SD 11 SREC: District 129 Session Newsletter

After a cold start to the week, the Texas House met on Wednesday and Thursday as we continue to get organized for the 89th session.

On Wednesday, House filed HB 1, which is the base budget for Texas and the starting point for future budget discussions. You'll be able to read more about this below.

Then Thursday, the House deliberated shortly before voting to adopt HR 4. This resolution fulfilled the majority party's promise to ban democrats from holding committee chair positions.

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

State Updates

House Bill 1 Filed (Initial Budget Proposal)

The Texas House of Representatives introduced its version of the budget on Wednesday. The total funding for House Bill 1 is $335.7 billion, and it meets the needs of our state while maintaining our principle of fiscal responsibility.

Highlights of House Bill 1:

Property Tax Relief: $26.3 billion for the ongoing cost of the homestead exemptions and 10.6 cents of rate compression. Provides $3 billion for 6.8 cents of additional rate compression and $3.5 billion for new property tax relief, for a total of $6.5 billion in new relief.

Public Education: $63 billion to fully fund student enrollment, a $3.4 billion increase in funding. A dedicated $400 million to increase the safety of Texas schools. $450 million for Texas Retirement System, intended to minimize premium increases. And, $1 billion in funding for potential legislation establishing education savings accounts (ESA).

Health and Human Services: $174 million in funding for early childhood intervention programs, with an additional $73 million to expand Youth Crisis Outreach Teams. $139 million to increase the number of new state hospital beds. $20 million for three additional Women's Preventative Health Mobile Units.

State Infrastructure: $36 billion to expand and improve Texas highways. $2.5 billion to improve water infrastructure across Texas, including $34 million for flood control dam projects. $1.7 billion in anticipated federal funds to expand rural broadband access.

Law Enforcement, Cybersecurity, and Border Security: $6.5 billion to maintain Texas' strong border presence and to continue current security operations. $402 million to provide for 600 new state troopers. $363 to provide correctional officers with raises. And, $1.1 billion to combat high-risk cybersecurity threats and to secure Texan's data.

Bills I filled this week:

HB 2067 requires insurance companies provide an explanation if they decline to renew a policy with one of their customers.

HB 2068 proposes to replace the Harris County Commissioners Court with a five-member Board of Directors for the Harris County Flood Control District, with members appointed by the governor.

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.