaccinating health care workers.

Most vaccine for next week is expected to arrive before the Christmas holiday, but with a much larger number of shipments and the short week, some may arrive early the following week, depending on federal shipping timelines.

This week, 224,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered to 110 large providers to begin vaccinating health care workers. A list of providers that will be receiving vaccine starting next week is available at dshs.texas.gov/news/updates/COVIDVaccineAllocation-Week2.pdf. DSHS will update that list as information about a few dozen providers is finalized.

Around the District

Speaking at the December Meeting of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Honoring outgoing CCISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith with a House Member Resolution. I wish Dr. Smith all the best in his new role as Executive Director of the Fast Growth Schools Coalition.