SD 11 SREC: District 129 Session Newsletter

The Texas House was busy this week as we started May, the final month of the 88th Legislative Session. This week the Texas House passed three of my bills, HB 1632, HB 2800, and HB 3981. House Bill 1632 creates standardized training for election officers. House Bill 2800 states that county election boards must have open meetings and post notice of it. House Bill 3981 will allow fire marshals, inspectors, or investigators who hold peace officer licenses and work for incorporated cities to be on the list of peace officers in the code of criminal procedure.

I also passed my first bill out of both chambers, and it will be sent to the Governor's desk. HB 998 will allow condo associations within 10 miles of the TWIA boundary the ability to purchase FAIR Plan Insurance.

I have filed 30 bills on a wide range of issues affecting the people of Texas. This week I had four bills passed out of the House. If you would like to track my legislation, please click HERE.

Our hearing for the House Committee on Higher Education is Monday, May 8th, at 8:00 AM. We will hear testimony on various bills. Please click HERE to see the bills and to watch online.

Our hearing for the House Committee on Insurance is Tuesday, May 9th, at 8:00 AM. We will hear testimony on a bill. Please click HERE to see the bills and to watch online.

If you need further information about the session, please keep reading and do not hesitate to contact my staff if you have any questions.

It is an honor to serve you in the Texas House of Representatives.

Updates

House Bill 19

The Texas House is committed to keeping Texas the best state to do business. House Bill 19 creates the Texas Business Court, which would allow lengthy and complicated business cases to be heard in a single court rather than a non-specialized court, increasing the efficiency of businesses in litigation. HB 19 was passed by the House on May 2.

House Bill 1605

Texas needs new curriculum standards that will improve the academic performance of students and teachers. House Bill 1605 will provide a rigorous curriculum vetting process to ensure that only high-quality and grade-level appropriate materials are used in Texas classrooms. Teachers will also be provided with greater professional development tools. Outside of the classroom, parents will be empowered by being given access to their student’s instructional materials. Upholding Texas values in school standards will help make sure that we get back to the basics of education. HB 1605 was passed by the House on May 3.

House Joint Resolution 132

Other states have begun to set a dangerous precedent, taxing their residents based on their total net worth and limiting their financial freedom. To keep Texas the best place to live, work, and raise a family, we must keep our tax burden low. House Joint Resolution 132 takes a proactive step to ban the state from EVER imposing a wealth tax on its citizens, ensuring that Texans take home more of their hard-earned paycheck. HJR 132 was passed by the House on May 2.

January Tornado Update

Attached you will find a letter from Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors Chairman Mike Sullivan regarding the information on the Temporary Disaster Exemption because the Harris Central Appraisal District has identified damaged property in your area.

According to the Texas Tax Code, A qualified property that has at least 15% property damage in a governor-declared disaster area can receive a temporary exemption of a portion of the appraised value of the property, which could reduce their 2023 property taxes.

The deadline for residents to file the application is May 11^th.

How to Track Legislation

Ever wonder how the laws that impact your everyday life originate? While this graphic provides you with a simplified overview, You can walk through the entire legislative process by reading this blog post from the Texas House Republican Caucus on how a bill becomes a law in Texas. From a bill being introduced to it becoming law or vetoed, there are many steps ahead for the many bills that have been filed.