SD 11 SREC: E-Newletter from State Representative Dennis Paul

85th SPECIAL SESSION WRAP UP

The Texas House and Senate have adjourned Sine Die. It is our hope that our electronic newsletter will continue to keep constituents informed of the many issues facing Texas today. Below is a list of legislation successfully passed during the special legislative session.

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Senate Bill 20 and Senate Bill 60 will extend the expiration dates for the Texas Boards of Medical Examiners, Examiners of Psychologist, Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapist, Examiners of Professional Counselors and Social Worker Examiners, and allow these agencies to continue their regular operations and remain fully functional.

Senate Bill 5 will increase penalties for mail-in ballot fraud in Texas. This bill will improve the integrity of the ballot box and ensure voter confidence in Texas elections.

House Bill 13 will expand reporting requirements for complications resulting from abortion procedures. This bill will result in more accurate data being provided to the state.

Senate Bill 6 will reform and restrict the municipal annexation process. Under the new law Texans will now be able to vote on whether a city can annex areas outside of its limits. This legislation will now give citizens a voice when it comes to annexation practices of local governments.

House Bill 214 limits insurance coverage for abortion procedures. Under this new law Texans will not be forced to pay for elective abortions through their insurance plans.

Senate Bill 17 will help combat the increase in maternal mortality and morbidity rates in Texas. This legislation extends the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task force until 2023.

House Bill 7 will require a municipality that imposed a tree mitigation fee for tree removal on a person's property to allow that person to apply for a tree planting credit to offset the fee. The bill will help reduce the burden of homeowners from local regulations and fees.

House Bill 21 takes $351 million in general revenue appropriations made by SB1 during the regular session, for the 2018-19 biennium to the Texas Education Agency for the same biennium to implement certain provisions:

*$150 million to fund financial hardship grants relating to the continuation of ASATR for school districts who would see a substantial reduction in funding.

*$60 million to fund payments to open enrollment charter schools

*$60 million to support the existing FSP debt allotment

*$41 million to fund the increase in the small district adjustment

*$40 million to fund the grant programs for services to students with autism and dyslexia.

House Bill 21 will also transfer from HHSC $212 million in GR appropriations made by SB1 during the regular session for the 2018-2019 biennium to TRS to be used to provide support to participants in the TRS-Care program:

*Reducing costs for participants, including premiums, deductibles, and prescription drugs, during the 18-19 plan years.

*Reducing the premium and maximum out of pocket cost for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or physical incapacity during the 2018 and 2019 plan years.

The bill also creates the Texas Commission on Public School Finance which will have the responsibility to develop and make recommendations for improvements to the current public school finance system or for new methods of financing public schools.

Orion Spacecraft Updates & More

The window panel for the Exploration Mission-2 Orion spacecraft is completed and ready to ship out for its next step in production at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. NASA and Lockheed Martin representatives visited the AMRO Fabricating team in Southern California this week to celebrate completion of this significant milestone toward future human space exploration with a #MadeInAmericaevent complete with American flags, apple pie and ice cream. You can read more here.

In Texas, the Orion team conducted crew egress testing off the coast of Galveston with NASA astronauts. They worked with members from the Ground Systems Development and Operations program, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force, to evaluate how the crew will get out of the crew module with assistance and by themselves after splashdown from a deep-space mission.

NASA Web feature: click here

Facebook feature: click here

And finally in Florida, the Orion team is beginning preparations for Initial Power On of the Exploration Mission-1 Orion spacecraft, which is in the final production, assembly and test phase in the Operations & Checkout Facility at Kennedy Space Center.

The July edition of the Orion Monthly Accomplishments newsletter, featuring Vice President Pence's visit to Kennedy Space Center, was posted online earlier this week. You can read about his tour of the Orion production facility as well as these other stories listed below:

· NASA Astronauts Make a Big Splash in the Gulf of Mexico

· Sound Blast: Testing Spacecraft Integrity

· Designed with Humans in Mind

The Orion monthly newsletter is produced by the NASA Orion and Lockheed Martin Program offices. These reports are also archived on the NASA web site.

Link to newsletter: click here

Photos From Around District 129

Capitol Visitor Information

My staff and I welcome everyone to visit our office as well as the historic Capitol building. If you are planning a trip to the Capitol be sure to stop by our office, Room E2.814. Here are some helpful tips for your visit:

- Texas Capitol Visitor Center

- Texas State Preservation Board

- The Bullock Texas State History Museum