SD 11 SREC: District 129 Session Newsletter

Week seven has been the busiest of the 89th session so far.

On Wednesday, newly appointed Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Jimmy Blacklock, delivered the State of the Judiciary address to members of the House and Senate on the House floor.

Governor Abbott invited me and fellow legislators to the Governor's Mansion for a celebratory event.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick addressed me and my colleagues at a fundraising event hosted by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI), founded in 1985 on the principles of limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, and traditional values.

Finally, I filed five new bills: HB 3255, HB 3256, HB 3388, HB 3389, and HB 3547. Details are provided below.

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

Updates from the Capitol

I am honored to have been re-appointed as a member of the Energy Council. The Energy Council is a organization of 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces that facilitates discussions on energy policies.

Governor Abbott, pictured above with me and fellow legislators, hosted a celebration for educational freedom. It was an honor to be surrounded by fellow advocates for the Governor's emergency item on Education Freedom, as outlined in Representative Buckley's HB 2 and HB 3.

HB 2 delivers the largest investment in public education funding in state history. The bill also provides pay raises for teachers and school personnel, enhances professional development, increases funding for special education, and ensures improved resources for students with special needs. I am a proud supporter of HB 2.

I am pictured above with Governor Abbott and Representative Tom Craddick, the longest-serving member of the House.

I am a co-author of HB 3, which establishes Educational Savings Accounts to provide Texas families with funding for a variety of educational expenses, including supplies, tutoring, and tuition. HB 3 empowers Texans with greater educational freedom and school choice.

Thank you Governor Abbott and Representative Buckley for championing legislation to expand academic opportunities for Texans.

HB 3 is on track for passage, with strong support from a majority of House members. I am proud to co-author this landmark bill alongside 77 fellow House members.

Members of the Gulf Coast Authority (GCA) visited my office earlier this week. The GCA is a governmental entity established by the Texas legislature in 1969 with the mission to protect Texas' water. GCA has the authority to operate regional wastewater treatment plants, water systems, and solid waste facilities statewide, as well as issue bonds for various projects.

Representatives from the Port of Houston visited our office for a great meeting. They play a crucial role in District 129 and are an important part of our community.

This Wednesday was Pearland Day, where I had the pleasure of meeting with Pearland constituents to discuss the city's legislative priorities. Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Austin to promote Pearland.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Walraven, the Senior Advisor for Asset Management of Storm Surge Barriers at Rijkswaterstaat in The Netherlands. Mark is a world leader and expert in storm surge barrier operation and design, and he founded I-STORM in 2006.

I-STORM is a global knowledge-sharing network for professionals in the storm surge barrier industry, bringing together specialists to tackle common challenges.

I am pictured above with East Harris County Manufacturers Association, also known as EHCMA. EHCMA's mission is to deliver value to their members by prioritizing health, safety, environmental responsibility, and economic growth through best practice sharing, emergency response partnerships, advocacy, and ongoing communication.

The Houston Automotive Dealers Association (HADA) visited my office. HADA is dedicated to supporting a competitive automotive industry in Houston and its surrounding communities.

Kathy Hagler and her husband, Glenn, gave me a surprise visit on Wednesday afternoon. Kathy has been my friend for many years and formerly served as my legislative director. Thank you Kathy and Glenn for your continued support.

Updates from the District

Pictured with my district director, Dawn, is Ronnetta McNair, Principal of George W. S. Abbey Odyssey Academy. Odyssey Academy is a free, open-enrollment public charter school dedicated to helping each student discover their passion and path to success. We were honored to be invited to their ribbon-cutting event.

Joyce Abbey attended the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of the George W. S. Abbey Odyssey Academy, which was named in honor of her father, George W. Abbey, who served as the Odyssey Academy Board President from 2010 to 2024.

Bills I Filed This Week:

HB 3255: This bill relates to the authority of a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to finance certain projects.
HB 3256: This bill relates to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Authority.
HB 3388: This bill relates to group property and casualty insurance policies.
HB 3389: This bill relates to the approval of a surety bond for a contract authorizing an oversize or overweight vehicle to cross a road or highway.
HB 3547: This bill relates to a franchise tax exemption to grow the space industry in Texas.

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.